Charismatic Episcopal Church
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 were influenced by a diverse group of twentieth-century ecumenical-orthodox Christian thinkers and churchmen, particularly C.S. Lewis (Anglican), Alexander Schmemann (Russian Orthodox diaspora), Gregory Dix (Anglican), Lesslie Newbigin (Church of South India), Robert Webber (Episcopal), Hans Urs von Balthasar (Roman Catholic), Robert Jenson (Lutheran), and Thomas Oden (United Methodist).
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).
Origins
The Charismatic Episcopal Church began when a few charismatic churches in the western United States which were influenced by the so-called 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 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.
In 1992 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."[1]
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. After the consecration of Adler, the CEC grew concerned about its apostolic line via Barker as the CEC's leadership discovered Barker's embrace of theological liberalism, gnosticism, cultic practices, and non-traditional sexual ethics. In 1997, the CEC sought and acquired reconsecration and reordination of all of its clergy by the Catholic Apostolic National Church of Brazil. See Charismatic Episcopal Church timeline.
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. In later times, 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. [2]
Beliefs
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.[3]
An absence of official doctrinal literature (e.g., catechism) other than the creeds and the Bible allows for a some variation within the CEC. Individual churches hold opposing stances on the issues of the doctrine of Mary, the filioque clause, eschatology, ecclesiology, the proper uses of the charismatic gifts, and the canonicity of the deuterocanonical books.
Worship
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.
Current Status: Growth and Crisis
 | This article documents a current event. Information may change rapidly as the event progresses, and initial news reports may be unreliable. The latest updates to this article may not reflect the most current information. |
In May of 2006, Bishop Frederick Fick and the Diocese of the Great Lakes left the ICCEC, but Bishop Fick decided shortly thereafter to remain in the Communion. 6 of 14 mission and churches eventually returned to the CEC with him. Bishop Craig Bates now oversees the region and Fick is Bishop Emeritus.
In June of 2006, Bishop Philip C. Zampino of the Mid-Atlantic Diocese, along with his cathedral and religious community and two of his diocesan parishes withdrew permanently from the Communion.
In July of 2006, Bishop Rick Painter of Arizona left the denomination along with his diocese of two parishes. In his resignation statement, he cited a list of grievances against the Patriarch and called for his resignation.
Bishop Kenneth Myers, the ordinary of the South Central Diocese, has also issued a letter calling for the resignation or sabbatical of the Patriarch. Bishop Myers has no plans to leave the denomination.
The Patriarch has no plans to resign or take a sabbatical.
The crisis has been exacerbated by the spread of information via controversial blogs and forums, driven in part by a lack of official information from the Communion's bishops.
Meetings of the Communion's bishops are scheduled for September and October 2006, and the ICCEC leadership will reportedly address the concerns raised in these various venues during those meetings.
References
- ^ CEC Vision Statement http://www.iccec.org/index1.html
- ^ The currently accepted official canons of the ICCEC http://theprovince.org/docs/international-canons.doc
- ^ "Who We Are": an encylopedic article by Bishop Sly http://www.iccec.org/whowerare/index.html