A special advisory committee to the Patriarch’s Council met in Olathe, Kansas, last week to review the ICCEC’s Draft Catechism.

The committee finished its fifth all-day session last Friday, working through an average of ten pages per day, question and answer by question and answer.

The draft document is the product of about five years of effort by many lay and ordained participants and had been previously reviewed (and commented on) by each international church and the American church’s Theology Committee.

“The process is a good one, but slow. We want to get this right for the sake of our children and to present a united witness for Jesus Christ,” said Patriarch Craig Bates.

Patriarch Bates, Bishop Michael Davidson, Father Terry Hedrick, Father Jeffrey Welsh, who serves as secretary, Father Kenneth Tanner, and Deacon Steve Phelps comprise the advisory committee. They met for two days last November and plan to reconvene in early October for four days in hopes of completing their review.

“Not since the first years of the CEC, have I participated in a meeting where I felt the Holy Spirit so clearly leading the emergence of a document to serve the entire communion. There’s a real synergy in the room with this group and the writing and editing process is a joy and wonder,” said Father Kenneth Tanner.

Some parts of the Catechism have been fine tuned by the advisory group while other parts have undergone major revision. Once their work is complete, the Catechism will be presented to the Patriarch’s Council for approval and will likely be circulated for trial use in parishes and dioceses around the globe before being permanently adopted by the communion.

Bishops from around the world convened in Selma, Alabama, on Friday evening, April 12, for a special moment in the life of the CEC.

Five and half years ago, Archbishop Randolph Adler, the communion’s founding patriarch, stepped down from full-time service to the church after more than fifteen years as its temporal leader, years that saw the CEC’s rapid Spirit-driven expansion in the United States, Asia, Africa, Europe and South America.

At the time of his retirement, in November of 2007, the church was unable to hold a service in which Archbishop Adler formally blessed his successor as patriarch, Archbishop Craig Bates.

This past December, the two men spent time together at the funeral of Archbishop Adler’s wife, Betty. In ongoing conversations this year, Archbishop Adler made clear his desire to bless Archbishop Bates in the leadership role he has held for five years.

While not officially announced or promoted, word of the event spread: a simple Eucharist to be held at Christ the King in Selma. All but two of the American bishops, including five Asian bishops who could make the journey on short notice, with 200 laity and clergy from dioceses in the American Southeast converged on this remote, historic town for a time of worship.

Archbishop Bates was the celebrant and preacher, speaking a direction-setting word for the CEC that should not be missed. It can be heard here: http://bit.ly/batesselmasermon

“Tonight’s celebration is not a political event (for power cannot save us, only divine love); tonight’s Eucharist isn’t a church growth strategy to add thousands to our numbers (for there is only one strategy in the mind of God: “love one another as I have loved you”); tonight is not about seeking another blessing or anointing for fear that God will withhold his blessing from us because we’re not good enough, for our God wants to bless us more than we want to be blessed and without condition. This is about a response to God’s unconditional love and I’m here tonight from New York because I love Bishop Adler and I want his blessing,” said Bates.

The blessing ceremony came at the end of Communion. Archbishop Adler prayed an extemporaneous prayer over Archbishop Bates as he knelt before the seated Adler, to the side of the altar:

“In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, I bless you. May you walk in God’s peace all the days of your life. May you fear no enemy. May you always have his peace wherever you go. May you always have a realization that this is not your church but it’s his church and that he entrusts us with these things for a short time. And you’re going to do what God wants you to do. You’re a brave man, you’re a courageous man, and you’re God’s man. And I bless you with all spiritual benediction in Jesus’ Name.”

You can listen to the blessing here: http://bit.ly/adlerblessingbates

Over the long weekend, from Thursday through Sunday, over meals, in fellowship and worship, the two patriarchs spent time together, reflecting on the CEC’s journey to this point, their personal friendship, and the wisdom these two men have gained leading this unique communion.

A Letter from Bishop Emmanuel Ngirumpatse,  General Secretary of Rwanda,Burundi and Southern Congo for ICCEC

Dear Brothers and Sisters;

We are very pleased to thank you so much for us the All Saints Day Development and Mercy Funds in 2012 and 2013.  Kindly, we want to send up photos of the current PROJECT TITLE: CARPENTRY & FURNITURE SUPPLY.

With the $8000 USD we have received from You last year 2012, we have been able to purchase two machines with some wooden board in value of $1000, installation and rental place costs, just on the main route or road where people can reach easily.

On March 20 to 23,2013, We have had our HOB in Kigali and have examined together the progress of our project and we can report project is a success in just a few months.

In fact this year, we are reinvesting profits of $1500.00 we have made, to buy a third machine called Wood Designer which costs $ 1500 USD. The project is still going on well.  (See picture above with Bishop Nitonde of Burundi standing next to it)

The Carpentry & Furniture Supply Project continues to purchase wooden board and other materials related to carpentry in order to supply new orders for pieces of furniture as well chairs, cupboards, doors, windows.

This we are expanding with a hulling machine project to be started in Bujumbura, Burundi.  This micro-business project is good for the growth of our Church there.

All these Projects will give the direct report to the Kigali HOB  to decide together how the incomes will build our Cathedrals and Dioceses.

We Thank You, Dear Respected Patriarch, and all the generous Christian who gave to the All Saint offering last year, and for thinking of us in Africa .We assure You the projects are making a big change.

We Love and Respect You!

Faithfully Yours in His Kingdom

Bishop Emmanuel Ngirumpatse
Doctor of Divinity
General Secretary of Rwanda, Burundi and Southern Congo for ICCEC
Kigali/Rwanda.

Thank you for who have contributed to the Vestments and Liturgical Wares Program.

These photos are of the House of Bishops in Uganda, which includes Bishops from as far as Southern Sudan and Northern Congo DRC. The General Secretary the Most Reverenced Bishop Francis Gogo, sent these photos to show the Bishops, Priests and Deacons who benefited from your generosity.

Thank You!

The Vestments and Liturgical Wares Program, provides the basic items to conduct services, such as Bibles, Prayer Books, chalices and patons, albs, stoles, cassocks and surplices to Bishops, Priest and Deacons Africa, who otherwise could not afford them.

If you have items you would like to donate and send to the African Churches, please mail them to:

ICCEC Development, Attn: Vestments and Liturgical Wares, 122 Broadway, Malverne, NY 11565-1635

All items will be mailed or brought over with people traveling to those areas.  For more information see:  http://www.cecdevelopment.org/programs.html 

In October 2012, the Most Rev Ibiso Igani, Rector of Christ the King Cathedral and Bishop for the Diocese of Nigeria, West Africa, visited Liberia and Ghana to receive churches into the ICCEC and ordain clergy. The account of his visit to Ghana was reported earlier at this link. 

Bishop Igani was warmly received in Liberia by Brother Emmanuel T. K. Doe. He spent a week teaching the ICCEC’s Certificate program and encouraging parishioners in two churches who showed much interest in the ICCEC. On October 28, 2012, Bros Emmanuel Doe and Ignatius Doe were ordained into the Priesthood and preparations were made to train men interested in the Diaconate. The two parishes in Liberia are in Cadwell and Bouming counties and are overseen by Fr Emmanuel Doe and Fr Ignatius Doe, respectively. Fr Ignatius is a former Roman Catholic with seven years of seminary education. He became interested in the ICCEC when Fr Emmannuel introduced our communion to him. Mrs E. Doe is a continual strength to the Church as she ministers among the women who have thronged to the Certificate program.

We thank God for our brothers and sisters in Liberia with whom we are partners in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Pray regularly for their ministry in West Africa.

[ Apologies to our Liberian churches for publishing this story so late. Please send us news of what God is doing through you in Liberia so we can post them here to encourage others. Fr Scott. ]

WAH, PAKISTAN - On January 1, 2013, a celebration was held at the ICCEC Cathedral in Wah, Pakistan to honor several people who had contributed significantly to the establishment of the CEC in Pakistan.

During the International Convocation held last summer in Madrid, several awards were presented to individuals who had contributed to the foundation of the ICCEC around the world. Several people who were honored were not able to be at the International Convocation, including several individuals from Pakistan.

During the ceremony held in January, Bp. Prakash Yuhanna presented awards to those in Pakistan and extended the thanks of the entire communion for their contributions.

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BURUNDI, AFRICA - On Janurary 27, 2013, the main market in Bujumbura, the capital of Burundi, caught fire.

As reported in the Huffington Post, “The blaze grew into a massive inferno, with rumored 20-meter high flames, devastating thousands of businesses and overpowering the Burundi Fire Brigade…The fire will have a substantial effect on the national economy. Only 5 percent of merchants in the market had insured their goods, and with inflation already at 9.7 percent, residents most likely will see a significant rise in food prices in the days following.”

Bishop Dieudonne Nitonde, of CEC Burundi, wrote to report about the impact the fire is having on the people he serves and to request prayer. He writes, “Indeed, the central market of Bujumbura was the base of the Burundian economy. People from the whole country procured goods from this market, which means that all the citizens were affected. All Burundians are now in despair since the situation is worsening in terms of poverty. It is in this context that on behalf of the CEC of Burundi, I would like to request your prayers on Burundians because we are in a critical situation.”

Please prayer for all those effected by this disaster, and pray that God grants Bp. Nitonde and the people of the CEC Burundi the strength and resources to help bring hope and aid to the people the serve.

As many may recall, last November I was invited to speak at the Atitude Youth Conference in Vitória de Santo Antão, Brazil. I was supposed to be at the Conference for the first three days and then speak in other areas for the next nine days. Unfortunately, I was forced by the Federal Police to leave Brazil after only 2 days. Thankfully, however, and only by the grace of God, I was still able to speak to the amazing youth at the conference and encourage them to actively stand for the Sanctity of Life. Recently, they responded enthusiastically and creatively to that call with a courageous pro-life witness!

Last week, at their evangelism outreach during Carnival, the youth held a Bound4Life style Silent Siege, placing tape over their mouths and praying in silent unity with their preborn brothers and sisters. They also held many signs that explained the loss of life in an abortion and blatantly pointed out that “it’s very easy to be pro-abortion once you are already born.” The Siege was followed by a silent March and concluded with the FIRST-EVER Pro-Life Die-In that Brazil has ever seen.

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CANTON, GA - Each January on a Saturday close to the anniversary of the Roe vs. Wade Supreme Court Decision, the Cherokee County Right to Life Chapter meets for a prayer vigil in downtown Canton, Georgia. Congregations from all over the county meet at the Gazebo, in sight of the original Cherokee County Courthouse, and the properties where the First Baptist Church of Canton and First Methodist Church of Canton began.

On Saturday, January 19th, members of Christ the Redeemer CEC joined in an afternoon of prayer and worship to stand against abortion. Pastors and elders from various churches led those who were gathered in prayer for groups affected by abortion. Fr. Stephen Hunter, Deacon Justin Allen and John Sewell offered prayers in support of the Right to Life.

The event was led by Phillip Richardson, President of the Cherokee County Right to Life chapter and member of Christ the Redeemer. Phillip encouraged those present with the statistic that at the height of abortion practice after the Supreme Court’s decision, there were over 2000 clinics in the United States. Today, that number is around 600. As he said, “Those of us under 40 have survived Roe vs. Wade but Roe vs. Wade will not survive us!”.

ANNAPOLIS, MD - The eastern parishes of the Central Diocese (Maryland, DC and Virginia) were recently designated as a new Missionary District under the canonical provisions of the CEC.

Fr. Martin Eppard was appointed Canon Missioner of the Missionary District by Bp. Michael Davidson, Ordinary of the Central Diocese. The parishes in the district are Holy Apostles, Westminster, MD., Church of Reconciliation, Bel Air, MD., St. Andrews, Petersburg, VA. and Good Shepherd, Catonsville, MD. In addition to the parishes several other clergy families are part of the missionary district.

Bp. Michael Davidson, the Bishop of the Diocese, as well as the Bishop’s Council, believe that the formation of the new missionary district will allow the parishes to really move forward in discerning the Lord’s will for the Mid-Atlantic region. The clergy and parishes are eager to begin working together to help strengthen the work of the Lord and reach out to the lost. A joint multi-parish men’s retreat is planned for February in Gettysburg, PA and The Baltimore Healing Service, which is held on the first Tuesday of each month at the Pikeville Doubletree in Baltimore, is already proving to be a unifying and truly anointed joint outreach. Additionally, all of the parishes of the newly formed missionary district participated in the March for Life in Washington DC.

Clergy families from the new district met together near Annapolis—a central location—to pray, fellowship and discuss the future of the missionary district. The day proved to be informative and productive. Good things are happening in the Mid-Atlantic Missionary District; Church of the Good Shepherd is preparing to move into its newly purchased facility, Holy Apostles will soon break ground on a new and larger building, Reconciliation is leading the upcoming men’s retreat and plans are in process for an outreach mission at St. Andrews.

It is wonderful to see the Lord’s hand at work in the CEC in this region, and we are all excited as we anticipate a time of revival and renewal.

HENDERSON, NEVADA - Under the leadership and direction of Nikki Reardon, the Sunday school children of St. Paul’s CEC in Henderson, Nevada have saved their coins during the last year and deposited them every Sunday into special decorated jars.

This was done after a story about the blessing and benefits of giving to the poor and needy was read to the class. Recently, after hearing and discussing the effect that hurricane Sandy had on some of the families from the Cathedral in New York, the children agreed that the collected money should go to help in whatever area it was needed for these families.

A challenge was presented to St. Paul’s Church to match the amount the children had collected. This was met with a good outpouring of support, and the total collected funds along with some special hand-made cards were sent to the Cathedral.

The 2013 Church Growth Seminar will be held in Orlando from February 19th to the 21st.

If you have not yet registered please do so soon, so we can prepare for your attendance. Please register at http://www.cec-na.org/churchgrowth.html

The Patriarch, Archbishop Craig Bates will lead the seminar, which will discuss the spiritual and practical methods to grow your church for the Kingdom of God. It will include testimonies and plenty of time for discussion prayer and dialogue.

The agenda is as follows :
Arrive 18 Feb
Seminar 19 Feb - 21 Feb (Tues, Wed, Thurs)
Depart 22 Feb

Summary: The Church Growth Seminar is about more than techniques. It emphasizes the power of prayer, teaching the members of your congregation to reach out, and finding who God has called you to reach. Each rector will be asked to come with and discuss thedemographics and the environment of his church. (More information on this requirement will be emailed to participants.)

Transportation: Please arrive no later than Monday to the Orlando Airport (MCO), you can make round trip reservations for a shuttle to and from the Hotel HERE. Select “Orlando International Airport” as your pick up location and drop off as “Wyndham Orlando Resort”.

Hotel: Rooms will be reversed for you at the Wyndham Hotel and Resort (8001 International Drive) under the CEC, no need to call the Hotel. Rooms are $99 a night, no taxes or other fees if the CEC books it for you. To save money, you can designate another participant to be your roommate on the online registration form. On the registration form you may elect to make your own Hotel reservations.

Register: Please register at http://www.cec-na.org/churchgrowth.html to reserve your room and place at the seminar.

Dear Brothers,

I hope you are experiencing a fruitful time of reflection and anticipation as we move from the Christmas season and into Epiphany.  This coming Sunday (January 20), as always during the Epiphany season, we will celebrate the Feast Day of Our Lord the Giver of Life.  This Feast Day is unique to our own Communion, a day set aside to celebrate and stand in wonder at the gift of Life bestowed upon us by our loving Father.  It is a joy and an honor to celebrate such a day with each of you.

As all of you know, I was raised in the Anglican Communion. Hence, for all of my youth and for a significant part of my ministry, the Episcopal Hymnal was a deep part of my spiritual discipline. I grew up under a Pastor who was a retired Ensign in the United States Navy. Like every male adult I knew as a youth, he served in World War II. He was also deeply influenced by the ministry and writing of Dietrich Bonheoffer. As a result, so were all the members of his congregation.

Dietrich Bonheoffer had to confront directly the moral issue of his day - the rise of fascism, particularly National Socialism. It was the moral issue of my father’s generation and so, as a youth, I also heard a clear message that there really was such a thing as evil, and that it incarnated itself in the men, particularly Hitler, who attempted to rule Europe and enslave millions of people. In that War it is estimated that somewhere between 62 and 78 million people died either in military service, civilian casualties, or in the concentration camps. One hundred and thirty-five thousand, five hundred and six American military personnel were killed in action between D-Day and V-E Day.

My father and every veteran I knew talked of the horrors of war and their desire was that their sons would never have to go to war. Yet, they knew there was evil, and that evil was to be confronted, even if it meant giving your life - the greatest sacrifice. (more…)

Every January, at the annual All Life Is Sacred Rally in DC, CEC For Life strives to bring you dynamic worship and powerful leaders who truly help shape and propel the pro-life movement. Our past speakers, for both the Rally and our annual Liturgy in front of the Supreme Court, have included:

• Fr. Frank Pavone, Priests for Life
• Star Parker, C.U.R.E.
• Dr. John Bruchalski, Former Abortionist
• Brandi Swindell, Stanton Healthcare
• Dr. Seán Ó Domhnaill, The Life Institute
• Bryan Kemper, Stand True Ministries
• Georgette Forney, Silent No More
• Troy Newman, Operation Rescue
• Bernie Smyth, Precious Life
• Dr. Eoghan DeFaoite, Youth Defence Ireland
• Patriarch Craig Bates, Charismatic Episcopal Church
• Fr. Carl Lynn, Restoration Academy
• Rev. Rob Schenck, Faith & Action

These amazing men and women are powerhouses in the fight for Life. We ask them to speak at our Rally, not just because they know what they’re doing, but, because they also know how to inspire YOU to do it with them! We want a Rally that gets you pumped but, more than that, we want a rally that imparts the knowledge and passion needed to help you continue building a culture of Life.

THIS YEAR, we have really outdone ourselves in that effort. This year we have invited a young man that is on fire for God, for family, and for the defenseless preborn!

Through cutting-edge media and endless creative talent, Ryan Bomberger of The Radiance Foundation has dedicated his life to showing America the beauty of letting our children live, both through choosing to parent and choosing adoption. (more…)

SELMA, AL - Eleanor Elizabeth “Betty” Adler, wife of our communion’s founder and first patriarch, Austin Randolph Adler, died in his arms on Friday, December 14, in Selma, Alabama, after a long battle with heart and lung ailments. She was 70 years old.

Betty Adler was born in the tiny Florida town of Lawter, the daughter of a Pentecostal pastor who served churches from Key West to Panama City and many towns in between. She attended nursing school in Orlando, meeting and marrying Maj. Kenneth Paul Tanner there. She had four children with Maj. Tanner before his death in Vietnam in the summer of 1970.

For the next four years, she worked as a nurse and raised their children until she met and married a young Pentecostal minister, the man we know as Archbishop Adler. She traveled with him to churches in North Palm Beach and Orlando and then to Southern California where they served 27 years at St. Michael’s Church in San Clemente.

Mrs. Adler is cherished by thousands for the Spirit-anointing they felt when she sang. She’s also remembered by them as a courageous, truthful teacher and friend who came to their retreats, their homes, their villages, their churches, and brought wisdom, joy, a listening heart, and deep empathy with those who were suffering or felt left out or tossed out.

From the mid-‘90s on, she traveled around the world with Archbishop Adler, singing, speaking and laughing her way into many hearts. Testimonies from those who were touched are pouring in from everywhere, story after story of how she made sure those she was with knew they were in the grip of Grace as she acted in the love of Jesus Christ for them.

She was an avid golfer, loved gardening, decorating, and making things beautiful, she could have had a successful career as a comedian, and she was particularly proud of her work as a midwife.

Besides her husband, she is survived by four children (Kenneth, Mia, Chris, and Jill), 35 grandchildren, two sisters (Cecelia and Priscilla) and a brother (Ellery). She is preceded in death by her first husband, Maj. Tanner, by her daughter, Gina, and by three grandchildren (Jonah, Chloe, and McKenzie).

A vigil will be held this Wednesday, Dec. 19, at 6 p.m. at St. Michael’s Church (107 W Marquita) in San Clemente,California. A funeral will follow at St. Michael’s on Thursday, December 20, at 1 p.m. Mrs. Adler will be laid to rest near her daughter and grandchildren in El Toro, California.

A memorial will follow at Christ the King Cathedral in Selma, Alabama, on Friday, January 4, at 7 p.m.