Communion of Evangelical Episcopal Churches

The Communion of Evangelical Episcopal Churches is an Anglican Christian communion, formed in 1995 largely as a result of the Convergence Movement. The CEEC converges the evangelical, charismatic, liturgical, and sacramental traditions of the Christian faith.[1][2]

Communion of Evangelical Episcopal Churches
AbbreviationCEEC-IOU
ClassificationProtestant
OrientationConvergence
PolityEpiscopal
Presiding BishopBishop Quintin Moore
RegionInternational
HeadquartersHutchinson, Kansas
OriginOctober 1995
Dale City, Virginia
Separated fromContinuing Evangelical Episcopal Communion
Merger ofVarious non-denominational churches

In October 2019, following several years of internal debate over the necessity of an overarching International Canon Law, the Communion split into two distinct groupings.

The two largest Provinces (Province of India and Province of Reconciliation) chose to continue being governed by existing International Canons that had been devised in 2016. This grouping adopted the new name Continuing Evangelical Episcopal Communion, and it claims to represent more then nine-tenths of the churches and clergy of the original Communion.

The rest of the original Communion adopted a less centralised structure. Renouncing an overarching code of International Canon Law, new "Instruments of Unity" were declared. This grouping continues under the existing name Communion of Evangelical Episcopal Churches, though for the purpose of distinction the expression Communion of Evangelical Episcopal churches - Instruments of Unity (or the acronym CEEC - IOU) may be used.

The Province of USA had renounced its submission to the 2016 Canons back in October 2017[3] and is one of the Provinces that in October 2019 established "Instruments of Unity" as the overarching basis for membership of and participation in the umbrella body[4]

At the time or writing (2020), Archbishop John Sathiyakumar is bishop primus-elect of the "Continuing Evangelical Episcopal Communion", with Archbishop Robert Gosselin as general secretary. Archbishop Charles Travis is among those aligned with the "Continuing Communion". Archbishops Quintin Moore is presiding bishop of the body ("CEEC - IOU") now operating under "Instruments of Unity", with Archbishops Robert Wise, Wayne Boosahda and Russell McClanahan are among those who are aligned with "CEEC-IOU".

Organization

As of 2020, the CEEC-IOU International House of Archbishops numbers 8, together with 56 bishops representing provincial families around the world. For example, the communion website shows a Province of St Thomas (India) and a Province of Canada, and a Province of the United Kingdom.[5] On May 31, 2014 the Communion established the Apostolate of Saint Francis for the Mediterranean and Middle East,[6] which remained in the Continuing Evangelical Episcopal Communion when the CEEC-IOU schismed from the communion.

As of 21 October 2019, when it re-received Abp Russell McClanahan,[7] CEEC-IOU permits its member bishops to ordain women as deacons, priests and bishops.[8]

History
Archbishop William Eusebius Brown, of the Archdiocese of Eusebius of Caesarea[9]

In early 1994 members of a charismatic renewal parish in the Episcopal Church USA, together with their rector, began to conceptualize a vision of a new communion of churches that would be tied to the historic Anglican spiritual tradition, while experiencing "convergence" of the streams of the Church. Archbishop John Kivuva was connected with and agreed to serve as transitional Presiding Bishop for the new body, tentatively called the Evangelical Episcopal Church. Bishop Kivuva at that time was a bishop with the Africa Inland Mission movement and had oversight over a number of churches in Kenya.

In October 1995 in Dale City, Virginia, Virginia, approximately 300 people gathered, representing a wide variety of denominational backgrounds and 25 independent congregations who had come into relationship with the new group. Bishop Michael Owen, Archdeacon Beth Owen, Rt. Rev. Peter Riola, and other bishops in apostolic succession from Eastern Orthodox and Old Catholic jurisdictions were present to help in the consecrating of their first two bishops and the ordination of 25 pastors and 7 deacons. The first two bishops consecrated included Vincent McCall (who later seceded from the EEC) Russell McClanahan, currently archbishop of the CEEC Province of St. Peter.[10] Initially, five congregations fully affiliated with the new communion.

In January 1997 the 6 bishops meeting in synod voted to reconstitute and reincorporate the Evangelical Episcopal Church as "The Communion of Evangelical Episcopal Churches" to reflect the international growth and the needs for eventual provincial structuring. Six countries were now represented in affiliation.

In 1997 the Rev. Duraisingh James, a priest and church planter with the Church of South India for 17 years at that time and long-time head of Christian Education for the Church Union of South India, traveled to meet with the USA founding House of Bishops and indicated his desire to affiliate with the CEEC, together with the 30 churches under his oversight. Shortly thereafter, Fr. Duraisingh was consecrated as Missionary Bishop for India, and later as Archbishop for the CEEC Province of India. Since 1999, two new bishops have been consecrated/received into the Province of India with three dioceses numbering over 75 congregations, along with a seminary founded by Archbishop James.

In 2005 the CEEC USA province joined with the International Communion of Christian Churches to form the Communion of Convergence Churches, USA. In 2006 this relationship was strengthened as the international CEEC organization entered into "co-communion" with the CCCUSA, now known as Christian Communion International.

In 2019 over 98% of the original communion voted to continue operating under the canons that had been ratified in 2016.[11] The Communion of Evangelical Episcopal Churches adopted Instruments of Unity between bishops and affirms that "that each jurisdiction that has a seat in the IHOB is a separate, corporate, and legal entity and maintains their own canons, which cannot be imposed on others."[4][12] The Continuing Evangelical Episcopal Communion uses the same acronym and naming conventions, with the Continuing Communion's Province of Reconciliation sharing a similar name as the Diocese of the Restoration.[13]

References
  1. Amos Yong, Spirit Poured Out on All Flesh - 2005 "The Charismatic Episcopal Church (1992) and the Communion of Evangelical Episcopal Churches (1995) are examples of organized expressions of the Convergence Movement (from the 1970s), which has sought to blend charismatic, evangelical, ..."
  2. J. Gordon Melton Encyclopedia of American religions 2003 "Also in attendance were the future founders of the Communion of Evangelical Episcopal Churches. The CEEC was formally inaugurated in 1995 at which time the first bishops were consecrated. The name Evangelical Episcopal church was chosen. The previously consecrated Michael D. Owen, who presided over the ceremony, was asked to become the first presiding bishop of the new jurisdiction and its initial five congregations...."
  3. Moore, Quintin (October 23, 2017). "Province USA Canonical Final Report". Retrieved June 12, 2020.
  4. Moore, Quintin (October 12, 2018). "Instrument of Unity". Archived from the original on November 17, 2019. Retrieved June 12, 2020. Alt URL
  5. "International House of Archbishops". Communion of Evangelical Episcopal Churches. 2020-03-28. Retrieved 2020-03-28.
  6. "اخبار محلية | تنصيب سيادة المطران د.هاني شحاده مطرانا في اسرائيل ومطرانا مساعدا للأسقف العام | موقع المدار الاول في الشمال". www.almadar.co.il. 2014-06-01. Retrieved 2019-04-13.
  7. "ARCHBISHOP RUSSELL MCCLANAHAN REUNITES WITH THE CEEC". October 21, 2019. Retrieved June 12, 2020.
  8. "The Ordination of Women in the CEEC". www.theceec.org. Archived from the original on 2012-04-26. Retrieved 2019-04-13.
  9. "Official Site of the Archdiocese of Eusebius - Archbishop William (E) Brown | Wix.com". Official Site of the Archdiocese of Eusebius - Archbishop William (E) Brown. Retrieved 2020-06-12.
  10. "The Apostolic Succession of The Most Reverend Russell McClanahan". www.theceec.org. Archived from the original on 2007-07-17. Retrieved 2019-04-13.
  11. "CEEC Averts Schism.pdf". Google Docs. Retrieved 2020-06-24.
  12. Moore, Quintin, Presiding Bishop's Letter to Abp Charles Travis, retrieved 2020-06-24
  13. History of the CEEC - CEEC
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