INDEPENDENT SACRAMENTAL
Independent Sacramental Movement Resources
The Independent Sacramental Movement (ISM) is best understood the way it is lived: as a wide, Spirit-led constellation of communities, clergy, and faithful people who carry sacramental life forward in diverse settings and with differing emphases. Because the movement is not a single denomination—and because its story is still unfolding—many voices are needed to tell it well. In fact, the definitive book on the ISM has not yet been written. When it is, it will likely include both a careful historical analysis within the broader history of the Church and a fair hearing of the movement’s many strands: traditional, progressive, ethnic, contemplative, charismatic, pastoral, and everything in between. Until that fuller account emerges, the resources below offer a solid starting place for anyone who wants to read, study, and better understand the ISM.
A strong entry point is John Plummer’s The Many Paths of the Independent Sacramental Movement. It offers a broad survey and introduces many of the themes that shape the movement. Readers should note that it reflects a particular vantage point, and some more conservative expressions of the ISM receive less attention than others. Plummer’s publisher, Apocryphile Press, also curates the Independent Catholic Heritage Series, which provides important historical and interpretive resources for deeper study.
For a shorter and more accessible introduction, John P. Plummer and John Mabry’s Who Are the Independent Catholics?: An Introduction to the Independent and Old Catholic Churches is an excellent first step. It is especially helpful for readers who are encountering Independent and Old Catholic expressions for the first time and want a clear overview before exploring more specialized books and debates.
Beyond books, several ongoing projects help people encounter the movement through lived experience, current conversations, and practical resources. Extraordinary Catholics is an outstanding website for inclusive Catholic clergy and laity—and for anyone interested in Old/Independent Catholic history and tradition. In addition to articles and a magazine-style format, it offers a directory of communities and clergy. I discovered their work after launching my own resources, and I now recommend it readily as one of the most helpful “living libraries” for understanding the breadth of the movement: https://extraordinarycatholics.faith/
For those who learn best by listening, Sacramental Whine is a podcast that explores the Independent Sacramental Movement through interviews and wide-ranging conversations. It’s a helpful window into the real diversity of ministries and viewpoints within the ISM.
Finally, Julie Byrne’s The Other Catholics: Remaking America’s Largest Religion offers an outside perspective on Independent Catholic life, largely through the story of one jurisdiction. Readers may not agree with every theological posture represented, but the book still provides a valuable narrative of people trying to live sacramental faith—along with the blessings, tensions, and pastoral realities that come with independent sacramental ministry.
At the bottom of this page, you’ll find a growing list of books and resources. Consider it an invitation: read widely, compare perspectives, and keep listening for the work of the Holy Spirit in the movement’s diversity—because the ISM is not merely a topic to be defined, but a story still being written.
Books
Books by Rev. Benjamin J. Stern
• Faith Without Permission: The Story and Spirit of the Independent Sacramental Movement
• Defending the Independent Sacramental Movement as a Catholic Way of Life
• A Future Worth Dreaming: Reflections on the Independent Sacramental Movement
• The Independent Bishop’s Handbook: A Pontifical Manual for the Independent Sacramental Movement
• Apologetics, Worship, and Ministry in the Independent Catholic Sacramental Tradition
• The (Mis) Application of Names in the Independent Sacramental Movement
• Ancient Faith, Present Grace: A Catechism for Independent Old Catholics in America
• Canon Law as Pastoral Care: A Framework for the Independent Sacramental Movement
• The Catechism of Seeking and Discipleship: A Pastoral Catechism for the Independent Sacramental and Independent Catholic Movements
• Make Disciples, Not Followers: A Biblical Guide to Christian Online Witness
• Combined Sacramental Register for the Independent Sacramental Movement
All books by Rev. Benjamin J. Stern (Amazon author page): https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B0G3ZRGCLF/allbooks
Extraordinary Catholic Press
• A New Way of Being Catholic — Proceedings of “Utrecht Sweet Utrecht”: A Gathering of Old/Independent Catholic Clergy and Laity (Austin, Texas, Oct 24–27, 2019). Edited by Rev. Dr. Jayme Mathias and Dr. Mercedes Lynn de Uriarte.
• Aglipayan: The Flourishing of Independent Catholicism in the Philippines — Rev. Dr. Jayme Mathias and Dr. Mercedes Lynn de Uriarte.
• Building Community — Proceedings of an Interjurisdictional Gathering of Inclusive Catholic Lay & Ordained Leaders (Independent Catholic Interjurisdictional Gatherings). Rev. Jayme Mathias.
• Explorations in Inclusive Catholicism — Proceedings of the 2022 Inclusive Catholic Virtual Summer School (Aug 1–12, 2022). Edited by Hon. Rev. Dr. Jayme Mathias.
• Extraordinary Celebrations for Extraordinary Catholics — Ideas for Inclusive Catholic Communities during the Year of Mark 2024. Hon. Rev. Dr. Jayme Mathias.
• Islands & Bridges — Three Essays and an Interview on Independent Catholicism in the United States. Rev. Libardo Rocha.
• Revolutionary Church — A Sesquicentennial Remembrance of GomBurZa and a Celebration of the Church Birthed from the Nationalism They Inspired: Proceedings of a Gathering of Inclusive Catholic Clergy & Laity (Austin, Texas, May 19–21, 2022). Edited by Rev. Dr. Jayme Mathias.
• Tradition and Adaptation — Interjurisdictional Perspectives on Inclusive Catholicism in 2022. Edited by Rev. Dr. Jayme Mathias.
Independent Catholic Heritage Series by Apocryphile Press
• A History of the So-Called Jansenist Church of Holland — J. M. Neale.
• A Strange Vocation: Independent Bishops Tell Their Stories — Alistair Bate.
• Bishops at Large — Peter F. Anson.
• Carlos Duarte Costa: Testament of a Socialist Bishop — Edward Jarvis.
• Divided We Stand: A History of the Continuing Anglican Movement — Douglas Bess.
• Episcopi Vagantes and the Anglican Church — Henry R. T. Brandreth.
• God, Land & Freedom: The True Story of ICAB — Edward Jarvis.
• Independent Sacramental Bishops: Ordination, Authority, Lineage, and Validity — Rob Angus Jones.
• Living Mysteries: A Practical Handbook for the Independent Priest — John P. Plummer.
• Msgr. Dominique M. Varlet: Originator of the Old Catholic Episcopal Succession (1678–1742) — Serge A. Theriault.
• Msgr. René Vilatte: Community Organizer of Religion (1854–1929) — Serge A. Theriault.
• Priests, Gnostics and Magicians: European Roots of Esoteric Independent Catholicism — Siobhán Houston.
• Sede Vacante — Edward Jarvis.
• The Many Paths of the Independent Sacramental Movement — John P. Plummer.
• The Old Catholic Church — Robert W. Caruso.
• The Old Catholic Church and Other Writings — Msgr. Casimir F. Durand.
• The Old Catholic Missal — Arnold Harris Mathew.
• The Old Catholic Movement: Its Origins and History — C. B. Moss.
• The Science of the Sacraments — C. W. Leadbeater.
• Who Are the Independent Catholics? — John P. Plummer and John R. Mabry.
Books by Other Publishers
• Agendas, Ambition, and Arrogance: Reflections on Schism, Humility, and the Call to Communion — Ashley R. Deutschmann.
• Saints in Street Clothes — Jarrod Dillon. Knights of Saint George Press.
• Reconstructing Catholicism: How Faithful Catholics Are Embracing an Inclusive, Emergent Way of Being the Church — Rev. Trish Sullivan Vanni, PhD.
• Sacramental Whine: Chronicling the Independent Sacramental Movement (Volumes One, Two, and Three) — Edited by David Oliver Kling.
• The Other Catholics: Remaking America’s Largest Religion — Julie Byrne.