The Evangelical Episcopal Communion (EEC) is a

Christian denomination A Christian denomination is a distinct Religion, religious body within Christianity that comprises all Church (congregation), church congregations of the same kind, identifiable by traits such as a name, particular history, organization, leadersh ...

within the

Convergence Movement The Convergence Movement, also known as the Ancient-Future Faith, whose foundation is primarily attributed to Robert E. Webber in 1985, is an ecumenical movement. Developed as an effort among evangelical, charismatic and Pentecostal, and liturg ...

, formerly part of the

Communion of Evangelical Episcopal Churches The Communion of Evangelical Episcopal Churches (CEEC) is a Christian convergence communion established in 1995 within the United States of America. With a large international presence in five provinces and seven U.S. dioceses, most of its churche ...

. The denomination was founded by Archbishop Russell McClanahan, who has served as presiding bishop and patriarch.

History

As a part of the

, Russell McClanahan was consecrated into the episcopacy in 1995, within

Fredericksburg, Virginia Fredericksburg is an Independent city (United States), independent city in Virginia, United States. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the population was 27,982. It is south of Washington, D.C., and north of Richmond, Virginia, R ...

. By 1999, McClanahan was elected to the archiepiscopacy for the communion's Province of St. Peter. He also became the third presiding bishop for the Communion of Evangelical Episcopal Churches in 2003. In 2015, McClanahan and the Province of St. Peter unanimously separated citing philosophical and functional changes regarding provincial authority within the communion. Following, the Province of St. Peter; Province of India under Archbishop Reinhard Shakar; and Province of South Africa under Archbishop Lazarus Selahle operated as the "Evangelical Episcopal Communion." By October 2019, the Evangelical Episcopal Communion reunited with the Communion of Evangelical Episcopal Churches. As of 2021, the Evangelical Episcopal Communion separated again from the Communion of Evangelical Episcopal Churches.

Statistics

According to the EEC's website, as of 2023, the denomination is organized into the following provinces: the Province of St. Peter; Family Life International Fellowship; Master's Circle Christian Fellowship International; and Missio Mosaic. The largest of the provinces is the Province of St. Peter, claiming to have planted more than 5,000 churches. Missio Mosaic has listed 9 churches and ministries altogether as parish churches, network churches, and ministries. Though strengthening ties with the Communion of Evangelical Episcopal Churches, Archbishop Reinhard Shakar's Indian province claimed more than 100 churches in May 2023. Prior to Archbishop Lazarus Selahle's death as head of the Province of South Africa and All Africa Bishops Council, his province claimed 12 bishops.

Doctrine

As a part of the

, the Evangelical Episcopal Communion adheres to the Chicago-Lambeth Quadrilateral. The EEC rejects same-sex marriages and abortions.{{Cite web , title=Statements , url=https://www.eec1.org/statements , access-date=2023-12-19 , website=Evangelical Episcopal Communion , language=en

References

Convergence Movement