Apostolic Johannite Church: News and Events

The Apostolic Johannite Church is pleased to announce the ordination of Deacon Donald Donato to the Sacred Order of the Priesthood this fall. Rev. Donato will be ordained to the priesthood by the Patriarch of the Apostolic Johannite Church during an official visit to Boston in October.

Reverend Donato has served as Rector for St. Sarah-the-Egyptian Parish in Boston since August 2010. He is responsible for the business of the parish and administering the Sacraments. He was ordained to the Diaconate in 2009, serving as Assistant Rector at St. Sarah’s between 2009 and 2010.

A native of Boston, over the past 20 years Rev. Donato has worked as a writer, editor, researcher, translator, and grant-writer. In this capacity, Rev. Donato has worked for the implementation of economic, social and cultural rights with Dignity International (2002-present) and Somerville-Cambridge Elder Services (2008-present), an agency which serves low-income older adults and people living with disabilities in the cities of Cambridge and Somerville, Massachusetts.

His most recently published works include a contribution to the anthology Disrespect Today, Conflict Tomorrow: The Politics of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, (University of Nottingham Press, 2009), and The Lévitikon: The Gospels According to the Primitive Church (AJC, 2010).

From our friends at the JWMT-

Since 2001, the Journal of the Western Mystery Tradition (JWMT) has worked to publish diverse perspectives on the occultisms, magical practices, mysticisms and esotericisms commonly known as the “Western Mystery Tradition.” The JWMT is expanding the work of the web journal through its first conference.

The JWMT conference is a two-day event open to scholars, students, practitioners, and the public. The keynote speaker is the Journal’s founder and publisher, Dr. Jeffrey S. Kupperman.

The study of western esoteric practices has risen greatly over the last decade, focusing on Antiquity, the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. Modern magical practices and beliefs, outside of the realm of modern Paganisms and the New Age, have received little attention. Further, practitioners have had little opportunity to present their work, either as papers or in the form of ritual practice, outside of the internet or small groups. The focus of this conference is the movement of contemporary western esotericisms, loosely construed as the “western mysteries,” and their transition from the 20th to the 21st century. The Journal of the Western Mystery Tradition Conference 2012 is seeking abstracts for presentations, panels and practices centered on this broad subject.

Topics may include, but are not limited to:

*Esoteric traditions such as Freemasonry, Rosicrucianism, Martinism and chivalric organizations,

*Ritual magical practices from organizations such as the Golden Dawn and the Aurum Solis and modern initiatory Paganisms,

*Esotericisms from earlier periods, such as alchemy, Gnosticism and Neoplatonism, the magical work of John Dee or the medieval grimoire traditions, and their re-emergence and relevancy to modern praxes,

*Theoretical, paedogogical, and methodological approaches to the study of the western mysteries,

*The relation of the esotericisms to orthodox and mainstream practices and society at large.

We welcome presentations, panels and practices focusing on methodological and theoretical issues in relation to the contemporary study and practice of the various western esoteric currents. The conference encourages an interdisciplinary approach and welcomes perspectives from the disciplines of religious studies, theology, anthropology, sociology, psychology, philosophy, history, political science, as well as active practitioners. Papers should last 20 minutes, with time for questions and answers. Panels and practices will be scheduled for up to an hour, with time for questions and answers afterwards as necessary.

Please submit abstracts (approx. 200 words), proposals for a themed panel (with three presenters, moderator as necessary, and short description) or proposals for a ritual practice and discussion to conference@jwmt.org. Deadline for submissions is April 15, 2012.

No attachments please; copy and paste your abstract or proposal in plain text into the body of the e-mail. Submissions are not limited to academics or professional scholars. Include a brief (no more than one page) CV listing any qualifications, academic or otherwise, relevant to your proposal.

The conference will be held at the Best Western Plus Milwaukee Airport Hotel and Conference Center. More information on the conference, registration, fees, accommodation, etc. is available at http://www.jwmt.org/jwmt12.

The Apostolic Johannite Church is proud to announce the election of Fr. Tim Mansfield, Ph.D. of Sydney, Australia to the Sacred Episcopacy for the Apostolic Johannite Church in Australia.

Bishop-Elect Mansfield, the first bishop to be consecrated in the Apostolic Johannite Church in a decade, was nominated by the Patriarch with the support of the Apostolic Council. A Bull of Election was prepared and signed by Patriarch of the Apostolic Johannite Church, the Primate of the United States and His Eminence the Catholicos of the Alexandrian Gnostic Church at the AJC’s 2011 Conclave.

The Bishop-Elect will be consecrated at Conclave 2012 in Australia under the name, title and jurisdiction of Mar Timotheos, Bishop of New South Wales.

During his continuing ministry to St. Uriel’s Parish in Sydney as well as working with members in Brisbane, Melbourne and Auckland, and assisting with members in North America, Bishop-Elect Mansfield has demonstrated the pastoral excellence, spiritual direction and administrative competence befitting of this ancient Order, together with a high degree of integrity and responsibility both personally and organizationally.

The Apostolic Johannite Church is pleased to announce the appointment of Msgr. Scott Rassbach as Episcopal Vicar to the Primate of the United States.

No stranger to leadership roles with the Apostolic Johannite Church, Monsignor Rassbach brings service as a member of the Apostolic Council for the last five years as well as Prefect for Liturgical Rites and Chief of Staff to His Grace, the Primate, to his new expanded role.

The Episcopal Vicar is responsible for representing the Primate of the United States in both a ceremonial and administrative capacity when the Primate’s schedule does not allow him to do so personally or when tasked specifically by the Primate.

He will also be responsible for chairing, opening and closing National Council meetings in the Primate’s absence, as well as conducting Parish and Diocesan visits on behalf of the Primate of the United States in his absence.

The Apostolic Johannite Church is pleased to announce the elevation of Lance Hoddinott to the Office of Vicar General for the Apostolic Johannite Church.

The Vicar General is responsible for representing the Patriarch of the Apostolic Johannite Church in both a ceremonial and administrative capacity when the Patriarch’s schedule does not allow him to do so personally. Chairing, opening and closing meetings of the Apostolic Council (Board of Directors), as well as conducting official visits on behalf of the Apostolic Johannite Church and the Patriarch are among the many duties of the Vicar General.

Monsignor Hoddinott brings considerable experience to the role of Vicar General, having previously served in the Canadian Armed Forces and presently serving in the community as a Registered Nurse. In addition to these, he has served as Executive Assistant to the Patriarch since his ordination to the Diaconate in 2007.

A blessed Feast of the Nativity of the Divine Light to each of you from all of us at the Apostolic Johannite Church.

May the Divine Beloved richly bless you on this sacred night.

The Patriarch of the Apostolic Johannite Church

Our very own Monsignor Jordan Stratford has his new book- A Dictionary of Western Alchemy, released today. Go get it! 

Classic Gnosticism

Dr. Birger Pearson’s notes on Sethian Gnosticism, for his lecture.