Evangelical Connexion of the Free Church of England

The Evangelical Connexion of the Free Church of England came into being in 2003, following doctrinal disagreements within the Free Church of England. [Evangelical Times - June 2004] The original body had been intended to be a Protestant, Reformed and Evangelical denomination. [The Declaration of Principles of the FCE: Article 4] However, in recent years the leadership of the church has moved increasingly in the direction of the modern ecumenical movement. As a result some of the members of the FCE felt that the denomination's foundational principles had been abandoned. At present the Connexion consists of ten parishes formerly affiliated with the Free Church of England.

The Connexion remains committed to the what it sees as the founding principles of the FCE. Biblical theology, paedobaptism, liturgical worship, and episcopal polity are all important, although understood in light of the Declaration of Principles.

Like the Free Church of England, the FCE-EC has no connection with the Church of England and individual members and congregations have contacts within both the FIEC and Affinity. Recent contacts for this group include the Evangelical Presbyterian Church in England and Wales and the Church of England in South Africa. This Connexion holds to the supremacy of the Bible in determining doctrine and practice [4] and stands in the body of continuing Anglican churches which take their inspiration from Thomas Cranmer. The Connexion currently contends that is the one remaining Protestant, Reformed, Evangelical, Anglican-style denomination in the UK whose doctrine and worship are still based on Scripture and the Prayer Book. That said, exclusive use of the Prayer Book in Connexion parishes is not required. At this point the Connexion has not authorised its own modern language liturgy, but does allow with the Presiding Bishop's permission, the use of some services from 'An English Prayer Book' (Church Society Publications - OUP).

The Reverend Dominic Stockford, a former Roman Catholic priest who left the RC Church in 1993 and was born again in 1995, was elected and consecrated to be the first bishop in the Connexion on May 5, 2008. The consecrator was Bishop Arthur Bentley Taylor, the only other active bishop in the Connexion. Also participating were presbyters and a number of senior clergy from bodies outside the Evangelical Connexion that share its principles (e.g. The Church Society & the FIEC).

References

* [http://www.ec-fce.org.uk Evangelical Connexion of the Free Church of England]
* [http://www.ec-fce.org.uk/declaration.htm Declaration of Principles]
* [http://www.evangelicals.org/news.asp?id=20 FCE-EC Framework of Reference for Covenanting Churches & Individuals]
* [http://anglicansonline.org/communion/nic.html Anglicans Online list of Anglicans Not-in-Communion (with Canterbury)]

External links

* [http://www.ec-fce.org.uk Evangelical Connexion of the Free Church of England]
* [http://www.ec-fce.org.uk/declaration.htm Declaration of Principles]
* [http://www.evangelicals.org/news.asp?id=20 FCE-EC Framework of Reference for Covenanting Churches & Individuals]
* [http://www.dominicstockfordconsecration.net Consecration Service for Bishop Dominic Stockford]