Charismatic Episcopal Church

Mass at the Cathedral of the King in Manila

The International Communion of the Charismatic Episcopal Church (also known as the ICCEC or CEC) is an international Christian communion established as an Autocephalous Patriarchate in 1992. The ICCEC is not a splinter group of any other denomination or communion, but is a convergence of the Sacramental, Evangelical, and Charismatic traditions of the Church Catholic.

The founders of the CEC drew inspiration from diverse twentieth-century Christian churchmen and thinkers, particularly C.S. Lewis (Anglican), Alexander Schmemann (Russian Orthodox diaspora), Gregory Dix (Anglican), Lesslie Newbigin (Church of South India), Robert E. Webber (Anglican), Hans Urs von Balthasar (Roman Catholic), Robert Jenson (Lutheran), and Thomas Oden (United Methodist); from the patristic fathers of the undivided Christian East and West, and from the doctrine and life of the early medieval priest-monks and bishops of Ireland, Scotland, England, and Gaul (represented by Caesarius of Arles, Columba of Iona, Aidan of Lindisfarne, Chad of Mercia, and Patrick), whom they saw as embodying a fatherly, sacramental, and Spirit-expectant leadership for their congregations.

The Communion has its apostolic succession via Bishop Timothy Michael Barker of the International Free Catholic Communion and the Rebiban line via breakaway Roman Catholic Bishop Carlos Duarte Costa, who founded the Catholic Apostolic National Church of Brazil.

The Charismatic Episcopal Church believes orthodoxy and orthopraxy to be the essence of the apostolic faith of the New Testament Church and holds the ancient Apostles' and Nicene Creeds as their official doctrinal statements. The CEC is not, nor has it ever been, affiliated with the Protestant Episcopal Church (PECUSA) or any other denomination. The word episcopal is used to describe its hierarchy of bishops (see table).

The CEC's founding congregations were largely independent churches with roots in the Charismatic, Pentecostal, Wesleyan and Third Wave Evangelical movements. Pentecostal scholar Vinson Synan reports the CEC is the first church emerging from the Pentecostal-Charismatic revivals of the last century to use the term "Charismatic" in its official name.

Origins and Vision

A Symbol of the CEC.

The Charismatic Episcopal Church began when independent churches throughout the United States, influenced by the Convergence Movement, began to blend charismatic worship with liturgies from the Book of Common Prayer inspired by the spiritual pilgrimages of modern Evangelical writers like Thomas Howard, Robert E. Webber, Peter Gillquist and the ancient Christian writers and their communities. These men, along with theologians, Scripture scholars, and pastors in a number of traditions, were calling Christians back to their roots in the primitive church.

On June 26, 1992, Randolph Adler was consecrated the first bishop and primate of the CEC with Timothy Michael Barker of the International Free Catholic Communion (who was consecrated by Archbishop-Patriarch Herman Adrian Spruit) functioning as the principal consecrator. A few years after the consecration of Adler, the CEC grew concerned about Barker as its leadership discovered Barker's embrace of theological liberalism, gnosticism, Theosophy, and non-traditional sexual ethics, all of which are contrary to CEC beliefs. In 1997, the CEC sought and acquired reconsecration and reordination of all of its clergy by the Brazilian Catholic Apostolic Church. See Charismatic Episcopal Church timeline.

In 1992, on the day of Adler's consecration, the CEC adopted the following vision statement: "The Charismatic Episcopal Church exists to make visible the Kingdom of God to the nations of the world; to bring the rich sacramental and liturgical life of the early church to searching evangelicals and charismatics; to carry the power of Pentecost to our brothers and sisters in the historic churches; and finally, to provide a home for all Christians who seek a liturgical-sacramental, evangelical, charismatic church and a foundation for their lives and gifts of ministry."

Government

In its early days, in an attempt to reconstruct the ecclesiastical government of the undivided Christian church, the CEC operated under a form of collegial government which recognized the assembled body of the CEC bishops as its governing body.

More recently, as the church's official canons were written, a group of about ten bishops (called the Patriarch's Council), along with the Patriarch, became the executive branch of the denomination.

Beliefs

File:Cecshield.gif

The CEC official emblem.

The ICCEC believes in the dogmatic statements of the Seven Ecumenical Councils of the undivided church, the necessity of apostolic succession, the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist, the authority of scripture, and the validity of the charismatic revival as a genuine movement of God.

The ICCEC accepts the 66 books of the Old and New Testament as the Word of God, containing all things necessary to salvation. The additional deuterocanonical books may be read in public worship, but are not used to formulate dogma or doctrine.

In September of 2006, the Patriarch's Council began an initiative to establish an official Catechism of the International Communion of the Charismatic Episcopal Church by adopting the catechism of the 1979 American Book of Common Prayer as a foundation. The Council's stated goal is that the new catechism will reflect the fullness of the ancient Catholic and Orthodox faith, and the Reformation, as it is expressed in the world today. This effort will involve an international group of theologians.

San Clemente Declaration

In 1999 the CEC issued The San Clemente Declaration, a statement of principles governing the CEC's communion with other Christian bodies. The articles of the Declaration are as follows:

In earnest anticipation for a future revelation of the fullness of unity of the one, holy, Catholic and apostolic Church, the International Communion of the Charismatic Episcopal Church adheres to these articles of unity exemplified by the undivided Catholic Church during the first eleven centuries:

1. The sacred Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments as the written Word of God, the chief witness to apostolic teaching, the source of the Church's nourishment and strength.

2. The Apostles Creed as the Baptismal symbol; and the Nicene Creed as the sufficient statement of the Christian faith.

3. The Seven Sacraments established by Christ, including: Baptism, Eucharist, Confirmation, Confession/Reconciliation, Holy Matrimony, Holy Orders, Healing/Unction.

4. The Historic Episcopate in Apostolic Succession, the gift of Christ's authority to the Church and the trustee of the Church's fidelity to apostolic teaching.

Worship

African Bishops

Worship in the CEC is both liturgical and charismatic. Clergy dress in traditional clerical attire, and wear special vestments (alb, stole, etc.) for Sunday worship. The principal worship service of the week is the Holy Eucharist. Most parishes follow the liturgy of the 1979 Book of Common Prayer (published by the Episcopal Church). Some parishes use other worship rites, such as the 1928 Book of Common Prayer, or other Anglican, Roman, or Eastern rites.

Worship in the CEC is to follow “the shape of the historic liturgy” while maintaining “that blessed liberty with which Christ has set us free.” Worship music is often contemporary and lively. Many worship services have times of “ministry in the Holy Spirit,” during which such things as prophetic messages, prayers for healing, “singing in the spirit,” and other charismatic worship forms may take place. The work of Roman Catholic scholars Killian McDonnell and George Montague on initiation rites and Spirit baptism in the ancient church was influential.

Finance

According to "The Canon Law of the Charismatic Episcopal Church,“ church finances at all levels are based on the principle of the tithe. Local parishes are funded by the tithes and offerings of parishioners. The rector (parish priest) has first right to the tithe, and is responsible for all parish expenditures, in consultation with the local rector’s council. Parishes are encouraged, but not required, to bring all church property under the ownership of the CEC. Parishes are required to remit 10% of undesignated revenues to the diocese.

Similar processes are followed at the diocesan, provincial (archdiocese), and national level. The bishop has full responsibility for the finances of his diocese, in consultation with his council. Of funds received by the diocese from the parishes, 10% is remitted to the province. At the provincial level, the archbishop bears full responsibility for all funds (in consultation with his council), and 10% of provincial funds are remitted to the national primate. Each national primate in turn gives 10% of national church revenues to the international Patriarchate. Finally, the Patriarchate gives 10% of its revenues to the International Development Agency, the missions arm of the CEC.

Military Ministry

The CEC has twenty Active Duty chaplains ministering to the US Army, US Navy, US Air Force, US Marine Corps, and US Coast Guard. There are also three reserve chaplains, two state guard chaplains, and one retired chaplain in the CEC's Archdiocese of the Armed Forces, which was founded in 1996.

Just weeks after the start of the Global War on Terrorism, the first CEC chaplain deployed to Operation Enduring Freedom in December 2001. Since then, the CEC has had a constant presence of at least one of her chaplains deployed to either Operation Enduring Freedom or Operation Iraqi Freedom. These priests have ministered the Gospel and the Sacraments to literally thousands of soldiers, Sailors, airmen, Marines and coast guardsmen serving in war zones. It is not uncommon for a CEC military priest to celebrate the Eucharist, preach, and minister the Sacraments hundreds of times during a typical wartime deployment, thus, compressing years worth of ministry into seven-to-twelve month deployments. Most of the CEC's chaplains are recent war veterans and have been decorated by either the President of the United States or their respective Service Secretary for their wartime service.

Growth & Current Status

The ICCEC has experienced phenomenal growth within its national churches outside of the United States since the late-1990's. The greatest growth has been in Kenya, Uganda, the Philippines, Pakistan, and Brazil, where that nation's largest Anglican congregation joined the CEC in 2002. The ICCEC has established congregations in Canada, Burundi, Congo, Rwanda, the Sudan, Tanzania, Germany, Estonia, Latvia, Portugal, and Switzerland, but at a lesser growth rate than in the aforementioned nations. In all, the ICCEC has established over 700 congregations outside of the United States.[1]

In the United States, the ICCEC experienced rapid growth for the first ten years of its existence. However, the US growth rate had plateaued in the present decade. In 2006, the American church experienced a crisis resulting in the departure of approximately 30% of its clergy and congregations, including seven actively serving bishops and one retired bishop.[2] Though from diocese to diocese a variety of reasons were given for these departures, the crisis stemmed from allegations against the ICCEC's leadership in America, particularly the head of the Communion, A. Randolph Adler. The majority of these allegations were heard and adjudicated in June and September 2006 by the Patriarch's Council, which is comprised of the Communion's senior bishops. In September 2006, the Council issued a statement describing their response to the allegations and posted it on the Communion's official website. This response prompted several more departures, including those in the former South Central Diocese, Great Lakes Diocese, the Diocese of Delmarva, and half of the Northwest Diocese.

External links

• ICCEC website
• ICCEC article "Ten Years of Making Visible the Kingdom of God"