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Dom Luis Fernando Castillo Mendez, Patriarch of ICAB, blessing a meeting convened by Moonies
The conversation lately has kind of blown up all over the place at ON OUR WAY HOME. Lots of finger pointing about Orthodox, Catholic, Brazil, Anglican, or perhaps even CEC still being the best possible way. It appears that everyone is piling on our favorite commenter, Klampert. My guess is because ++Adler hasn’t posted at ON OUR WAY HOME, there’s no one else to beat up on.
But, one point seems to have been missed here. One post went like this:
Guest Posted: Jan 2 2008, 02:47 PM
The moonies and the Brazilian churchCan we talk more about this
OK, if no one wants to take this, I will. On December 9, 2006, a “Convocation of Married Priests” was held in in Parsippany, New Jersey. It was convened by an official looking “Archbishop Milingo”. He was a former Roman Catholic Archbishop who was married at a public ceremony to a Korean woman led by the Unification Church (aka “The Moonies”).
Look through the pics of the event here (pic of Mendez at the top right hand corner of Page 2 of the photo album). By the time you get to Page 3 of the photo album, it looks like a full on Moonie event! (Find out more about this legitimate sounding group Married Priests Now here.)
If you look at the Married Priests Now site close enough, you’ll see the connection to Milingo and Rev. Sun Myung Moon. Or, you can just click here for this article.
This connection isn’t a “smoking gun” or anything like that. It appears that the kindly looking Patriarch of ICAB was duped into attending a convocation that looked decently legit. It also appears that Mendez wasn’t the only one who may have been misled. 
This connection between Brazil and the Moonies exists probably from a lack of due diligence on ICAB’s part for not properly investigating what might not be a wise event to attend.
So, some free advice for bishops, archbishops and patriarchs everywhere:
Even if you get to wear your vestments at a Moonie-funded event, you might want to think twice about showing up.
Happy new year, one and all!
There’s a new website that I want to let you know about: CECExodus.com
You will even find a link to this site here under: Evil Blogs Explanation is found here from their site:
Evil Blogs
Many of us were told by our leaders that the forums were a place where lies about the CEC were being spread (referred to as “dissident blogs” by at least one high-profile priest). Unfortunately, this is untrue. In fact, these forums exist because the leaders within the CEC have not been forthright in disclosing information nor have they allowed open communication within the local parishes or across the denomination. These forums proved to be the only place that people have been able to speak with one another without making a ruckus in their own parishes.
Thanks for the link love, CECExodus.com!
In response to this comment from “ON OUR WAY HOME“:
“Not supposed to be looking at the blogs….aren’t they dangerous?”
(Joel) Klampert, a friend from the CEC Healing comments section, responded with this:
hmm well that goes back to what I said before…speculation on blogs hurts people…fact and grace bring healing. We could use a little more of the grace word on the “blogs” . To me what is more dangerous than “looking” is not looking. I hope that this new site will help shed light on people who are hurting so they can be helped…shed light on important insights from people who know more than us…teach us through experiences of of others…give us resources so we can further the kingdom…and most of all connect the church like never before.
Joel Klampert
Well said, as always. I appreciated what I read from him there and thought it was worth posting here as well seeing as there’s been some good cross-pollenation between my blog and the ON OUR WAY HOME forum lately.
Emmanuel in West Brookfield, MA and St. Stephen’s in Springfield, MA are the two churches being led out of the CEC by their clergy and into Western Rite Orthodoxy.
Even though the churches still have “CEC” in their URLs (http://www.emmanuelcec.org and http://ststephenscec.org), the bio on the priest has this last bullet point on the Emmanuel Church page:
December 2007 Moves Emmanuel & St. Stephen’s Church’s into the Western Rite Vicariate of the Antiochian Orthodox Church, completing the journey Home
As far as I know, these parishes were always under +Bates – not under ++Sly or +Zampino.
As to the other question brought up in response to this original post, I have no news on the Southeast losing an Archdeacon from Christ the King Selma.
Posted in the comments section moments ago by hypostasis:
As of December 21, 2007, two CEC Churches in the Diocese of the Northeast have been led out of the CEC by their clergy and are heading to the Western Rite of the Antiochian Orthodox Church. The departure is substantially a result of the CEC’s theological drift from that of the first 1,000 years of the unified Church, as originally en-visioned, to that of the 16th Century Protestant Reformation in England (a.ka. Anglicanism).
Whilst web surfing today, I noticed an ex-CEC parish has “changed flags” (hotel speak when it goes from one brand to another — Marriott to Hilton, for example).
Shepherd’s Heart in Virginia is now a part of the Convocation of Anglicans in North America which is under the Anglican Church of Nigeria. Click here to their newly updated website.
Nothing like old news on a slow day…this was e-mailed to me (back on Sept. 5th!) from a reader of this blog. According to the St. Augustine Record newspaper, changes are a happening at the church formerly pastored by Fr. Joe Butler who has left the CEC and is now a part of Credence Clearwater Revival Communion of Corpus Christi.
++Doug Woodall is in charge of this parish
St. Andrews CEC Mission in St. Augustine has changed its service time from 10 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Sundays. Services are held at the Riverview Club, 790 Christina Drive, St. Augustine Shores.
Doug Woodall, CEC Archbishop for the Archdiocese of the Armed Forces, is interim pastor.
Woodall notes that children’s church for elementary age children is now being offered.
Catholic Online must be into recycling stories this week. Dated “12/11/2007″ is a story by Deacon Keith Fournier about Randy and Sandy Sly becoming Roman Catholic. Click here for the story. This is not new news to most of us but it’s getting recycled on Catholic Online for some reason.
Also, a discussion on apostolic succession is burning up the boards over at “On Our Way Home.” After my time in the CEC, I can spell apostolic succession as well as anyone. The deal is, if there is no “apostolic success” who gives a rat’s ass? I think a good definition of apostolic success can be found in the last 2 verses of Acts 2:
Acts 2
46Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
Who cares who has the tallest mitre? Or, if ICAB is considered schismatic by Rome? Blah, blah, blah if you ask me. Arguing about apostolic succession will get you absolutely nowhere. Mostly, it’s a smoke screen for a lack of spiritual or numerical growth in the church.
Jacob Lee posted a comment which got caught in my spam filter. I de-spamed it and now here’s the link he shared with me:
http://iconnewmedianetwork.com/2007/12/06/true-convergence-orthodox-podcast-1/
I guess if you were with one triumphalistic group (“The CEC is the only TRUE Church”), it’s only natural to go with yet another triumphalistic group (“Orthodoxy is the only TRUE Church”) as evidenced by the “True Convergence” podcast below.
True Convergence: Orthodox Podcast #1
By admin ⋅ December 6, 2007 ⋅
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True Convergence Orthodox Podcast #1
Host:
Jacob Lee — Icon New Media Network
Participating:
Fr. John Denny Roland —St.’s Peter and Paul Orthodox Church, Hot Springs Arkansas
Fr. Patrick Cardine — St. Patrick’s Orthodox Church, Warrenton, Virginia
Fr. Patrick and Fr. John Denny talk about their journey from the Charismatic Episcopal Church into the Orthodox Church. Both Fr. Patrick and Fr. John Denny have recently been ordained in the western rite of the Antiochian Orthodox Church.
Please listen to their journeys and leave comments and ask questions. Fr. Patrick and Fr. John would love to hear from you.
This is the inaugural show! We did not know what we were going to call it or that it was going to be a regular deal when we first recorded it. This recording, along with the Man in Black Shows on the Charismatic Episcopal Church, have inspired a new podcast series on the Convergence Movement. We will be sharing more stories and more Journeys into the Orthodox Church on this show. Look for not just audio, but blog posts as well. We have more things in mind so make sure and stay tuned into the True Convergence: Orthodox Podcast.
This show was conducted via skype.
Apparently, a new order has emerged within the CEC called the Order of Franciscan Penitents. See below…
A Franciscan Reflection
by Fr. Christopher Keough, OFP
November 30, 2007
The Feast of St. AndrewGreetings in the Name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! I am hoping that this will be the first of many “Franciscan Reflections” from the brothers and sisters of the Order of Franciscan Penitents (OFP), the new religious community in the Charismatic Episcopal Church. The Order of Franciscan Penitents was officially established on November 17, 2007 by Bishop Michael Davidson of the Central Province of the CEC. On that day the OFP was born, and Saints Francis and Clare Mission in Columbia, Missouri was established as a religious house for the whole church. Seven people took vows as Franciscans that day, four renewed vows from other traditions and three embraced vows as Franciscan brothers and sisters for the very first time. Three priests, four lay persons (two women and two men) became the first members of a religious community that has the potential to reach people worldwide. Each person takes their place in a
new type of monastic community. The OFP is a community separated by distance but united by prayer, and common bonds of devotion to our Lord Jesus Christ formed by the teachings and witness of St. Francis of Assisi. The mission of the OFP is to be a witness to the world of the saving grace and love of Jesus. To be a Franciscan is to be an evangelist. To be a Franciscan is to be converted to a life wholly devoted to Jesus. The
word “penitent” is understood in its purest form, conversion. The Franciscan is to be wholly converted to Christ, turning from worldly passions and being converted to a life devoted to our Savior. The habit of the new order is nontraditional as well. The habit -
religious dress of the order – is a silver ring. The habit is worn twenty-four hours each day, seven days each week. The ring is the perfect habit for the OFP. It allows each member to be a constant and continual witness to the vowed life of the Franciscan. As I reflect on the ring which I have worn for just two weeks now, and which my brothers and sisters in the order now wear, it is a constant reminder of the connection I now have with these special people. My daily prayers include all those in the OFP, and all those who will join or be friends of the order. My daily prayers include Bishop Michael, who himself kissed each ring at the institution of the order. My daily offices are blessed by knowing that every other member of the order is praying for me as I am praying for them. I look at the ring often. I roll it on my finger. I contemplate on the life of Francis who became such a strong witness to Christ, and whose example we strive to follow. The design of the ring is very special. Sister Toni Almond, OFP designed the ring we wear as our habit. It has the cincture, or rope belt (girdle) worn in a traditional monastic habit lining the edges of the ring. Three knots in the rope represent the three vows taken by the Franciscan – humility, obedience, and simplicity (more on those in another article). In the center of the ring is the Franciscan Tau cross – imagine a large “T”. The Tau cross is the traditional symbol of the brothers and sisters of St. Francis. This was a symbol adopted by Francis himself. Imagine someone in a religious robe extending his arms out to embrace the world. Laying over the support beam of the cross (below the top of the “T” part) is the dove of the Holy Spirit – Imagine the wings of the dove in the shape of a triangle facing downward. This represents our unique witness to the world as members of the Charismatic Episcopal Church. But there’s more. It occurred to me just the other day that when one looks at the ring upside down, it looks like a sailing ship. This image
immediately turned my thoughts to the sailing ship that Bishop Davidson uses to illustrate the mission of the CEC in the Central Province. That mission finds its foundation in teleios – Christian maturity. The OFP is called to that mission the same as any parish in the province. We are called to Christian maturity and stability – called to teleios. When we wear the ring, the world sees the symbol of a Franciscan community guided and empowered by the Holy Spirit. The wearer sees that image as well, but
I also see the image of teleios – the mission of the CEC in the world. By the grace of God, may the OFP extend its arms in loving embrace that all may find themselves in the Savior’s arms.
How is this remotely a priority? I doubt that re-tooling the Nicene Creed will bring back most of those who left the CEC in the last 2 waves. I know of few who left the CEC over the filioque clause.
I do know of many that left due to broken promises, lack of a credible infrastructure, no health or pension plans for clergy, and going through the motions of consensus government. If the announcement by +David Simpson was about any of the aforementioned, perhaps you might see some excitement out there. But this announcement seems to be designed to answer a question that no one was asking.
—-
From: Bishop David Simpson
At the recent US House of Bishops, the US Theological Working Group presented several papers on the Nicene Creed. In response to those papers, and the subsequent discussion among the bishops, it was agreed that the contemporary English version is flawed in several respects. As a result, the US House of Bishops, and subsequently the Patriarch’s Council, approved the older English version of the Nicene Creed, with certain modifications.
The process began with the recognition that the modern version of the Nicene Creed, as used in Rite Two of the BCP, and developed by the International Commision on English Texts, is flawed in its translation of certain important theological phrases, such as “seen and unseen,” etc. In each case, the translation of the traditional version, used as an alternative in Rite One of the BCP, was considered more theological and linguistically accurate. The concern with simply reverting to the traditional version was clarity, such as “proceedeth, and quick”, etc. So we simply updated those words to reflect modern useage.
The form adopted by the Patriarch’s Council is actually the one out of the 1928 BCP, and the traditional version in the 1979 BCP, with the modifications mentioned in the explanation document. We did not rely on the Lutheran version at all, rather the Anglican one. The only two substantitive changes to the traditional BCP version of the Creed are “and the Virgin Mary,” and the filioque clause. The first, came about as we examined the original Greek version of the Creed, which was the one written by the councils. It is clearly “and the Virgin Mary,” not “of the Virgin Mary,” which is how the Eastern Churches translate it. The second, of course, was added subsequent to the consensus of the eucumenical councils by the West, and therefore, not part of the original Creed. You are correct in assuming that the parentheses around the clause is the writing on the wall. I fully expect that unless the Lord completely redirects the thinking of the bishops, it will eventually be eliminated altogether. Until then it is optional.
We believe in one God,the Father Almighty,maker of heaven and earth,and of all things visible and invisible;And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of his Father before all worlds, God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God, begotten, not made,being of one substance with the Father; by whom all things were made;who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, and was made man; and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate;he suffered and was buried; and the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures, and ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father;and he shall come again, with glory, to judge the living and the dead;whose kingdom shall have no end.And we believe in the Holy Spirit the Lord, and Giver of Life, who proceeds from the Father (and the Son); who with the Father and the Son together is worshiped and glorified; who has spoken through the Prophets.And we believe in one holy Catholic and Apostolic Church; we acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins; and we look for the resurrection of the dead,and the life of the world to come. Amen.
Take a look at the sign gracing the front of the cathedral parish in Kansas.
They are proud to be a part of the International Communication of the Charismatic Episcopal Church… er…um… I think they meant Communion.
Perhaps this is a new splinter movement within the ICCEC. Or, I’m reading a bit much into a typo that seems to have slipped through the cracks.
This was posted to the livejournal page for St. Michael’s Cathedral back in July:
Kevin Barry+ (all the way to the right) was formerly at St. Michael’s and served as a Canon Missioner. He’s pictured here as he travelled with ++Adler to Africa.
Today, I learned of a podcast featuring Barry+ and Matthew Cuthbertson, another one formerly at St. Michael’s and an inquirer into Orthdoxy.
(I’ve only listened to a few minutes of this as I’m posting this and it irked me that the Orthodox priest hosting this podcast referred to Canon Barry as “Mr. Barry.”)
This comment from papaz was in response to a post that I made back in July when I discovered that an “Intergenerational Healing Questionnaire” used in prayer ministry was on the KS cathedral parish’s website. (See my original post here).
Read my post first and then the comment below. I thought it best to bring papaz’s comment to the front of the blog so that no one could miss this. It’s worth a read.
November 16, 2007 at 9:54 pm
papazAfter a great deal of thought and consideration, I feel that I must respond here.
A couple of points: 1) I do believe that there can be such things as generational issues, etc. 2) I enormously mistrust many, if not most, people who claim this ministry, because of the tremendous possibility for abuse. Throughout my life, people have accused me of not believing in spiritual warfare, because of the mistrust I have expressed for the kooks in the field. Actually, the reverse is true. I do believe in spiritual warfare, and it is because I take it as seriously as I do, I tend to get very nervous when some kook dabbles in something very dangerous. 3) Michael and Cathie Davidson have, in my opinion (and personal experience) a very unhealthy, even dangerous, fascination with this subject.
Now on to the application itself: 1) Please note that one of the “resources” listed is the Davidson’s own teaching on the subject. This, in and of itself, while not a fatal flaw, does give one pause. One typically has to be careful citing one’s self. 2) I have been in ministry, in one form or another, for about a quarter century. For various schools, jobs, or positions, I have been required to take many, if not most, of the standard psychological testing instruments. I have never, in either my educational or ministerial career, ever seen a questionnaire quite like this one. I’m not saying that they don’t exist – I’m sure that they do – but this questionnaire, as presented here, has no business whatsoever being used outside an extremely tightly controlled professional environment. This is not the sort of thing to which your average parish volunteer should ever – ever be subjected. 3) While admitting that questionnaires of this sort may be of value in the aforementioned extremely tightly controlled environment, there are aspects of THIS particular questionnaire which range from the silly to the offensive. Some examples:
In the section under “Occult” does anyone (other than the Davidsons, apparently) truly believe that Science Fiction movies are comparable to Black Magic? Or that Yoga is comparable to Necromancy? Or that acupuncture is comparable to holding a séance?
In the section under “Secret Organizations, Cults, False Religions, Occult, and Mind Control” is it honest to compare pledging a college fraternity with the list of various cults mentioned? Does anyone really want to put the Knights of Columbus (an extremely faithful Catholic organization) with Satanism?
What this is, folks, is a control grab, dressed up as an “inner healing” program. I worked in this diocese for many years, and witnessed – first hand – information about persons which should have been confidential (and which the persons involved thought WERE confidential) to be abused. Anyone actually considering submitting this questionnaire to the CCOK needs to seriously reconsider. You are potentially handing a dangerous weapon to someone who has demonstrated (in my opinion and experience) that he can and will abuse it.
As reported in the comments section, it appears the parish council at the Kansas cathedral parish had a long meeting, basically sang “kumbaya” and is moving on. Hald commented that it was a long meeting and his opinions were heard. It does not appear anything huge was decided except to move on. Most indications were that a “statement” was to be read and that the bishop was not on trial or anything like that.
From On Our Way Home . . . no real meeting happening tonight in Kansas. Instead, the parish faithful will be treated to a “statement”. This from a forwarded e-mail from within the church there in KS.
It’s just awesome that you can be the mouthpiece of God on the one hand, but when you screw up as a bishop, don’t worry because God will sort it out. Perhaps I’m the only one reading that in +Davidson’s e-mail…
Dear ********:
I forgot to mention that the Cathedral Council will not be the place or time to answer in detail questions you have. …. At the Council meeting I will present a statement on what has happened, deal with questions and then we will move on to other business concerning the building of the Cathedral. There is not much I can say. Also, I am not here to defend myself.
The main issue here is not about trust in the bishops. Church history is full of leadership failures. The real issue as a catholic is trusting in God. He is well able to deal with leaders who will not listen to His correction.
Perhaps you can submit major questions you have and I will try to answer them. Doing this will help you to formulate what your real concerns are. I in no way am trying to dismiss you. ….it seems you have deeper issues to deal with than I can address in our brief time at this meeting. Most of the leadership on the council are anxious to move ahead.
Therefore, please forward any questions you have.
God bless,
+mike
I have been informed by e-mail and in the comments section that the meeting happening next week in the Central Diocese is for the cathedral parish leadership only and not at all a territory-wide forum. Oops. I sit and type corrected.
I’ve been most grateful to many of you who have e-mailed me. I have been hearing of similar experiences in the CEC from across the country and around the world, even. It’s kind of strange that we could all have the same experience but be in different places of the world and serving with different clergy and under different bishops. However, the tale always ends the same. Try to speak up, “off with your head!” Try to leave, “off with your head!”
I’ve also been awash in a sea of comments that are not ready for prime time. Again, when you start your comment off with, “Dear Satan worshipper,” you’ve completely lost me. Chances are high that it’s not making the blog. Don’t like it? Start your own. But, thanks for at least summoning the courtesy to start off with the word “Dear”.
Not much news to report on the CEC front. It appears from skimming the other forums such as On Our Way Home and Ancient-Future that the cathedral in Kansas seems to be a hotbed of activity leading up to a provincial meeting on Nov. 11th. So, wars and rumors of wars happening in the Central Province and all else quiet elsewhere, I suppose. More later as it happens!
WOW… on the On Our Way Home forum, +Rick Painter breaks his silence. Incredible insights, as always, from Bishop Rick (I always enjoy saying his name fast as in “bishopric”).
Click here to see the post by +Painter or see below…
I have just been reconnected to the internet after having been off during our recent selling, buying, remodeling, and moving into our new church facility. So, I come a little late to this conversation.
This is my first time ever to post on this, or any blog, forum, or what have you. I have read with a broken heart many of your posts. Also, I have experienced anger, disgust, and downright indignation at some of the posts.
First, unless you sat with us in the HOB in the CEC you do not truly know what we confronted and what we did not confront. Most of the confrontations had to take place out side of the “official” meetings because of the “controlled atmosphere”. Even when we were told we could speak out we knew it would be turned on us and used against us.
Last year someone posted my letter in support of +Ken Myers and his wonderful wife, Shirley. In that letter I called the CEC a “cult”. I have since been blamed for ” making the CEC a cult by my calling it one”. Interesting. The point of that letter was my being appalled that none of the Patriarch’s Council had responded to their letters…in any fashion at all. As a member of the HOB when they wrote us I responded to all of the Bishops with that letter. I would do so again.
A few simple facts:
I, as did others at other times, made personal trips to San Clemente to confront +Adler regarding his personal problems and the overall problems in the CEC. I did this at least three times, at my own expense, not my church’s or my diocese’s. Also, I confronted him publicly and privately at various meetings of the leadership, both in SC and other venues. In addition, there were many very loud phone confrontations between +Adler and me.
Several of us confronted him over the debacle he led in Manila. He was warned that the CEC was coming apart if he did not change, get help, and/or step aside for the good of the communion. All of this he refused, denied, ignored, used against us, and on and on ad nauseum…
Some of we Bishops had quit “having a drink” with the others and some of us never smoked. I quit along with another Bishop I will not name because I refused to allow my conduct to contribute to the continued disintegration of a church…I have never smoked anything, period. For this I, and others were ridiculed…so be it.
I am the Bishop that watched +Adler leer at Shirley Myers that fateful night. Everytime he got up to go in the house I would go in to be sure she was not alone with him. I was so angry that I did not say something for fear of starting a physical fight with the man. (That had almost happened on another occasion.)When he brought up his most recent “revelation”, read heresy, I and another Bishop left for the hotel. I haved since apologized to Shirley and +Ken for failing them that night by not speaking up. Ever been so disgusted and mad you did not know what to do? Then you can understand where I was…no excuse.
Those of you that have questioned whether what he did was “sexual harrassment” or not…need to understand that is not the issue, although by definition it is exactly that! The issue is this man was, and sounds like still is, wrong and refusing to deal with it. I am not his judge and I pray every day for the man…but, those of us with training enough to be psychologists, and some were, did confront him, repeatedly, to no avail. And, when we talked with the others in leadership they would “marginalize” us or tell us it was “being taken care of”.
Further, the structure of the CEC leadership was such that the HOB was absolutely powerless to effect change, correction, or any such thing. All…repeat, all decisions were made by either the Patriarch’s or Primate’s Council which in actuality boiled down to +Adler getting his way. In the end, that was not always the case in those two privy councils…but, it had been for so long it was BAU.
I realize I open myself up to all kinds of responses, so be it. Please know I have thought long and hard before I have undertaken to add my two cents worth.
I am praying for Joni, Victoria, Celine, et al at St. Michaels’. I pray for Fr. Barry, Fr. Cuthbertson, and Fr. Olkie and thier families…these are good men. I pray for +Kessler, Cn. House and the other SM clergy, we all had some great times together and these are good people that, like all of us, got caught up in something that went out of control. I pray for Betty and the Adler family…how heartbreaking all of this is. I pray for Dan Sharp and his precious wife Priscilla, how sad. I pray for those trying to lead the CEC out of and forward from this mess. God have mercy on all of us.
In closing one of the Bishops that left said something that really describes what happened to us, “They, our leadership, took advantage of our goodnes. They used the things our parents and grandparents built into us, against us…character, honor, loyalty, and such old fashioned traits”.
Thanks Mike for allowing this overly long post.
Pro Dei Regno,
+Rick
Click here for the story … full text follows below.
Epps to be consecrated as ICCEC bishop Nov. 16
Tue, 10/30/2007 – 4:03pm
By: The Citizen
Father David Epps, pastor of Christ the King Charismatic Episcopal Church, will be consecrated as a bishop in the International Communion of the Charismatic Episcopal Church (ICCEC) on Friday, Nov. 16 at 7 p.m. The service will be conducted in the sanctuary of Christ Our Shepherd Lutheran Church, Highway 54, Peachtree City.
Epps, 56, was elected at the U. S. House of Bishops in Orlando during October to serve the Mid-South Diocese which includes Georgia and Tennessee. The election was made necessary when, in June 2007, the Diocesan Bishop, The Most Reverend John W. Holloway, 53, suffered a debilitating stroke. Epps will serve as auxiliary bishop with Holloway remaining the diocesan.
The consecrators for the service will be The Most Reverend Charles Jones, Archbishop of the Southeast Province, The Most Reverend David Simpson, Bishop of Florida, and The Most Reverend Gene Lilly, Auxiliary Bishop of the Southeast Province.
Epps, who first began ministry as a youth worker in 1971, was licensed to preach by the United Methodist Church in 1975 and was later ordained in the Assemblies of God in 1978. In 1996, he was ordained a priest in the ICCEC.
Prior to 1983, Epps served United Methodist and Assembly of God churches in Tennessee, Virginia, and Colorado. In June 1983, he became the pastor of Fayette Fellowship Assembly of God, Peachtree City, which later relocated to Sharpsburg and was renamed Trinity Fellowship.
In September 1996, Epps and 18 other people planted Christ the King Church which met for six years at Carmichael-Hemperly Funeral Home in Peachtree City.
In November 2002, the church relocated to its present site on 12 acres in Coweta County. The church currently has approximately 250 people who claim the church as their home. In addition, Christ the King has assisted in the planting of other congregations in Hogansville, Fayetteville, and Champaign, Ill.
Epps is a graduate of Berean College of the Assemblies of God, East Tennessee State University, the Assemblies of God Theological Seminary, International Seminary, and Berean Graduate School of Divinity, an institution founded by Carrie Nation.
He is a current doctor of ministry candidate at Trinity Episcopal School for Ministry.
Epps, a karate black belt and former instructor, also received an honorary doctorate for his work with youth and martial arts ministry from Great Plains Baptist College and Seminary. For 18 years, he has served as the chaplain for the Peachtree City Police Department and is a graduate of the police academy in Fulton County.
Within the ICCEC, Epps has served as canon to the ordinary for the Mid-South Diocese, canon to the ordinary for the Archdiocese of the Armed Forces, chair of the Diocesan Commission on Ordained Ministry, as a member of the Mid-South Diocese Bishop’s Council, and as a member of the Provincial Council for the Southeast Province.
A veteran of the United States Marine Corps, Epps also served with the Tennessee Army National Guard and served as a chaplain (with the rank of captain) for the Georgia State Defense Force, an auxiliary of the Georgia Army National Guard.
Epps has been published in over 20 magazines and journals and he has served as a regular weekly columnist for The Citizen newspapers for nearly 11 years.
He is married to the former Cynthia Douglas, a professor of nursing at the University of West Georgia. They have three adult sons and nine grandchildren.
The consecration service, which will be followed by a reception, is open to the public.
Here’s a very upbeat comment and cheery perspective on all the unpleasantness happening in the CEC. This was posted in response to the VirtueOnline story about the CEC split:
Leonard
Posted: 2007/10/27 3:02 Updated: 2007/10/27 3:21
Joined: 2004/11/2
From: Denver
Posts: 87 Re: COLORADO priest cleared…Williams supports Howe…Mo…Petering out?
Well, as a CEC Priest, I have to say “I think not.” Our Patriarch has been desperately ill for some time and has just retired. That’s very sad, for I remember him as a man of great vigor, unshakeable joy, and boundless energy. But he rightly saw that he was simply too physically taxed to give us the strong (read “tireless”) leadership we need.
May the Lord grant him rest, healing and renewed vigor. And may He reward his servant greatly for his years of selfless service. +
We are in the prayerful process of selecting our communion’s second Patrriarch. Your prayers too, Brethren are coveted as we do so.
Right now with the splitting and chipping away, we seem like everybody else in the non-Roman, but sacramental churches. I could paraphrase that old song from THE WIZARD OF OZ: “Chip chip here. Split split there! And a couple of Coups de etat! That’s how it is, but let’s not think we’ve heard the Last Hurrah!”
Perhaps the restructuring was to be expected. I trust it is ‘growing pains’ not ‘death throes!’ Our Bishops seem quite unified now, and more focused on the tasks at hand. I think this is a wholesome development in the midsts of a great deal of confusing pother.
Now, if I can just get our little Parish to outgrow my living room!
(PS: I just noticed I am approaching my third full year coming to this site. It hardly seems like more than a few months. I must really enjoy it here! Thanks to all of you for making it so.)
This just in from VirtueOnline: “CHARISMATIC EPISCOPAL CHURCH SPLITS”. In today’s digest, a priest leaving the CEC is quoted in the story as leaving for Western Rite Orthodoxy. Click here for the story or see below for the text.
CHARISMATIC EPISCOPAL CHURCH SPLITS. More news. In my last VIEWPOINTS I said the schism in the CEC had resulted in many leaving and going to Rome. A priest who is leaving the CEC himself wrote to say that many of those leaving have gone to Western Rite Orthodoxy, but the most common destination has been for AMiA, CANA and the Anglican Province of America (APA).”Individuals have indeed gone to Rome, but parishes cannot do so. Thus, considering parishes are moving toward Anglican jurisdictions. It is much more accurate to describe the movement as toward Anglicans, including myself. Many former CEC priests have chosen to affiliate with AMiA and are busy planting parishes. Not a few parishes have also chosen to affiliate with AMiA. Lately, others have begun to affiliate with CANA. Eventually, however, it seems likely that a large number of former CEC clergy and parishes are in conversation with APA-REC. In the end, this may result in the largest single quorum of all.” The source told VOL that the total number of parishes being planted by former CEC priests added to the parishes that have/are joining with Anglican bodies could total well over 30 Anglican parishes, when all the dust settles.
I was thinking, “Today is a new day. God’s mercies have been renewed to us. Why not a site redesign?”
I think klampert and anon4cec as well as a few others commented way back when that the old site looked sorta depressing. Well, I did find a cheerier site option on WordPress today since I had a few minutes to kill.
I’m caught up on comments and e-mails for the most part. I hope that all visiting here are being blessed by the Lord in some way. Thanks for reading, thanks for your prayers for me personally and for those in and out of the CEC.
I thank so many of you that have taken the time to e-mail me. All e-mails are treated confidentially. Nothing is posted to this blog unless asked. I’ve received so many e-mails asking for help or answers about a particular parish. Unfortunately, I can’t respond to each and every one of you. But, I hope that reading my story and the stories of others that care to post comments, that you can receive the healing that you are seeking from the Lord in addition to your fervent prayer and devotion to His Word.
Thanks for your patience as I’ve been wading through a ton of comments…most of them unsuitable for this blog. I apologize to samgamgee for just approving his/her comment from two days ago just now. I’m a bit backlogged and slowed down by the “drive-by commenters”.
VirtueOnline mentions the latest ICCEC news in its latest roundup. Click here to see the whole news page. Blurb follows here:
The upheaval in the Charismatic Episcopal Church continues. Last year, the denomination split with many going to Rome. In the latest move, the Patriarch’s Council of the International Communion of the Charismatic Episcopal Church, meeting in Orlando recently, accepted the Most Reverend Randolph Adler’s retirement as Primate and Patriarch of the ICCEC. Archbishop Loren Thomas Hines, as senior bishop of the Patriarch’s Council, is expected to succeed him. He will assume the chairmanship of the Patriarch’s Council until the election of the next Patriarch. The CEC claims 1,500 churches in Africa with 18 bishops.
This just came across my inbox. Please keep +John Holloway and his family in your prayers.
Dear Friends of Bishop John and Elaine Holloway:
I just received this URGENT email from Elaine. We are, apparently, facing a new, critical, and urgent situation.. May all of God’s people pray and may “Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.” May the God of Luke the Physician and the God of all healing mercifully touch and heal our bishop.
“I just talked with the doctor at Emory, they have requested we place Bishop in hospice care. They did an electrocardiogram Wednesday and said the blood clot was still in his heart (we had not been told there was one there) and his heart ejection rate had fallen from 45% (we had not been told that either) to about 15%. They are expecting him to die shortly. This is not the news you want to hear when you get up in the morning.”
Please pray and call your deacon, priest, bishop, etc., with this message to pray. Bishop John is in Atlanta’s Emory University Hospital Room B568.
The Rev’d Canon David Epps
Canon to the Ordinary, Mid-South Diocese
Rector, Christ the King Church
4881 Highway 34 East
Sharpsburg, GA 30277
770-252-2428 – office
770-252-21-92 – fax
10-15-07: 542 unique visitors
10-16-07: 1618 unique visitors – highest day ever
10-17-07: 599 unique visitors (as of this writing)
I’ve not been able to moderate all your comments in a timely manner…a guy’s gotta work, you know what I mean? I just read the latest statement at face value. Commenters (stlouismb, papaz) have pointed out that there has been no mention of any work in restoring those who have been hurt by those who are now stepping down from leadership or what will come of the allegations presented against the Patriarch.
At the very least, all I can do is this and I ask for your help in this:
* Pray for ++Randy and Betty Adler
* Pray for Dan Sharp+ and his family
* Pray for St. Michael’s Church in San Clemente
* Pray for those who have been hurt in any way by those in leadership
* And, pray for me, a sinner…
International Communion of the Charismatic Episcopal Church
Statement of the Patriarch’s Council
The Patriarch’s Council convened Monday, October 15, 2007 in Orlando, Florida.
Archbishop Randolph Adler asked to address the Patriarch’s Council prior to its
opening. He asked us to accept his retirement as a Diocesan, Primate and
Patriarch of the ICCEC. The Patriarch’s Council expressed their gratitude and
appreciation for his founding of and many years of service to their church and
expressed their deepest love and affection for him and his wife, Betty, and their
best wishes for their future. Accepted by the Patriarch’s Council Archbishop
Adler’s retirement is effective immediately.
Archbishop Loren Thomas Hines, as senior bishop of the Patriarch’s Council, in
accordance with the Canons called for an election of the next Patriarch.
As the senior bishop present, Archbishop Hines also assumed chairmanship of
the Patriarch’s Council until the election of the next Patriarch. In accordance with
the Canons he made the following temporary appointments:
• Bp Doug Kessler is General Secretary and Supervising Bishop of the
province of San Clemente.
• Bishop Craig Bates is Moderator of the Patriarch’s Council and Supervising
Bishop of the US.
Procedure for the election of Patriarch: College of Archbishops will gather Jan 9,
2008 in Orlando, Florida, to present nominations for the next Patriarch of the
ICCEC. These nominations will be submitted to the Patriarch’s Council for review
and examination. Once the Patriarch’s Council selects a name, it will be returned
to the College of Archbishops for affirmation. Once affirmed the College of
Archbishops will submit the name to the Patriarch’s Council for election. The
Senior Bishop of the Patriarch’s Council will announce the election of the new
Patriarch.
The following changes were made to the Canon Law of the ICCEC:
Canon One, II, A, 1 shall read “The spiritual head of the ICCEC is the Lord
and Savior Jesus Christ. The chief pastor is the Patriarch or ‘First Father’ of
the Church.”
Canon One, II, A, 2 shall read “The Patriarch of the ICCEC shall also serve
as the Primate of his nation of residence, the archbishop of the province of
his residence, the diocesan bishop of his residence and the rector of his
cathedral.”
Canon Six, V, E, 5 shall read “The newly elected Patriarch shall be installed
in a service of public worship at a place and time appointed by the Patriarch’s
Council.”
These changes were recommended by the Committee on Canons and approved
unanimously by the Patriarch’s Council.
The Patriarch’s Council, the College of Archbishops and the bishops of the
ICCEC call each other and the entire church to a season of prayer and fasting.
The future of our church is under the providential care of our Lord Jesus Christ.
The following reports were heard by the Patriarch’s Council: International
Communications, Theological Concerns, International Convocation, and
Ecumenical Dialogue.
National Reports and budgets were submitted for: Europe, Canada, Pakisitan
Archbishop Loren Hines reported on Southeast Asia:
• Very successful European Convocation in Madrid. Several hundred
Filipinos attended.
• Filipino churches planted in Toronto and Edmonton, Canada; Milan and
Venice
• Over 600 attended a Restoration of the Church seminar in September.
Many came from Charismatic, Evangelical, Catholic and Orthodox
churches.
• New move of the Spirit at the Cathedral
• Report on many other successful ministries
Archbishop Paulo Garcia reported on the tremendous growth in Brazil:
• 40 churches and 11 missions in Brazil (16 planted in 2007)
• 36 priests and 11 deacons to be ordained by end of 2007
• 105 students in St Michael’s Seminary
• Talks ongoing about work in Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo
Archbishop Charles Jones, Supervising Archbishop of the International
Development Agency, reported on the work in Africa:
• There are about 1,500 CEC churches in Africa
• 18 bishops
• Many successful programs throughout east and west Africa
The Patriarch’s Council, concluding its business, adjourned, offering its prayers,
particularly for Archbishop Adler and his family and Bishop John Holloway and
his family.
First, some great comments by Jared Holloway. Now, this clarification from David Epps+ as to the status of his election and then investiture as Acting Bishop until +Holloway’s return. Epps+ posted this in the comments section but I’m also copying this to the front of this blog.
Thanks for clearing that up.
—-
Just to clarify–I am not replacing Bishop John Holloway. I will be acting in his stead until he returns. May that happen quickly. When he returns, I will be his auxiliary.
Father David Epps +
My e-mail inbox is burning up with this advisory (full text below) sent to me by a bunch of folks … as well as stlouismb posting this in the comments section.
Not surprisingly, reports are surfacing the ++Thomas Hines of the Philippines will lead the international church and +Bates will lead the US church.
This is good news indeed. ++Hines is no stranger to administration and this could bring about a turnaround in the organization. I’m assuming that +Bates will become an Archbishop if he indeed becomes the Primate of the US church. +Bates strikes me as someone who will be good in breaking up the good old boys network that is currently headquartered in San Clemente.
Ostensibly, ++Adler has a very tight control at St. Michael’s and in his Archdiocese. I wonder how his clergy there will react to this HUGE change in the power base of the CEC nationally and internationally. We shall see…
Advisory follows:
—-
Dear Archbishops, Bishops and Fathers:
Here is the statement issued today by the Patriarch’s Council in
Orlando and intended for immediate release:- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – -
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – -The Patriarch’s Council of the International Communion of the
Charismatic Episcopal Church, meeting in Orlando, FL, October 15,
2007, accepted the Most Reverend Randolph Adler’s retirement as
Primate and Patriarch of the ICCEC. We wish to express our gratitude
and appreciation for his founding of and many years of service to our
church and we express our deepest love and affection for him and his
wife, Betty, and our best wishes for their future.- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – -
Please send this statement to all of your clergy. I do not yet have
email addresses for all our bishops outside of the US. If you see
that I have missed someone, please forward this message to them and
copy me so I may record their addresses.In the Lamb,
Fr Scott Howard
All is quiet on the blogging front except for a few thoughtful comments posted here by Jared Holloway, son of +John Holloway. Though some of my posts may verge on the hysterical, thanks for not responding in kind.
I’m seeing lots of chatter about the House of Bishops meeting in Florida. The only news to surface was news of the election of David Epps+ to succeed +Holloway. So to answer anon4cec: Other than that, no news to report on the ICCEC site or CEChome.
Seriously, if you Google these words:
Should Archbishop Adler be deposed?
…this blog shows up first in the search results as of this writing. I noticed that this particular query has been the top entry point to this blog…for better or for worse.
The comments section has been burning up with exceptional conversation between swede1, stlouismb, anon4cec, papaz and klampert and little old me, cechealing. I appreciate the level-headed discussion that’s been taking place. As much as I’m able, I will be as rational and grace-filled as possible. And when I’m not, I’m sure someone will call me on it.
Thanks for the many e-mails and comments that have been supportive of the way that I am moderating this blog. This is not to be billed as an open exchange of ideas. If you start your comment with “Dear Satan worshipper,” chances are your comment will not make it to the blog. (I’m exaggerating for comedic effect…though some comments have come pretty darn close!)
I only approved a handful of comments out of the many that were submitted. I’m going blind on e-mails so please don’t be offended if I don’t respond to you personally. But know that I’m encouraged by so many who share my opinions and desire to see some real healing take place. So with that, I’m calling it a night.
[NOTE: This is an open response to a comment left earlier on my post on the election of the new Bishop for the Mid-South]
swede1-
I’m not offended by the announcement as much as I am amused.
Dear reader, I am not rooting for death of the CEC. I am actually perplexed by its lack of growth — and it seems to be almost on purpose when you consider that so many hinderances to growth are in place! That when mixed with a great amount of talent in some parts of the lay and ordained population, and the movement is still not growing.
If anything, I’m wondering if any life can come from the status quo. If anyone seems to be rooting for death, it’s the present leadership – and I use that word loosely since it does not seem like anyone has been doing any actual leading for a while now. However, the expectation of following is in full swing. Rather, the present setup seems to be rooting for the CEC’s demise. Not this blog.
However, I don’t dispute that I’m bitter. I think that’s pretty obvious that I’m bitter. What’s not obvious is that I’m processing through that, letting go of it, etc., etc…
Finally, I sincerely thank you for your prayers.
The following e-mail was sent to me by several folks regarding David Epps+ and his election as Action Bishop of the Mid-South Diocese. You may recall, I wrote back on 1 August that it would either be +Gene Lilly or David Epps+ to replace +John Holloway.
News of this election is not a huge surprise given that his website already looks like a Cathedral site with the vast array of clergy – Epps+, 6 assisting priests, 5 deacons and 2 commissioned ministers and a “number of Licensed Liturgical Ministers”.
I read the statement and it was hard not to think of false humility. On the one hand, he says he did not campaign for his election. On the other, he didn’t turn it down when he was elected. The overuse of the military motif in the CEC is very obvious when we read that he equates his election with a battlefield promotion.
Here is the message from the Bishop-elect himself:
It seems that I am soon to be made a bishop. It is a position which I have not sought, for which I have not campaigned, and, in all truth—at least for the past few years—have not desired. All this has come about not because I have come to a place where my leadership abilities are profound and undeniable or because my accomplishments are such that they cannot be ignored. Quite the opposite, in fact. It has come about because our bishop, The Most Reverend John Holloway, age 53 and the father of four, suffered a massive stroke in early June and has been severely disabled since that time. As in war, when a commander is wounded or killed, someone has to be promoted so that the battle may continue and the enemy defeated. So it is with me. Our commander is wounded and I am to receive a battlefield promotion. Such was the decision of our American House of Bishops in Orlando last Monday.
The good news is all this is that, in our communion, bishops, with the exception of retired or auxiliary bishops, must also be pastors of their own church. This means that I continue to serve as the rector, or senior pastor, of the church I helped to found over eleven years ago. I will still be in the pulpit nearly every Sunday morning, will be visiting the hospitals to pray for the sick, will be blessing the new born babies within minutes after they are born, and will be teaching the scriptures and being involved in the life of the parish. I will even be continuing to write articles for the newspaper and, occasionally, for magazines and journals. I still desire to meet with the other clergy from different denominations for breakfast each Wednesday because it is enjoyable and they have been a great support to me in that past.
Some things will change. I am in the process of resigning from some committees, positions, and work groups and there will need to be greater delegation of duties and responsibilities in the church and in the diocese. I have already stepped down as a chaplain in the Georgia Defense Force and from chaplain duties at the Fulton County Police Academy. There will be other adjustments as well. One thing I desperately need to do is to finish my doctoral paper at Trinity Episcopal School for Ministry so, somewhere, I need to carve out the time and complete a long overdue process.
It seems strange to me that I will have a new designation. Whereas, at present, I am “Father David Epps,” or “The Reverend Father David Epps,” I will soon be “The Most Reverend David Epps,” People who know me are aware that I am not very “reverend” and am certainly not “the most reverend.” The people in my church will most likely continue to call me “Father David,” a designation with which I am most comfortable since it conveys relationship rather than position.
I will be the “acting bishop” of the Mid-South Diocese which includes Tennessee and Georgia. I suppose I will have to cheer for the Bulldogs now (except when they play Tennessee). When, in the grace and mercy of God, Bishop Holloway returns to health and resumes his duties, then I will stand aside and serve as his auxiliary or assisting bishop. Until that time, I will do my best to do my duty to those who are engaged in the battle. My family and congregation are excited about all this. I am less so. I have been in the ministry a long time and served in a similar position, with less responsibility, in another denomination so I am well aware that much work, much anguish, and much heartache and heartbreak is ahead. There will be good times as well, but I’m not certain that they make up for the pain ones sees and experiences.
When I was elected last Monday, the bishops gave me the news and then apologized for having elected me. There was no applause, no backslaps, no cheers of congratulations. The moment was sober because the challenges ahead are daunting. I am, of course, honored and humbled. And, for the foreseeable future, there will no funds available to carry out the work—this promotion will actually come at a cost to my church and me. I will be consecrated in November, the Lord willing. I feel intensely unworthy which, in truth, I am. But I will do my duty. Lord have mercy. Pray for me.Father David Epps is the founding pastor of Christ the King Church
4881 Hwy 34 E., Sharpsburg, GA 30277 between Peachtree City and Newnan.
Services are held Sundays at 8:00 and 10:00 a.m. He is also the Vicar of Christ the King Church in Champaign, IL. He may be contacted at frepps@ctkcec.org <mailto:frepps@ctkcec.org> . The church has a website at www.ctkcec.org <http://www.ctkcec.org/> .
OK, have a look at the top search terms from the last 2 days:
bishop charismatic episcopal adler
“ARCHBISHOP ADLER”
dan sharp cec
“FATHER DANIEL SHARP”
cec sharp san clemente
Former CEC bishop Kenneth Myers
communion of corpus christi
St. Michael’s Seminary San Clemente
It’s clear that so many people out there just want straight answers. And, because of the deafening silence from San Clemente, people are going to try to find these answers wherever they can. You can blame me and others like me for doing Satan’s bidding. But, the real tragedy is that there is a responsibility being abdicated here to do real leadership. The very real and very hard work of leadership involves biting the bullet and just saying, “Here’s where we screwed up.”
A further tragedy – and I’ve mentioned it before here – is that there is still great potential for the CEC to realize its destiny. The administrative piece of this puzzle has emerged to be a huge obstacle to growth and stability. All of the other pieces are in place for the CEC to be taken to the next level and to do huge things for the Kingdom of God. Instead, the movement has decided that this quagmire is more important than moving onward and upward. And, this further silence from San Clemente only underlines my point here.
10-03-07: 435 unique visitors
10-04-07: 505 unique visitors, our highest day ever
Top search terms to this site:
CEC St. Michael’s San Clemente
cechealing
st michaels cec church san clemente
Dan Sharp CEC
cec st michaels san clemente
iccec blogs
archdeacon daniel sharp cec
Charismatic Episcopal Church
“juanita bynum” “charismatic witchcraft”
archbishop adler
st michaels cec church
randy sly and catholic
“charismatic episcopal church” forum
A few commenters have e-mailed me wondering when their comments will be posted. Even though I’m not in the CEC any longer, I won’t tolerate pointless attacks on the movement or specific people. So, some of those comments won’t be making it to this blog … EVER. If you don’t like it, well, it’s my blog and my rules.
Today was our highest traffic day ever with 334 unique visitors to cechealing.
Here are the top search terms:
CECHealing /or/ cec healing
charges against Archbishop Adler
on our way home forum cec
father daniel sharp in cec
latest of bishop thomas weeks iii did he
bishop randy adler cec
Also, this blog has been getting tons of unique visitor traffic because my post about ex-CEC Bishop Phil Weeks has been confounding search engines everywhere! There is news about a Pentecostal Bishop Thomas Weeks III who confessed to savagely beating his wife, Juanita Bynum. Obviously, there are two different Bishop Weeks out there and not even a remote resemblance.
Thanks for visiting the site. But above all else, thank you for being civil to me as well as the fellow commenters to this blog site. I’m so glad that this has remained a conversational site where I have been blessed and challenged by brothers and sisters in the Lord who are genuinely concerned about my healing as well as the healing of those in the CEC.
I pray that this site doesn’t get bogged down in acrimony. There’s too much at stake for that. I hope you faithful readers and commenters can agree.
Also, big money doled out from the Foundation Day offering this year! Also from CECHome.com.
Foundation Day Offering Update
Rebekah Reed • Saint Michael’s, San Clemente, CA
If you read the Foundation Day article recently published, you know that every year, on the Sunday closest to June 26th, we celebrate Foundation Day, in honor of Archbishop Adler’s consecration as bishop and the foundation of the CEC.
On this Sunday, a Missions Offering is received, with each communicate member giving at least ten dollars.
Everything is put towards the ministry and growth of the CEC. One third of the offering is given away; one third is invested; and one third is loaned interest free.
The proceeds all go toward helping smaller congregations get new buildings or land.
Recently, Church of the Resurrection, in Asheville, North Carolina (Father Bill McLoughlin), received $6,000.
The school at the Cathedral of Christ the King, in Selma, Alabama (Archbishop Chuck Jones) received $1,000.
And most recently, Holy Trinity Church, in Meridian, Idaho (Father Mark Finley), received $15,000.
Not that this comes as a huge surprise, but no news has been posted on the CEChome.com site about the latest developments out of San Clemente. However, there will be a Convocation next year!
Convocation 2008
Bp. David Simpson • Cathedral Church of the Resurrection, Miramar, FL
The 2008 International Convocation of the ICCEC will be held in Orlando, Florida, July 30-August 1, 2008. The convocation site is the Wyndham Orlando Resort, located at 8001 International Drive. The base room rate is $89.00 per night, plus tax. This rate is good for the 3 nights of the convocation, as well as 3 days prior to and subsequent to the event, subject to availability.
Though the final schedule of events remains to be determined, it is anticipated that the convocation will officially begin on Wednesday evening with a worship service. Both Thursday and Friday mornings there will be plenary sessions with Dr. Simon Chan as our guest speaker. Dr. Chan is a theologian from Singapore who is very interested in convergence worship. We are planning workshops in the afternoons on a variety of topics lead by a variety of speakers, followed by evening worship services, at which the Patriarch will speak.
Reservations at the hotel can be made at any time by calling 1-800-421-8001 and mentioning the Charismatic Episcopal Church, International Convocation. In order to fill up our required block of rooms, we are encouraging everyone to stay at the Wyndham. Not only will this help us meet our obligation, all activities will be held on site.
After the meeting of the Patriarch’s Council in October, I will have more information for you.
Blessings,
Bishop SimpsonBishop Simpson is the Bishop of the Diocese of Florida and Rector of Cathedral Church of the Resurrection, Miramar, FL.
Apparently, there’s more fireworks out of San Clemente. Click here to go to the new discussion on the Ancient-Future forum to see for yourself.
I know that all of us “evil blogger jihadists” and forum starters have been blamed for doing Satan’s work over the last year or so. I think more than anything, the Ancient-Future forum was the first place where most people broke their silence about their worst fears of the CEC and its lack of direction in the last few years.
And, for most people in the pews of CEC parishes, Ancient-Future is the only place where any news of the communion can be found. Not on the official ICCEC website and definitely not on the paid subscription CECHome disaster.
I’ve always thought that the CEC will always have a loyal faction to ++Adler. He is an incredibly charismatic person and it’s hard NOT to be drawn to him. So, there will always be some kind of ministry around that man, no doubt about it.
However, there’s got to be some eye rolling throughout the surviving communion right about now. Now that the remnant that declared their loyalty to ++Adler and the other bishops that stayed together, they went into overdrive basically prophesying that we were all “deadwood” anyway or hellbound for leaving the one, true Church. If there are more defections out of the CEC, where are they going to go?
Wake up and smell the incense, people. There is something going on at the top. You can try to prophesy it away by saying that God is hiding the CEC, God is pruning the CEC, God was getting rid of the deadwood … take your pick. But, the picture is emerging clearer and clearer that something drastic needs to happen otherwise this movement that started out destined for greatness is going to fizzle away for lack of vision, direction, or passion for the things that matter.
Anon4cec commented that they weren’t a big fan of the new and improved CEC logo. I think it’s progress from the CEC shield which was a cheap knockoff from The Episcopal Church’s shield only with a dove and pair of car keys superimposed on it. So, perhaps the new CEC logo is to distance itself from the connection that exists in most people’s minds when you hear the word “Episcopal”.
But, no sooner did I type this in the comments section when I noticed this – a strange link from the ICCEC’s new and improved website – BCP.net. From the site (emphasis mine):
The ICCEC has provisionally adopted the Book of Common Prayer (1979) as our standard of worship for capturing and retaining these ancient patterns enjoyed by the Church universal both in heaven and on earth. The ICCEC also recognizes for use the Book of Common Prayer (1928) and the Anglican Service Book. Other liturgies of Historic Jurisdictions – Anglican, Roman Catholic, and Orthodox – are allowed with the approval of the diocesan bishop.
So much for distancing the CEC from The Episcopal Church… but, how do you like the new logo? Huh? Pretty cool!
Also, is the BCP 1979 in the Public Domain? I think you have to at least credit The Episcopal Church somewhere when reprinting or re-packaging the BCP 1979 as the CEC has done with their BCP.net site. I don’t see any such credit or acknowledgement of that fact anywhere on the BCP.net website.
The long awaited website update for the ICCEC has taken place. I think the design looks pretty nice. Good colors and the content pretty much remains the same from previous versions of the site.
However, one thing really caught my eye. It’s this statement that is still on the welcome page (emphasis mine):
Established on June 26, 1992, the ICCEC has become one of the fastest growing communions in the world. Beginning with just 3 small parishes that first year, we now have a presence in over 23 countries and approximately 1100 parishes around the world.
What is the basis for this statement?
Hasn’t that time of “fastest growing communion” come and gone?
Perhaps “fastest shrinking communion in the United States” might be more appropriate?
I think the CEC has been displaced by many other groups by now that are growing at a much faster rate. It might be time to re-evaluate this claim to fame.
Also, St. Michael’s has updated their Live Journal page. There are a lot of very good “action photos” of the church. All the pics of ++Adler at St. Michael’s make him look like he’s in heaven. This has long been my suspicion that he’s much happier being a parish priest instead of “Patriarch”.
If the CEC is serious about growth, they might want to look at ++Adler as “Patriarch Emeritus” and find someone who might be ready to lead the remainder of the CEC into a new stage of life.
I was in a bit of a mood when I came across some pictures of ++Adler’s visit to Kansas (admittedly, I’m still in a mood!). First, let me say that they are on a public website. When you put them on a website, it’s open season. To complain like Martin Eppard+ did in the comment section is just ludicrous. Don’t post pictures in public if you didn’t want to hear what others might have to say about it.
I did remove the offending editorial from that post. A link to the pictures remains up without my offensive comments. A hornet’s nest was definitely stirred up in the comment section … everything from accusations to being used of the Devil, uncharitable, mean, counterproductive, etc., etc. In my attempts to be humorous and let off a little steam, I did get very carried away.
OK, message received loud and clear! I did an asshole thing. I’ll own up to being uncharitable, mean and counterproductive. Guilty as charged. However, I strongly disagree with being Satan’s pawn. (Just for the record…)
Anon4cec brought up a great point in the comments about the identity problem still in the CEC. This lack of identity, vision, direction is one that can’t be given from the ground up. It must come from the top down. And, when the top seems confused, lackadaisical, etc… that filters down to the rest.
I’m guessing that this is why many people joined up with the CEC – this founding vision/principle (emphasis mine):
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 seeking a liturgical-sacramental, evangelical, charismatic church and a foundation for their lives and gifts of ministry.
The words “bring” and “carry” convey ACTION to me. Isn’t that what you’re struck with when you read this really bold mission statement? But, the CEC has somehow been brought to its knees by a lack of ACTION. Mostly because of the trying to answer the ”Who are we?” and “Where are we going?” questions. Or, doing nothing in the hopes that people stop asking them.
The responsibility for this lack of ACTION rests squarely on the shoulders of ++Adler. ++Adler called an international convocation in 2004 where he gave no vision for the future, no goals for common ministry or even an indication of what God might be doing next through the CEC. Instead, he issued a bold clarion call to retreat and pray in the Spirit for hours on end – very impractical for most who were bi-vocational ministers at best and were holding on by a thread.
Where was the ACTION that catalyzed the initial growth of the CEC? Unfortunately, it had faded away into some cloud somewhere. The people who came from all over the world were treated to ramblings about some vision involving St. Clement and about how St. Michael’s Church is the best church in the history of churches. Many left Manila totally disappointed because they were hoping for a word from their Patriarch that would invigorate them and spur them on to the next phase of life in the CEC. No such luck.
The comments of late have been pretty accusatory that I’m about the Devil’s work with this blog. Hardly. I’m trying to sort out a lot of stuff…anger, hurt, bitterness, etc., etc… Mostly I’m a hurt person. Unfortunately, hurt people hurt people. Sorry if that is unpleasant but that’s the way it is sometimes.
I’m also sad that I saw the death of a dream happen before my very eyes. Something that was started out so prophetic and bold became something so trapped in inertia. Something that started out to be so huge and had the potential for explosive and continuous growth devolved into what …. I don’t even know anymore.
And in the attempt to try to turn things around, many have been castigated for being the bad seeds. For not comprehending the vision. For being unfaithful. For stirring dissent. Ultimately, many would be accused of being “vow breakers” or “adulterers” for walking out on the Church (capital “C”). Nevermind that +Bates is a vow breaker himself as well as others who left from ECUSA or others who left from Rome to be a part of the CEC.
I’ve tried many times to talk myself into believing that the words hurled at me on my way out of the CEC had no effect. That the journey out of the CEC didn’t hurt. But, it’s been a lie that I’ve been trying to live out for a long time now and realize that I must be honest that all this did hurt; it’s taken a toll that I’ve refused to believe was there.
So there you go. The ramblings of this blogger for you.
This blog received a whopping 304 unique visitors yesterday! Granted, a lot of folks landed on this blog because they were looking for news about Bishop Weeks. Not Bishop Weeks of Barnabas Ministries (formerly CEC and now with CCR). But, looking for news about Bishop Thomas Weeks III (pictured below). He’s married to Juanita Bynum and he allegedly beat his wife because she wouldn’t reconcile with him.
So, Google has been directing lots of traffic to this blog but we are turning up the wrong Bishop Weeks. Sorry.
Lots of other popular search terms generating traffic to this blog:
archbishop adler
bishop weeks statement
bishop craig bates
charismatic episcopal church cathedral
christ the redeemer communion
CEC bishop michael davidson
Bishop Zampino
Here’s a link to an online photo album of ++Adler’s visit to Kansas.
Edited 5 September 2007
In the interest of being even handed as well as for good writing, here is a piece by David Kyle Foster+ of the CEC featured on VirtueOnline. He writes about “The Judas Church” and it was likely picked up by VirtueOnline for its reference to The Episcopal Church.
Well cats and kittens, it seems that there’s reorganization afoot for CEC Missions. I went to their website to check in and found this message:
You have reached the home page of the former www.cecmissions.org.There is a reorganization taking place that effects this website.
In the mean time, you can visit this site for the International Development Agency here. (For those who are nostalgic for yesteryear and the days of yore with the CEC, you can always check out this handy archive of CEC Missions right here.)
Wow! I thought the IDA was blown up to smithereens for a fresh start. This is becoming a nimble little operation, isn’t it?
“Know thy audience” is one of the critical laws of marketing especially on the web. For some reason, whoever the powers that be on the CEC website have been insisting on putting bizarre pictures of ++Adler in his now trademark blue shades. (Those shades are so cool that everyone and anyone in/near San Clemente seems to be wearing them, too). If he was the College and Career Pastor at Mark Driscoll’s church in Seattle, he’d fit right in. However, if you want to be called “Patriarch”… you might want to re-think the whole look and go for something a little more respectable.
Well, ++Adler’s church is located in Orange County. Maybe he’s hoping to score his own reality series on MTV by looking “cool” … a walk-on role in the next Laguna Beach or The Hills perhaps?
At any rate, nice to see a decent picture of ++Adler on the main website. He actually looks “Patriarchal” pointing to the ground — you know, typical Patriarch stuff.
This is not new, but a reader of this blog pointed out to me that as early as last week, there was still a link to Bishop Philip Weeks’s website from the international CEC site. Oops. He’s only been gone for a while now, but they finally have been in cleaning mode on the international site.
At any rate, at +Weeks’s website, you can read his reasons for leaving the CEC. Click here or read on below for his official statement.
Bishop Weeks is now a part of the Communion of Christ the Redeemer. Many blessings to you Bishop Weeks!
BISHOP WEEKS RESIGNS FROM THE CHARISMATIC EPISCOPAL CHURCH
My resignation is NOT a renunciation of my Ordination and Consecration as a Bishop in the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church. It is a resignation as a bishop in the International Communion of the Charismatic Episcopal Church.
I consider my association with ICCEC a privilege, and to serve as Supervising Bishop, sometime in Rwanda, sometime in Tanzania, and retiring as Supervising Bishop of Burundi, a blessing. At the time of my retirement in 2005, I had in my short time as Bishop administered the Sacrament of Confirmation to 3,808 people, officially Received 639, Ordained 302 men and Baptized 95 children and adults. Through Barnabas Ministries, Incorporated, our work was done without any compensation from the International Communion of the Charismatic Episcopal Church, for which we thank God and the faithful supporters of Barnabas Ministries.
I became acquainted with the International Communion of the Charismatic Episcopal Church through the kind invitation of the Primate of Southeast Territory to teach his men Convergence and prepare his churches for acceptance into ICCEC. I praise God for the relationship I was blessed to have with Archbishop Loren Thomas Hines. I was delighted to find a Communion that adhered to New Testament principles of church government, believed in and practiced the Three Streams of Christianity, and was unashamed of the exercise of the charismatic gifts of the Holy Spirit. Being a Canon and later consecrated a Bishop, receiving Apostolic Succession from the National Catholic and Apostolic Church of Brazil, which is a direct line from Peter, first Bishop of Rome, I count it all joy to have served the sunset years of our ministry in this Communion.
I do not leave without much regret and sorrow. I have remained quiet over the past several years regarding the cause of and fact of schism, embarrassed at times to be identified as a Bishop of this Church, and appalled at the reluctance of the properly constituted Council to discharge faithfully and honestly its duties to affect discipline, healing and reconciliation. To me it has become evident that the contributions my wife and I made to the growth of this church in Africa were not appreciated nor recognized. Much of the story of our labors are unknown to the Bishops of this Church; the money we personally spent; the wrist surgery required by my wife because of many corporals and altar vestments she prepared for the churches; the death of our Sheltie during one of our Tanzanian trips; to mention only a few… The Africans have been told not to communicate with me. It seems best that I become a vague memory.
The Consensus Government that I proudly believed in and taught to hundreds of African clergy has become a farce, when a program such as CEC MISSIONS, constituted by the House of Bishops in 2004 but announced to the Africans in 2006 and decided upon without the Consensus of the House of Bishops, that it no longer exists, although appeals continue to be made on the CEC MISSIONS’ web site, and contributors have not been notified to cease their contributions. (Since my resignation they have now sent a letter informing the people.) This has become a Church, not ruled by a Consensus of Bishops, but governed by several bishops making decisions apart from the rest of the body. To this day I have had no explanation as to why I was directed to transfer the CEC MISSIONS program to Archdeacon Dan Sharp during the September 7-9, 2005 Primate’s Council in Baltimore when the charges noted in the June 8, 2005 letter regarding the IDA finances and the Patriarchate accountability were discussed. When I transferred the money September 26, 2005 to Archdeacon Sharp I had advanced through December 2005 subsistence for all the clergy in the CEC MISSIONS program and transferred a balance in excess of $1,800 toward the next year. Not all bishops received their subsistence during 2006.
According to the Canons of this Church, no bishop is to go into another bishop’s jurisdiction without his permission, nevertheless according to sources, Bishop Francis Gogo of Uganda is sent by the Patriarch to Burundi to work with the deposed Archdeacon Severin Ndayizeye in opposition to what I was doing as appointed Supervising Bishop. I was not consulted prior to, during or after this visit by Bishop Gogo, and when confronted, no apology was tendered. If my leadership was under question, I should have been consulted rather than create further division by lending support to the deposed priest who was causing the division and disunity. I learned from a former Episcopal Bishop that what a Bishop may do privately should not disallow public support of his appointed authority lest he should undermine his own authority by demeaning the one he has appointed. A case in point is the humiliation of former Archbishop Randy Sly by the Patriarch in June 2006 in Maryland when his leadership was destroyed. It seems that some in our ecclesiastical hierarchy enjoy hearing unfavorable reports without asking any defense from the accused more than cherishing good news. I feel victimized by this behavior.
In Rwanda I traveled that country to every part and ordained every priest. With God’s blessing and the anointing of the Holy Spirit, Emmanuel Ngirumpatse was raised up to take my place and I had the joy of being co-consecrator. In Tanzania I worked with the two men who later would succeed me: – Bishop Daudi Chidawali and Bishop Charles Sekelwa in whose Consecrations I participated. Under threat of death I traveled throughout Burundi, confirming and ordaining, and watching to see whom God would raise up as Bishop. With the consent of the Bishop’s Council during my final visit to Burundi in August, 2005, I recommended Canon Nestor Misigaro as Bishop, only to have my recommendation questioned as if I knew nothing of the desire of the priests, and poisoned by the continual contact and consultation with the deposed archdeacon who was guilty of fraud, lying, misuse of money and disobedience to his ordination vows. Rumor has it that Canon Misigaro and two other men will be consecrated in March but such information has not been passed to me by the attending Archbishop nor any inquiry into the election of the additional men, nor invitation to be co-consecrator of my successors. A major reason for problems among the African leadership today is due to the fact that bishops were elected and consecrated without due investigation by the Archbishop. This is not only bad practice, but improper conduct in protocol, and a blatant act of discourtesy.
“Relationship is what CEC is all about” declares the Patriarch, however, since the announcement of my wife’s Alzheimer Disease four years ago, the Patriarch has not called, emailed, written or asked about her condition or how I am handling this change in our life. No comment!
I do not leave ICCEC angry, but I do feel I have been victimized and treated unfairly. My service is no longer needed nor wanted although I probably know Africa better than any bishop setting or resigned. I pray that the Charismatic Episcopal Church may re-discover its original Vision (Revelation 2:4) and I covet your prayers for whatever use God may have for my life in my remaining years.
I have been received as Assistant Bishop to Bishop Rich Lipka in the Diocese of DELMARVA. The formation of a new communion by the seven bishops who resigned is pending.
For many years GLAD TIDINGS was the official organ of Barnabas Ministries, Inc and mailed to a large list of constituents. At my election as Bishop in 2002 we discontinued the publication. Now in 2006 we resumed the publication of an e-newsletter sent online to email addresses we have, and included in the receipt letter of contributors to Barnabas Ministries, Inc. If you wish to receive the monthly e-newsletter, send us your e-mail address at bishopweeks@verizon.net.
A commenter with a Roman Catholic background made a wonderful point about when someone leaves the RC, no one notices. However, the person wasn’t clear about what I referred to as “shepherding tricks”.
Here is a pretty concise article on what it’s about from wikipedia.
Here is another article on the subject. This article is far more complete and overall quite good.
Today has been a HUGE day for this little blog. We’ve had 255 unique visitors today alone. The comments have exploded across the posts as well.
I apologize in advance about the Login feature. Sadly, it has become an necessity because of all the autospam I’m getting and having to cleanup. I’d like for the comments to be pertinent to our discussion about the CEC – not about penile implants and “easy college degrees” posted automatically by some nameless/faceless spammer. Comments will also be held in an embargo until they are approved by little old me. So, this might slow things down in the discussion but that’s my right as the owner of this here blog. And, I’m trying to save myself the trouble of cleaning up the spam that would otherwise be a nuisance to all of us if left unchecked.
Also, the most popular search terms getting people to this here blog so far this week:
- ICCEC problems
- Bishop Dale Howard
- Communion of Corpus Christi
- Communion of Christ the Redeemer
- “What happened to the Charismatic Episcopal Church”
Clearly, there are a lot of people looking for answers. I’m one of them.
I’m also appreciative of some wonderful posters who have been gracious with me recently: klampert and anon4CEC. Even though we’re not seeing eye-to-eye on how things have been or are now in the CEC, there’s so much grace in their responses that I’ve had to stop, pray and consider what they’re saying to me. So, this has been helpful and my heart has been gladdened (is that even a word?) by your contributions. Clearly, I am bitter and angry. But, that hasn’t stopped some from taking the high road in dealing with me. That’s totally Jesus’ way even though I’m not exhibiting it in some of my posts.
I got that message loud and clear from someone who e-mailed me. Yes, it is depressing. It’s not what I’m aiming for nor is it the end game for me.
I am processing the bad times I had in the Charismatic Episcopal Church while not at all forgetting the good things I learned while I was a part of the CEC.
The bad:
- I was cheated out of years of ministry
- I was subject to all kinds of emotional, mental and spiritual abuse at the hands of “my fathers in God”
- I was lied to repeatedly
- I was pitted against others without my knowledge
I’ve had some who are still in the CEC say, “Yes, welcome to ministry.“ Yes, indeed. But, that’s not a good response to have to someone who is saying to you, “I’m hurting.“
Take for example those who are in the middle of all the mess with The Episcopal Church (TEC). There are plenty of those who have left TEC and moved on to other ministries. But, they are still working through their frustrations and hurt for the sake of those who are either still in TEC or trying to understand what the spent years have been all about.
I’m never going to let go Randy Adler’s vision of convergence worship. It was around before Adler and the vision is bigger than Adler and all of the CEC. But, Adler explained it in such an anointed way that it was hard NOT to accept that this was God’s vision for the whole Church!
And somewhere along the way, the CEC lost its way. Be it through money, power, jockeying for territory, outdoing another bishop who appears to be wealthier than you, etc., etc…
I haven’t gotten to the bottom of this. I suspect at the end of all this, I’ll find myself there. I’m not ruling that out. In fact, I’m totally expecting it. But, bear with me, God’s not through with me yet.
I’m not giving up the three streams vision. I just have given up that the CEC is the only vehicle for making it a reality in this world.
Spotted at a Mass (non-CEC) in Switzerland … though it’s hard to believe this didn’t happen at a CEC gathering.
Just when you thought you’ve seen it all and heard all the horror stories about dance and pageantry … then something like this comes along. CEC, don’t get any ideas!
Click here for a placeholder for the forthcoming website for the Communion of Corpus Christi. This is the new home created by Bishop Philip Zampino, formerly the CEC’s Abbot General and ordinary for the Mid-Atlantic Diocese. Bishop and Mother Zampino are good people and again, there is life after the CEC.
Seen on a posting on the ICCEC website:
Saturday, July 14, 2007 06:29 PM
Announcing the new location for St. Andrew’s CEC mission in St. Augustine. Beginning Sunday, July 22, 2007, we will gather for worship at the Riverview Club, 790 Christina Dr. in the St. Augustine Shores neighborhood.
For more information, please send me an Email with your contact information.
God bless!
+Doug Woodall
Interim Pastor
Well that’s interesting that the Archbishop for the Armed Forces will also be handling a parish in his new home of Florida. The Priest-in-charge recently moved to the Communion of Christ the Redeemer. I was under the impression that he and his whole mission made the trip but apparently not.
Well, apparently since the International Development Agency was such a colossal failure at the hands of Archbishop Dale Howard, it was time to re-tool the old thing into: CEC MISSIONS! (On a side note, if the IDA was so mismanaged and such a tangle, why not an audit? Hmmm… methinks it could point to an even greater sickness at the top where money is just spent willy nilly without any accounting.)
“But, ++Howard was deposed so that solved everything, right?” WRONG.
We’re back to the same old game but with many more players now with even fancier titles! Look with me, won’t you?
The Bishops are all now “The Most Reverend” because that title just isn’t for Archbishops anymore cats and kittens. We’ll leave that “Right Reverend” crap for abbots.
But, when you’re a CEC Bishop associated with CEC Missions, you travel in style, my friends. You are knighted or something into a … PATRIARCHAL LEGATE! What the hell is that all about?
I think that ex-Archbishop Sly was behind this little project. He was always good at handing out titles even though they weren’t worth a damn anywhere else. Because, really friends, why pay a Priest to do full time work when you can call him “Canon” and he’ll do the work for free?
But, here’s the list of PATRIARCHAL LEGATES and the regions they will be covering somehow:
Acting Coordinator of the Supervising Bishops: John Holloway
I’m sure that will need some re-examining in light of the very serious stroke he suffered a few weeks back.
Asia: Tom Hines
Perfect choice. The Primate of the CEC in Southeast Asia has a proven track record of success. You might not like his style, but he does have results to show for his life’s work.
Brazil: Paulo Garcia
A decent choice. Not sure why he was made a Bishop in the first place. Now Archbishop Garcia, but when he was Dean of the Anglican Cathedral in Brazil, he was crying about all the persecution he was suffering at the hands of his Bishop, Robinson Cavalcanti. Huh? If anyone in the CEC bothered to check his story, they’d find that +Cavalcanti was deposed for being too orthodox. Not exactly the liberal loony that ++Garcia claimed he was. ++Garcia is growing his cathedral and planting churches in Brazil. +Cavalcanti has been granted a spiritual home in the Anglican Province of the Southern Cone under Archbishop Greg Venables.
Africa: Chuck Jones
Probably not a bad choice. He’s actually been to Africa a few times. Not unlike ++Adler who has just apparently awakened to the fact that he has like quite a few churches there. He didn’t seem all that interested in visiting the continent that was showing forth the greatest amount of growth there for a while. He sent guys like +Weeks (now with the CCR) ++Jones and +Davidson down to Africa to keep the guys happy there. Judging from some updates to the international website for the CEC, ++Adler is getting with the program and acting like a Patriarch. That pallium has got to be worth something besides just hanging out at St. Michael’s going on and on about why this is the most fabulous church in the world and blah, blah, blah…
UK & Canada: Craig Bates
This guy needs to be an Archbishop already. A solid theologian, a trained psychologist, one of the best preachers in the CEC and clearly a good pastor. Plus, we’re seeing growth in his diocese and even some building purchases happening in some of his churches. It’s more that can be said for the CEC in other parts of the country that seems to be on some kind of poverty program. I have rough words to say about the CEC at times (sour grapes, who knows) but the Lord is blessing Craig Bates and the work at his hands and I don’t think that anyone can dispute that.
Europe: TBD
I don’t know this Bishop but I hope he’s good. Europe needs some help. Why not +Elmer Belmonte? He’s actually in Europe. And, he’s not a white guy like everyone else in charge. (The Patriarch’s Council until recently consisted of the “cool kids club”. I think they finally let ++Garcia and an African bishop on the council.) It might actually be an effective strategy that the CEC might want to look into. Wait a second, that would actually mean a real strategy would be necessary and who are we kidding anyway? Perhaps I’ll stop when an actual headquarters building is purchased, health care coverage is available for churches that need it and a pension plan is in place. I mean, come on, this movement is 15 years old already. Baby steps…
Middle East: Mike Davidson
This plan might have some traction. +Davidson only has a handful of churches left these days. He’s closed yet another church in Wisconsin (Church of the Blessed Sacrament in Darien, WI). Good thing he has a full time job at his cathedral parish, and a cluster of churches in his midwest province. (So, that’s his cathedral, a house church in Wichita, a house church in Columbia, MO and Bread of Life in Wisconsin.) The churches that didn’t run off from the CEC in Virginia and Maryland as soon as they found out they would be getting him after Sly aren’t megachurches or anything. The chances of him effectively opening any new churches in his massive province are somewhere between slim and none given his track record. So, by all means, +Davidson will probably have time on his hands to squander his massive area of the Middle East, too. Plus his “lock and load” schtick might actually work there. They’ve been “locking and loading” on each other for centuries in the Middle East so enjoy your PATRIARCHAL LEGATE … he gets you.
Mexico/Central America: John Holloway
Again, this will likely need re-examining. He has a long road ahead of him for recovery. Likely +Gene Lilly who has been giving all the updates on +Holloway’s recovery might take over for him. David Epps might be another replacement. He has like a million ordained clergy serving at his church – it appears like a shadow cathedral on his website maybe it’s just me that gets that impression. He was also such a good bulldog for the CEC when all the mess exploded before everyone’s very eyes on the Ancient-Future forum. He kept pontificating on his silly little local newspaper column about people who talk on the blogs that shouldn’t be entitled to their opinions and likening them to terrorists. Perhaps he’ll be rewarded with a miter.
Well, there you have it. My take on the CEC Missions sham setup. Visit the website here and be dazzled by the pictures of purple shirts, fancy titles and the lack of progress.
So, first there was the CEC. (Founded by ++Adler and his crew)
Then, the CEEC. (Founded by some ex-CECers like ++Boosahda who was once with ++Sly and who were pissed about women’s ordination).
From there, the CCC. (Founded by some ex-CEECers like ++Boosahda who merged with Archbishop Daniel Williams’ crew)
And from there, now the CAC. (Founded by some CECers, who left the CEC, received and consecrated by the CEEC and have re-organized into the CAC).
Still with me?
I’m thinking of forming a new work myself. If I can find valid apostolic succession (apparently, it’s not that hard to find anymore), I will form:
The Convocation of Charismatic Evangelical Episcopal Christian Churches.
The CCEECC!
VirtueOnline has posted a story about a departure in the Continuing Anglican movement. This involves the Anglican Province of Christ the King migrating to the Anglican Church in America.
This has nothing to do with the CEC but this should be of some comfort knowing that this happens to groups of all kinds. It becomes especially messy when crosiers and miters are involved as it’s tough to stand down when there are conflicts of authority.
I’ve just discovered the blog stats panel for this place. And, this site is surprisingly getting a ton of traffic! Most of it is coming through search engine traffic. It seems like folks are trying to find answers about what’s going on in the CEC, what went wrong and where some of the former players are now.
Quite a few searches for “Communion of Christ the Redeemer” have led to this site. I am not at all connected to CCR (or what some have amusingly referred to as CEC version 2.0). I did notice that there is a place holder for a site that is in the works here.
So, be on the lookout. Personally, I think it’s surprising that their site isn’t up yet – at least not even a temporary site with some pictures, e-mail links and a phone number. Judging from the fallout happening in the CEC, it could only benefit their movement to get their stuff out there.
Check out this on Wikipedia … a pretty comprehensive list of the bishops of the CEC. You can see the list here.
I had forgotten about Archbishop Joseph Moats (of the former Southwest Province and former diocesan for Arizona) and Bishop John Obokech formerly of Uganda. Not sure exactly where Moats is.
However, Obokech apparently “absconded” with land that was legally his but purchased with monies from the ICCEC. Obokech is a lawyer and a pretty good one. He was given money to purchase a cathedral for the ICCEC. However, all the legal papers he drew up were in his name and NOT in the name of the ICCEC.
Oops. A little egg on the ICCEC’s face there. I guess that strategy and administration weren’t exactly strong suits for the brain trust in San Clemente. If anyone ever bothered to pay any attention to Africa, they may have caught such a fatal error. So, there you go, likely some large sum of funds from Foundation Day offering totally squandered due to a lack of due diligence in the hierarchy.
Just because you have a pallium, mitre and a crosier, doesn’t exactly make you an expert in administration or real estate.
And while I’m on this little nostalgic tour, here’s an article on the deposed Bishop Obokech:
Expelled Bishop Now Stuck in Property Row
The Monitor (Kampala)
NEWS
September 11, 2006
Posted to the web September 11, 2006By Edgar R. Batte
KampalaThe Charismatic Episcopal Church bishop who was recently expelled for alleged insubordination and indiscipline , is now locked in a bitter controversy with the church over property.
The church is apparently angry that Mr John Obokech Obokech, who has been managing the church property on Plot 4 Nakasero, has vehemently refused to handover the assets.
The assets
Among the assets is a church house called the Trinity Church.
According to the Bishop elect Yusto Muhereza, who says he is working on instructions of the church head, Rev Charles W. Jones, Obokech has refused to transfer the assets with intent to personalise the property, which was bought and leased to the host church in Uganda.
“He wanted to register the properties in his names against the right ownership yet this was property that the Episcopal Church leased to the host church for the faithful to congregate,” Muhereza said.
He said Obokech, a “self-styled archbishop”, had been kicked out of the church for a good reason.
“He had since started referring to himself as an archbishop and carrying out roles beyond his title such as the announcement of five new dioceses as well as consecrating a new bishop yet he was merely a bishop himself,” Muhereza said. “The Charismatic Episcopal Church in Uganda and indeed the whole of Africa has only one Archbishop, His Grace Charles W. Jones,” he said.
“If John has told anybody that he is the Archbishop of the Charismatic Episcopal Church in Uganda, that is a deliberate lie and he knows it. It can only be wishful thinking.”
When Daily Monitor contacted Obokech, he sounded irritated.
“When I was concecreted as Bishop, I did not contact Daily Monitor,” he said.
However, the church maintained yesterday that Obokech must relinquish the property.
The ban
Muhereza said Obokech is “no longer authorised to serve as bishop or even as an ordinary priest or deacon in the Church or to enjoy any of the privileges associated therewith.”
The International Communion of the Charismatic Episcopal Church, which first came to Uganda in 1995, is a worldwide religious organisation.
Back in the day, when it was announced that Malcolm Smith had joined the CEC and later to be consecrated a bishop, there was a flood of “Malcolm disciples” who followed suit. Malcolm would later have to lay down his episcopal orders so that he could leave the CEC so he could get married again. It seems that most of his disciples followed him out of the CEC after him or at least later.
Well you can see him in Bandera, TX where he apparently operates a teaching ministry there where you can also take retreats with him. He is referring to himself as Bishop Malcolm Smith still to this day even though he was forced to lay down his orders as a bishop when leaving the CEC. He also is the leader of the Zoe Community of the Holy Spirit… some quasi-religious order where I think you get to pay for the privilege of being an oblate.
Again, there is life after the CEC. Blessings to you, Malcolm!
You can check out his website here.
The Central and Northeast Provinces seem to be neck-and-neck as far as number of states/territories between them – 15 for each. Both provinces were given additional states after the shakeup of last summer.
However, it appears to me that the Northeast seems very stable compared to the very shaky and undeveloped Central. The ICCEC website seems to be updated every presidential election and it’s still showing 2 churches in Wisconsin (Central) when really there is only 1 (Bread of Life). There are 10 out of a possible 15 states with no churches or presence in them at all.
Compare that with the Northeast with 2 out of 15 with no activity. The rest of the Northeast has churches or resident clergy with some activity happening there… I’m guessing.
The greatest luck and the hope of any future of the CEC in the US is to see what is driving the growth in the Northeast and see if it can be applied elsewhere. Something must be going right if there are a higher percentage of churches where there are full time clergy serving them. Someone might want to look into that…
This is a classic e-mail sent to those who left the CEC and are still hurt… re-examine your relationship with the Lord. Clearly, a graduate of St. Michael’s “Seminary” award-winning pastoral care program. E-mail follows below … emphasis added.
—– Original Message —-
From: itrain3dogs <3Weims@cox.net>
To: ICCECgroup@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Saturday, April 14, 2007 8:48:22 AM
Subject: [ICCECgroup] Re: Article with reference to the CEC from California Catholic DailyI find it increasingly disturbing that so many feel so hurt. Honestly, if your journey with the Lord has lead you into a place of hurt, or pain, then it’s not a journey with the Lord and you might want to re-visit your relationship with Him.
Jesus encouraged all of us to love one another dispite our differences. I am not convinced it matters a whole lot to Him what denomonational label we put on ourselves. What is important is that we have a common bond in a right relationship with Him, and through that relationship we come to common ground and love. Not trusting men, ordained or otherwise, is clearly a breech in that covering of love. It makes me sad to think that there are loving and kind folks who live with the barriers and walls that Jesus came to remove.
In a little segment that I’m calling “Where are they now?” we’ll try to figure out where former CEC leaders are using skill, our vast network of sources and Google.
In this installment, Archbishop DALE HOWARD! You may remember him as the former supervising archbishop of the International Development Agency based in Jacksonville, FL. After setting up the vast network of churches in Africa and Europe, ++Dale was unceremoniously deposed and treated like a scapegoat for the many administrative problems of the Patriarch’s Council (aka “The Cool Kids Club” at the House of Bishops lunchtable).
He is loosely affiliated with the Communion of Evangelical Episcopal Churches and is pastoring The Chapel at Jacksonville.
You can visit his church online here. Thankfully, there is life after the CEC. God’s peace to you Archbishop Howard. You deserve it!
When I had heard that Watchman Nee’s book “Spiritual Authority” was on a reading list for the St. Michael’s “Seminary” (where if you went through the program, paid your fees and wrote papers no one would read, you could be the proud owner of a worthless Master of Ministry degree in 6 short years!), I should have known that the CEC was setting up an authoritarian structure that had a Roman Catholic exterior but really a throwback to the 1970s “discipleship / shepherding” movement from the early charismatic movement.
Watchman Nee was against the idea of clergy as he rejected the idea as unscriptural. But, he was a big proponent for a strong elder form of government in the local church. This has been fuel to the fire for a lot of what goes on in the Rector’s Council model. Nee and his elders were not to be questioned. Much like the CEC’s Council model. Once the council has spoken, that’s the end.
There are lots of stories out there in the CEC where one must bring job promotions, vacations and where to buy a house before the Rector’s Council. I always found that notion strange and never submitted to it. Mostly because I was expected to find a job that could allow me to be bi-vocational for the church. The vacation time I had from my secular job was applied toward ministry. Any extra vacation time I earned was for me and didn’t need to go to the Rector’s Council for their approval. Or so I thought.
I was asked by the brothers … “Why didn’t you go to the Council to see if a vacation time would be OK?” I just pretended like I never heard it simply because it wasn’t anyone else’s damn business!
Anyone else have a similar experience?
Here’s a prophetic word by Randy Adler on “Dominion.” (mp3)
Try not to laugh when he says references him stealing from you or institutions stealing from you, etc…
There’s some bizarre backnoise in this recording so it kind of makes it tough to listen to. That and the actual content.
While scouring the web, I found ex-Archbishop Randy Sly’s resume:
Randy Sly resume
Under “RECENT MINISTERIAL EMPLOYMENT” you can find this note:
**Note: On November 1, 2006 I tendered my resignation as an archbishop in the International Communion of the Charismatic Episcopal Church.
I have no real agenda for posting this… I just found it interesting.
Since I was criticized for doing the “devil’s work” in my attempt at catharsis on this here blog, I share with you this observation from Bishop Rick Painter, formerly with the Charismatic Episcopal Church and now with the Communion of Christ the Redeemer (humorously referred to as CEC version 2.0). This letter of his was published last summer on the ancient-future forum and it sheds a great deal of light as to the cultic nature surrounding Randolph Adler.
Though some of the letter pasted below is dated (dealing with Kenneth Myers in particular), some of the info is really quite good from Bishop Painter in setting the scene “behind the scenes” at the episcopal level of government in the CEC. If you haven’t seen this before, it’s worth a read.
Dear Kenneth and other Bishops:
I have waited until now to respond to this email. My purpose was to calm myself down and to order my thoughts before responding. It would have been very easy to act in frustration, temper, and revulsion. This is only another straw on the proverbial “camels’ back”. It is, to me, one more illustration of what is plaguing the CEC.I find myself quite distressed today. We have gone around and around on dealing with “issues” and, in my view, have refused to deal with the “core issue”, namely that the CEC has become a “personality cult” and the defense of the “patriarch” is to be done at all costs…regardless of how many clergy, churches, and laity, are wounded and compelled to go elsewhere. I realize this single statement will result in angry denouncements and my email box will fill up. So be it.
The fact that the only correspondence that + Ken has received was two emails to “rebuff” him for not following some protocol, due process, or some procedural policy is beynd belief! First, since when do processes, procedures, or protocols take precedence over “hurting people”?! My God, what have we come to in trying to protect one person and his position?! I was “sickened” when I read of this incident and I called my brother just to love on him and Shirley and offer my prayers and help in anyway. Regardless, of what happened it was obvious that he and Shirley were hurting. My offer to help was what I was taught is the expected response of a Christian. Second, I was in a state of unbelief that after 10 days there was no response from +Ken’s fellow members of the Patriarch’s Council. Why?! (So much for the CEC being built on “relationships”!) 3. Where was “due protocol, due process, and procedures in + Phil Zampino’s situation? When did he receive a list of charges in writing? When did he receive a hearing? When did he get to face his accuser or accusers? When was the House of Bishops notified of his impending hearing and of the charges against him? We are told we have to follow the Canons…since when? Our leaders only invoke the Canons when they want something to go their way. Even Abp. Jones said, “they should have been written on toilet paper in explaining how much they were ignored”. It does cause one to question what is going on. It gives occasion for doubt and question as to motives and actions. Brothers, this is a mess!
Gentlemen, I wish to share briefly, what I shared with +Sly last summer. >From my years of experience I am convinced that we are dealing with a “cultic” spirit. In seminary I taught the men that the most important gift for the clergy is “discerning of spirits”. We have all seen those that seemed so “right” and were, in actual point of fact, so “wrong”. Not in what they said but, in the “spirit” behind it. Also, we have all seen those that started “right on” and became “way out”. This, to me, is where we are. A few signs of “cultism”: 1. Control information and discussion thereby squelching dissent. 2. Preach the same thing repeatedly…indoctrination. 3. Divide the group and isolate individuals…marginalize to minimize credibilty. 4. All money goes “up” and only enough comes “down” to appease the critics. 5. Use and abuse of those that are at various levels of leadership forcing submission without question. Keeps everybody in their place. This is only a few, there are many others…but, these illustrate my point.How does this apply to the CEC?
What follows is from a teaching I did in 1989 entitled, “CHARISMATIC WITCHCRAFT: THE NUMBER ONE PROBLEM IN THE CHURCH”. The acronym “mind” serves at this time. M-anipulation; I-ntimidation; N-egotiation; and D-omination. Those at the head of “cultic” groups will manipulate, intimidate, and even, negotiate just to maintain their positions and income…read, to dominate! This is a major problem throughout the Charismatic Churches, and is what we in the CEC are facing now. I am not saying that Abp. Adler is a witch only that he is operating in the spirit behind it…check Galatians 5:19-21. It is time to be honest and admit that these terms describe what has been happening in the CEC. The instances are too numerous to list suffice it to say we are all aware of times when one, or more, of these devices have been used to silence all of us and to make us fall in line.
I point this out to address + Ken’s letters. This event must focus us on the larger problem…the head of our church is “sick” and “dysfunctional”. We, also must, admit we have all failed in our duties as bishops in not confronting these things long ago. We have become like the abused members of the family of an abusive father. We hate what he does…and, yet, cover for him and thus enable him to continue in his warped behavior. When you have an egotistic, defensive neurotic in leadership you have a formula for disaster. And, when we have been manipulated, intimidated, and negotiated into being dominated all in the name of “love” and “covering the weaknesses” of a brother, we have been cowardly and have let down the clergy and people of the CEC. Please note the all inclusive pronouns I am using…I am guilty of not standing up when and as, I should. For this I have repented and do repent to you my Brothers. NEVER AGAIN!
My Brothers, if the grievance of + Ken and Shirley is not addressed immediately we should be ashamed of ourselves! Those that have the authority to do so must call for the convening of the appropriate council to deal with this deplorable situation. To wait until September is to belittle Shirley and to insult + Ken. If it was any of our wives we would be raising hell instead of employing these delaying tactics. I join +Ken in calling for the resignation of Abp. Adler and, I would also add, we need to move the headquarters out of San Clemente. A sabbatical will not suffice! There has been too much lost of confidence, trust, and willingness in dealing with our Brother to place him back in authority. He definitely needs to be restored however, that does not necessarily mean to an “office”. We are dealing with a lifestyle of “prophetic over emphasis and abuse” and of a management style that contributes to the confusion and disorder that presently exists. When one “under the guise of hearing the Spirit” couches everything in “hyper spirituality” it is very difficult, if not impossible for them to change.
I appreciate your patience in reading this too long email. It is just unbelievable to me that + Ken cannot get a response to his correspondence and charges…I am appalled by the failure to communicate to a brother that is one of us, our friend! I realize my letter may hurt his situation more than to help it…as I know where I stand in the eyes of some of you…however, to remain silent would be more cowardice on my part…NO MORE, ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!!!
Pro Dei Regno,
+ Rick Painter
Though this has died down considerably since last summer, here is a list of charges against the Charismatic Episcopal Church:
The diocesan in Kansas has encouraged his parish to go through what he calls “Netmending.” Before you can go through this “ministry,” you must fill out a form that asks a battery of questions. Hence, the Bishop, his wife, the Dean and his wife know just about everything there is to know about your life from childhood to present day.
See the questionnaire here:
Intergenerational Healing Questionnaire
Just in case anyone is wondering, this isn’t top secret information. It’s on the front page of the church website: http://www.ccotk.org That’s how important this ministry is in order to maintain control in the lives of the members of this church.
Fr. Mark Wallace and his former congregation of Holy Trinity CEC converts to Orthodoxy.
Best estimates on the current status of the CEC:
- 90 parishes and missions in the US
- 11 bishops in the US
- 207 priests in the US
- 123 deacons in the US
How many are actual viable churches?
How many are working with full-time clergy (besides Cathedral parishes and the odd exception parish with the luxury of a full time Priest)?
How many are “paper churches” (one large family in a basement celebrating Communion acting as a “church”)?
I have always marveled at how the CEC in the US never quite got off the ground. However, the CEC always had such explosive growth in areas such as Africa and Southeast Asia.
Could it be the management of the US church was so much more top heavy than in other parts of the world? And with that top heavy emphasis on administration, a greater emphasis on money getting kicked upstairs to the next level?
Could it be that the personality cult around Randy Adler didn’t quite filter down to the rest of the world where the greatest amount of growth was occurring?
I realize there are more questions than answers on this post. This is what has troubled me during my time in the Charismatic Episcopal Church and even since my own leaving. In that, the growth that started in the early days was not able to be sustained in the last few years.
The disappointment that came with such hard work of never yielding the harvest is a huge blow to a Pastor in any tradition – not just the CEC. However, I was not content to spiritualize the lack of growth with flowery “prophetic words”. Probably why I left at the end of the day.
A comment on one of my posts! I’ll respond to this comment below in bolded quotes…
Please provide proof of anything you’re saying. Who of the “faithful in Kansas” said this?
The faithful included many who are still in the core leadership. I can’t divulge my sources. No need to order me around on my own blog. It’s a big world wide web out there. If you don’t like what you see, feel free to start a blog on your own.
I’ve been a member of the CEC since 1999 (All Saints Church, Santas Clarita, CA). I pray for all of you who have left the CEC, but I believe that lots of you are just whiners.
Awesome! Thanks for the prayers and for the slap in the face! Gee, sorry that some of us couldn’t just go away quietly. If it wasn’t necessary for some in the CEC to make it an excruciatingly difficult experience to leave, then perhaps this wouldn’t be necessary.
You are doing satan’s work here, I fear.
Is that right? I always enjoy spirited banter but when someone goes for the “Devil” or “Hitler” card, I know that they’re not really up for it.
At any rate, thanks for the prayers. I’ll take it for whatever it’s worth.
Once, Archbishop Randy Adler introduced Archbishop Randy Sly by saying: “The best archbishop in 2000 years!” That sentiment was received in Kansas with a round of applause and cheering. Fast forward to when Randy Sly announces that he is leaving the Charismatic Episcopal Church to convert to Catholicism. News of his conversion to Catholicism was met with cries of his “unfaithfulness” and that he was dead weight anyway. All this from the faithful in Kansas where he first took off in the CEC.
It’s amazing how quickly folks turn on you. One moment, you are standing shoulder-to-shoulder laboring for the Kingdom of God in the same particular vineyard – the Charismatic Episcopal Church. However, start breathing doubts about where the movement is headed and you are immediately blackballed. God forbid, you actually leave the movement, you’ll find how quickly they turn on you.
Anyone else find this to be true?
So many people that I have encountered after leaving the Charismatic Episcopal Church have all felt as if they needed to be de-programmed as if they left a cult.
It turns out that many of us were lied to about the goings on of the organization. That others were manipulated into staying even longer than they had initially hoped. Some were being asked to give detailed reports of their salaries, housing, and other benefits so that the Bishop could know how much to expect for their tithe.
I was personally shamed for not consulting “the brothers” about buying a new house. I was also taken to task for not consulting “the brothers” on when and where to take my vacation.
All this control has created havoc in the lives of so many that I have come into contact with. It’s shocking once you get on the other side to see how much control some Bishops wanted to exert over those in their cathedral.
Like many people involved in the work that was the Charismatic Episcopal Church, there was a great deal of ownership going in to this new movement. This was once called the fastest-growing denomination in the US and the world (however, I can’t for the life of me remember who said that… it was just widely quoted that way).
Now, it’s fighting for its life and trying to march on like nothing happened. The dream was that this movement would incorporate the charismatic, evangelical and liturgical/sacramental streams of historic Christianity. But, in the end, it became mostly charismatic with a smattering of liturgical with a huge heap of 1970s-era shepherding tricks to keep people in the movement for as long as possible.
It became quite apparent that the initial growth of the movement was over. So, most churches that I knew of in the CEC had a “bolt the doors” strategy. No one can leave. If you leave, you leave with a curse or a black hand over you. And, once you leave, it’s as if you were never born. Very Christian tactics, let me tell you.
I left the Charismatic Episcopal Church after some years in the movement. I sacrificed time, money, vacation from my secular employment, etc., etc… all to demonstrate my loyalty to a Bishop who just came to expect that he deserved all that he had coming to him.
I had heard “Where the Bishop is, there is the church” quoted to me from the early Church fathers so many times that I started to feel like I wanted to vomit each time I heard it. That was not meant to be some power to be lorded over the clergy and laity under his care. It was just the reality of the structure of the church.
I have no idea where I am going with all this except to say that it has been some time since I left the CEC. Most days, I am happy that I left. Other days, I feel horrible for the manner in which it all happened. I can almost always feel some sort of resentment that most of the people that I counted on as friends no longer wish to speak to me or wish me some sort of harm for leaving.
Does this resonate with anyone out there?
After the near implosion of the Charismatic Episcopal Church in the US last summer, it became apparent that this was the first time most people ever spoke openly about their feelings concerning what was going on in this Communion.
This is an attempt at bringing healing to those who have left or are processing their feelings about leaving the CEC. Be open, honest, and most of all civil.
We’ll see where this goes.
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