About

Who We Are

Anyone who is honest realizes that since at least the 1960s, many denominations have changed nearly beyond recognition. Reverence, liturgical worship, theological orthodoxy and orthopraxy have all gone out the window. Church attendance has plummeted, belief has gradually been eroded, and churches are closing. The Apostolic Society of the Good Shepherd remains faithful to the "old ways"-the Church's doctrine and worship, unchanged and unchangeable. We offer only the historic Faith-no entertainment style services, no ecumenical sell outs. As a Christian you have a right to sound doctrine and pure worship-a right that no council, pastor, or pope can take away. The purpose of the Apostolic Society of the Good Shepherd, as a priestly society, is to preserve the common heritage of the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church, received by us through the Undivided Church and Apostolic Fathers, whose sons we are, and which we defend for the welfare of the Church. We declare this Society to be, and desire that it shall continue, in full Communion with all Churches throughout the world who remain faithful to Apostolic Order (including the strictly male Episcopate, Priesthood, and Diaconate), as an integral portion of the one Body of Christ composed of Churches which, united under the One Divine Head and in fellowship of the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church, hold the one Faith revealed in Holy Writ, witnessed in the writings of the Ante-Nicene Fathers, and defined in the Creeds as maintained by the undivided Primitive Church in the first Four Ecumenical Councils; receive the same Canonical Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, as containing all things necessary to salvation; teach the same Word of God; partake of the same Divinely ordained Sacraments through the Ministry of the same Divinely instituted Apostolic Orders; and worship one God and Father through the same Lord Jesus Christ, by the same Holy and Divine Spirit Who is given to them that believe to guide them into all truth. We do not identify with any specific denomination but rather are resolved to be representatives of the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Faith of the Undivided Church. This Faith is expressed by St. Vincent of Lerins as "..that faith which has been believed everywhere, always, and by all. That is truly and properly 'catholic', as is shown by the very force and meaning of the word, which comprehends everything almost universally. St. Vincent then expands on this as a practical rule using three criteria:

1. Universality-What the whole Church throughout the world confesses.

2. Antiquity-What has been held by the Church Fathers from the earliest times, without departure from their interpretation.

3. Consent-The agreement of nearly all bishops and doctors (teachers) in antiquity itself, most purely expressed in the Nicene Council.

This serves as the Society's fixed and general guiding rudder to detect the deceits of heretics and avoid their snares. In concert with St. Vincent, the Society stresses that Sacred Scripture is primary and abundantly sufficient as the ground of truth.

Sacred Scripture is, in its original autographs, divinely inspired and without error. However, because Scripture can be interpreted in many conflicting ways, leading to heresies, it must be interpreted according to the tradition of the Undivided Church, and specifically the writings of the Church Fathers and the insights of the great theologians of Christian history. This has been known as "paleo-orthodoxy" but is more accurately understood as the Faith of the early Church. Therefore, the Society is properly catholic, orthodox, and evangelical.

To all of the Churches out there who would oppose our Apostolate we say, we are what you once were; we believe as you once believed. If we are wrong now, the Church was wrong then; if the Church was right then, we are right now.

We invite all Christians who wish to experience the ancient theology, liturgy, and lifestyle of the Christian Faith to correspond with us. Learn more about our discipleship principles HERE.