The Church of the Holy Apostles in Virginia Beach, Virginia, is unique. Sanctioned by both the Episcopal Diocese of Southern Virginia and the Roman Catholic Diocese of Richmond, it is an Anglican/Roman Catholic community whose members share all aspects of worship save specific sacramental practices.

The congregation is served by two Charleses. The Rev. Charles Smithers, an Episcopal priest, has been at Holy Apostles for more than two years; the Rev. Charles Fisher, a Roman Catholic, for six. In a phone interview with both simultaneously, they occasionally seemed to finish each other's sentences; yet each offered comments clearly from his own religious background.

Holy Apostles celebrated its 17th anniversary on All Saints' Day, 1994. Founded as a "bold venture in faith," the church's particular mission is "to reach out to families with one spouse in each church," Fr. Smithers said.

The congregation is about 60 percent Roman Catholic and 40 percent Anglican. Parish secretary Algus Battaglia said, "It's been a blessing for families who couldn't worship together."

Gary and Dona Gresham are something of an anomaly in that both are Roman Catholic. Both like small churches, and felt a welcoming atmosphere at Holy Apostles. Mr. Gresham said, "We walked in the first time and knew that's where we wanted to be. People seem to reach out to visitors" He said that because the church has to maintain the approval of both the Roman Catholic and the Episcopal authorities, "our existence is so fragile, [it makes us] very close." He said he and his wife were more active than they had been at previous churches. "Ecumenism tends to elicit more involvement," he said.

Mrs. Gresham said friends from a former "very conservative" diocese express surprise when she describes the church. "They ask me if it's legal!" she said with a laugh. Mr. Gresham said he had noticed, in a community with many migratory military families, the church "appears to have a high rate of support from former members." And he noted that many members drive considerable distances to attend, as he and his wife had initially.

Fr. Fisher and Fr. Smithers explained that all sacraments are separate, even though both priests are present. In the Eucharist, the congregation begins and ends as one. At the offertory, Fr. Smithers and Fr. Fisher go to their own altars at opposite ends of the building. "There is both joy and deep sadness at that moment," Fr. Smithers said, "that we turn away from each other." Fr. Fisher continued the thought: "The families experience the pain of separation too." The congregation reunites for the post communion and the dismissal.

The only weddings performed so far, Fr. Smithers said, have been blessings of civil ceremonies. "The ministers of the sacrament are the bride and groom - they marry each other," Fr. Fisher said. "We just officiate."

Mary Noyes and her husband are both Episcopalians. "I thought it would be perfect for my son and daughter-in-law," Mrs. Noyes said. "She's Ukrainian Orthodox." As she attended the church more frequently, she said, "I thought, 'This is where we should all be!' " She described the Eucharist as "true to both churches. Together ... you can work for what you want." The two priests complement each other and support each other. "Charlie went to Chuck's ordination in Milwaukee," she said, referring to Fr. Fisher and Fr. Smithers.

Because Holy Apostles is neither an Anglican nor a Roman Catholic parish, the founders specified that "parish education should be adult centered. Children's education ought to be family-centered and home-based." The priests described their mission as "very narrow - we can't step over the lines. Children are to be raised and formed as either Anglican or Roman Catholic." The clergy are sometimes called upon to help inter-church families make decisions, and this challenge seems to deepen the sense of mission. Fr. Smithers said poignantly that there are many inter-faith families, everywhere, who are not served.

Chris and Jane Auer are an A/RC couple, and both are delighted with Holy Apostles'. Jane is Roman Catholic. "It's just wonderful," she said. "I'm from an ecumenical family - my mother is Methodist and my father is Roman Catholic." Chris, an Episcopalian, sounded deeply happy at being able to share most of his religious life with his family. The couple's five children are being raised Roman Catholic because they attended Roman Catholic schools when the family did not live in Virginia Beach. Mr. Auer said he had begun the process of conversion so as not to be separated from his family. "This is the answer to a prayer," he said, "not having to go to different churches." Mrs. Auer said it would be "perfectly all right if they want to become Episcopalian."

Lay government of the church is shared equally. The Vestry Council is a combination of the Episcopal Vestry presided over by the warden, and the Roman Catholic Parish Council, one of whose members is president. The church constitution provides for the five Episcopal vestry members and the five Roman Catholic council members to be elected by "all voting members" of the congregation. A 1979 amendment states "both the President and the Warden shall be elected by a majority vote of all the members of the Vestry Council." These officers alternate the duty of presiding at meetings.

Each of the several standing committees - liturgy, social ministry, Christian formation - has a Roman Catholic and an Episcopal representative from the Vestry Council. In policy and in practice, "all members of this church will share in the ministry of worship and proclamation, service and fellowship." Sunday bulletins list weekly ministers and contact persons for various functions with no clue to denominational identity.

The property is jointly owned and all finances, which originally were separate, are now shared "50/50 - real grass roots ecumenism," Fr. Fisher said.

Each clergy person expressed joy and pride in his unique position. Fr. Smithers said, "I'm the only Episcopal priest doing what I'm doing, formalized." Fr. Fisher chimed in, "I'm the only Roman Catholic priest on earth having voice, seat, and vote in an Episcopal convention!" But it is Fr. Smithers whose license plate boasts ECUMNSM. Fr. Fisher's tag is generic. "I'm an unmarked ecumenist," he said.