| King's Family of Churches | |
| Classification | Convergence |
|---|---|
| Orientation | Charismatic Anglican and Evangelical Catholic |
| Polity | Episcopal (with Apostolic Succession) |
| Geographical areas | Africa, Asia, Europe and South America. |
| Origin | 2000 |
| Merge of | Diocese of Benissa, the Christian Revival Church, Deeper In Christ Ministries, SAEM and other churches. |
| Congregations | 967 |
| Members | approximately 40.000 |
The King's Family of Churches (also known as the Evangelical Episcopal Church) is an apostolic family of churches with its origins in the Evangelical missions in Spain, particularly in Friends of God mission society, that came to embrace the Convergence Movement of Christianity. The KFC states that it should not be considered a splinter group of any other denomination or communion, because it was formed by the unity of small denominations, independent churches and former denominational congregations who came together the movement known as the Convergence of Christianity.
The founders of the KFC drew inspiration from Christian leaders and theologian such as James Haldane Stewart, Michael Harper, Colin Urquhart, Lesslie Newbigin, Robert E. Webber, David Watson, John Stott, Dennis Bennett, John Wimber, Richard Foster, and Simon Chan.
At the same time, the KFC follows the practices, beliefs and life of the early Celtic church, the Lutheran Reformation, and the Anglican Church, which they feel became a signpost for the Ancient-Future faith [1] and the Convergence Movement.
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The King’s Family of Churches had its origins in the missionary work of 'Friends of God' in Spain. In 2003, they were charter as the "Evangelical Episcopal Church". In January 2007 they started to be known as the "King's Family of Churches".[2]
On December 6, 2003, Josep Rossello was consecrated the first bishop of the King's Family [3] and called to establish the Missionary Diocese of Benissa. In 2004, the Diocese of Benissa joined with other independent denominations throughout the world to form the King’s Family of Churches, influenced by the Convergence Movement, which began to blend Spontaneous Christian worship with the Book of Common Prayer inspired by the Evangelical doctrines and the Charismatic Renewal.
Apparently, their main growth has come through congregations throughout the world deciding to affiliate with the King’s Family of Churches. All those joining the King's Family were expressing not only common elements of an emerging understanding about this “convergence of the streams” of Christianity, but it was also a direct result of the KFC mission enterprise around the world.[4]
+Tomas Kennedy, was consecrated on October 17th, 2007; and he is the Acting Presiding Bishop of the King's Family. He has been appointed with the responsibility for the development of the Dublin NightChurch, the King’s Church congregation in Spain, and two missionary districts in India. In total, he will oversee leaders that are pastoring over 600 congregations, as well as bible schools and orphanages.[5]
Today, the KFC claims to have 967 congregations in 31 countries.[6]
Government in the King's Family is synodical at the diocesan level and collegial which recognized the assembled body of the bishops as its governing body. International and diocesan synods maintain different scopes of authority, depending on their canons. [7]
The King's Family is not congregational in its polity: It is the diocese, not the parish church/congregation, which is the local church, and diocesan bishops must give their assent to resolutions passed by synods. Rather than jurisdictional lines built upon geographic areas, the King's Family establishes dioceses and congregations relationally. (See Episcopal polity).
The church upholds the historic three-fold ministry of bishops, presbyters, and deacons. The King's Family can trace its ines of Apostolic Succession through Anglican, Catholic and Apostolic lines.[8]
The center of the King's Family of Churches' teaching is the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. They embrace the same Doctrinal Essentials as other Christian bodies.[9]
The King's Family of Churches recognizes the historic ecumenical creeds, the Apostle's Creed and the Nicene Creed; these are used frequently in services of worship. They also recognizes the importance of the Chalcedonian Creed of the Council of Chalcedon.
The threefold sources of decision-making are based on Scripture, tradition informed by Scripture, and godly Wisdom instructed by Scripture. This balance of scripture, tradition and reason is traced to the work of Richard Hooker, a sixteenth century apologist. In Hooker's model, scripture is the primary means of arriving at doctrine and things stated plainly in scripture are accepted as true. Issues that are ambiguous are determined by tradition, which is checked by reason.[10]
The King's Family is a constituent member and Province of the Christian Communion International (CCI), and its bishops are seated in the International College of Bishops.[11]