Frequently Asked Questions:
1. Why does the CCR exist?
2. What does evangelical mean?
3. What does charismatic mean?
4. What does liturgical/sacramental
mean?
6. Does the CCR hold the Bible to be the authoritative, inspired, infallible Word of God?
7. Does the CCR hold to the truth that Jesus is the only way to God?
8. Are the Sacraments just symbols?
9. What is apostolic succession?
10. What liturgy does the CCR use?
11. What will the worship service "look like"¯ when I visit?
12. What kind of music will I find at a CCR worship service?
13. Is communion open to everyone?
14. Is there Charismatic ministry?
15. Does the CCR use a Church Calendar? 16. How is the CCR governed?
17. Is there one Bishop over the others?
18. Are the Dioceses of the CCR geographical?
19. Is the CCR affiliated with any other groups?
20. Why Did the CCR start and why can it not just merge and be part of another group?
Purpose
1. Why does the CCR exist?
The CCR exists to present Christ to the world through a church that is fully evangelical, fully charismatic, and fully liturgical/sacramental
2. What does evangelical mean?
Evangelical means that we believe the Bible is the Word of God and our ultimate source of faith and practice. The Bible holds a central and precious place in the life of our church. Evangelical also means that we believe the way to God is through a personal relationship with Him in Jesus Christ.
3. What does charismatic mean?
Literally it means "operating in gifts"¯. We believe that God gave His Holy Spirit to the Church on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2) and that the Spirit remains with us to strengthen and empower us to build the Kingdom of God. We believe in joyous worship, ā€œin Spirit and in Truthā€¯, and in the active expression of the gifts of the Spirit
4. What does liturgical/sacramental mean?
From the days of the Apostles the Church has worshiped God with liturgy and form. Our worship service is a lively expression of thanksgiving to God taking the form of "Word and Table"¯. Every Sunday we gather to pray, hear God's Word read and preached, sing songs of thanksgiving, and draw close to our Lord through Holy Communion.
Beliefs
5. What does the CCR believe?
The CCR embraces the faith of the ancient undivided Church. This faith is expressed in the Holy Scriptures, the ancient creeds (Apostles, Nicene, Athanasian) and the doctrinal statements of the seven ecumenical councils.
6. Does the CCR hold the Bible to be the authoritative, inspired, infallible Word of God?
YES! The Bible is our primary source of faith, and is the ultimate authority in faith, practice and doctrine.
7. Does the CCR hold to the truth that Jesus is the only way to God?
Jesus said that "no man comes to the Father except through the Son"¯ and we read in Acts that "there is no other name under heaven whereby men must be saved"¯. Jesus Christ is not simply one option among many, he is THE way, the truth and the life. He died and rose again to reconcile the whole world to God (2 Co. 5.19).
8. Are the Sacraments just symbols?
The sacraments ARE symbols, but they are not "just"¯ symbols. We believe that the sacraments are vehicles of God's grace and gifts He has given us to strengthen us in our walk with Him.
9. What is apostolic succession?
Apostolic succession is the ancient understanding of the passing on of authority in the life of the Church. The apostles chose, train and authorized men who would follow them as bishops, and by the laying on of hands passed on to them their authority. These men in turn passed that authority and anointing on to others after them, right down to this present day. The clergy of the CCR are in apostolic succession primarily from the line of Carlos Duarte Costa, and carry the responsibility to be faithful to those godly saints who have gone before them.
Worship
10. What liturgy does the CCR use?
The CCR uses a liturgical form based on the Anglican Book of Common Prayer. There are several options used, including one liturgy that comes from the first century.
11. What will the worship service "look like"¯ when I visit?
Although the structure of the service is the same in our churches, what the service "looks like"¯ may vary from place to place. And so while all of our services will have things like vestments and candles and a central altar, there may be great variety in other expressions. One church may have a piano for music, while another may have an organ and a full musical band. One church may have simple procession while others may include banners and choir.
12. What kind of music will I find at a CCR worship service?
The short answer is, "all kinds"¯. On any given Sunday you will experience ancient hymns, traditional gospel songs, contemporary praise choruses, and there may even be some Gregorian chant thrown in for good measure.
13. Is communion open to everyone?
We invite all baptized believers who are in good standing with their own churches to receive Holy Communion.
14. Is there Charismatic ministry?
YES. It is common for there to be healing prayer, a time of waiting on the Holy Spirit, perhaps words of prophecy and other gifts of the Spirit manifest.
15. Does the CCR use a Church Calendar?
Yes. We follow the traditional seasons of the Church and find our year ordered by the life of Christ. We begin with Advent when we anticipate the coming of the Lord (both his birth and Second Coming) then move through Christmas, Epiphany, and Lent until we arrive at Holy Week and Easter when we remember his suffering and rejoice in his resurrection. We also celebrate the various feasts of the Church including Pentecost.
Structure
16. How is the CCR governed?
The CCR is governed by a College of Bishops who meet twice a year in Council. These men are joined by representative clergy from each diocese who help them in their decision making.
17. Is there one Bishop over the others?
No. The CCR understands the ancient church to have had an equality of bishops. Consequently, matters are decided by voting among the bishops, as in Acts 1 when the leaders of the church elected a new member of the apostolic council.
18. Are the Dioceses of the CCR geographical?
Yes and no. While having a basic geographical structure, the dioceses are also relational, and at this point in our life the dioceses have member clergy and churches who are not necessarily in the geographical bounds of the diocese. This is not unlike the early English and Irish church structure.
Relationship
19. Is the CCR affiliated with any other groups?
We are currently in dialogue with the Anglican Province in America and the Reformed Episcopal Church (two Anglican bodies that are themselves committed to complete union), as well as with other Anglican churches represented in the Federation of Anglican Churches in America (FACA). We are in full communion with the Igreja Catolica Apostolica Brazilia (The Catholic Apostolic Church of Brazil (ICAB). In February 2008 we will consecrate Bishop Alexander Barroso in Cabimas, Venezuela and will be in full communion with the church there. Our desire is to pursue unity with Godā€™s people so that Jesusā€™ High Priestly Prayer (John 17) might come to fulfillment.
20. Why Did the CCR start and why can it not just merge and be part of another group?
The CCR began as a part of the sad division of the Charismatic Episcopal Church in 2006. While it is our desire to indeed come into union with other churches, we recognize our particular calling to be "three streams"¯ - evangelical, charismatic and sacramental/liturgical. It is our desire to pursue unity, and even union with churches who will embrace this calling of God on our lives.
