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J. Delano Ellis

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The Most Reverend

Jesse Delano Ellis, II
Metropolitan Archbishop of the Joint College of Bishops, Presiding Prelate of the Pentecostal Churches of Christ, and Senior Pastor of the Pentecostal Church of Christ (Cleveland, Ohio)
ChurchPentecostal Churches of Christ
SeePentecostal Church of Christ
Orders
Ordination1963
by Ozro Thurston Jones, Sr.
Consecration1970
by Brumfield Johnson
Personal details
Born
Jesse Delano Ellis

(1944-12-11)December 11, 1944
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Died(2020-09-19)September 19, 2020 (aged 75)
Cleveland, Ohio
ResidenceCleveland, Ohio
Children6[1]
OccupationPastor, author
Education
Coat of armsJesse Delano Ellis, II's coat of arms

Jesse Delano Ellis, II, commonly known as J. Delano Ellis, (December 11, 1944 – September 19, 2020)[2][3] was an American Protestant religious leader and progenitor of unity among African American Pentecostals with Trinitarian and nontrinitarian affinities.

Co-founding and initially leading the Joint College of Bishops as their metropolitan archbishop, Ellis also founded and served as presiding prelate for the United Pentecostal Churches of Christ (today the United Covenant Churches of Christ) and Pentecostal Churches of Christ.[4][5][6][7] He served as the senior pastor of the Pentecostal Church of Christ in Cleveland, Ohio, beginning on May 14, 1989.[8]

From the inception of the Joint College of Bishops, Ellis, alongside the organization's co-founders—Wilbert Sterling McKinley, Roy Edmond Brown, and Paul Sylvester Morton—have been labeled as "leaders in the shift" among African American Pentecostals for introducing liturgical order and identity among Pentecostal or Full Gospel churches and denominations.[9][10] As a promoter of ecumenism, Ellis placed Pentecostalism as manifested among African Americans in conversation with the broader Christian community around the world.[11]

Through Ellis, many classical and Oneness Pentecostal denominations claim to derive "western and eastern streams of apostolic succession" as described in the appendix to his book, The Bishopric – A Handbook on Creating Episcopacy in the African-American Pentecostal Church.[12] According to Ellis, claims of succession stemmed from the Church of England, the Methodist Episcopal Church, and the Church of God in Christ; he also claimed apostolic succession through the Syro-Chaldean Church. In his book, he cited no lineage for his "western" stream, and his Syro-Chaldean claims contrast the record produced by Burgess, who he claimed passed on the "eastern" stream.[13]

Biography

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Early life

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J. Delano Ellis, II was the son of Lucy and Jesse Delano Ellis, Sr. At age 13 or 14, Lucy became pregnant with Ellis.[14] His mother was a Christian and his father rejected Christianity for the Moorish Science Temple of America and then the Nation of Islam.[15][16] During his childhood, his mother was placed in a mental health institution; he then lived with his grandmother and great aunt.

During his teen years, Ellis attempted to establish a relationship with his father by attending a Nation of Islam mosque.[14] His father told them Jesus was the "white man's god and Christianity was a trick designed to enslave black people."[17] Ellis began attending the Christian Tabernacle Church of God in Christ under the pastorate of Bishop R.T. Jones, Sr.[18] One night at the church Ellis professed Christianity and claimed his father physically abused him for rejecting Islam (see also: apostasy in Islam).[19]

In his early adulthood, Ellis joined the United States Air Force and attended the Church of the Nazarene.[14] Due to racial segregation he joined the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church and developed an appreciation of high church liturgy and ecclesiology. He soon returned to the Church of God in Christ.

Ordination and consecration

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In 1963, Ellis was ordained by Bishop Ozro Thurston Jones, Sr. of the Church of God in Christ; he was elevated to the episcopacy in 1970 by Bishop Brumfield Johnson of the United Holy Church of America.[20][21][22] In the Church of God in Christ, Ellis organized the Adjutant's Corp.[23] He served as the third Chief Adjutant of the National Adjutancy of the Church of God in Christ.[24] Establishing the Adjutant's Corp for the Church of God in Christ, Ellis used his education and exposure to Anglicanism which culminated in the denomination and other Pentecostal bodies adopting Anglican vestments.[25]

In 1989, Ellis was asked to lead a Oneness Pentecostal congregation outside of the Church of God in Christ. He determined Oneness Pentecostalism and Trinitarianism weren't entirely different conceptions, yet rejected distinctions between the persons of the Trinity. He came to believe there was no scriptural support for the doctrine of Trinitarian Christianity.[14] Ellis soon after founded the United Pentecostal Churches of Christ (today the United Covenant Churches of Christ).[6][22]

Joint College of Bishops

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Joint College of Bishops
Joint College of African-American Pentecostal Bishops
AbbreviationJCOB
Formation1993
TypeReligious organization
Legal statusCivil nonprofit
PurposeEducation
HeadquartersWindcrest, Texas
Official language
English
Chairman
David M. Copeland
Main organ
Board
AffiliationsPentecostalism
Websitecollegeofbishops.org

During his tenure as presiding prelate of the United Pentecostal Churches of Christ, he co-founded the Joint College of African-American Pentecostal Bishops.[5] The Joint College of African-American Pentecostal Bishops (JCAAPB), more commonly the Joint College of Bishops (JCOB), was an ecumenical synod established by Ellis, Wilbert S. McKinley, Roy E. Brown, and Paul S. Morton in November 1993.[26][27]

The Joint College of Bishops originally functioned as a High Church Pentecostal body, later expanding into other Protestant traditions through Doye Agama and the Apostolic Pastoral Congress. Through Ellis, the Joint College of Bishops reappropriated the history and purpose of vestments and the episcopacy for Pentecostals in contrast with their initial users in Roman Catholicism and Anglicanism.[28][29][30]

One instance was teaching the chimere is a prophetic garment;[31] in contrast, the chimere was originally part of academic dress before adoption by Anglican bishops.[32] The college also upheld that the fascia was the "towel used to wash His [Jesus] disciples feet,"[31] though it was worn by all Catholic clergy since 1624. According to Roman Catholicism, it symbolizes chastity.[33] Leaders within the Joint College of Bishops also promoted five-fold ministry and the ordination of women.[34]

During theological disputes on Christian universalism within the Joint College, Ellis and the college denounced Carlton Pearson as a heretic for advocating universalism.[35][36][37] Under his administration, the Joint College of Bishops also admitted and certified gay bishop O.C. Allen of the Vision Church of Atlanta in 2012, spurring further controversy within African American Pentecostalism.[38][39][40][41]

In 2015, Ellis served as a co-consecrator for Marvin Sapp's episcopal consecration within the Global United Fellowship.[42]

Controversy, later life

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In 1995, Ellis was fired after briefly serving as a city police chaplain for his comments toward Muslims, stating Islam was "bloody and dangerous" at worst. In 2001, Ellis resigned from a local faith committee over antisemitic controversy.[16] As late as the 21st century, Ellis also served as a member of Eureka Lodge No. 52 of the Prince Hall Freemasons.[43] He was a grand prior and 33rd degree mason.[44][45]

After 30 years of leadership at the Pentecostal Church of Christ in Cleveland, Ellis abdicated his pastorate in 2019, and his wife, Dr. Sabrina Ellis, was appointed the new senior pastor.[27]

On September 19, 2020, Ellis died, according to an announcement from his wife.[3] Before he died, a street was named in his honor.[46][47] The Potter's House Church founder Thomas Dexter Jakes preached at his funeral.[48] Following his death, Bishop Woodson of the PCC's Mid-South Episcopal Diocese was elected as new presiding prelate for the Pentecostal Churches of Christ.[7]

Succession claims

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In an appendix to his book The Bishopric – A Handbook on Creating Episcopacy in the African-American Pentecostal Church, Ellis claimed both "western and eastern streams of apostolic succession" for himself and for the United Pentecostal Churches of Christ.[12] In the third chapter of his book, Ellis wrote:

No person should have the right to exercise or conduct themselves in any of the Episcopal Matters of our Churches without Apostolic Succession, and Episcopal Dispensation to do so. We believe that bishops are the direct descendants of the Lord Jesus Christ, through His Apostles. Because of that contention, we hold dear our Apostolic Succession which we claim through Augustine of Rome, who was sent by the 'Holy See' to England to establish the English Church. Aside from Succession through the Western Stream, this College also holds this same Succession through the Syrian Orthodox stream. [Please refer to the Historical Documents on Apostolic Succession in the APPENDIX of this Book.] The forgoing statement is not to suggest that we do not recognize any other God-appointed leaders and episcopates of other Christian Reformations and Communions. We only intend to contend for our own heritage within the ancient pilgrim Church family.

— J. Delano Ellis, The Bishopric – A Handbook on Creating Episcopacy in the African-American Pentecostal Church, Chapter III: Apostolic Succession

He claimed "western streams of succession" via the Church of England, John Wesley, Thomas Coke, Francis Asbury, the Methodist Episcopal Church and the Church of God in Christ. The claimed succession from the Methodist Episcopal Church is stated as being via three Church of God in Christ bishops (David Charles Williams, Carl Edward Williams and Reuben Timothy Jones), all of whom held holy orders from the Methodist Episcopal Church. In his book, he made no claim or comment at all as to whether the line of succession via Wesley, Coke, Asbury and the Methodist Episcopal Church carries unbroken apostolic succession as distinct from presbyteral succession only. He also didn't indicate that Williams, Williams and Jones possessed episcopal consecration from the Methodist Episcopal Church, nor does he cite any episcopal apostolic lineage for their status as bishops of the Church of God in Christ. Additionally, Wesley was an Anglican priest, but he was not an Anglican bishop.[49] Some believe that Wesley was secretly consecrated bishop by Greek Orthodox bishop Erasmus of Arcadia in 1763.[50] Others believe Wesley's stance that apostolic succession could be transmitted through presbyters, and that he was a scriptural episkopos.[51]

Ellis also noted that in 1964 he had been ordained presbyter by Bishop Ozro Thurston Jones of the Church of God in Christ, and he notes his episcopal consecration in 1970 by Bishop Brumfield Johnson of the Mount Calvary Holy Church of America.[20][21] His book cites no episcopal apostolic lineage for this 1970 consecration.

"Eastern streams of succession" are traced from the Syro-Chaldean Church in the East, via Archbishop Bertram S. Schlossberg (Mar Uzziah), Archbishop-Metropolitan of the Syro-Chaldean Church of North America, now known as the Evangelical Apostolic Church of North America.[52] In 1995, Ellis stated, the Evangelical Apostolic Church of North America entered into collegial fellowship with the United Pentecostal Churches of Christ.[53] At a holy convocation of the United Pentecostal Churches of Christ, Bishop Robert Woodward Burgess, II (allegedly representing Archbishop Schlossberg, who was living in Jerusalem) had allegedly assisted at the consecration of a number of additional bishops.[54] According to Ellis, Archbishop Schlossberg and Bishop Burgess claimed to possess lineages from bishops Prazsky (Slavonic Orthodox lineage) and Gaines (Russian and Ukrainian Orthodox lineage). They also claimed this succession converges in Schlossberg and Burgess, as well as numerous lineages deriving via Hugh George de Willmott Newman (Mar Georgius). In his book, Ellis mentions the Slavonic and Russian/Ukrainian lineages via Prazsky and Gaines, but the only one of Newman's many lineages that he cites is the Syro-Chaldean. His "eastern streams of succession" contrasts with the tactile succession list published by Burgess and their diocese.[13]

In his book, Ellis claimed that his clergy do not contend for succession as though it was the sole method to legitimize themselves, however. According to Ellis, members of his denomination and the Joint College of Bishops, "use this means to herald the privilege of the unbroken chain of Historical Succession."

Claiming both "western and eastern streams of apostolic succession" for himself and the United Pentecostal Churches of Christ, however, and being Oneness Pentecostal, according to Michael Ramsey—once the Archbishop of Canterbury (1961–1974)—the validity of someone's apostolic succession pertains to continuity of teaching, preaching, governing, ordination and grace.[55] In Catholic theology, apostolic succession effects the power and authority to administer the sacraments except for baptism and matrimony; thus, apostolic succession is necessary for the valid celebration of the sacraments.[56] Against the claims of Ellis and their college of bishops of an unbroken chain of succession, Anglican and Catholic theologians historically nullify "western and eastern streams of apostolic succession" as his predecessors were Trinitarian, and he converted to Oneness Pentecostalism.[14]

References

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  1. ^ "Funeral arrangements for Bishop J. Delano Ellis II announced". wkyc.com. September 23, 2020. Retrieved September 23, 2020.
  2. ^ Freeman, Kevin (September 19, 2020). "Community members mourning loss of beloved Cleveland Bishop J. Delano Ellis". FOX 8. Archived from the original on September 23, 2020. Retrieved September 19, 2020.
  3. ^ a b "Pentecostal Church of Christ, community mourns the loss of beloved Bishop J. Delano Ellis II". WKYC 3. September 19, 2020. Retrieved September 19, 2020.
  4. ^ Brachear, Manya (December 3, 2004). "Bishop Trotter to spread ecumenical vision". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on November 21, 2021. Retrieved November 21, 2021.
  5. ^ a b "About the Joint College of Bishops". Joint College of Bishops. Archived from the original on November 21, 2021. Retrieved November 21, 2021.
  6. ^ a b "History of the United Covenant Churches of Christ". United Covenant Churches of Christ. Archived from the original on November 21, 2021. Retrieved November 21, 2021.
  7. ^ a b "History of the Pentecostal Churches of Christ". Pentecostal Churches of Christ. Archived from the original on November 21, 2021. Retrieved November 21, 2021.
  8. ^ "About the Pentecostal Church of Christ". Pentecostal Church of Christ, Cleveland, Ohio. Archived from the original on November 21, 2021. Retrieved November 21, 2021.
  9. ^ "Blacks Discover High Church". Christianity Today. 39: 44. April 24, 1995. Archived from the original on November 21, 2021 – via Christianity Today Network.
  10. ^ Banks, Adelle (February 1995). "Pentecostals dress like Catholic bishops". National Catholic Reporter. 31 (17): 3. Archived from the original on November 21, 2021 – via The Free Library.
  11. ^ "Signs of the Times". America. 182 (6). 2000.
  12. ^ a b Ellis, II, Jesse (2003). "Chapter III: Apostolic Succession". The Bishopric: A Handbook on Creating Episcopacy in the African-American Pentecostal Church. Google Books: Trafford Publishing. ISBN 978-1-55395-848-2. We believe that bishops are the direct descendants of the Lord Jesus Christ, through His Apostles. Because of that contention, we hold dear our Apostolic Succession which we claim through Augustine of Rome, who was sent by the 'Holy See' to England to establish the English Church. Aside from Succession through the Western Stream, this College also holds this same Succession through the Syrian Orthodox stream. [Please refer to the Historical Documents on Apostolic Succession in the APPENDIX of this Book.]
  13. ^ a b "Apostolic Succession of Robert W. Burgess, Jr". Diocese of St. Thomas. Retrieved October 16, 2023.
  14. ^ a b c d e Silliman, Daniel. "Died: J. Delano Ellis II, Bishop Who Promoted High Church Pentecostalism". Christianity Today. Archived from the original on September 22, 2020. Retrieved September 22, 2020.
  15. ^ Ellis, II, Jesse (2014). From Ghetto to Glory. Google Books: WestBow Press. p. 6. ISBN 978-1-4907-2420-1.
  16. ^ a b Karfeld, Marilyn (April 26, 2001). "Cleveland bishop quits faith committee over his antisemitic remarks". Cleveland Jewish News. Archived from the original on October 10, 2020. Retrieved September 26, 2020.
  17. ^ Ellis, II, Jesse (2014). From Ghetto to Glory. Google Books: WestBow Press. pp. 29, 37. ISBN 978-1-4907-2420-1.
  18. ^ Ellis, II, Jesse (2014). From Ghetto to Glory. Google Books: WestBow Press. p. 30. ISBN 978-1-4907-2420-1.
  19. ^ Ellis, II, Jesse (2014). From Ghetto to Glory. Google Books: WestBow Press. p. 27. ISBN 978-1-4907-2420-1.
  20. ^ a b "About Bishop J. Delano Ellis, II". J.D. Ellis Ministries. Archived from the original on September 19, 2020. Retrieved September 19, 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  21. ^ a b "About Mt. Calvary Holy Church of America". Mt. Calvary Holy Church of America. Archived from the original on September 22, 2020. Retrieved September 22, 2020.
  22. ^ a b "Beloved Cleveland Bishop J. Delano Ellis dies at age of 75". WEWS. September 20, 2020. Archived from the original on September 22, 2020. Retrieved September 21, 2020.
  23. ^ "The National Adjutancy". Adjutancy of the Church of God in Christ. Archived from the original on September 22, 2020. Retrieved September 22, 2020.
  24. ^ "Notice of Transition – Bishop J. Delano Ellis – The Third Chief Adjutant". Adjutancy of the Church of God in Christ. Archived from the original on September 22, 2020. Retrieved September 22, 2020.
  25. ^ "Bishop J. Delano Ellis II | The History of The Adjutancy". J.D. Ellis Ministries. Archived from the original on June 1, 2024. Retrieved June 1, 2024. The Adjutancy, as it is known today, in Pentecostal churches was formed in 1970 by the Late Bishop J. Delano Ellis II. Bishop Ellis's desire to blend order and ardor within the black Pentecostal church created a "corps of servants" to the Leadership in the Church of God in Christ. Therefore, it is impossible to discuss adjutancy in the black Pentecostal church without mentioning its founding father. Having received much of his education and exposure in the Episcopal/Anglican communities, Bishop Ellis inspired the Presiding Bishop of the Church of God in Christ to adopt a similar tonsorial (dress or vestment style) and many African-American Pentecostal Communions followed their example. As our churches found greater expose in the broader community of organized believers, so did the need for those who would assist leaders in serving the Lord's church; hence the adjutancy was born.
  26. ^ "About The Joint College Of Bishops". Joint College of Bishops. Archived from the original on September 19, 2020. Retrieved July 20, 2020.
  27. ^ a b Jayson, Raquel (October 21, 2019). "After 30 Years Bishop J. Delano Ellis President/Chairman and Archbishop Metropolitan of the Joint College of African-American Pentecostal Bishop's Is Retiring Effective October 31, 2019". Joy105.com. Archived from the original on September 19, 2020. Retrieved September 19, 2020.
  28. ^ Bishop Joseph P. Bowens, "The Meaning of the Priestly Garments"
  29. ^ "Vestments". New Advent Catholic Encyclopedia. Archived from the original on October 10, 2020. Retrieved September 19, 2020.
  30. ^ "Anglican Vestments: What Are They?". Anglican Compass. August 21, 2018. Archived from the original on October 10, 2020. Retrieved September 19, 2020.
  31. ^ a b Ellis, J. Delano (2003). The Bishopric: A Handbook on Creating Episcopacy in the African-American Pentecostal Church. Trafford Publishing. pp. viii. ISBN 978-1-55395-848-2.
  32. ^ Eeles, Francis (1925). "The Episcopal Ornaments: An Outline". anglicanhistory.org. Archived from the original on November 8, 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  33. ^ "Why does Pope Francis wear a sash? --Aleteia". Aleteia — Catholic Spirituality, Lifestyle, World News, and Culture. August 28, 2019. Retrieved October 16, 2023.
  34. ^ Floyd-Thomas, Juan M.; Floyd-Thomas, Stacey; Duncan, Carol B.; Ray Jr, Stephen G.; Westfield, Nancy Lynne (November 1, 2007). Black Church Studies: An Introduction. Google Books: Abingdon Press. p. 41. ISBN 978-1-4267-3216-4.
  35. ^ "Black Pentecostal Group Denounces Carlton Pearson as a Heretic". Charisma Magazine. Archived from the original on September 23, 2020. Retrieved September 23, 2020.
  36. ^ "Carlton Pearson declared a heretic". Apologetics Index. December 21, 2005. Archived from the original on September 23, 2020. Retrieved September 23, 2020.
  37. ^ "'Inclusionism' deemed heresy". The Washington Times. Archived from the original on September 23, 2020. Retrieved September 23, 2020.
  38. ^ "J. Delano Ellis' JCAAPB certifies openly homosexual bishop". God 1st. Archived from the original on September 19, 2020. Retrieved July 20, 2020.
  39. ^ "J. Delano Ellis' JCAAPB certifies openly homosexual bishop". Gay Christian Movement Watch. Archived from the original on May 16, 2015. Retrieved September 23, 2020.
  40. ^ "J. Delano Ellis tries to silence critics over gay bishop controversy". Gay Christian Movement Watch. Archived from the original on May 17, 2014. Retrieved September 23, 2020.
  41. ^ "African American Pentecostal Bishops reject gay ordination". Gay Christian Movement Watch. Archived from the original on May 8, 2015. Retrieved September 23, 2020.
  42. ^ "Marvin Sapp consecrated as Bishop in the Global United Fellowship". The Michigan Chronicle. July 19, 2015. Retrieved October 22, 2023.
  43. ^ "Copy of Happenings for August–September 2020". Ohio Council of Deliberation. Archived from the original on September 20, 2020. Retrieved September 20, 2020.
  44. ^ "Officers of the Orient". Ohio Council of Deliberation. Archived from the original on September 20, 2020. Retrieved September 20, 2020.
  45. ^ "9.19.2020 Death Notification of J. Delano Ellis" (PDF). United Supreme Council – Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry Prince Hall Affiliation Northern Jurisdiction, U.S.A., Inc. September 19, 2020. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 1, 2020. Retrieved September 22, 2020.
  46. ^ "'High-Church Pentecostal' leader J. Delano Ellis dies at 75". Religion News Service. September 21, 2020. Archived from the original on September 23, 2020. Retrieved September 23, 2020.
  47. ^ "Cleveland pays tribute to late Bishop J. Delano Ellis II". WEWS. September 26, 2020. Archived from the original on September 26, 2020. Retrieved September 26, 2020.
  48. ^ "Bishop J. Delano Ellis II | Celebration Program". issuu. Retrieved October 10, 2020.
  49. ^ Young, Francis (April 30, 2015). Inferior Office: A History of Deacons in the Church of England. James Clarke & Company Limited. p. 61. ISBN 978-0-227-90372-8.
  50. ^ Wesleyan-Methodist Magazine: Being a Continuation of the Arminian Or Methodist Magazine First Publ. by John Wesley. 1836.
  51. ^ Holden, H. W. (1870). John Wesley in company with High Churchmen. Church Press Co. pp. 57–59. OCLC 15271170.
  52. ^ "Free Catholicism and Liberal Catholicism". www.pluralist.co.uk. Retrieved September 24, 2020.
  53. ^ Agama, Archbishop Doye (October 16, 2015). An Apostolic Handbook: Volume I: Guidance on Faith and Order in the Apostolic Pastoral Congress. Google Books: Fast-Print Publishing. ISBN 978-1-78456-198-7.
  54. ^ Ellis, II, Jesse (2003). The Bishopric: A Handbook on Creating Episcopacy in the African-American Pentecostal Church. Google Books: Trafford Publishing. pp. xxiv. ISBN 978-1-55395-848-2. Archbishop Schlossberg, who resides in Jerusalem, Israel, sent Bishop Robert Woodward Burgess, II, a descendant of the "Eastern (Church) Stream," who, having received consecration from the hands of Archbishop Schlossberg, to the Holy Convocation of the United Pentecostal Churches of Christ. His Grace was mandated to assist us in the consecration of our Second College of Bishops and to impart each of our sons that coveted Apostolic Succession from the Eastern Stream, while we imparted the same Succession from the Western Stream.
  55. ^ Ramsey, Arthur Michael. The Gospel and the Catholic Church (translated from the Spanish edition published in the Dominican Republic: 1964, pp.134ff)
  56. ^ Catholic Teaching on Apostolic Succession, International Theological Commission, 1973, archived from the original on October 4, 2015
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