Orthodoxy
Based on the Franciscan Theology and Philosophy
Franciscan ways of viewing God and God’s action in history have been a theology that was always orthodox with other parts of Christian theology, and yet, at the same time, featuring a different set of emphases. Whereas Christianity has often overemphasized “the stain of original sin,” St. Francis and Franciscan theologians lived, preached and wrote about the many ways that creation is good and the life we have been given is a joyous opportunity. Fr. Richard Rohr OFM, a widely acclaimed author, names the Franciscan way an “alternative orthodoxy” with its different set of emphases while not trying to fight about doctrines. The Franciscan emphasis on the goodness of God and creation has many ramifications. Creation is the outpouring of God’s love into the universe.
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Eric Michel Orthodoxy
The East–West Schism, also known as the Great Schism or the Schism of 1054, is the break of communion between the Patriarch of the Roman Catholic Church and the Patriarchs of the Eastern Orthodox Church. The Orthodox do not recognize all saints from the West after 1054, so Saint Francis is not considered a saint in those churches.
First instance, EMMI opens its membership to Christians of various denominations, including Catholics, Evangelicals, Lutherans, Moravians, Anglicans, Episcopal Methodists, Non-Conforming, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, Pentecostal Ministry (2017), Catholic Charismatic Ministry (2025), Presbyterians, and Reformed Christians.
Our Ecumenical Order of Franciscans (TOFE and TOFI) under our ministry Interdenominational Assembly of Churches association (2017), groups of men and women devoted to following the examples of Francis of Assisi and Clare of Assisi and their understanding of the Christian gospel: sharing a love for creation and for those who have been marginalized via our chaplaincy ministry.
In the second instance, from 2022 to 2025, we worked under a charter from the American base Order of Franciscans of Ecumenism, which became, in 2024, the Order of Franciscans of the Eucharist, a Roman Catholic and Orthodox Catholic corporation.
The third instance: Our teaching of the Universal Christ, as presented by Ilia Delio, a Franciscan sister from Washington, D.C., focuses on a Catholicism centred on the Omega Point (Christ), in which denominations are melted into One Universal Catholic Apostolic entity.