The Embassy of Faith International
A Statement
from Gary W. Barkman, Ph.D., D.C.C., Th.D., D.Min.
Primate and
Archbishop, The Embassy of Faith Internatonal - DMG
I want to
share that we are a Spirit Filled, Christ Centered, Evangelical, Conservative part of the Body. We take some of our organization
from the Holy Catholic, The Anglican, The Orthodox, and several other episcopal type bodies, but also including the Pentecostal
and Charismatic…Our worship ranges from high church to Pentecostal/Charismatic, depending where we are and what we are
trying to accomplish in the worship service. When we ordain and consecrate we celebrate with liturgy. Apostolic Succession
is a part of the EFI and is given to all Bishops unless they refuse to receive Apostolic Succession. Other services may find us laying hands on people and many “falling out” in the Spirit. Yet
on another hand we are ecumenical, tolerant, progressive, and try to be on the cutting edge of what is happening religiously
and spiritually in our world today.
The
definition of the word episcopal has variation among Christian traditions.
There are subtle differences in governmental principles among episcopal churches at the present time. To some extent the separation
of episcopal type churches can be traced to these differences in ecclesiology, that is, their theological understanding of church and church governance. For some,
"episcopal churches" are churches that use a hierarchy of bishops that regard themselves as being in an unbroken, personal
apostolic
succession. This is the Embassy of Faith International.
The teerm "Episcopal" is also commonly used to distinguish between the various organizational structures of denominations. For instance,
the word Presbyterian (Greek: 'πρεσβύτης, presbítes) is used to describe a church governed
by a hierarchy of assemblies of elected elders, referred to as Presbyterian. Similarly, episcopal is used to describe a church governed by bishops. Self-governed local congregations, governed
neither by elders nor bishops, are usually referred to as Congregational.
More specifically, the title Episcopal (capitalized in this instance) is applied to several churches historically
based within Anglicanism (Episcopalianism)
including those still in communion with the Church of England.
The Episcopal Church is descended from the Church of England, and through its bishops,
can trace its history all the way back to the earliest Christian communities. The Church of England separated itself from
Roman jurisdiction but did not reject its Catholic heritage.
Thus,
the Church of England came to be called the via media, or the "middle way," between the Protestant churches
and the Roman Catholic Church. In this way, churches in the Anglican Communion are both Protestant and Catholic, and maintain
traditions found in both of those branches of Christianity
The Embassy of Faith International recognizes itself to be a part of the "one holy and
catholic church." It has bishops, priests and deacons, like the Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches. As well, its liturgy
is similar to the Catholic mass.
But its emphasis on Scripture, its willingness to allow clergy to marry, as well as its
love of great hymns, establishes some parallels with Protestant traditions as well.
In a sense,
therefore, it is both. Mixed marriages, with one partner Roman Catholic and the other from a Protestant tradition, often find
in the Episcopal Church a home they can share so that the family is united in the faith.
Our Definition of the "True Catholic Faith"
Promulgated
by Patriarch Paul on October 29, 2012
Patriarch
of the Holy Catholic Church International
True
Catholic Faith is "An uncompromising commitment to obey the clearly defined wishes of Christ for His Church as practiced by
the apostles and their successors generation after generation through the authority of those lines of Apostolic Succession
that are indisputably valid and without blemish. This commitment relies upon an educated understanding of Holy Scripture,
not merely knowing the contents thereof, plus historically proven Holy Tradition. Holy Tradition is partially defined as what
has been consistently believed by well instructed Christians in all places always throughout history."
Tradition
includes how we worship, most notably our liturgy the music in our hymnals, and the creeds we say in worship which express
our beliefs. The liturgy used in the Embassy of Faith, in fact, is largely the same one used in all Western liturgical
churches, such as the Roman Catholic and Lutheran churches. In fact, tradition is important in all churches whether it is
conceded or not.
Tradition is how the wisdom of Christians who went
before helps us answer questions today that are not decisively addressed in Scripture. We believe that God is still active
in the church and that the Holy Spirit has been promised to guide the church. Important traditions in the Embassy are the
use of the Book of Common Prayer, the priesthood, and the sacraments.
The
sacraments are defined in the Book of Common Prayer as the "outward and visible signs of inward and spiritual
grace, given by Christ as sure and certain means by which we receive that grace." The sacraments are tangible means (water,
bread, wine) of God's bestowal of God's grace given to us. The two principal sacraments as in the Episcopal Church are the
sacrament of Baptism, in which we are marked as a child of God with the sign of the cross in water, and the Eucharist,
in which we remember and celebrate Jesus' life, death, and resurrection. Along with most Christians, we believe that Christ
is truly present at the sacrifice of the altar.
Baptism
happens only once since it signifies adoption by God and adoption happens only once. The Eucharist, by contrast, happens weekly
in the church since it is the parish Sunday meal commissioned by the Lord. The other traditional rites that are sacramental
include confirmation, ordination, marriage, reconciliation (confession and absolution), and the
anointing of the sick. They are sacramental because they bestow the grace of God on the recipient.
Embassy
of Faith members may make private confessions to a priest and indeed some should, but private confession is not obligatory
in the Episcopal Church. A general confession of sins is part of each Eucharist. The great Christian writer C.S. Lewis came
to make private confession a part of his Christian life as he grew in his
Pentecostalism or Classical Pentecostalism is a renewal movement within Christianity that places special emphasis on a direct personal experience of God through the baptism with the Holy Spirit. The term Pentecostal is derived from Pentecost, the Greek name for the Jewish Feast of Weeks. For Christians, this event commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the followers of Jesus Christ, as described in the second chapter of the Book of Acts.
Like other forms of evangelical Protestantism, Pentecostalism adheres to the inerrancy of scripture and the necessity of accepting
Christ as personal lord and savior. It is distinguished by belief in the baptism with the Holy Spirit as an experience separate
from conversion that enables a Christian to live a Holy Spirit filled and empowered life. This empowerment includes the use
of spiritual gifts such as speaking in tongues and divine healing–two other defining characteristics
of Pentecostalism. Because of their commitment to biblical authority, spiritual gifts, and the miraculous, Pentecostals tend
to see their movement as reflecting the same kind of spiritual power and teachings that were found in the Apostolic Age of the early church. For this reason, some Pentecostals
also use the term Apostolic or full gospel to describe their movement.
The first Pentecostals were radical adherents of the Holiness Movement. These early 20th century Christians
were energized by revivalism and expectation for the imminent Second Coming of Christ. Believing that they were
living in the end times, these evangelicals expected God to
spiritually renew the Christian Church thereby bringing to pass the restoration of spiritual gifts and the evangelization of the world. In 1900, Charles Parham, an American evangelist and faith healer,
began teaching that speaking in tongues was the Bible evidence of Spirit baptism. The three-year-long Azusa Street Revival in Los Angeles, California, resulted
in the spread of Pentecostalism throughout the United States and the rest of the world as visitors carried the Pentecostal
experience back to their home churches or felt called to the mission field. While virtually all Pentecostal denominations
trace their origins to Azusa Street, the movement has experienced a variety of divisions and controversies. An early dispute
centered around challenges to the doctrine of the Trinity. The Embassy of Faith International
is Trinitarian.
Baptism in the Holy Spirit
This portion of our tradition reflects commonly held beliefs based on scripture which have been endorsed
by the Apostolic Episcopal Church’s Commission on Doctrinal Purity and the Council of Bishops.
Why is the Embassy
of Faith Internatonal so committed to the doctrine of the baptism in the Holy Spirit with the initial evidence of speaking
in tongues?
The Baptism in the Holy Spirit is a vital experience of the Christian life. It is a special work of
the Spirit beyond salvation. On the Day of Pentecost, disciples who had already made a decision to follow Jesus "were filled
with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues" (Acts 2:4). Paul asked the Ephesians disciples if they had received
the Holy Spirit, after which "the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues" (Acts 19:2). New Testament believers
were constantly challenged to be filled with the Spirit (Acts 1:4,5; Ephesians 5:18). The Embassy of Faith International
(EFI) is committed to the baptism in the Holy Spirit because the experience is such an important focus of New Testament Christianity.
Though many non-Pentecostals teach a baptism in the Holy Spirit without speaking in tongues, the position
of the Embassy of Faith International is clearly declared in Section 8 of its Statement of Fundamental Truths: "The baptism
of believers in the Holy Spirit is witnessed by the initial sign of speaking with other tongues as the Spirit of God gives
them utterance (Acts 2:4)." The evidence always occurred (and still does today) at the time believers were baptized in the
Spirit, not at some indeterminate future time.
Speaking in tongues is the only phenomenon mentioned every time Scripture supplies details concerning
the Baptism experience. Of the five instances in Acts which recount the experience of believers being baptized in the Spirit,
three supply details. Speaking in tongues is the only one that occurs each time (Acts 2, 10, 19). In the Acts 10 account,
tongues is specifically mentioned as proof that "the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles. For
they heard them speaking in tongues" (Acts 10:45, 46). The relationship between the phenomenon and the experience cannot be
ignored.
In the two cases where details are not supplied, circumstances strongly imply that speaking with other
tongues accompanied the experience. In Acts 8 Simon saw something (most likely tongues) that prompted him to offer money for
the power to impart such a gift. In Acts 9 Saul (who became Paul) is filled with the Spirit without the mention of any details.
However, Paul later testified, "I speak in tongues more than all of you" (1 Corinthians 14:18). It is logical to conclude
that he began speaking in tongues when he was baptized in the Holy Spirit.
We (The EFI) believe the baptism in the Holy Spirit with the initial physical evidence of speaking
in other tongues is the promise of the Father to every Christian who desires the experience.
The Embassy of Faith
International is somewhat related to the Anglican church of the USA (and also of Scotland) and is one of the provinces of
that church along with the Church of England, the Church in Wales and many Anglican churches in Africa. The EFI, though not approved by any denomination yet places herself in this Province.
In the Anglican /
Episcopal communion there are 3 orders of ministers: deacons, priests and Bishops. Occasionally, an Episcopal deacon or priest
is referred to simply as a 'minister.' However, unlike other Christian ministers, there is a significant difference regarding
the understanding of ordination and the sacramental priestly role. Additionally, the Embassy of Faith International has non-ordained
ministers such as local preachers, lay readers, accredited lay-workers and so on, however, lay ministers are not permitted
to celebrate sacraments as an ordained minister or 'priest' would.
The priestly role in the Church of England and
in the Embassy of Faith International is slightly different from that of the Roman Catholic Church. For starters, Roman Catholics
have a slightly different concept of what happens at the mass than Anglicans/Episcopalians do. Roman Catholics believe that
it is the priest that is transforming the bread and wine into Christ's body and blood. Anglicans and Episcopalians typically
believe that God is the one performing the Sacrament, and that the priest is just working as vessel ordained by Christ, however
he (or she) is not the one transforming the elements, rather it is God. Also, Roman Catholics hold strong to the belief of
transubstantiation or the belief that the bread and wine physically transform into Christ's literal body
and blood. Whereas Anglicans/Episcopalians tend to be more diverse in their Eucharistic theology, Ranging from Real Presence,
to Consubstantiation, to Transubstantiation and anything and anywhere in between.
However, one thing
all Anglicans/Episcopalians believe is that in some manner, when the priest celebrates the Eucharist, it is no longer
simply bread and wine, but also the real presence of Christ, his True Body and Blood. However, the 'how' and 'in what way'
remains a mystery for Anglican/Episcopalian Christians, and it is preferred that way. Just as God is a mystery, so is the
Eucharist.
Some Anglicans allow women to be ordained as deacons, priests and Bishops. However, The Apostolic
Episcopal church does not allow women to become Clergy. The term 'priest' was retained after the Church of England
broke ties with Rome in the 16th Century, as this schism was not over theology, but politics. Although there are striking
similiarities between both the Catholic and Anglican priesthood, such as apostolic succession, and the Eucharistic and sacramental
role, there is also varying differences as well. Anglican/Episcopalians tend to view their priests on a more human light,
recognizing them as guided and consecrated by God, but remaining human and therefore permitted to marry or have relationships.
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