King's Family of Churches
Encyclopedia
The King's Family of Churches (also known as the Evangelical Episcopal Church) is an apostolic family of churches with its origins in the Evangelical missions in Spain, particularly in Friends of God mission society, that came to embrace the Convergence Movement
of Christianity. The KFC states that it should not be considered a splinter group of any other denomination or communion, because it was formed by the unity of small denominations, independent churches and former denominational congregations who came together the movement known as the Convergence of Christianity.
The founders of the KFC drew inspiration from Christian leaders and theologian such as James Haldane Stewart, Michael Harper, Colin Urquhart
, Lesslie Newbigin
, Robert E. Webber
, David Watson
, John Stott
, Dennis Bennett, John Wimber
, Richard Foster, and Simon Chan.
At the same time, the KFC follows the practices, beliefs and life of the early Celtic church, the Lutheran Reformation, and the Anglican Church, which they feel became a signpost for the Ancient-Future faith and the Convergence Movement
.
The King’s Family of Churches had its origins in the missionary work of 'Friends of God' in Spain. In 2003, they were charter as the "Evangelical Episcopal Church". In January 2007 they started to be known as the "King's Family of Churches".
On December 6, 2003, Josep Rossello was consecrated the first bishop of the King's Family and called to establish the Missionary Diocese of Benissa. In 2004, the Diocese of Benissa joined with other independent denominations throughout the world to form the King’s Family of Churches, influenced by the Convergence Movement
, which began to blend Spontaneous Christian worship
with the Book of Common Prayer
inspired by the Evangelical doctrines and the Charismatic Renewal.
Apparently, their main growth has come through congregations throughout the world deciding to affiliate with the King’s Family of Churches. All those joining the King's Family were expressing not only common elements of an emerging understanding about this “convergence of the streams” of Christianity, but it was also a direct result of the KFC mission enterprise around the world.
+Tomas Kennedy, was consecrated on October 17th, 2007; and he is the Acting Presiding Bishop of the King's Family. He has been appointed with the responsibility for the development of the Dublin NightChurch, the King’s Church congregation in Spain, and two missionary districts in India. In total, he will oversee leaders that are pastoring over 600 congregations, as well as bible schools and orphanages.
Today, the KFC claims to have 967 congregations in 31 countries.
Government in the King's Family is synod
ical at the diocesan level and collegial which recognized the assembled body of the bishops as its governing body. International and diocesan synods maintain different scopes of authority, depending on their canons
.
The King's Family is not congregational in its polity
: It is the diocese, not the parish church/congregation, which is the local church, and diocesan bishops must give their assent to resolutions passed by synods. Rather than jurisdictional lines built upon geographic areas, the King's Family establishes dioceses and congregations relationally. (See Episcopal polity
).
The church upholds the historic three-fold ministry of bishop
s, presbyter
s, and deacon
s. The King's Family can trace its ines of Apostolic Succession
through Anglican, Catholic and Apostolic lines.
The center of the King's Family of Churches' teaching is the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. They embrace the same Doctrinal Essentials as other Christian bodies.
The King's Family of Churches recognizes the historic ecumenical creeds, the Apostle's Creed and the Nicene Creed; these are used frequently in services of worship. They also recognizes the importance of the Chalcedonian Creed of the Council of Chalcedon.
The threefold sources of decision-making are based on Scripture, tradition informed by Scripture, and godly Wisdom
instructed by Scripture. This balance of scripture, tradition and reason is traced to the work of Richard Hooker, a sixteenth century apologist. In Hooker's model, scripture is the primary means of arriving at doctrine and things stated plainly in scripture are accepted as true. Issues that are ambiguous are determined by tradition, which is checked by reason.
(CCI), and its bishops are seated in the International College of Bishops.
Convergence Movement
The Convergence Movement refers to a move among evangelical and charismatic churches in the United States to blend charismatic worship with liturgies from the Book of Common Prayer and other liturgical sources. The Movement was inspired by the spiritual pilgrimages of modern Evangelical writers...
of Christianity. The KFC states that it should not be considered a splinter group of any other denomination or communion, because it was formed by the unity of small denominations, independent churches and former denominational congregations who came together the movement known as the Convergence of Christianity.
The founders of the KFC drew inspiration from Christian leaders and theologian such as James Haldane Stewart, Michael Harper, Colin Urquhart
Colin Urquhart
Colin Urquhart is a Christian, evangelical, apostolic and neocharismatic leader in the United Kingdom.He was involved in the Charismatic Renewal movement in the 1960s and 1970s...
, Lesslie Newbigin
Lesslie Newbigin
Bishop James Edward Lesslie Newbigin was a Church of Scotland missionary serving in the former Madras State , India, who became a Christian theologian and bishop involved in missiology, ecumenism, and the Gospel and Our Culture Movement.-Biography:Born in Newcastle upon Tyne, Newbigin's schooling...
, Robert E. Webber
Robert E. Webber
Robert Eugene Webber was an American theologian known for his work on worship and the early church. He played a key role in the Convergence Movement, a move among evangelical and charismatic churches in the United States to blend charismatic worship with liturgies from the Book of Common Prayer...
, David Watson
David Watson
David Watson may refer to:*Dave Watson , actor and playwright*David Watson , anarchist author*David Watson *David Watson , Australian Senator...
, John Stott
John Stott
John Robert Walmsley Stott CBE was an English Christian leader and Anglican cleric who was noted as a leader of the worldwide Evangelical movement. He was one of the principal authors of the Lausanne Covenant in 1974...
, Dennis Bennett, John Wimber
John Wimber
John Richard Wimber was a musician, charismatic pastor and one of the founding leaders of the Vineyard Movement, a neocharismatic Evangelical Christian denomination which began in the USA and has now spread to many countries world-wide.-Life and ministry:John Richard Wimber was the son of Basil...
, Richard Foster, and Simon Chan.
At the same time, the KFC follows the practices, beliefs and life of the early Celtic church, the Lutheran Reformation, and the Anglican Church, which they feel became a signpost for the Ancient-Future faith and the Convergence Movement
Convergence Movement
The Convergence Movement refers to a move among evangelical and charismatic churches in the United States to blend charismatic worship with liturgies from the Book of Common Prayer and other liturgical sources. The Movement was inspired by the spiritual pilgrimages of modern Evangelical writers...
.
History
On December 6, 2003, Josep Rossello was consecrated the first bishop of the King's Family and called to establish the Missionary Diocese of Benissa. In 2004, the Diocese of Benissa joined with other independent denominations throughout the world to form the King’s Family of Churches, influenced by the Convergence Movement
Convergence Movement
The Convergence Movement refers to a move among evangelical and charismatic churches in the United States to blend charismatic worship with liturgies from the Book of Common Prayer and other liturgical sources. The Movement was inspired by the spiritual pilgrimages of modern Evangelical writers...
, which began to blend Spontaneous Christian worship
Christian worship
In Christianity, worship is adoration and contemplation of God.-Overview:Throughout most of Christianity's history, corporate Christian worship has been primarily liturgical, characterized by prayers and hymns, with texts rooted in, or closely related to, the Scripture, particularly the Psalter;...
with the Book of Common Prayer
Book of Common Prayer
The Book of Common Prayer is the short title of a number of related prayer books used in the Anglican Communion, as well as by the Continuing Anglican, "Anglican realignment" and other Anglican churches. The original book, published in 1549 , in the reign of Edward VI, was a product of the English...
inspired by the Evangelical doctrines and the Charismatic Renewal.
Apparently, their main growth has come through congregations throughout the world deciding to affiliate with the King’s Family of Churches. All those joining the King's Family were expressing not only common elements of an emerging understanding about this “convergence of the streams” of Christianity, but it was also a direct result of the KFC mission enterprise around the world.
+Tomas Kennedy, was consecrated on October 17th, 2007; and he is the Acting Presiding Bishop of the King's Family. He has been appointed with the responsibility for the development of the Dublin NightChurch, the King’s Church congregation in Spain, and two missionary districts in India. In total, he will oversee leaders that are pastoring over 600 congregations, as well as bible schools and orphanages.
Today, the KFC claims to have 967 congregations in 31 countries.
Government
Synod
A synod historically is a council of a church, usually convened to decide an issue of doctrine, administration or application. In modern usage, the word often refers to the governing body of a particular church, whether its members are meeting or not...
ical at the diocesan level and collegial which recognized the assembled body of the bishops as its governing body. International and diocesan synods maintain different scopes of authority, depending on their canons
Canon law
Canon law is the body of laws & regulations made or adopted by ecclesiastical authority, for the government of the Christian organization and its members. It is the internal ecclesiastical law governing the Catholic Church , the Eastern and Oriental Orthodox churches, and the Anglican Communion of...
.
The King's Family is not congregational in its polity
Congregationalist polity
Congregationalist polity, often known as congregationalism, is a system of church governance in which every local church congregation is independent, ecclesiastically sovereign, or "autonomous"...
: It is the diocese, not the parish church/congregation, which is the local church, and diocesan bishops must give their assent to resolutions passed by synods. Rather than jurisdictional lines built upon geographic areas, the King's Family establishes dioceses and congregations relationally. (See Episcopal polity
Episcopal polity
Episcopal polity is a form of church governance that is hierarchical in structure with the chief authority over a local Christian church resting in a bishop...
).
The church upholds the historic three-fold ministry of bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
s, presbyter
Presbyter
Presbyter in the New Testament refers to a leader in local Christian congregations, then a synonym of episkopos...
s, and deacon
Deacon
Deacon is a ministry in the Christian Church that is generally associated with service of some kind, but which varies among theological and denominational traditions...
s. The King's Family can trace its ines of Apostolic Succession
Apostolic Succession
Apostolic succession is a doctrine, held by some Christian denominations, which asserts that the chosen successors of the Twelve Apostles, from the first century to the present day, have inherited the spiritual, ecclesiastical and sacramental authority, power, and responsibility that were...
through Anglican, Catholic and Apostolic lines.
Beliefs
The King's Family of Churches recognizes the historic ecumenical creeds, the Apostle's Creed and the Nicene Creed; these are used frequently in services of worship. They also recognizes the importance of the Chalcedonian Creed of the Council of Chalcedon.
The threefold sources of decision-making are based on Scripture, tradition informed by Scripture, and godly Wisdom
instructed by Scripture. This balance of scripture, tradition and reason is traced to the work of Richard Hooker, a sixteenth century apologist. In Hooker's model, scripture is the primary means of arriving at doctrine and things stated plainly in scripture are accepted as true. Issues that are ambiguous are determined by tradition, which is checked by reason.
Affiliation
The King's Family is a constituent member and Province of the Christian Communion InternationalChristian Communion International
The Christian Communion International is a family of Christian churches and worship communities around the world - formed largely as a result of the Convergence Movement - with church networks in Africa, South America, Asia, North America and Europe. There are approximately 200,000 members. More...
(CCI), and its bishops are seated in the International College of Bishops.