Converting to Church of Ireland from Catholic

Chong

For quite sometime I have been interested in converting to the Church of Ireland/Anglican faith, how does one go about this? I was born Catholic, my mother is Catholic and father is PKN(Church of Holland Protestanism)

georgieporgy

Just go along to the church of your choice and tell the pastor you want to join.

Fanny Cradock

There have been quite a few threads in the past dealing with the same topic. Perhaps somebody can locate them for you. You might want to try the serch function in the mean time.

I would suggest that you find a CoI church that you actually like (think about what style are you looking for? Charismatic, High Church and so on) and then attend it. That's all you do. If you actually want to officially affirm the change then talk to the vicar at some stage down the line.

Propellerhead

+1 to Fanny Craddock's post. I have quietly attended Anglican services on and off for years and am happy not to "affirm" any change, as Anglicans believe that you are simply moving from one part of the Catholic Church to another.

Unlike going to an RC Church in Ireland, the major difference is that a Church of Ireland congregation know each other pretty well and unless you go to either St Patrick's Cathedral or Christ Church, you cannot go in and out without talking to either the priest or members of the congregation who act as greeters. Even if you go to a cathedral on a semi regular basis you will be engaged in conversation and probably asked if you fancy some tea or coffee after the service. Given that the structure of the Holy Communion service is identical to a Mass, this was the biggest cultural change for me and initially a source of some embarrassment, it shouldn't be! Simply see if that church is for you and enjoy the sociability.

kelly1

Hello Chong, I pray you don't leave the Church

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MXql0zuRqCY

God bless you.

Chong

Propellerhead wrote: »

+1 to Fanny Craddock's post. I have quietly attended Anglican services on and off for years and am happy not to "affirm" any change, as Anglicans believe that you are simply moving from one part of the Catholic Church to another.

Unlike going to an RC Church in Ireland, the major difference is that a Church of Ireland congregation know each other pretty well and unless you go to either St Patrick's Cathedral or Christ Church, you cannot go in and out without talking to either the priest or members of the congregation who act as greeters. Even if you go to a cathedral on a semi regular basis you will be engaged in conversation and probably asked if you fancy some tea or coffee after the service. Given that the structure of the Holy Communion service is identical to a Mass, this was the biggest cultural change for me and initially a source of some embarrassment, it shouldn't be! Simply see if that church is for you and enjoy the sociability.

I have noticed this with the services I have attended in St Patricks Cathedral. I am polite and greet the priests as would any person. I like how everyone is so much more friendly in the Anglican church. I also love the service, I feel so more nourished after it, I have yet to take holy communion just yet however.

I suppose Church of Ireland are embracing new members as would any church I believe if I was to make the change ?

kelly1

Chong wrote: »

I have noticed this with the services I have attended in St Patricks Cathedral. I am polite and greet the priests as would any person. I like how everyone is so much more friendly in the Anglican church. I also love the service, I feel so more nourished after it, I have yet to take holy communion just yet however.

I suppose Church of Ireland are embracing new members as would any church I believe if I was to make the change ?

Chong, is the truth of what a particular denomination/church teaches very important to you? Is it about feeling good at a service/mass or doing God's will?
Sorry if that sound's presumptuous of where your priorities lie.

Keylem

Many Catholic's are leaving the Church and are using the scandals as an excuse (not saying that it your reason). The Core teachings of the Church are sound, even if many of it's preachers aren't! I would suggest you read a book by Mark Doherty,
Why be Catholic

The synopsis:

The Catholic Church is deep in crisis and scandal. A highly intelligent, articulate Irish commentator provides hope, encouraging people to see beyond current problems. The Catholic Church has never been so deeply immersed in crisis - crisis of authority, priestly scandal, celibacy, hierarchy - stretching right up to the Vatican itself. Most people in authority are keeping quiet or squabbling among themselves. Mark Dooley is a Professor of Philosophy who is also a serious commentator, journalist and broadcaster. He has written a book of hope for those who have none. It is, he argues, only when the sacramental life of the local parishes is revitalised that renewal in the Church can be achieved.

May the Holy Spirit Guide you, God Bless!

Lady Chuckles

Chong wrote: »

I have noticed this with the services I have attended in St Patricks Cathedral. I am polite and greet the priests as would any person. I like how everyone is so much more friendly in the Anglican church. I also love the service, I feel so more nourished after it, I have yet to take holy communion just yet however.

I suppose Church of Ireland are embracing new members as would any church I believe if I was to make the change ?

Of course they would!

If this is what your heart desires, if this is what makes you feel good, I think you should go for it!

Your posts in this thread make me very happy. I've been thinking about converting from protestantism to catholicism, but you remind me of the good things I already have, things I will most likely miss if I convert. Thank you!

Keylem

Isn't that the wrong motive for leaving a church, to make one 'feel' good, to me that is focusing on self instead of God?

Lady Chuckles

Keylem wrote: »

Isn't that the wrong motive for leaving a church, to make one 'feel' good, to me that is focusing on self instead of God?

Why does one have to exclude the other?

Lady Chuckles

Keylem wrote: »

Jesus preached that one must deny himself, take up his cross and follow him! (Luke 9:23)

That doesn't have to mean that Jesus wants everyone to go through life suffering. At least I don't think so.

What's wrong with going to a church and mass that you actually like?

MagicMarker

Lady Chuckles wrote: »

That doesn't have to mean that Jesus wants everyone to go through life suffering. At least I don't think so.

What's wrong with going to a church and mass that you actually like?

Would you convert to Judaism if you found out that going to the Synagogue was more fun that going to your own Church?

Sounds like the OP wants a change because of the social interaction more so than a change in his beliefs. Is that the right reason to convert? Would it not be best to try and find a different RC Church instead?

Lady Chuckles

MagicMarker wrote: »

Would you convert to Judaism if you found out that going to the Synagogue was more fun that going to your own Church?

Sounds like the OP wants a change because of the social interaction more so than a change in his beliefs. Is that the right reason to convert? Would it not be best to try and find a different RC Church instead?

Come on now! You know that isn't what I meant! ^^^

The OP is a Christian who is thinking about converting to another type of Christianity. Who are you (and I) to question his reasons?

If you have suggestions or opinions you want to pass on to the OP, don't address them to me.

MagicMarker

Are all the beliefs between the 2 types of Christianity the same?

If his reasons for converting are because his beliefs have changed then fair enough, but if his own beliefs remain the same and he wants to convert because he finds going to a COI mass more appealing, is that a good enough reason to convert?

Keylem

Lady Chuckles, sorry but I deleted post, was going to post a different reply, then decided not to bother!

Lady Chuckles

Keylem wrote: »

Lady Chuckles, sorry but I deleted post, was going to post a different reply, then decided not to bother!

I don't mind

gent9662

Fanny Cradock wrote: »

There have been quite a few threads in the past dealing with the same topic. Perhaps somebody can locate them for you. You might want to try the serch function in the mean time.

I would suggest that you find a CoI church that you actually like (think about what style are you looking for? Charismatic, High Church and so on) and then attend it. That's all you do. If you actually want to officially affirm the change then talk to the vicar at some stage down the line.

Well then why isn't it a sticky?

PDN

dclane wrote: »

Well then why isn't it a sticky?

Because boards.ie has limits as to how many stickies are allowed in each forum.

Fanny Cradock

We also have a search function available.

Ismhunter

It seems to me that this (converting from RC to COI) would be the honest thing for many catholics to do... They essentially are functional protestants. The CofI has all the things they wish for - married priests, personal opinion as viable option of forming doctrine etc etc. It even has liturgy.. In fact id like to see the archbishop offer disaffected catholic an "ordinariate" for them to join!! which would be deliciously ironic!!

philologos

OP: Do not trust what denominations tell you blindly. I would encourage you to read the Bible, particularly the New Testament and find a church that would stick faithfully to Biblical truth.

Michael G

Ismhunter wrote: »

It seems to me that this (converting from RC to COI) would be the honest thing for many catholics to do... They essentially are functional protestants. The CofI has all the things they wish for - married priests, personal opinion as viable option of forming doctrine etc etc. It even has liturgy.. In fact id like to see the archbishop offer disaffected catholic an "ordinariate" for them to join!! which would be deliciously ironic!!

Yes, there does seem to be a certain demand among consumers for Christianity-lite, and the CoI offers that product. Let the market decide.

true

Michael G wrote: »

Yes, there does seem to be a certain demand among consumers for Christianity-lite

the thought never struck you that it may be a demand for authentic Christianity - the real brew, rather than corrupt product?

Cato Maior

kelly1 wrote: »

Chong, is the truth of what a particular denomination/church teaches very important to you? Is it about feeling good at a service/mass or doing God's will?
Sorry if that sound's presumptuous of where your priorities lie.

I recently started singing in the choir of a CofI church and have found the community in that church to be far closer in spirit to the teachings of Christ than I have ever found in a Catholic Church. The CofI, or at least the particular church that I sing in, has a greater mark of Christianity about than any RC church I have attended.

georgieporgy

Look at what you're leaving behind

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E_pmxIfNDtA&feature=related

Keylem

true wrote: »

the thought never struck you that it may be a demand for authentic Christianity - the real brew, rather than corrupt product?

The core teaching of the CC is NOT corrupt, but has remained intact from the very beginning, but some of it's members may be corrupt- there is a difference.

uck51js9zml2yt

Michael G wrote: »

Ismhunter wrote: »

It seems to me that this (converting from RC to COI) would be the honest thing for many catholics to do... They essentially are functional protestants. The CofI has all the things they wish for - married priests, personal opinion as viable option of forming doctrine etc etc. It even has liturgy.. In fact id like to see the archbishop offer disaffected catholic an "ordinariate" for them to join!! which would be deliciously ironic!!

Yes, there does seem to be a certain demand among consumers for Christianity-lite, and the CoI offers that product. Let the market decide.

and I suppose you believe that the Roman catholic church is THE one true church and the rest of us are lost.

homer911

Michael G wrote: »

Yes, there does seem to be a certain demand among consumers for Christianity-lite, and the CoI offers that product. Let the market decide.

Probably no more true than in the Roman Catholic church.

The CofI, as I'm sure has been mentioned before, is a very broad church. Most Roman Catholics have no idea what this means and assume that the first CofI church they walk into is the same as any other. There is great diversity in the church - prospective members need to find the right one for them

(From a former CofI member)

Run_to_da_hills

Michael G wrote: »

Yes, there does seem to be a certain demand among consumers for Christianity-lite, and the CoI offers that product. Let the market decide.

Christianity_lite

Christianity without all the baggage.

philologos

homer911: This is why I believe it is so important that churches unite around the Gospel truth rather than on which umbrella group they are under. Simply put I'm more than happy to come into fellowship with Roman Catholics, Baptists, Pentecostals, non-denominational Christians, Anglicans, Presbyterians, Methodists and so on on the provisio that they will put God's revealed word first, and proclaim Christ first. I've had excellent fellowship over the years in opening up the Bible with Christians from varying backgrounds and cultures, and with non-Christians whether they are from different religions or atheists and agnostics. What has encouraged me is that by and large, Christians will largely agree on the Gospel, they will largely be able to see what Jesus is saying to them if you show them.

I'm critical of my denomination and many things about it. However, whether people like it or not no church is perfect, and every church has flaws and every church falls into the temptation from deviating from God's word, and every Christian has a struggle between the ways of the world and of the devil and of the ways which honour God first and foremost. It's a real war, that is happening inside of each person, we need to stand up for Christ both within the world, and within ourselves.

Michael G

Bristol Abundant Dude wrote: »

and I suppose you believe that the Roman catholic church is THE one true church and the rest of us are lost.

Certainly not lost, no, but there are important bits missing from all of the alternatives.

true

Michael G wrote: »

Certainly not lost, no, but there are important bits missing from all of the alternatives.

You are entitled to your opinion, and other people are entitled to theirs, especially after standing back, evaluating all that has happened, and making up their own mind. Some would be of the opinion there are important bits missing from the RCC too, and a study would show bits added over the centuries .;)

uck51js9zml2yt

Michael G wrote: »

Bristol Abundant Dude wrote: »

and I suppose you believe that the Roman catholic church is THE one true church and the rest of us are lost.

Certainly not lost, no, but there are important bits missing from all of the alternatives.

important to you but not so important to those of us who are not catholic by birth or by choice.

Michael G

true wrote: »

You are entitled to your opinion, and other people are entitled to theirs, especially after standing back, evaluating all that has happened, and making up their own mind. Some would be of the opinion there are important bits missing from the RCC too, and a study would show bits added over the centuries .;)

Yes, absolutely. We could be debating this for years.

true

Michael G wrote: »

We could be debating this for years.

I think you would see the truth long before that;)

PDN

I think the OP had their question answered, so we'll close this thread rather than leave open another playground for sectarian squabbling.