THE CENTRE, The Independent Church of Australia includes The Independent Church in New Zealand and The Esoteric Christian Centre in the Netherlands (Het Esoterisch Christelijk Centrum).
The Independent Church of Australia is the first church to be born on Australian soil. It is an esoteric Christian movement which came into being in 1969 for the purpose of "setting people free". Our philosophy encourages the creative expression and personal development of each individual. We teach and practise metaphysics and offer the sacraments without restriction to those who wish to progress on the Christ-path.
The Independent Church of Australia is a metaphysical Christian movement. In expression we use ritual and liturgy in our worship while at the same time placing a strong emphasis on knowledge and teaching.
The main difference between us and other mainstream churches lies in our metaphysical and esoteric teachings. We hold that Jesus Christ was a God who took on human beingness, who underwent death, and who now lives in the spiritual atmosphere of this world. We teach our members that this "Christ is in you" and emphasise the essential divinity that is growing in each human soul. As such the individuality of each member is respected and held precious. Members are not dictated to in terms of morality or lifestyle, but are encouraged to think for themselves and become self-determining beings.
We believe that humanity is growing towards mystical union with God because of the presence of Christ in each one of us. Our church exists to fan this divine spark so that each person can be more conscious and expressive of their inherent divine nature.
You can find more information about us at the The Centre Headquarters website.
