Independent Church of Australia

The Independent Church of Australia is an esoteric metaphysical church with an eclectic background. It draws its ritual and liturgy from both Roman and Protestant Christianity and its teachings have been inspired by New Thought and theosophical traditions, especially the Unity School of Christianity and the Christian Community founded by Rudolf Steiner.

The church was founded in 1969 in Perth by the Revs. Mario Schoemaker (1929-1997) and Colin Reed (1944-1999). Two years later they created the church's educational arm, the Institute of Metaphysics. Emphasis is placed upon the understanding of Jesus as a God who took on human form and who, having passed through death, now inhabits the spiritual atmosphere of the planet. Each member nurtures the "Christ within" and the church teaches that each possesses an essential divine nature. Each person is seen as growing towards a mystical unity with God. Worship is focused on the weekly celebration of the Cosmic Mass (similar to that in the Christian community) and a spiritual healing service.

The institute offers a full curriculum providing students with knowledge of metaphysics (including the metaphysical interpretation of the Bible), psychic experience, mysticism, and the Christian mysteries. Over the years, a group of more advanced students have arisen, and in 1988 Schoemaker founded the Order of the Mystic Christ in which students were encouraged to develop their psychic abilities and attain a mystic vision of Christ. The spiritual practice of the order includes a set of chants and meditations. The order is centered in Melbourne and those members who reside in the area gather twice a month, and all members engage in a program of study and spiritual practice.

The church is currently headquartered in suburban Melbourne at 32 Trevallyn Close, Montrose, Victoria 3765, Australia. Schoemaker, who emerged as the major teacher of the group prior to his death, wrote several books, including The New Clairvoyance and A Short Occult History of the World, and left behind a number of tapes of his talks and classes. The church has expanded to include congregations across Australia and New Zealand, and now has one congregation in the Netherlands. Its website is found at http://www.ica.org.au/.

Sources:

Independent Church of Australia. http://www.ica.org.au/. March 23, 2000.