Convergence Movement

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The Convergence Movement, also known as the Ancient-Future Faith, [1] whose foundation is primarily attributed to Robert E. Webber in 1985, [2] is an ecumenical movement. Developed as an effort among evangelical, charismatic and Pentecostal, and liturgical Christians and denominations blending their forms of worship, [3] the movement has been defined for its predominant use of the Anglican tradition's Book of Common Prayer ; use from additional liturgical sources common to Lutheranism, Eastern Orthodoxy, and Catholicism have also been employed. [4] [5] [6] [7]

Contents

Christian denominations and individuals within the movement have identified themselves as Ancient Faith or Ancient Church, Ancient-Future, [8] Convergence, [9] Charismatic Orthodox, [10] evangelical Episcopal, [8] paleo-orthodox, or Pentecostal Catholic or Orthodox. [6] Denominations in this movement have also been referred as some form of broader, or new Anglicanism or Episcopalianism. [11]

The pioneers of the Convergence Movement were seeking to restore a primitive form of Christianity in contrast with the teachings of the Restoration Movement. [12] The Ancient-Future Faith was inspired by the spiritual pilgrimages of Protestant writers like Thomas Howard, Robert E. Webber, Peter E. Gillquist, and ancient Christian writers including the Church Fathers and their communities. These men—along with theologians, scripture scholars, and pastors in a number of Protestant denominational traditions leading to the movement's foundation—were calling Christians back to what they saw as their roots in the early Church prior to the East–West Schism and rise of the state church of the Roman Empire. [13] [14]

Background

In 1973, Campus Crusade for Christ missionary Peter E. Gillquist (1938–2012) of Chicago established a network of house churches throughout the United States of America, aiming to restore a primitive form of Christianity, which was called the New Covenant Apostolic Order. Researching Christian history, Gillquist and his colleagues found sources for this restoration in the writings of the early Church Fathers. This led the New Covenant Apostolic Order to practice a more liturgical form of worship than in their previous evangelical background. [15]

In 1977, "The Chicago Call" was issued by the National Conference of Evangelicals for Historic Christianity, meeting in Warrenville, Illinois. [16] Led by Robert E. Webber (Assoc. Professor of Theology at Wheaton College), along with Peter Gillquist, Thomas Howard, Richard Holt, Donald Bloesch, Jan Dennis, Lane Dennis, and Victor Oliver, the conference discussed the need for evangelical Protestants to rediscover and re-attach to the Christian Church's historic roots. The conference issued several documents which together are known as "The Chicago Call." Components of the document include: "A Call to Historic Roots and Continuity; A Call to Biblical Fidelity; A Call to Creedal Identity; A Call to Holistic Salvation; A Call to Sacramental Integrity; A Call to Spirituality; A Call to Church Authority; and A Call to Church Unity." [16]

In 1979, the Evangelical Orthodox Church was organized. [17] The belief of needing apostolic succession and the historic episcopacy led most members of Evangelical Orthodoxy to join the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America in 1987. [18] [19] Others later joined the Orthodox Church in America. [20]

In 1984 Charisma magazine—one of the most influential magazines of the Charismatic Movement—published an article by Richard Lovelace entitled, "The Three Streams, One River?" (Sept 1984). [21] Lovelace approvingly noted the trend of Catholics, Evangelicals, and Charismatic and Pentecostal Christians moving closer together.

Robert Webber's 1985 book—Evangelicals on the Canterbury Trail: Why Evangelicals are Attracted to the Liturgical Church—documented the stories of six evangelical Protestants who, for various reasons, had transitioned to the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States. Publication of this book stirred up a great deal of interest in the evangelical Protestant press, generating numerous reviews in Christianity Today and other widely read evangelical publications. [1]

Development

In June 1992, the Charismatic Episcopal Church was established as a part of the Convergence Movement following the episcopal ordination of Randy Adler by Herman Adrian Spruit of the Catholic Apostolic Church of Antioch—an Independent Catholic jurisdiction embracing religious pluralism. [9] By 1997, Adler and the clergy of the Charismatic Episcopal Church were conditionally ordained by the Brazilian Catholic Apostolic Church. [22] By 2007, former Charismatic Episcopal Archbishop Randolph Sly joined the Catholic Church and was ordained into the Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of St. Peter, broadening recognition of the Convergence Movement among the ancient liturgical Christian denominations. [23] [24]

In 1995, the Communion of Evangelical Episcopal Churches was organized. [25] In October 1995, approximately 300 individuals gathered from multiple denominational backgrounds; various bishops from Anglican, independent Eastern Orthodox and Old Catholic churches assisted in the episcopal ordination of the denomination's first two bishops, and the ordination of 25 pastors and 7 deacons. [26]

In 2011, Evangelical Episcopal Bishop Derek Jones was received by the Convocations of Anglicans in North America into the Anglican Church in North America. [27] By March 2012, under the leadership of Quintin Moore, the Communion of Evangelical Episcopal Churches entered full communion with his Christian Communion International as the denomination's United States province. [28] From 2008–2014, the Communion of Evangelical Episcopal Churches held informal ecumenical dialogue with the Catholic Church through Bishop Tony Palmer. During an audience with Pope Francis, Palmer and Bishop Emilio Alvarez represented their denomination; Alvarez was official translator for the meeting. [29] [30] Palmer continued to serve in papal audiences until his death, befriending Pope Francis. [31] [11]

Palmer's death was initially disclosed by Archbishop Charles Hill of Ambassadors for Christ Ministries of America, [32] [33] [34] whom he also befriended and was member of the same communion. [35] Hill also served as "Apostle Primate Patriarch Archbishop" within the Patriarchate in the World of Jesus Christ. [36] Archbishop Hill would later lead a Charismatic Liberal Catholic denomination named the Ancient Church Global, [37] claiming descent from the Knights Templar and self-proclaiming themselves the sole source of Independent, Old and Liberal Catholicism. [38] [39] This denomination led by Hill upon their departure from the Communion of Evangelical Episcopal Churches also uniquely claims to hold apostolic succession and continuity with Ancient Egyptian polytheistic religious practices; [40] their additional claims to succession and the historic episcopate stem from various wandering bishops within Independent and Old Catholicism, the American Orthodox Catholic Church, Anglicanism, and Gnosticism. [41] [42] In May 2023, a religious university founded by Hill for their Charismatic denomination conferred an honorary degree upon Liberian politician Matthew Zarzar. [43] [44]

In 2019, the Communion of Evangelical Episcopal Churches split and the Continuing Evangelical Episcopal Communion was founded. [45] Alvarez also left the Communion of Evangelical Episcopal Churches and organized the Union of Charismatic Orthodox Churches; by October 2020, he was elected to lead the denomination as its primate and in 2021 was installed as archbishop and primate for the denomination. [46] In December 2020, leadership of the Union of Charismatic Orthodox Churches met with Archbishop Elpidophoros of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America (Ecumenical Patriarchate). [47] Alvarez and the Convergence Movement were featured by Religion News Service, after a trend of young Christians returning to traditional churches. [48] [49]

In 2019, the Apostolic Communion of Anglican Churches—founded in 2005 [50] —received the former Anglican Church in North America priest Jack Lumanog. Joining this denomination, Lumanog was declared to have no ecclesiastical status through any province of the Global Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans following his election and ordination to the episcopacy by Archbishop Darel Chase. [51] [52] [53] Chase also ordained a claimant to the Roman papacy, [54] [55] and organized the National Bible College Association accreditation mill which accredited their self-established Metropolitan Christian University and Midwestern School of Divinity for their churches. [56] [57] [58]

Following Lumanog's episcopal ordination and the formation of the Anglican Diocese of St. Ignatius Loyola, in 2020, Gideon Arinzechukwu Uzomechina was appointed interim archdeacon for this diocese in the Apostolic Communion of Anglican Churches. [59] [60] Uzomechina was a deposed Episcopalian priest accused of fraud and sexual misconduct with young men. [61] [62] [63] In December 2022, Uzomechina and his church were publicly disowned by the Church of Nigeria to prevent alleged misrepresentation. [64] [65] [66] [67]

In 2022, Archbishop Sterling Lands II of the Evangelical Episcopal Communion—once part of the Communion of Evangelical Episcopal Churches—and Archbishop Deng Dau Deng, former archbishop-elect of the Anglican Church of South Sudan, [68] [69] [70] joined the African Episcopal Church organized and led by Chase. By 2023 Jonathan Kyangasha—an expelled Church of Uganda priest [71] [72] —joined the African Episcopal Church. [73] Kyangasha founded the Reformed Anglican Church in Uganda after their expulsion in 2017. [74] A year later, Lumanog joined the African Episcopal Church's house of bishops, [75] and a lawsuit by Uzomechina against the Episcopal Diocese of New Jersey alleging discrimination and wrongful deposition was dismissed. [76]

Holy orders and sacraments

Since the advent of Convergence Christianity, numerous denominations and organizations have sought or claimed apostolic succession through excommunicated Latin Catholic bishops and wandering bishops of Anglican and Orthodox traditions including Carlos Duarte Costa, Arnold Mathew, Joseph Vilatte, Aftimios Ofiesh, and others in order to preserve doctrinal and apostolic continuity and establish sacramental legitimacy. [77]

Catholicism

According to Catholic teaching, such ordinations are "valid but illicit." The Code of Canon Law within the Roman Catholic Church states Catholic bishops are able to ordain in holy orders, yet ordinations without authorization are deemed illicit and result in automatic excommunication (and for some, laicization, i.e., Emmanuel Milingo). [78] [79] In Anglicanism, it is taught "once a bishop, always a bishop." [80]

There is also an understanding through Catholic teaching on sacramental character; dogma suggests those excommunicated for valid but illicit ordinations—even those deposed and laicized—cannot have their orders or episcopal genealogy (apostolic succession) vacated or revoked though their use of the sacraments go unrecognized among those in communion with the Pope of Rome, as they have only been relieved of episcopal duties within the Latin Catholic Church and its Eastern Catholic Churches specifically. [81] [82] In Catholicism, the Catechism of the Catholic Church (1992), §1121 expresses:

The three sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, and Holy Orders confer, in addition to grace, a sacramental character or seal by which the Christian shares in Christ's priesthood and is made a member of the Church according to different states and functions. This configuration to Christ and to the Church, brought about by the Spirit, is indelible; it remains for ever in the Christian as a positive disposition for grace, a promise and guarantee of divine protection, and as a vocation to divine worship and to the service of the Church. Therefore these sacraments can never be repeated.

Eastern Orthodoxy

From mainstream Eastern Orthodox teaching no holy orders outside of their churches are generally recognized considering a strict adherence to the letter of the law (see also: legalism), [83] although some mainstream Eastern Orthodox may consider outside holy orders as valid and forgo conditional ordinations via divine economy, [84] thereby recognizing the Augustinian method of holy orders. The Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, for example, teaches through "extreme oikonomia [economy]", those who are baptized in the following traditions can be received into the Eastern Orthodox Church through the sacrament of Chrismation and not through re-baptism: [85]

This is also because each autocephalous church determines the validity of another's holy orders and other sacraments. [86]

Statistics

Through the establishment of multiple denominations in the Convergence Movement, more than 2 million individuals have been claimed as adherents of its multiple organizations. According to self-reported statistics in 2023, the largest denomination in the movement is the Continuing Evangelical Episcopal Communion—reporting an estimated 2,100,000 members and 10,703 churches. [87] The second-largest denomination is the Evangelical Episcopal Communion, claiming to have planted more than 5,000 churches through its Province of St. Peter; [88] and over 100 churches and ministries altogether through Missio Mosaic and the Province of India. [89] [90] Following, the Charismatic Episcopal Church with more than 1,600 churches as of 2008, [91] and almost 2,000 as of 2014, [92] has been the movement's third-largest. The Communion of Evangelical Episcopal Churches had 150+ churches and ministries through its provinces and U.S. dioceses. [93] [94] [95] [90]

Denominations

The following is not a complete list, but aims to provide a comprehensible overview of the diversity among denominations of Convergence Christianity. Only organizations with Wikipedia articles will be listed.

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ The Salvation Army does not observe the sacraments of Baptism and Holy Communion as they believe the rituals are not necessary to experience the inward grace of which the sacraments are outward signs.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Apostolic succession</span> Claim that Christian Church leadership is derived from the apostles by a continuous succession

Apostolic succession is the method whereby the ministry of the Christian Church is considered by some Christian denominations to be derived from the apostles by a continuous succession, which has usually been associated with a claim that the succession is through a series of bishops. Those of the Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Scandinavian Lutheran, Anglican, Oriental Orthodox, Church of the East, Hussite, Moravian, and Old Catholic traditions maintain that "a bishop cannot have regular or valid orders unless he has been consecrated in this apostolic succession". These traditions do not always consider the episcopal consecrations of all of the other traditions as valid.

A bishop is an ordained member of the clergy who is entrusted with a position of authority and oversight in a religious institution. In Christianity, bishops are normally responsible for the governance and administration of dioceses. The role or office of the bishop is called episcopacy. Organizationally, several Christian denominations utilize ecclesiastical structures that call for the position of bishops, while other denominations have dispensed with this office, seeing it as a symbol of power. Bishops have also exercised political authority within their dioceses.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Episcopal polity</span> Hierarchical form of church governance

An episcopal polity is a hierarchical form of church governance in which the chief local authorities are called bishops. The word "bishop" here is derived via the British Latin and Vulgar Latin term *ebiscopus/*biscopus, from the Ancient Greek ἐπίσκοπος epískopos meaning "overseer". It is the structure used by many of the major Christian Churches and denominations, such as the Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, Church of the East, Anabaptist, Lutheran, and Anglican churches or denominations, and other churches founded independently from these lineages. Many Methodist denominations have a form of episcopal polity known as connexionalism.

Full communion is a communion or relationship of full agreement among different Christian denominations or Christian individuals that share certain essential principles of Christian theology. Views vary among denominations on exactly what constitutes full communion, but typically when two or more denominations are in full communion it enables services and celebrations, such as the Eucharist, to be shared among congregants or clergy of any of them with the full approval of each.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ecumenism</span> Cooperation between Christian denominations

Ecumenism – also called interdenominationalism, or ecumenicalism – is the concept and principle that Christians who belong to different Christian denominations should work together to develop closer relationships among their churches and promote Christian unity. The adjective ecumenical is thus applied to any non-denominational or inter-denominational initiative which encourages greater cooperation and union among Christian denominations and churches. Ecumenical dialogue is a central feature of contemporary ecumenism.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ordination</span> Process by which individuals are consecrated as clergy

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Free Church of England</span> UK Christian denomination

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The Charismatic Episcopal Church (CEC), officially the International Communion of the Charismatic Episcopal Church (ICCEC), is a Christian denomination established in 1992. The ICCEC is a part of the Convergence Movement. Within North America, most of the Charismatic Episcopal Church's congregations and missions are located within the Northern, Southeastern, Midwest, and Western United States; it also has a presence in Texas, and in Western Canada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Evangelical Catholic</span> Lutheranism that emphasizes its Catholic heritage

The term Evangelical Catholic is used in Lutheranism, alongside the terms Augsburg Catholic or Augustana Catholic, with those calling themselves Evangelical Catholic Lutherans or Lutherans of Evangelical Catholic churchmanship stressing the catholicity of historic Lutheranism in liturgy, beliefs, practices, and doctrines. Evangelical Catholics teach that Lutheranism at its core "is deeply and fundamentally catholic". The majority of Evangelical Catholic Lutheran clergy and parishes are members of mainstream Lutheran denominations.

Catholicity is a concept pertaining to beliefs and practices that are widely accepted by numerous Christian denominations, most notably by those Christian denominations that describe themselves as catholic in accordance with the Four Marks of the Church, as expressed in the Nicene Creed formulated at the First Council of Constantinople in 381: "[I believe] in one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church." The English adjective catholic is derived from the Ancient Greek adjective καθολικός, meaning "general", "universal". Thus, "catholic" means that in the Church the wholeness of the Christian faith, full and complete, all-embracing, and with nothing lacking, is proclaimed to all people without excluding any part of the faith or any class or group of people. An early definition for what is "catholic" was summarized in what is known as the Vincentian Canon in the 5th century Commonitory: "what has been believed everywhere, always, and by all."

The Communion of Evangelical Episcopal Churches (CEEC) is a Christian convergence communion established in 1995 within the United States of America. With a large international presence in five provinces and seven U.S. dioceses, most of its churches and missions are spread throughout the Mid-Atlantic and Mid-West regions, and South Carolina; Florida and California; and India. The Communion of Evangelical Episcopal Churches is currently led by Bishop Quintin Moore as presiding bishop of the CEEC.

The historic or historical episcopate comprises all episcopates, that is, it is the collective body of all the bishops of a group who are in valid apostolic succession. This succession is transmitted from each bishop to their successors by the rite of Holy Orders. It is sometimes subject of episcopal genealogy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anglican Communion and ecumenism</span> Relationships between the Anglican church and other denominations

Anglican interest in ecumenical dialogue can be traced back to the time of the Reformation and dialogues with both Orthodox and Lutheran churches in the sixteenth century. In the nineteenth century, with the rise of the Oxford Movement, there arose greater concern for reunion of the churches of "Catholic confession". This desire to work towards full communion with other denominations led to the development of the Chicago-Lambeth Quadrilateral, approved by the Third Lambeth Conference of 1888. The four points were stipulated as the basis for church unity, "a basis on which approach may be by God's blessing made towards Home Reunion":

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anglican Church in North America</span> Anglican realignment province

The Anglican Church in North America (ACNA) is a Christian denomination in the Anglican tradition in the United States and Canada. It also includes ten congregations in Mexico, two mission churches in Guatemala, and a missionary diocese in Cuba. Headquartered in Ambridge, Pennsylvania, the church reported more than 1,000 congregations and more than 128,000 members in 2023. The first archbishop of the ACNA was Robert Duncan, who was succeeded by Foley Beach in 2014. In June 2024, the College of Bishops elected Steve Wood as the third archbishop of the ACNA. Authority was transferred to him during the closing Eucharist at the ACNA Assembly 2024 conference in Latrobe, Pennsylvania.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Richard Lipka</span> American Anglican bishop

Richard Walter Lipka is an American Anglican bishop. Lipka served as a Roman Catholic and Episcopal priest before being consecrated in the Charismatic Episcopal Church. He has served since 2021 as bishop ordinary of the Missionary Diocese of All Saints, an Anglo-Catholic diocese in the Anglican Church in North America. He is a significant figure in the Episcopal charismatic renewal movement and the Anglican realignment.

The Union of Charismatic Orthodox Churches (UCOC) is a predominantly African American and Hispanic/Latino Christian denomination forming part of the Convergence Movement. Established in Painted Post, New York, on July 31, 2019, the UCOC describes itself as a union "embracing a multiplicity of Protestant and catholic expressions of worship and practice." Most of its churches are located in the Northern United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Continuing Evangelical Episcopal Communion</span> Christian denomination established in 2019

The Continuing Evangelical Episcopal Communion is a Christian denomination in the Convergence Movement, established in 2019. Separating from the Communion of Evangelical Episcopal Churches, the Continuing Evangelical Episcopal Communion is led by Bishop Primus John Sathiyakumar of the Province of India.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Evangelical Episcopal Communion</span>

The Evangelical Episcopal Communion (EEC) is a Christian denomination within the Convergence Movement, formerly part of the Communion of Evangelical Episcopal Churches. The denomination was founded by Archbishop Russell McClanahan, who has served as presiding bishop and patriarch.

References

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    6. 1 2 Alvarez, Emilio (2022). Pentecostal Orthodoxy. InterVarsity Press. ISBN   978-1-5140-0090-8.
    7. ↑ "What We Believe". Holy Communion of Churches. Archived from the original on 2022-08-18. Retrieved 2022-08-18. With each church having a primary base, three different types of convergence churches seem to be most common today: blended churches, inclusion churches, and network churches. Blended churches have maintained their original identity, denominational connection and distinctive theologically. From this base they then are adding elements from the other two streams in their worship and ministry practices. While most common among Liturgical/Sacramental churches, blended churches are found in Evangelical and Charismatic streams as well.
    8. 1 2 "What is Convergence?". Communion of Evangelical Episcopal Churches. Archived from the original on October 29, 2020. Retrieved 2020-07-19. As a Convergence communion, the CEEC embraces the Anglican precedent and seeks to be a true expression of the Ancient/Future Church, making visible the Kingdom of God, fulfilling the Great Commission, and manifesting fully the beauty, glory and power of the One Church and its Lord.
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    13. ↑ Melton, Gordon J. Encyclopedia of American Religions. 2003. pp. 629–630. "In the years after World War I, negotiations began to create a broad union that would include the Anglican and ... the "convergence movement," the term referring to the "convergence" of various streams of renewal that shared an understanding of the church as one Body with a variety of diverse but contributing parts. Following the lead of British bishop Lesslie Newbigin, the convergence movement affirmed the threefold essence of the church as Catholic, Protestant, and Orthodox/Pentecostal. The church is Catholic as it relates to the emphases of "incarnation and creation," Protestant with an emphasis on "biblical proclamation and conversion," and Orthodox/Pentecostal in relation to "the mystical and the Holy Spirit."
    14. ↑ Vinson, Synan. Holiness-Pentecostal Tradition: Charismatic Movements in the Twentieth Century. 1997. p294 "By 1990, like minded pastors were banding together in what they called a "convergence movement" designed to bring the three streams together in a new and powerful spiritual configuration. Even more striking were the cases of charismatic ..."
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    37. ↑ "About". Ancient Church Global. Archived from the original on 2023-12-18. Retrieved 2023-12-18.
    38. ↑ "Authenticity". Ancient Church Global. Archived from the original on 2023-12-18. Retrieved 2023-12-18.
    39. ↑ "Origins of Old Catholicism". Ancient Church Global. Archived from the original on 2024-03-24. Retrieved 2024-03-24. As a result of all of the above facts, the Templar denomination of Ancient Catholicism is the earliest original source of, and the underlying foundations and basis for, all Independent Churches and Old Catholic Churches. For this reason, the Ancient Catholic Church from 1139 AD is historically and canonically the only Pontifical Catholicate which unifies and represents the Independent Church Movement from 1145 AD, the derivative Old Catholic Movement from 1870 AD, the related Reformed Catholic Movement of 1879 AD, and the resulting Liberal Catholic Movement from 1916 AD. The apparent paradox of a Pontifical authority for "Independent" Churches is resolved by the original and authentic principles of doctrinal freedom, liturgical freedom, and autonomy for all of its member Churches. This allows the Ancient Catholic Church (Ancient Church Global) to serve as an international presence advancing the collective interests for the benefit of all its Churches in communion with the canonical Pontificate.
    40. ↑ "Orthodox Succession". Ancient Church Global. 2024-03-24. Archived from the original on 2024-03-24. Retrieved 2024-07-09. Beyond the valid customary practices of the Ancient Priesthood, and the legitimacy of the Templar Lines, the canonical Apostolic practice of Catholic Christianity also involves the "laying on of hands" (Acts 1:22, 1:25-26, 6:1-6, 9:17; 13:1-5; I Timothy 4:1, 4:14, 5:22; II Timothy 1:6). This includes "anointing" by sacred oils, such as the Pontifical consecration of the Biblical King Solomon (I Kings 1:39) [5], which was also practiced in the Ancient Priesthood in Egypt (the hieroglyphics 'Se Neter' meaning "to consecrate" literally mean to "infuse with the Holiness of God") [6].
    41. ↑ "Summary of Key ACG Apostolic Lines". Ancient Church Global. 2024-03-24. Archived from the original on 2024-03-24. Retrieved 2024-07-09.
    42. ↑ "Apostolic Succession in Orthodox Catholicism". Ancient Church Global. 2024-03-24. Archived from the original on 2024-03-24. Retrieved 2024-07-09.
    43. ↑ "Rep. Zarzar receives honorary Doctorate degree". The New Dawn Liberia. 2023-05-21. Archived from the original on 2023-12-18. Retrieved 2023-12-18.
    44. ↑ "Rep. Zarzar Receives Honorary Doctorate Degree from St. Michaels Christian University". Independent Probe Newspaper. 2023-05-21. Archived from the original on 2023-12-18. Retrieved 2023-12-18.
    45. ↑ "About". Continuing Evangelical Episcopal Communion. Archived from the original on 2022-08-18. Retrieved 2023-12-18. After three years of internal debate over the necessity of an overarching Canon Law, the CEEC.CHURCH's largest provinces have unanimously agreed to stand together. They continue to operate under their current version of Canon Law, adopted in 2016. In a decision guaranteeing the continued historicity and validation of the CEEC.CHURCH, 98% of original churches and clergy choose continuing communion and remain globally united, with only slight adaptation to their name.
    46. ↑ "Our History". Union of Charismatic Orthodox Churches. Archived from the original on 2022-11-23. Retrieved 2023-12-18.
    47. ↑ "Archbishop of America met the leadership of the Union of Charismatic Orthodox Churches". Orthodox Times. December 11, 2020. Archived from the original on December 11, 2020. Retrieved February 15, 2021.
    48. ↑ "Liturgy-hungry young Christians trade altar calls for Communion rails". Religion News Service. Religion News Foundation. 2020-06-18. Archived from the original on October 29, 2020. Retrieved 2020-06-24.
    49. ↑ Berg, Megan van der (2020-07-12). "The Rise Of 'Charismatic Orthodox' Churches". JOY! News. Archived from the original on October 29, 2020. Retrieved 2020-08-16.
    50. ↑ "The Apostolic Communion of Anglican Churches – Scripture + Spirit + Sacrament". Apostolic Communion of Anglican Churches. Archived from the original on 2024-04-03. Retrieved 2024-04-03. The Apostolic Communion Anglican Churches was initially established April 2005, and is an international faith communion of like-minded believers in Christ Jesus, sharing the rich history and heritage of the Church and exercising the freedom of multi-cultural and spiritual expression.
    51. ↑ Gross, Andrew (2019-05-23). "Jon Ignatius Jack Lumanog Inhibited from Ministry". The Anglican Church in North America. Archived from the original on 2022-08-18. Retrieved 2022-08-18. Mr Lumanog's status is with one of the myriad of non-Anglican groups who loosely use a type of Anglican polity – that includes the use of Anglican titles. While we understand that he is titled as a "bishop" with this group, Mr. Lumanog is not a bishop with the ACNA or with any recognized ACNA or GAFCON communion body.
    52. ↑ Lumanog, Jack (2020-05-15). "Bishop Jack Lumanog: ordained and consecrated an Anglican Bishop". jacklumanog.com. Archived from the original on 2022-08-18. Retrieved 2022-08-18.
    53. ↑ Lumanog, Jack (2019-04-27). "The Venerable Canon Dr. Jon Ignatius Lumanog ordained and consecrated as Anglican Bishop". jacklumanog.com. Archived from the original on 2022-08-18. Retrieved 2022-08-18.
    54. ↑ "N.B. a False ORC Directory". The Canonical Old Roman Catholic Directory. 2017-06-27. Archived from the original on 2022-08-18. Retrieved 2022-08-18.
    55. ↑ Dreher, Rod (2011-12-29). "Behold, the patriarch". The American Conservative. Archived from the original on 2022-08-18. Retrieved 2022-08-18. Christopher Johnson at Midwestern Conservative Journal draws our eyes to Rutherford Johnson — that's His Royal Highness Prince Rutherford Johnson of Etruria, who is also Rutherford Cardinal Johnson, the patriarch of the recently invented Anglican Rite Roman Catholic Church.
    56. ↑ "National Bible College Association – Private Christian Accreditation". National Bible College Association. Archived from the original on 2022-12-13. Retrieved 2022-12-13.
    57. ↑ "Online Business Filings". Kentucky Secretary of State. 2022-12-13. Archived from the original on 2022-12-13. Retrieved 2022-12-13.
    58. ↑ "Online Business Filings". Kentucky Secretary of State. 2022-12-13. Archived from the original on 2022-12-13. Retrieved 2022-12-13.
    59. ↑ Lumanog, Jack (2020-11-25). "From Bishop Jack Lumanog – appointment of Interim Archdeacon". jacklumanog.com. Archived from the original on 2023-02-16. Retrieved 2023-02-16.
    60. ↑ "Leadership". The Anglican Diocese of St. Ignatius Loyola. 2021-08-19. Archived from the original on 2023-02-16. Retrieved 2023-02-16.
    61. ↑ "Clergy Misconduct and Discipline". Diocese of New Jersey. Archived from the original on 2024-04-03. Retrieved 2024-04-03.
    62. ↑ Stokes, William (2020-04-06). "Notice of Order and Sentencing" (PDF). The Diocese of New Jersey. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2023-02-16. Retrieved 2023-02-16. Pursuant to Canon IV.14.12(a) of the Canons of The Episcopal Church, this is to notify you of an Order of a Hearing Panel of the Diocese of New Jersey involving Respondent The Venerable Gideon Arinzechukwu Uzomechina, a Presbyter canonically resident in the Diocese of New Jersey. This Order became effective on April 1, 2020. The Offenses which are the subject of this Order are specified in Canons IV.4.1(c), IV.4.1(d), IV.4.1(h)(1). IV.4.1(h)(6), and IV.4.1(h)(9) of the Canons of The Episcopal Church. Pursuant to the Order, Gideon Arinzechukwu Uzomechina has been sentenced to deposition from the ordained Ministry of The Episcopal Church.
    63. ↑ "Spotlight on abuse: Episcopal priest Gideon A. Uzomechina". Anglican Watch. 2022-10-22. Archived from the original on 2024-04-03. Retrieved 2024-04-03.
    64. ↑ "About us". Messiah Anglican Church. Retrieved 2023-02-27. MEET OUR LEADER FATHER GIDEON A. UZOMECHINA: Having serve as a priest and missionary for over two decades following his seminary training in Nigeria and ordination into the Anglican Communion (Anglo Catholic tradition) as well as his Interfaith and Ecumenical studies in Israel, the Venerable Dr. Gideon Uzomechina, fondly called Father Gideon, is the Rector of spirit filled Anglican Church of the Messiah, Plainfield, the Archdeacon of New Jersey, and the Diocesan Director of Missions.
    65. ↑ "Ihe mere ụka Anglịkan ji gbarụọ ihu nye ụkọchukwu kpeere dịbịa ekpere". BBC News Ìgbò (in Igbo). 2022-12-31. Archived from the original on 2023-02-16. Retrieved 2023-02-16.
    66. ↑ "He is Not One of Us, CoN Disowns U.S Based Priest in Viral Video for Native Doctor Award - Advent Cable Network Nigeria". 2022-12-30. Archived from the original on 2023-02-16. Retrieved 2023-02-16. Part of the statement reads; "Be it known to the Christian Community and the General Public, therefore, that the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) is not associated with the Venerable Gideon Arinzechukwu Uzomechina; the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) is not associated with Messiah Anglican New Jersey, USA; and the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) is not part of the purported award to be given to a native doctor."
    67. ↑ Dajur, Gershinen Paul (2022-12-31). "Church of Nigeria: NJ priest not one of us". Anglican Ink. Archived from the original on 2023-02-16. Retrieved 2023-02-16.
    68. ↑ "Leadership". Evangelical Episcopal Communion. Archived from the original on 2022-10-25. Retrieved 2022-10-25.
    69. ↑ "Archbishop Russell McClanahan reunites with the CEEC". Communion of Evangelical Episcopal Churches. 2020-06-12. Archived from the original on 2020-06-12. Retrieved 2023-02-13.
    70. ↑ "Clergy Directory: 2022". The African Episcopal Church. Archived from the original on 2022-10-25. Retrieved 2022-10-25.
    71. ↑ Sseruyigo, Aaron (2018-01-10). "Man guilty of misusing church funds names himself Bishop". Uganda Christian News. Archived from the original on 2023-04-03. Retrieved 2023-04-03.
    72. ↑ Kakeeto, Moses. "Expelled Church of Uganda priest starts his own church, names self-Bishop". Newz Post. Archived from the original on 2023-04-03. Retrieved 2023-04-03.
    73. ↑ "Clergy Directory: 2023". The African Episcopal Church. 2022-07-26. Archived from the original on 2023-04-03. Retrieved 2023-04-03.
    74. ↑ "Ugandan Archbishop Reclaims Church Properties". The Living Church. 2024-04-01. Archived from the original on 2024-04-03. Retrieved 2024-04-03.
    75. ↑ Lumanog, Jack (2024-03-06). "Bishop Jack Lumanog Named to House of Bishops of the African Episcopal Church". jacklumanog.com. Archived from the original on 2024-03-24. Retrieved 2024-03-24.
    76. ↑ "Religious Carveout Sinks Black Ex-Minister's Bias Suit". Law360 Employment Authority. Retrieved 2024-04-03.
    77. ↑ "Convergence Ecclesiology | Addendum 4: Apostolic Succession" (PDF). International Communion of the Charismatic Episcopal Church. 2018. A summary of Apostolic Succession may be described as Three Streams coming together to make one river including: Apostolic Faith/Doctrine (the Evangelical Stream); Apostolic Authority (the Liturgical/Sacramental Stream) and Apostolic Anointing (the Charismatic Stream). Using these categories, we note that the former Archbishop of Canterbury, Michael Ramsey summarized the essential elements of Apostolic Succession as including: "First of all, the succession of Bishop to Bishop in office secured a continuity of Christian teaching and tradition in every See. Each followed the teachings of his predecessor, and so the succession of Bishops was a guarantee that everywhere the Christians were taught the true Gospel of Jesus Christ in the flesh. Having no such succession, the Gnostics had no claim to be the authorized teachers of the faith….Thus the succession of Bishops is a safeguard of continuous teaching…."
    78. ↑ "Automatic excommunication for bishop over illicit ordination". Catholic News Agency. Archived from the original on 2022-09-25. Retrieved 2022-09-25. According to canon 1382, both "A bishop who consecrates some one a bishop without a pontifical mandate and the person who receives the consecration from him incur a latae sententiae excommunication reserved to the Apostolic See."
    79. ↑ "Vatican defrocks exorcist archbishop who married". Reuters. 2009-12-17. Archived from the original on 2022-09-25. Retrieved 2022-09-25.
    80. ↑ "Once a Bishop, Always a Bishop" (PDF). Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth. Retrieved April 10, 2022. The Church of England's Canon C.1, sec.2, explicitly agrees with the rest of Catholic tradition in this regard: "No person who has been admitted to the order of bishop, priest, or deacon can ever be divested of the character of his order," though he may be deprived or deposed from exercising it. The Episcopal Church accepts the same principle in practice by providing for the restoration of someone under the discipline of suspension, inhibition, or deposition without requiring re-ordination (Canon IV.13). Like baptism and confirmation, ordination seals someone permanently with the seal of the Holy Spirit, or to use similar language common in Western theology and in our Anglican formularies, it confers an indelible character. If a bishop is deposed for "abandoning the communion of this church," then "this church" must surely refer to our particular province over which we have a rightful control, and not to any other provinces of the Catholic Church for which he was also ordained. Is that perhaps why the Presiding Bishop does not seem to be bothered that Bishop Jeffrey Steenson and others are "abandoning the communion of this church" for the Roman Catholic Church, but seems very upset about bishops and parishes "abandoning the communion of this church" for some other province in the Anglican Communion, even so far as being willing to sell our property to Roman Catholics or Methodists or anyone else except Anglicans?
    81. ↑ "If a priest leaves the priesthood, is he still able to perform the sacraments?". Catholic Straight Answers. So what happens when a priest leaves the priesthood? Since Holy Orders is a character sacrament, once it has been validly received, it never is invalidated for any reason whatsoever. Granted, a cleric– deacon, priest, or bishop– may be freed from the clerical state and dispensed from the promise of celibacy by the proper authority. He may no longer have the obligations or the privileges to function as a cleric, but nevertheless he remains a cleric. Commonly, this practice is called laicization, meaning "returned to the state of the laity." (Code of Canon Law, #290-293.) Even though the cleric has been laicized and no longer functions as a deacon, priest, or bishop, he still has the sacramental character of Holy Orders. Technically, if he were to perform a sacrament in accord with the norms of the Church, that sacrament would indeed be valid. However, the sacrament would be illicit, meaning he violated Church law and would be culpable for this infraction since he no longer has the faculties to function as a priest.
    82. ↑ "The "Indelible Character" of Holy Orders". The Catholic Layman. 7 (76): 38–39. 1858. ISSN   0791-5640. The Council of Trent decrees, that "in the Sacrament of Order . . . a 'character' is impressed which can neither be blotter out nor taken away:" and condemns all who affirm that "persons once rightly ordained can again be laics." (Sess. xxiii., ch. 4) "If any one shall have said, that by sacred ordination . . . . a character is not impressed or that he who was once a priest can again become a laic, let him be accursed." (Sess. xxiii., ch. 4) . . . . Where the mark is stamped on the soul, there there is "order;" and where that mark is not stamped on the soul, there is not order (according to the Church of Rome). And the Council of Trent declares that mark or "character" to be "indelible;" that is to say, once impressed on the soul, it can never be rubbed out or lost, or taken away.
    83. ↑ Pheidas, Vlassios. "Chapter I". The limits of the church in an orthodox perspective. Myriobiblos: The online library of the Church of Greece. Online Cultural Center of the Church of Greece. Archived from the original on 30 October 2005. Retrieved 14 May 2013. "Chapter II". Archived from the original on 30 October 2005. Retrieved March 14, 2022.
    84. ↑ "Validity of Roman Catholic Orders - Questions & Answers". Orthodox Church in America. Retrieved 2023-08-11.
    85. ↑ Metropolitan Isaiah (9 May 2000). "Protocols 2000". Orthodox Research Institute. Archived from the original on 2010-11-27.
    86. ↑ "Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs | Ordination Joint Committee of Orthodox and Catholic Bishops, 1988". United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. 23 July 2011. Archived from the original on 23 July 2011.
    87. ↑ "Home". Continuing Evangelical Episcopal Communion. Archived from the original on 2023-12-19. Retrieved 2023-12-19.
    88. ↑ "About". Evangelical Episcopal Communion. Archived from the original on 2023-12-19. Retrieved 2023-12-19.
    89. ↑ "Church & Ministry Affiliations". Missio Mosaic. Archived from the original on 2023-12-19. Retrieved 2023-12-19.
    90. 1 2 "Archbishop Reinhard Sekar of CEEC-India visits the United States". Communion of Evangelical Episcopal Churches. 2023-05-31. Retrieved 2023-12-19.
    91. ↑ "Charismatic Episcopal Church Patriarch Answers Questions About His Church". Virtue Online. Archived from the original on 2023-12-19. Retrieved 2023-12-19.
    92. ↑ "Christian traditions merge in Charismatic Episcopal Church". KBIA. 2014-02-15. Retrieved 2024-03-24.
    93. ↑ "Dioceses and Orders – CEEC Province USA" . Retrieved 2022-08-18.
    94. ↑ "Member Churches". The Order of St Leonard. Retrieved 2023-12-19.
    95. ↑ "Province of Canada". Communion of Evangelical Episcopal Churches. Retrieved 2022-08-18.

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