CONNEXION OF COVENANTING CHURCHES OF THE EVANGELICAL CONNEXION OF THE FREE CHURCH OF ENGLAND (Framework for Covenanting Churches / Revised 1844-1927-2014 Union)

FREE CHURCH OF ENGLAND E.C. (EVANGELICAL CONNEXION)

Mission

https://ecfce.com/who-we-are-2019/




REVEREND GRAHAME WRAY (CO-ORDINATOR FCE EC), REVEREND VIRGIL TOUNTAS (GENERAL SECRETARY FCE EC).

The Evangelical Connexion of the Free Church of England (FCE EC) came into being in 2003 as a self governing group within the FCE. We are committed to the “Declaration of Principles” of the FCE which are unalterable and the Constitution and Canons Ecclesiastical as published by order of Convocation in 1983 with some minor amendments.

The Evangelical Connexion exists to promote biblical ecumenism among those churches that faithfully preach the gospel of free grace. We are following very closely the development of the Evangelical Anglican movement worldwide, particularly GAFCON & AMiE outside of the C of E and Church Society within. Delegates from the Connexion are encouraged to attend the ReNew conferences each year to keep abreast of this movement.

Members of EC FCE are glad to seek to serve the Lord in this family of his people not just out of tradition or habit – nor just out of convenience or even because the EC FCE is most likely to offer them success, more so than if they were serving anywhere else. They serve here out of the conviction that this is where God wants them to be. They are fully persuaded that by God’s grace this group of churches are a confessional group, that is they hold to the great statements of Biblical Christianity as set forth in the great confessions and creeds such as the Apostles, Nicene and Athanasian creeds, the 39 articles of the Church of England, The Westminster Confession and all such similar confessions, all committed to the absolute and final authority – the Bible, in all matters of faith and conduct. They are convinced it is here they can best carry out the great task our Lord has given us to evangelise our communities & nurture them to full spiritual maturity and service. They heartily agree with these sentiments of the Evangelical C of E Bishop of the 19th century J.C. Ryle:

“I know of only one cure and remedy for the ailments of our beloved Church. That remedy is a revival among us of thorough Protestant principles and Protestant theology – the principles of the glorious Reformation….It is the only medicine which will heal the Church’s disease.”

We invite like minded Evangelical Protestant Churches and individuals to join us.



Principles

Declaration of Principles
(https://ecfce.com/declaration-of-principles-and-framework-for-reference/)

The Free Church of England, otherwise called Reformed Episcopal Church, which is a branch of the Holy Catholic Church of the Lord Jesus Christ, united by faith to Him, who is the Head over all things to the Church which is His Body, and recognising the essential unity of all who, by a like faith, are united to the one Divine and Common Head, makes declaration of its Principles as follows:

  1. The Free Church of England, otherwise called The Reformed Episcopal Church, holding “the faith once delivered to the saints,” declares its belief in the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments as the Word of God, and the sole Rule of Faith and Practice; in the Creed commonly called “The Apostles’ Creed”; in the Divine Institution of the Sacraments of Baptism and the Lord’s Supper; and in the Doctrines of Grace substantially as they are set forth in the Thirty-nine Articles of Religion.
  2. This church recognises and adheres to Episcopacy, not as of Divine right, but as a very ancient and desirable form of Church polity.
  3. This Church, retaining a liturgy which shall not be repressive of freedom in prayer, accepts the Book of Common Prayer, as it was received, prepared, and recommended for use by the General Convention of the Protestant Episcopal Church, A.D. 1785, reserving full liberty to alter, abridge, enlarge, and amend the same, as may seem most conducive to the edification of the people, “provided that the substance of the faith be kept entire”.
  4. This Church CONDEMNS and REJECTS the following erroneous and strange doctrines as contrary to God’s word:

First – that the Church of Christ exists only in one order or form of ecclesiastical polity:

Second – that Christian ministers are ‘priests’ in another sense than that in which all believers are a ‘royal priesthood’:

Third – that the Lord’s Table is an altar on which the oblation of the body and blood of Christ is offered anew to the Father:

Fourth – that the presence of Christ in the Lord’s Supper is a presence in the elements of Bread and Wine:

Fifth – that regeneration is inseparably connected with Baptism.

  • In accordance with the liberty given in Article 3 of the above Declaration of Principles, this Church accepts the Book of Common Prayer of the Church of England, with such revisions as shall exclude sacerdotal doctrines and practices.
  • This Church, as a Reformed and Protestant Church, hereby reaffirms its constant witness against all those innovations in doctrines and worship, whereby the primitive faith has been from time to time defaced or overlaid, and which at the Reformation were disowned and rejected.
  • This Church will maintain communion with all Christian Churches and will set forward, so far it lies within its ability, quietness, peace, and love, among all Christian people.

Framework of Reference

for Covenanting Churches and Individuals

We are:

  • Biblical – Believing in the inspired Word of God as our sole rule of faith and practice.
  • Episcopal – Led by bishops in the historic line, but whose authority comes through the selection by God’s people, under God’s Providence, and not through “Apostolic Succession”.
  • Liturgical – Careful in our worship of Almighty God using liturgies based on Scripture, relevant to the needs of the worshipper, and free of any “high church” adornments. Our liturgical services are designed to focus only on Him, and not the worship leader or attempts to “entertain”.
  • Reformed – We hold fast to the Doctrines of Grace as God’s way of redeeming lost sinners. As such we maintain a line of evangelical, Low Church witness to the great truths of the Bible that is rooted in the English Reformation.

Clergy, Laity and Individuals affirm their continuing commitment to this Framework at Convocation meetings, regretting the historic division which has occurred in the Free Church of England and praying for her return to primitive faith and practice.

Clergy believe the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments to be the Word of God and to contain all things necessary to Salvation, and solemnly engage to conform to the Doctrine, and Worship of the Free Church of England, otherwise called the Reformed Episcopal Church, so long as they continue to be a Minister of the Evangelical Connexion; and believe the Doctrine of the said Church, as set forth in the Declaration of Principles thereof, to be agreeable to the Word of God, and in Public Prayer and Administration of the Sacraments, conduct their ministry under the lawful and inclusive authority of Convocation, in total subjection to the Word of God, as the SOLE Rule of Faith and Practice.

Lay delegates declare themselves to be Communicants of the Evangelical Connexion of the Free Church of England, and solemnly promise to conduct their office and membership of the Evangelical Connexion under the lawful and inclusive authority of Convocation, in total subjection to the Word of God, as the SOLE Rule of Faith and Practice.