The CEEC envisions a communion whose life, ministry, and parishes are Filled by Scripture, Spirit, and sacrament.
The CEEC is Scripture
The CEEC holds to the truth that the Holy Scriptures are the authoritative Kingdom documents and words of the Covenant, and therefore the Word of God. The Scriptures are inspired and contain all things necessary for salvation and godly living. The CEEC commends the faithful reading, study, and teaching and preaching of the Word of God. The CEEC also embraces the evangelical insistence on a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, a holy life, and a commitment to evangelism and mission.
The CEEC is Spirit
The CEEC believes in receiving Christ’s mandate to be “clothed with power from on high” (Luke 24:49). Spiritual gifts are normative in life, worship, and ministry. The presence, power, and working of the Holy Spirit are anticipated in worship, daily acts of service, and in personal relationship with the Savior.
The CEEC is Sacrament
Therefore, this communion retains the historic creeds, episcopacy, and the three-fold nature of ordained ministry. As a Convergence communion, the CEEC embraces the Anglican precedent and seeks to be a true expression of the Ancient/Future Church, making visible the Kingdom of God, fulfilling the Great Commission, and manifesting fully the beauty, glory and power of the One Church and its Lord.
The CEEC Embraces Diversity
Diversity is divine. It is division that is diabolic.
-Bishop Tony Palmer
The Church is universal, comprised of “a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people, and language” (Rev. 7:9). In its essence, the Church is unitary, “built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone” (Eph. 2:20), holding to catholic (universal) and apostolic faith and order. However, in its expression the Church is varied and multiform, depending on place, time, nationality and culture. A church in Pakistan may have distinctions and traditions quite different from a church in England. Yet, both are in essence equally authentic and catholic if they are faithful to the pattern of faith and order.
The CEEC is committed to discipling the nations, not exporting a Western expression of the Church. CEEC churches in Africa are encouraged to be African. Chinese churches are encouraged to be Chinese. European churches are encouraged to be European. And yes, African churches in England to be African; so that the Church of God worldwide may reflect the Glory of God with the myriad beauty and variety of all the peoples of the earth.
Furthermore, the CEEC is committed to local church diversity of expression, with communities that seem to favor one stream more than the others to stay true to their local context. As such, the member churches and provinces of the CEEC maintain their autonomy of expression and liturgy.