about us
Who we are, how we began, and what makes us different.
Who we are, how we began, and what makes us different.
About the Apostolic Old Catholic Mission
The Apostolic Old Catholic Mission is a welcoming and sacramental Christian community rooted in the ancient faith of the early Church. We offer valid sacraments, reverent worship, and pastoral care to those seeking a deeper connection with Christ — especially those who have felt overlooked or excluded elsewhere.
We are Catholic, but not Roman Catholic.
Apostolic, but not rigid.
Structured, but never exclusive.
Orthodox in heritage, yet inclusive in heart.
We are not Protestant, but we honour the Reformation’s call to renewal.
We are not Anglican, though we share a love of liturgy and pastoral tradition.
We are an Independent Sacramental (Old Catholic) mission — drawing from the richness of the Church’s first thousand years, with freedom of conscience and openness at the core.
A Place for Every Soul at the Table
- Ancient and Renewed Faith: We are Catholic in our sacraments, Orthodox in our heritage, and Anglican in our love for liturgy—yet we remain pastorally free and inclusive in our heart.
- Full Inclusion for Every Identity: We affirm the full dignity of all people, across all gender identities. You are welcome here not in spite of who you are, but fully as you are. All seven sacraments—including Marriage and Holy Orders—are open to everyone, without the need to justify your identity or your history.
- For the Wounded and the Whole: Whether you come to us carrying the wounds of exclusion, searching for a spiritual home, or standing firm in a faith you have held for years, you belong here. We are a sanctuary for the spiritual refugee, the curious seeker, and the devout believer alike.
- Wholeness Over Labels: We do not ask you to leave any part of yourself at the door. We believe the Church is a place to be received with dignity, exactly as God created you.
At the heart of everything we do is our simple but powerful motto:
Christ at the Centre. Everyone at the Table.
Our Team
Those who guide,
support, and serve
The Apostolic Old Catholic Mission is still small, but grounded in faithful care and valid apostolic oversight. Our leadership reflects both pastoral presence and sacramental legitimacy — guided by a commitment to Christ-centred ministry, openness, and shared responsibility. As we grow, we look forward to welcoming others into this journey.
Archbishop Ronald Saunders
Sacramental Bishop – Apostolic Catholic Church
Archbishop Ronald (based in Spain) leads the Apostolic Catholic Church (ACC) and serves as sacramental bishop to the Apostolic Old Catholic Mission. He offers episcopal care, sacramental oversight, and wise counsel, while respecting the Mission’s local freedom and responsibility.
Fr Ashley R. Deutschmann
Mission Rector & Bishop-Elect
Fr Ashley (based in Bulgaria) serves as Rector of the Apostolic Old Catholic Mission and Bishop-Elect in the Apostolic Catholic Church (ACC). He provides pastoral leadership, guidance, and careful oversight, while nurturing the Mission’s reverent, inclusive, and welcoming character.
Kerensa Nothnagel
Ordinand
Kerensa Nothnagel (based in South Africa) is an ordinand of the Apostolic Old Catholic Mission in South Africa, with over a decade of church leadership experience. She is completing sacramental studies through the Inclusive Catholic Church and, God willing, will be ordained next year, preparing for house church and online Bible study ministry.
Bryan Lindquist
Postulant
Bryan Lindquist, based in Utah, has been admitted as a Postulant in the Apostolic Old Catholic Mission. He brings with him deep experience serving in the Orthodox Church and possesses a strong understanding of the liturgy and traditions of the Eastern Rites. He is currently undertaking the theological formation and safeguarding studies required of all candidates discerning a vocation with the Mission.
Associate Clergy
Ministers who share our sacramental heritage
Associate clergy are ordained in the wider Old Catholic / ISM tradition and are occasionally welcomed to serve alongside the Mission.
Their presence reflects fellowship and shared sacramental heritage, but they are independent ministers, not under our oversight or authority.
They do not represent the Mission, and all ministry they offer is under their own jurisdiction and responsibility.
Archbishop Svetoslav VassileFF
Bulgarian Old Catholic Church
Our Connection to the Bulgarian Old Catholic Church and the Apostolic Catholic Church
The Apostolic Old Catholic Mission first took shape with the blessing of the Bulgarian Old Catholic Church (BOCC) in Sofia, from whom we received apostolic succession and early support. We remain thankful for that foundation and for the goodwill that continues to exist between us.
Today, however, the Mission governs its own pastoral, theological, and liturgical life as a small independent sacramental community. Our day-to-day ministry, discernment, and external accountability are rooted within the Mission itself and in our close collaboration with Archbishop Ronald Saunders and the Apostolic Catholic Church.
The BOCC is therefore part of our story and our sacramental lineage, but it is not the body through which we now structure our governance or seek ongoing oversight.
Sacramental care with local pastoral freedom
About our Leadership and Oversight
The Apostolic Old Catholic Mission is led by its Rector, Rev. Fr Ashley R. Deutschmann (Bishop-Elect).
Our primary sacramental relationship is with Archbishop Ronald Saunders and the Apostolic Catholic Church (ACC). Through this bond we receive episcopal care, sacramental oversight, and external accountability in the Catholic tradition, while the Mission remains locally governed and pastorally focused.
Fr Ashley was ordained priest on 18 May 2025 by Archbishop Svetoslav Vassileff of the Bulgarian Old Catholic Church.
As a small and emerging community, we keep our structure simple, transparent, and focused on the essentials: Christ at the centre, and everyone at the Table.
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Together, we seek to offer a faithful Catholic witness — ancient in roots, open in spirit, and centred always on Christ.
Our Vision
Christ at the Centre.
Everyone at the Table.
At the heart of our Mission is a simple but profound belief: the Church is called to be a place of grace, not exclusion — a Table, not a gate. We draw deeply from the ancient rhythms of Christian worship, but we do so with hearts open to the Spirit’s movement today.
We don’t claim to have all the answers. We are not building an empire or performing a show. We are simply striving to offer a space where prayer is honest, worship is reverent, and everyone is received with dignity.
In all of this, our concern is service rather than status. We use traditional ecclesiastical symbols and heraldry in a modest way, but we respectfully do not recognise invented noble titles, pseudo-chivalric “orders”, or micro-nation claims as having any place in our life or governance. Ministry is measured by faithfulness, integrity, and pastoral care — not by grandiose styles or elaborate titles.
Whether you join us online, through prayer, or in fellowship someday — know that there is a place for you here.
Explore More
Continue your journey with us
- Our Beliefs
- Visit our Downloads page for our Statutes and Governance Document, and our Ecclesiology and Doctrine Document, and more.
- Apostolic Succession
- Worship With Us
- Contact Us
- Learn about the Apostolic Catholic Church here.
