Church_of_England_Evangelical_Council

Church of England Evangelical Council

Church of England Evangelical Council

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The Church of England Evangelical Council (CEEC) is an association of mainly conservative evangelical Anglican members of the Church of England. It self-describes as the collective voice of all evangelicals within the Church of England, and states its aim "to promote and maintain orthodox evangelical theology and ethics at the heart of the Church of England".[1] It has been described as theologically conservative.[2] It was founded in 1960 by the Anglican clergyman John Stott.[3][4] It is a registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales: amongst its stated activities is the "promotion of consultation between evangelical Anglican leaders" and "to encourage and interact with evangelicals within the Church of England".[5]

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Membership

Member of the council include bishops, representatives from mission societies and associations, and laypeople.[1] Organisations affiliated with the council include Anglican Mainstream, Anglican Mission in England, Church Mission Society, Church Pastoral Aid Society, Church Society, Crosslinks, Reform, Fulcrum, and New Wine: the organisations are mainly conservative evangelical, but also include some which are open evangelical or charismatic in orientation.[6]

Since May 2023, the National Director of the CEEC has been Canon John Dunnett, formerly Head of the Church Pastoral Aid Society. Its president is currently Julian Henderson, Bishop of Blackburn.[6]

Reaction to same-sex blessings

In December 2023, the House of Bishops of the Church of England authorised a "selection of readings and prayers of thanksgiving, dedication and asking for God’s blessing for same-sex couples", while also noting that the Church's understanding of marriage "remains as a lifelong, faithful and exclusive covenant between one man and one woman".[7]

In reaction, the CEEC has proposed "alternative spiritual oversight" (not to be confused with the Church of England's official alternative episcopal oversight offering) for those clergy "who now feel themselves to be in impaired fellowship with their diocesan bishop".[8][9] This will be provided by "orthodox evangelical" honorary assistant bishops (Julian Henderson, Rod Thomas, and Pete Broadbent) and non-episcopal "overseers".[9][10] This provision is proposed as a stepping stone towards official differentiation and a permanent "new structural arrangement".[8]

The CEEC also established the "Ephesian Fund" "to support orthodox Anglican ministry when in good conscience they might otherwise withdraw or reduce their giving to their parish church as a result of their bishop’s support for the Prayers of Love and Faith initiative".[8]

References

  1. [1]
    "About". CEEC. Church of England Evangelical Council. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
  2. [2]
    "Pro-LGBT Anglicans attack evangelicals after new conversation about sexuality is launched". Evangelical Focus. 27 November 2020. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
  3. [3]
    Baker, David (31 July 2017). "Where is the Church of England Evangelical Council when we need it?". Christian Today. Retrieved 26 April 2021. What would happen, he mused, if different evangelicals within the CofE could be brought together to talk, pray, plan and resolve any differences? Thus was born the Church of England Evangelical Council (CEEC) in 1960.
  4. [4]
    "Church of England Evangelical Council warns against redefining marriage". Archbishop Cranmer. 16 October 2018. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
  5. [5]
    "THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND EVANGELICAL COUNCIL - Charity 1104514". Register of Charities. Charity Commission for England and Wales. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
  6. [6]
    "Council Members". CEEC. Church of England Evangelical Council. Archived from the original on 2021-04-26. Retrieved 2021-04-26.
  7. [7]
    "Prayers of Love and Faith to be made available for use from Sunday". The Church of England. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
  8. [8]
    "Responding to the 15 November 2023 General Synod decision: looking forward - The Church of England Evangelical Council". ceec.info. Church of England Evangelical Council. 17 November 2023. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
  9. [9]
    "Alternative Spiritual Oversight - The Church of England Evangelical Council". ceec.info. Church of England Evangelical Council. 17 November 2023. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
  10. [10]
    "CEEC announces discernment panel for informal overseers, as part of its new provisions for orthodox evangelicals - The Church of England Evangelical Council". ceec.info. Church of England Evangelical Council. 7 December 2023. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
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