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Click here for the latest on the CEC catechism development.
There are some subtle surprises here. First, there appears to be 2 women in this working group. *GASP!* To outsiders, the CEC has had this misogynistic undercurrent since its inception. So, 2 women in this working group is a bit of a surprise and a relief at the same time.
Also, the article mentions that the BCP 1979 is the template for the CEC’s catechism. This continues to plague the CEC as a movement. The “pick & mix liturgies” being used from coast to coast don’t really lend to any sort of identity. It’s a cafeteria approach that robs one of a liturgical experience with any real continuity. (Also, just because you have Microsoft Word and can cut and paste liturgies found on the Internets, doesn’t make you a liturgist.)
I’m not sure why the CEC can’t just start from scratch and develop what they want. Otherwise, there will always be this pseudo-Anglican or pseudo-Episcopalian shadow trailing behind the movement.
This was too good to let it sit solely in the comments section. This is from Bishop David Epps regarding my post on Bishop Philip Weeks. (Yes, I misspelled Bishop Weeks’ name as pointed out by a commenter… sorry about that, Bishop!)
Thanks for clearing this up, Bishop Epps. If it weren’t for minutia like this, I’d be out of business as an evil blogger. But, I am really grateful that you commented on my post and cleared this whole thing up. Much appreciated!
—-
It was not my intention to disrespect Bishop Phillip Weeks, as was inferred in the above comments. I continue to stay in communication with Bishop Weeks and he and especially his dear wife, June, have been on our church prayer list for months. Any omission of his title in the article was mine and I bear the responsibility. I deeply respect the work and ministry he has done through the decades and I am sorry that this omission was used to continue the past controversies.
David Epps
frepps@ctkcec.org
In this latest news item from CECHOME, +Epps gets the royal treatment with his title and all. However, The Most. Rev. Philip Weeks gets no such treatment when mentioned in this same post. For some reason, the book he wrote “Non Nobis Domine” is good enough to give out to confirmands in the CEC. But, not able to accord him the proper respect due to a bishop? Hmmm… kind of a double standard here. On the one hand, thanks for the book… we’ll treasure it always and hand it out to CEC confirmands. On the other, you’re also a “vow breaker”, “dead wood”, [insert some other pithy euphemism for asshole who left the CEC]. I’m surprised that the writer was able to summon the strength to even type the words “Phillip Weeks” when referencing him in the story. The standard practice seems to be erasing the Leaver’s name out of the CEC Book of Life and then pretending they never existed. So, points for even naming +Weeks, I suppose.
Also, the photo below looks dangerously close to women’s ordination. (I know, I know… it’s common practice to give a red stole to those receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation.) But, the lady in the front row on the right is also wearing a cassock and cotta. Yikes!
Read on for the post from CECHOME.
Sixteen Receive Sacrament of Confirmation/Reception
Sixteen Individuals received the Sacrament of Confirmation and/or Membership Reception at Christ the King Charismatic Episcopal Church, Sharpsburg, GA. The service was held on a Sunday morning and the sacrament was administered by The Most Rev’d David Epps, Auxiliary Bishop serving Georgia and Tennessee. Epps also the rector of Christ the King. The confirmands completed a course and were presented a copy of the book, “Non Nobis Domine,” authored by Phillip Weeks. The members of the class also received red confirmation stoles, signifying their entry into the “royal priesthood” (1 Peter 2:9), or, as Martin Luther described it, the “priesthood of all believers.”
This is from the closing Mass of the Catholic group Call to Action. Some of the aspects of this Mass look like some of the CEC convocations I’ve been to (the dance part). But, I don’t understand the strange massive heads that look like they came from Brazilian carnival week and why they are processing into the assembly.
I’ll probably get into trouble for this but EWTN is not really representative of all of Catholicism. I know that some ex-CECers see it that way. They like the traditional Mass and incense and the ladies with their head coverings and all that. But, there is still a very troubled wing of the Roman Church that has been doing a lot of mixture between traditions and it’s apparent in this video.
Not sure of my purpose of posting this on a site that mainly deals with the CEC but the exodus to Rome seems to have been precipitated by a lot of people watching a lot of EWTN.
Click here for news from the CEEC… note that extra “e.”
There is a new Presiding Bishop for the Communion of Evangelical Episcopal Churches. And, they are calling him “Patriarch” of India. If a lesson can be learned from the CEC, you might want to stay away from the “Patriarch” tag. There is now an Archbishop’s/Patriarch’s Council for the CEEC here. Sound familiar to anyone around here?
Ex-CEC priest in Massachusetts is reported on in his shift to Orthodoxy. Click here for the story or read on below.
Warren church undergoes shift
Saturday, May 03, 2008
By CHRIS HAMEL
chamel@repub.com
WARREN – A former West Brookfield congregation that bought a historic church here in 2007 has undergone a significant shift.
The Rev. Kenneth M. DeVoie, of West Brookfield, said the Emmanuel Charismatic Episcopal Church, which held its first service at the former Federated Church of Warren on July 8, 2007, has become the Emmanuel Orthodox Catholic Church. Before coming to Warren, the congregation, which was founded in 2000, had worshipped at George Whitefield United Methodist Church in West Brookfield.
The Federated Church of Warren, whose numbers had dwindled, ceased operations on June 3, 2007. The landmark church on Winthrop Terrace is on the National Register of Historic Places.
DeVoie, 43, said his congregation has grown in the past nine months, but also has embraced Antiochian Orthodox Christianity. He said the flock has become part of Eastern Orthodox Christianity and is being overseen by the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America, which has its offices in New Jersey.
DeVoie said the shift was prompted when the Charismatic Episcopal faith, which was founded in 1992, provisionally adopted the U.S. Episcopal Church’s catechism, rooted in the English Reformation of the 16th century. He said the move was a departure from the faith’s founding, rooted in the first 1,000 years of Christianity.
He said St. Stephen’s Charismatic Episcopal Church in Springfield, where the pastor is the Rev. Christopher M. Nerreau, of West Brookfield, has undergone a similar shift. It has become St. Stephen’s Orthodox Catholic Church, he said.
“As a matter of conscience, to change (to the catechism) would have been to ask both congregations to accept a reform theology,” DeVoie said.
DeVoie said his flock, which now has about 130 members, continues to hold its main weekly service at 10 a.m. on Sunday. Visitors are welcome.
He noted that the church is active in the community in the operation of a food pantry for the needy, which serves about 70 families; in offering Christian 12-Step Overcomers, a Christ-centered program for people trying to overcome life obstacles; and in hosting meetings of Alcoholics Anonymous at its premises.
“We see our ministry as a growing church known for those who are looking for good, solid, traditional roots in the orthodox faith and a life where they can use their gifts in a ministry of that church,” DeVoie said.
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