Basic Beliefs

Practices and Behavioral Standards

Organizational Structure

Role of Ministers

Worship

Other Considerations

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The ICCEC is an episcopal communion; meaning, its government is overseen by bishops. We believe that a valid, apostolic episcopacy is not an option but rather an essential part of the New Testament definition of the Church. However, ICCEC bishops are not simply administrative overseers; they are chiefly pastoral. By Canon Law, bishops must be rectors of their own local parish.

Along with a governing episcopate, it is a founding principle of the ICCEC that government occurs by consensus under the direction of the Holy Spirit. On the International level, the Patriarch's Council and the International College of Archbishops confer on denominational matters chiefly through prayer; seeking the unity described in Acts 15 at the Council of Jerusalem. This same consensus process occurs within each international territory or national church, each province under the authority of its archbishop, each diocese under the authority of its bishop, and within each parish under the authority of its rector and his rector's council. The denomination, as a whole, is governed by The Canon Law of the Charismatic Episcopal Church.

While subscribing to the traditional and biblical understanding of ordained ministry by the imposition of hands for the consecrating of episkopoi (bishops), presbuteroi (pastor/priest), and diakonoi (deacons), we also recognize the recovery, within the charismatic movement, of the fivefold understanding of ministry expressed in Ephesians 4:11-13. That is, we believe that the gifts of apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor and teacher were designed for the edification of Christ's Church until His coming again, and we anticipate these ministries, as well as other Gifts of the Holy Spirit, to be in operation--whether in the clergy or laity--in every healthy parish.