THE CONVERGENCE MOVEMENT [Click to download PDF] WRITTEN IN 1992 BY BISHOP WAYNE BOOSAHDA AND RANDY SLY FOR THE COMPLETE LIBRARY OF CHRISTIAN WORSHIP, ROBERT WEBBER, ED. Upon adopting an affinity-based model, three Connexons were created to represent those relationships; a fourth being recently created for the Eastern Rite. 9 I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine. [47][5], Since the advent of Convergence Christianity, numerous denominations and organizations have sought or claimed apostolic succession through excommunicated Roman Catholic bishops and wandering bishops of Anglican and Orthodox traditions including Carlos Duarte Costa, Arnold Mathew, Joseph Vilatte, Aftimios Ofiesh, and others in order to preserve doctrinal and apostolic continuity and establish sacramental legitimacy. The governance of our Communion is vested in our members gathered at General Assembly (held every 2 years). We consider this type as first expression due to the belief that in the first few centuries of the Church it was fully evangelical, fully charismatic and fully sacramental. It is largely a result of the ecumenical movement. In saying that we arecharismatic, we mean that we believe in the abiding presence of the Holy Spirit in the world today. "Sound of Rushing Waters", by Daniel W. Williams, ACW Press/DQuest Publications, 2005. Your congregation and community deserve a long-term vision and plan. In 1977, "The Chicago Call" was issued by the National Conference of Evangelicals for Historic Christianity, meeting in Warrenville, Illinois. the world through church planting and multiplication, leadership training and coaching and global missions. of the free-flowing elements of a Spirit-led worship experience in their lives. " Those who are being drawn by the Lord into this convergence of streams are characterized by several common elements. Upon adopting an affinity-based model, three Connexons were created to represent those relationships; a fourth being recently created for the Eastern Rite. All rights reserved. College Campuses. In about the 4th century the various traditions crystallized into four liturgies, the. The Convergence Movement (also known as the Paleo-orthodox Movement or less commonly the Ancient-Future Faith movement) is a Christian movement that began during the Fourth Great Awakening (1960-1980) in the United States. The Priests are celebrants of Holy Communion; they may offer all the sacraments except Ordination to Holy Orders. Our Communion is not of one mind when approaching the topics of infallibility and inerrancy. Although young, we have continued to grow and mature as a vibrant expression of Christian faith and spirituality. He had stressed original sin and justification by faith and added that the individual may be assured of forgiveness by a direct experience of the spirit, called sanctification, which he regarded as the step leading to Christian perfection. You can learn more about our leaders, our polity and review our Constitution and Canon by clicking the below. [19] Lovelace approvingly noted the trend of Catholics, Evangelicals, and Charismatic and Pentecostal Christians moving closer together. In saying that we aresacramental, we mean that we embrace the sacramental and liturgical life of the historic Catholic and Apostolic Church. We consider this type as first expression due to the belief that in the first few centuries of the Church it was fully evangelical, fully charismatic and fully sacramental. Bishops are consecrated for the whole Church and are successors of the Apostles through the grace of the Holy Spirit given to them. Between meetings of the General Assembly, the administrative authority of the Communion shallreside in the Bishops Council and the General Council. Our Communion embraces the creeds, sacraments, and historic episcopate in apostolic succession of the Church Catholic. Convergence Church equips and empowers individuals through discipleship . Current, topical writings to benefit you in leadership and community engagement. Rick Warren. We take chances and we commit our time, talents, and treasures to the building up of the body of Christ. b. the angle of Earth relative to the Sun. You can begin that process now by joining our Facebook Group. We also lead, Even Exchange, a Quarterly couples gatherings. Below you will find a series of questions about our Communion - they cover the who, what, when and how of our communion. von Folmar as the Presiding Minister of the Anthem Network. [8], The pioneers of the Convergence Movement were seeking to restore a primitive form of Christianity different from what the Restoration Movement taught. The convergence worship movement has intentionally brought about a synthesis between the liturgical and contemporary worship renewal movements. von Folmar laid the foundation for what is today the Convergent Catholic Communion. Many Evangelicals follow a traditional, interpretation of the Bible and insist on its inerrancy (freedom from error in history as well as in faith and morals). Emilio Alvarezwas highlighted in the journal, Liturgy for their publication of Pentecostal Orthodoxy: Toward an Ecumenism of the Spirit. The ecumenical movement seeks to recover the apostolic sense of the early church for unity in diversity, and it confronts the frustrations, difficulties, and ironies of the modern pluralistic . These Catholics would be working to deliberately include more. Therefore, . While those who look toward Eastern Christianity may include 1 Esdras, Psalm 152, the Prayer of Manasseh, 3 Maccabees, and 4 Maccabees. The Bishops of the Church are collectively called the Episcopacy. It should be noted that the Convergence Movement is not synonymous with Convergence Christianity (commonly championed by Brian Mclaren, Phyllis Tickle, etc.). What do you believe about the Holy Scripture? b. the angle of Earth relative to the Sun. Liturgical Movement, a 19th- and 20th-century effort in Christian churches to restore the active and intelligent participation of the people in the liturgy, or official rites, of the Christian religion. We curate important resources that your congregation shouldn't live without. Converge president asks churches to unite to make a collective physical and spiritual impact during tragic circumstances. This divine inspiration was the process in which Gods concepts were clothed with the words of humankind. Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window), Click to share on Skype (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window), Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window), Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window). [9] It was inspired by the spiritual pilgrimages of modern Protestant writers like Thomas Howard, Robert E. Webber, Peter E. Gillquist, and ancient Christian writers such as the Church Fathers and their communities. This divine inspiration was the process in which Gods concepts were clothed with the words of humankind. Modern day visionaries, however, have discerned the times and are declaring that the right time has arrived for Gods church to be one. Though the Jesus People Movement had effectively ended by the mid-1970s, there were still a host of churches, parachurch organizations, apologetics ministries, converts, Jesus musicians, independent evangelists, and missionary workers that had been funneled into Protestant and Catholic denominations of all theological skews. This original association was called The Anthem Network, and was a small network of inclusive church plants within the Southwest United States. This means you will find elements from the three major streams of the Christian church (Evangelical, Sacramental and Charismatic) and elements from our Hebraic roots incorporated into our services. 0 In 1984 Charisma magazine, one of the most influential magazines of the Charismatic Movement, published an article by Richard Lovelace entitled "The Three Streams, One River?" This original association was called The Anthem Network, and was a small network of inclusive church plants within the Southwest United States. As has Pentecostalism, the charismatic movement has produced a myriad of groups, independent preachers and healers, and a few near-cultic offshoots. Indeed, many leaders in the fledgling movement describe their experience as a compelling journey or pilgrimage. Many times, in very unsought-after ways, sovereign events, relationships, books or insights gave rise to an understanding of the church that was quite different from their previous perspectives and backgrounds. The blending in the practices of all three streams is evident, yet each church approaches convergence from different bases of emphasis. As in early Methodism, our Connexions reflect an charism-based model (i.e., when Methodism was still part of the Church of England), with a key differentiation in our use of the historic episcopacy. Decatur, GA 30033, Faithful Futures for Fragile Congregations. Try again or donate now to create an account. Its members introduced laity from other denominations to their practices. Although evident in the earliest forms of the Church, the role of Bishop has evolved as the Church has grown and matured. Largely a result of the ecumenical movement and its foundation primarily attributed to Robert E. Webber,[2] the Convergence Movement developed as an effort among evangelical, Pentecostal and charismatic, and liturgical Christians of varying denominational backgrounds to blend charismatic worship with liturgies from the Anglican Book of Common Prayer; they also made use of other liturgical sources common to Lutheranism, Eastern Orthodoxy, and Roman Catholicism. iJNF8zy,s%Op- And Why Should I Care. Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window), Click to share on Skype (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window), Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window), Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window), A coming together from different directions, especially a uniting or merging of groups or tendencies. These men, along with theologians, scripture scholars, and pastors in a number of Protestant denominational traditions, were calling Christians back to what they saw as their roots in the early Church prior to the Great Schism and rise of the state church of the Roman Empire. During our ordination liturgies our clerics acknowledge the bible as containing all things necessary for salvation. ThetermEvangelicalism has been a source of controversy, and the precise relationship or distinction between Evangelicalism and Fundamentalism has been disputed. [1] In the following years, Webber wrote several additional books that had great influence on evangelical churches seeking to incorporate liturgy and traditional practices into their worship, and numbers of evangelical Protestants and Charismatics continued to migrate to the historic liturgical denominations. All rights reserved. For this reason, it had several defining characteristics corresponding with the different worship backgrounds that were being blended together. They are chief missionaries and chief pastors, guardians and teachers of doctrine, and administrators of godly discipline and governance. This growth and maturity resulted in the unique sacramental role of the Bishop being the successor of the Apostles. Privacy policy//Site map. Those in the Renewal saw a blending of Charismatic or Pentecostal elements, such as healing, prophecy and spontaneous worship and praise, with the more traditional elements of mainline (and, eventually, Roman Catholic) liturgical and reformed practices. A movement of churches working to help people meet, know and follow Jesus. The conference issued several documents which together are known as "The Chicago Call". Arising out of a common desire and hunger to experience the fullness of Christian worship and spirituality, the Convergence Movement (also referred to in the remainder of this article as CM) seeks to blend or merge the essential elements in the Christian faith represented historically in three major streams of thought and practice; the Charismatic, Evangelical/Reformed and Liturgical/Sacramental. Second Expression Convergent Catholics find a deeper connection to fully sacramental spirituality, and. d. reduced solar energy passing through Earth's atmosphere due to changes in cloud cycles. 8 For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me. 10 And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them. Each applicant will be interviewed by at least one of our Bishops. It is represented in most Protestant denominations. Once we become members, what is required of us? The cost of the background check is approximately $12.00 and can be accessed above. 1 0 obj In the Protestant Church, the sacraments are baptism and Communion. First Expression Convergent Catholics would, in many respects, exhibit a more fully-formed convergence experience for their church communities. M bExjJlu6A4 SLeF_(9 B^w0ilqV4fn\4]0J;>np&jPE+Ve#V,qDWm6g Ngu~$Sf1H#]wh1&U$u==2Q/2$y#`QS=1|..`9!JF2R*r+|gRS7z//26?M4!C?fWhEPI[E_,bx.~_jzRBk1 One characteristic of the movement was the focus given to unity. <>>> Our clerics are tent-makers in the tradition of St. Paul. Basically unheralded or openly recognized until about 1985, many in the movement have discovered others on the journey from various church backgrounds who had similar or identical experiences and insights. They can still look very Episcopal an, Orthodox, Baptist, Nazarene, independent Charismatic, etc. The additional Anglican argument of "once a bishop, always a bishop" gains prominence among those in the Convergence Movement;[51] there is also an understanding through Roman Catholic teaching on sacramental character. Peter Wagner and others from Fuller Theological Seminary formalized the movement through their writings and acted as a filter and focal point. Largely a result of the ecumenical movement and its foundation primarily attributed to Robert E. Webber, the Convergence Movement developed as an effort among evangelical, Pentecostal and charismatic, and . , we mean that we believe in the abiding presence of the Holy Spirit in the world today. (RNS) The Richmond, Virginia, office of the FBI is worried about the interest that racially or ethnically motivated violent extremists have taken in radical . Convergence supports the reshaping of organizations, congregations and leaders engaged in an age of movement from organized religion to organizing religion driven by the values of an inclusive, progressive theological vision for a more just world for all. (Sept 1984). Our Communion is not of one mind when approaching the topics of infallibility and inerrancy. 21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. They feel most at home going to a service that is some iteration of the classical non-liturgical experience. [23][8][24], Among the Anglican realignment, at least one clergyman became a bishop within the Convergence Movement. . Chances are, you have never heard of Convergent Catholicism and you have found yourself on these pages trying to figure out just what we mean by that.