FAQ

  1. Is the CEC a breakoff of the Episcopal Church USA?

    No. The Charismatic Episcopal Church was birthed by Pentecostal pastors seeking the ancient and apostolic faith.

  2. If it is not a breakoff, why do you call yourselves an Episcopal Church?

    The word Episcopal refers to a type of church government. Our Church is governed by bishops in apostolic succession, thus it has an “Episcopal” form of government.

  3. How did the CEC get started?

    The CEC was begun when our first Patriarch, Randolph Adler, was consecrated bishop on June 26, 1992 at St. Michael’s Church in San Clemente, California. Two other churches affI liated with St. Michael’s at that time to form this new communion.

  4. Isn’t “Charismatic Episcopal” an oxymoron?

    No. In actuality, the two accentuate each other and give greater strength to the Church. Charismatic gifts need to be exercised “decently and in order” (I Cor. 14:40), and the episcopal structure and discipline ofears that order to our services. On the other hand, the liturgy without the fullness of the activity of the Holy Spirit is lifeless. Thus the blending of the two, in addition to the evangelical proclamation of the Word of God, makes for a complete worship experience.

  5. What are your services like?

    Our services of Holy Eucharist are best described as “Three Streams Worship.” We use the Book of Common Prayer, following the ancient liturgical order of worship. But we also allow ample time and opportunity for the Holy Spirit to move in our midst. There is a blending of ancient hymnody with contemporary music, Biblical preaching, charismatic praise and prophecy, and sacramental anointing with holy oil. Our worship is liturgical and sacramental, evangelical, and charismatic. It is the fullness of the three streams of worship.

  6. What do you mean by charismatic?

    Charismatic often conjures up images of unrestrained enthusiasm. However, such enthusiasm is often emotionalism rather than a true expression of the movement of the Holy Spirit. Charismatic expression of the gifts of the Holy Spirit is orderly, because our God is a God of order, not chaos. Charismatic worship is the activity of the Holy Spirit moving in the lives of His people, giving expression to the full praise and worship and gifts of the Spirit of God.

  7. Do you believe the Bible is the inerrant Word of God?

    Yes. We believe the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments to be the Word of God and to contain all things necessary to salvation.

  8. Why do you not ordain women?

    The Holy Scriptures are clear that the elders of the Church are those men who are entrusted with the governmental role in the Church. In the Old Testament, the priests and Levites, who are entrusted with oversight of the worship in the Tabernacle, are male. They are the elders (the Hebrew word means “bearded one”). In the New Testament, that same sense of the word is maintained in the words for Priest and Bishop.

  9. By not ordaining women, don’t you demean them, making them lesser creatures than men?

    On the contrary, by practicing a proper Biblical order in home and Church we release women to exercise the role they were created by God to fulfill. When women are released from the burdens of government they are freed to fulfill the full gamut of ministries within the Church.

  10. What is “Government by Consensus?” How does it work?

    Government by consensus is recognition of God’s authority and rule over His Church. We do not vote on decisions in a democratic forum, seeking the majority will of man; rather we prayerfully seek the will of God in a spirit of concord, freely and generally consenting to the Lord's leadership under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. We each pray and listen carefully for the Word of God, then seek consensus of His Word spoken to the whole Body of Christ gathered.

  11. How old is the CEC?

    As was mentioned before, the CEC began on June 26, 1992. That is recognized and celebrated as our Foundation Day. However, the roots of our faith and worship, and the apostolic anointing of our bishops, may be traced back to the first century Apostles.

  12. How many churches are there in the CEC?

    We began with three churches in the United States in 1992. There are now almost 2000 churches in the International Communion of the Charismatic Episcopal Church worldwide.

  13. Where are the headquarters of the CEC?

    At the Cathedral Church of the Intercessor in New York City. That is the office of the Patriarch, Archbishop Craig Bates.

  14. Is there a seminary in the CEC for training your clergy?

    Yes. St. Michael’s Seminary was founded in 1994 and maintains it’s home campus in San Clemente. There are satellite campuses of St. Michael’s Seminary, led by a local mentor approved by the academic dean, throughout the United States. The seminary is now being established in our overseas missions as well, and classes will soon be offered on line.

  15. Where can I get more information about the CEC?

    More information can be found at the following links:

    The International Communion of the Charismatic Episcopal Church
    CEC North America