The Evangelical Episcopal Church was founded by Bishop Josep Rossello of Benissa Spain. It was registered in Spain as an official church body in 2003.

Bishop Rossello moved to Brazil in 2008 where he lives with his wife Patrice. He resigned from the EEC in 2009 for personal reasons, handing over the leadership to Bishop Tomás Kennedy.

Background History

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. 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 Evangelical Episcopal Church 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 EEC 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 Evangelical Episcopal Church had its origins in the missionary work of ‘Friends of God’ in Spain. In 2003, they were charter as the “Evangelical Episcopal Church”. On December 6, 2003, Josep Rossello was consecrated the first bishop 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 Evangelical Episcopal Church, 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.

The main growth has come through congregations throughout the world deciding to affiliate with the Evangelical Episcopal Church. +Tomas Kennedy, was consecrated on October 17th, 2007; and he is now the leader of the Evangelical Episcopal Church.

Government in the Evangelical Episcopal Church is synodical 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 Evangelical Episcopal Church 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 Evangelical Episcopal Church establishes dioceses and congregations relationally. (See Episcopal polity).

The church upholds the historic three-fold ministry of bishops, presbyters, and deacons. The Evangelical Episcopal Church can trace its ines of Apostolic Succession through Anglican, Catholic and Apostolic lines.

Contemporary Worship in a local congregation:

The center of the Evangelical Episcopal Churchs’ teaching is the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. They embrace the same Doctrinal Essentials as other Christian bodies. We 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 Evangelical Episcopal Church is a constituent member of the Christian Communion International (CCI), and its bishops are seated in the International College of Bishops.