THE HISTORY OF CONVERGENCE AND THE BIRTH OF THE EEC
Through history, the Christian Church became grouped into three distinct traditions, each with a particular emphasis on one of the three Persons of the Trinity: the Evangelical stream focusing on God the Son, the Charismatic stream prioritizing God the Holy Spirit, and the Sacramental stream emphasizing God the Father. Over time, these differences were allowed to take supremacy over that which was held in common. This fostered such division that each tradition had become largely independent and separate from the others.
During the 1960's-80's, God brought revival and to His divided people through the Charismatic Renewal. People from all over the world from different backgrounds, cultures and Christian traditions were bound together through a common experience of encountering the Holy Spirit. Christians in the Evangelical and Sacramental traditions were embracing the Charismatic element, bringing a return to unity within a remnant of the Church.
As time went on, the need to balance the Charismatic element with the Sacramental element was felt, and the concept of convergence was born. Believing that Christ is present and at work in all three traditions, convergence aims to bring the strengths of each of the three traditions together for a more balanced and holistic worship expression, thus promoting a more unified body of believers. The Evangelical Episcopal Communion (EEC) is centered around this concept of convergence.
The origin of the Evangelical Episcopal Communion (EEC) began in 1994-95 when discussions began between Rev. Russell McClanahan, who at that time was the head of a network of churches called New Testament Ministries, and Robert Davis, President of the Board of Directors of the Evangelical Episcopal Church International (EECI) who was seeking to establish a network of convergent churches. The result was the merging of the two groups. The founding convention was held on October 3,1995 in Fredericksburg, Virginia. Twenty-five priests and seven deacons representing five churches were ordained and brought into the newly formed EECI. In addition, two bishops were consecrated in Apostolic Succession, the first being Bishop Russell McClanahan and the second being Bishop Vince McCall. Three bishops in Apostolic Succession served as consecrators: Bishop Michael Owen (Chief Consecrator), Bishop Daniel Gincig, and Bishop Owen Augustin. Shortly thereafter, Bishop Michael Owen joined the infant organization and was nominated as the first Presiding Bishop. Withing a few months, Bishop McCall withdrew, leaving Bishops Owen and McClanahan as the two overseeing Bishops.
In 1997, Bishop Owen left the EECI and formed the Communion of Evangelical Episcopal Churches (CEEC), along with Bishop Wayne Boosahda and Bishop Robert Wise. On May 13,1999, the two groups were reunited under the CEEC. Then on January 7, 2022, Archbishop McClanahan and his clergy parted amicably with the CEEC over differences in how the church should address shifts within the culture. Archbishop McClanahan incorporated under the Evangelical Episcopal Communion, a name reminiscent of the original name given back in 1995. At the time of this writing, only four of the clergy who were ordained at the founding of the Communion on October 3,1995 are still members of the EEC serving under Archbishop McClanahan. They are Bruce Wright and Jonathan Wright (now Bishops), and Priests Teddy Craven and Robert Hoenike.
From its small beginnings, The EEC has grown to include clergy, churches, ministries and house churches located in parts of the United States, Africa, Australia, South America, India and other parts of Asia. Believing that both the presence and power of Christ are at work in each of the Evangelical, Charismatic and Sacramental elements of the church, our numbers continue to grow by God's grace.
Image 1 - First Bishops consecrated in the EECI: Russell McClanahan and Vince McCall
Image 2 - Bishop Michael Owen placing a ring on the finger of newly consecrated Bishop Russell McClanahan. Pictured from left to right, standing: Bishops Dan Gincig, Michael Owen and Owen Augustin. From left to right kneeling: Bishop Russ McClanahan and Vince McCall
Image 3 - Five of the Ordinands at the original EECI founding convention on October 3, 1995. Pictured from left to right: Jonathan (Jake) Wright, Bruce Olson, Roger Ely, Teddy Craven, and Bruce Wright. Jake Wright, Teddy Craven and Bruce Wright have since been consecrated as bishops in the EEC.
Beliefs
DOCTRINAL ESSENTIALS
We believe in one God Who has revealed Himself in three Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
We believe that salvation is by grace through faith in Jesus Christ's sacrificial death on the cross.
We believe in the historic essential doctrines of the Church as found in the Apostle's and Nicene Creeds.
We believe in the sufficiency of the Holy Scriptures as the foundation for our personal and corporate life together.
We believe that the Evangelical, Charismatic and Sacramental elements within the Church reflect the triune nature of God and that the presence and power of Christ are at work in each of these elements.
We believe that marriage is a covenant between one man and one woman.
We believe that God created mankind as male or female and that these 2 distinct complementary genders together reflect the image and nature of God.