Convergence Movement

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The Convergence Movement, also known as the Ancient-Future Faith,[1] whose foundation is primarily attributed to Robert E. Webber in 1985,[2] is an ecumenical movement. Developed as an effort among evangelical, charismatic and Pentecostal, and liturgical Christians and denominations blending their forms of worship,[3] the movement has been defined for its predominant use of the Anglican tradition's Book of Common Prayer; use from additional liturgical sources common to Lutheranism, Eastern Orthodoxy, and Catholicism have also been employed.[4][5][6][7]

Christian denominations and individuals within the movement have identified themselves as Ancient Faith or Ancient Church, Ancient-Future,[8] Convergence,[9] Charismatic Orthodox,[10] evangelical Episcopal,[8] paleo-orthodox, or Pentecostal Catholic or Orthodox.[6] Denominations in this movement have also been referred as some form of broader, or new Anglicanism or Episcopalianism.[11]

The pioneers of the Convergence Movement were seeking to restore a primitive form of Christianity in contrast with the teachings of the Restoration Movement.[12] The Ancient-Future Faith was inspired by the spiritual pilgrimages of Protestant writers like Thomas Howard, Robert E. Webber, Peter E. Gillquist, and ancient Christian writers including the Church Fathers and their communities. These men—along with theologians, scripture scholars, and pastors in a number of Protestant denominational traditions leading to the movement's foundation—were calling Christians back to what they saw as their roots in the early Church prior to the East–West Schism and rise of the state church of the Roman Empire.[13][14]

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference :2 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ "Convergence Movement". Association of Religion Data Archives. Retrieved 2023-12-18.
  3. ^ Schmit, Clayton J. (2009). Sent and Gathered: A Worship Manual for the Missional Church. Baker Academic. pp. 58, 59, 79. ISBN 978-0-8010-3165-6.
  4. ^ "The Convergence Movement". Basileians. Hendrickson Publications. October 1, 1995. Archived from the original on October 29, 2020. Retrieved 2020-09-12.
  5. ^ Smith, Gordon (2017). Evangelical, Sacramental, and Pentecostal. InterVarsity Press. ISBN 978-0-8308-5160-7.
  6. ^ a b Alvarez, Emilio (2022). Pentecostal Orthodoxy. InterVarsity Press. ISBN 978-1-5140-0090-8.
  7. ^ "What We Believe". Holy Communion of Churches. Archived from the original on 2022-08-18. Retrieved 2022-08-18. With each church having a primary base, three different types of convergence churches seem to be most common today: blended churches, inclusion churches, and network churches. Blended churches have maintained their original identity, denominational connection and distinctive theologically. From this base they then are adding elements from the other two streams in their worship and ministry practices. While most common among Liturgical/Sacramental churches, blended churches are found in Evangelical and Charismatic streams as well.
  8. ^ a b "What is Convergence?". Communion of Evangelical Episcopal Churches. Archived from the original on October 29, 2020. Retrieved 2020-07-19. 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.
  9. ^ "About the ICCEC". International Communion of the Charismatic Episcopal Church. 2022-02-15. Retrieved 2023-12-18.
  10. ^ Alvarez, Emilio (2022-07-03). "The Union of Charismatic Orthodox Churches". Liturgy. 37 (3): 28–35. doi:10.1080/0458063X.2022.2085966. ISSN 0458-063X. S2CID 251286283.
  11. ^ Cite error: The named reference :3 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  12. ^ Kurian, George Thomas; Lamport, Mark A. (2016-11-10). "Convergence Movement". Encyclopedia of Christianity in the United States. Rowman & Littlefield. pp. 629–630. ISBN 978-1-4422-4432-0. The Convergence Movement focused on the blending of different worship traditions into one. For this reason, it had several defining characteristics corresponding with the different worship backgrounds that were being blended together. One characteristic of the movement was the focus given to unity. Rather than being divided by the different denominations, the movement rejoiced in the one body of Christ seen throughout the whole world. The Convergence Movement was also defined by its focus on the early church. It sought to live in accordance with apostolic teaching and trace its authority back to apostolic origins.
  13. ^ Melton, Gordon J. Encyclopedia of American Religions. 2003. pp. 629–630. "In the years after World War I, negotiations began to create a broad union that would include the Anglican and ... the "convergence movement," the term referring to the "convergence" of various streams of renewal that shared an understanding of the church as one Body with a variety of diverse but contributing parts. Following the lead of British bishop Lesslie Newbigin, the convergence movement affirmed the threefold essence of the church as Catholic, Protestant, and Orthodox/Pentecostal. The church is Catholic as it relates to the emphases of "incarnation and creation," Protestant with an emphasis on "biblical proclamation and conversion," and Orthodox/Pentecostal in relation to "the mystical and the Holy Spirit."
  14. ^ Vinson, Synan. Holiness-Pentecostal Tradition: Charismatic Movements in the Twentieth Century. 1997. p294 "By 1990, like minded pastors were banding together in what they called a "convergence movement" designed to bring the three streams together in a new and powerful spiritual configuration. Even more striking were the cases of charismatic ..."