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|  Vocations within the Corpus Christi Ecumenical Fellowship
Since the time of the Apostles, the church catholic has existed. During the
course of history, many branches of the one, catholic, and apostolic church have
evolved. Whichever branch it has been, one thing remains constant, and that is each
has maintained an unbroken line of succession from the Apostles. The Apostles
were the original Bishops of the Church and their authority as episcopos has
been passed down to this day.
Some persons called to a life of service as a member of the clergy have a deep
desire to remain in communion with their Catholicism, but for a variety of
reasons are not able to be ordained in the Roman Catholic, Orthodox or other
catholic faiths. This may be because they are unable to attend a Seminary or are
somehow otherwise precluded from doing so. For this reason, the CCEF may be able to help you.
In this sense the word catholic is used as meaning universal and not any one
particular denomination.
There are many Rites in the one, catholic and apostolic church such as the Roman
Rite, Anglican Rite, Celtic Rite or Orthodox Rite (Eastern and Western Rites),
Gallican Rite to suggest a few. All are valid expressions of the Orthodoxy of
the one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church. The Corpus Christi Ecumenical Fellowship will accept applications for ordination/incardination with the following
guidelines.
Candidates will initially be licensed into the Order of Deacon. A person
licensed as a Deacon will serve in this office for a period of at least one year, or at the discretion of the Elders Council and Ordination Committee, but in no case will it be less than six months. This is a learning and training period. Deacons may have a ministry, but can not be pastors of a parish. Deacons serve their community and may perform baptisms but may not celebrate (consecrate) the Holy
Eucharist or perform Marriages.
Our purposes include:
To be a covering and fellowship to individuals, churches, and institutions which
ascribe to the vision and mission of the Corpus Christi Ecumenical Fellowship.
To seek and share biblical truth.
To ordain qualified ministers of the Gospel and license qualified local church
elders and leaders in the body of Christ.
To be a covering for local churches and fivefold ministers.
To be a covering for other entities, and to license, ordain and certify people
who see their vocations as ministries.
There are three classes of membership:
Full: Those who wish to be full members of the Corpus Christi Ecumenical Fellowship either
as members or Clergy.
Joint: For those who are part of another group, but who also wish to be members
of the Corpus Christi Ecumenical Fellowship.
Honorary: For those who do not want or can not have full membership but wish to
be an associate member. These are often persons who can not join as joint
members because of denominational issues or others who may be given an Honorary
Award.
SPECIAL NOTE: The Corpus Christi Ecumenical Fellowship does not offer instant online
Minister ordination, nor do we offer immediate ordination by mail or any other
method. You must complete the minister ordination application as the first step
in a process which will vary with each individual based on personal background,
education, ministry experience, knowledge of church history and theology, etc.
This process will also include dialogue by telephone, e-mail, and, when possible,
in person. A calling to ordained ministry is a high and serious calling;
therefore, minister ordination should not be given with undue haste. The Bible,
in 1 Timothy 5:22,says, "Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands." On the
other hand, ordination should be available without undue delay. An example of
undue delay would be the requirement of four years of college and three years of
seminary that some denominations impose on their candidates before they can be
ordained. Now, Corpus Christi Ecumenical Fellowship not disparage education, theological
or otherwise; in fact, we highly value it. We simply leave it to the individual
to decide, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, how much education he/she gets
and where he/she gets it. When God calls a person, He does so without the
permission or requirements of man. The best and most that man can do is affirm,
recognize, and record that calling.
After one year, Deacons MAY be elevated to the Priesthood. Persons already
ordained into the Priesthood with valid lines of succession MAY be incardinated
into the Corpus Christi Ecumenical Fellowship as Priests.
Persons desiring ordination/incardination may choose the Rite or Tradition they
wish to follow.
All persons ordained into the Corpus Christi Ecumenical Fellowship are independent
ministers in the daily functions of their respective ministries, that is,
neither the minister nor the Corpus Christi Ecumenical Fellowship is or can be an agent for or of the other and
each minister is fully and individually responsible for their actions, legal,
financial or contractual obligations.
However, each minister IS held accountable for their actions and does come under
the Episcopal oversight of the Presiding Bishop and the Elders Council in matters pertaining to Faith, morals and theology. Please also
note that all clergy are required to submit reports on a monthly basis, or as
the Elders Council direct. Deacons and Priests are required to submit these
reports to their respective Ordinaries. Bishops are required to maintain copies
of these reports for inspection as necessary. The Corpus Christi Ecumenical Fellowship
will not tolerate or encourage those who are only willing to be clergy in name
only. God has chosen and called you. Fulfill your calling. It can be quite
correctly assumed by those clergy who fail to maintain contact with their
respective Ordinaries or the Corpus Christi Ecumenical Fellowship, that they will be
released without further notice.
Please keep in mind that persons ordained into the Corpus Christi Ecumenical Fellowship
have received a valid, legitimate, Christian ordination. You are catholic (in
the meaning of universal). You can not be catholic today and nondenominational
or interfaith tomorrow.
Ordination MAY be conferred after the candidate’s application has been evaluated by the Elders Council and the Ordination Committee of the Corpus Christi Ecumenical Fellowship.
Finally, let me stress that neither the Bible nor the law requires laying on of hands for legitimate or legal ordination. Policy on minister ordination in the Corpus Christi Ecumenical Fellowship allows for ordination by a variety of methods. Policy on minister ordination in the CCEF allows for ordination by a variety of methods, however all methods of ordination will follow and be in an apostolic manner upholding the historic lines of apostolic succession. (Note: In Acts 14:23 the word "appointed" or "ordained" can mean (1) to stretch out the hand, (2) to appoint [ordain] by show of hands or (3) to appoint or elect [or ordain] without regard to the method. Source: NIV Study Bible).
For General Questions or Comments about the Corpus Christi Ecumenical Fellowship
Please contact the Office of the Presiding Bishop
mailto:bishopbdcampbell@corpusuna.org
For Information Regarding Vocations with the Corpus Christi Ecumenical Fellowship
Please contact The Ordination Committee of the Corpus Christi Ecumenical Fellowship
mailto:vocations@corpusuna.org
DISCLAIMER
The Corpus Christi Ecumenical Fellowship DOES NOT assume any LEGAL responsibility for its ministers. Neither the Corpus Christi Ecumenical Fellowship nor the individual minister is an agent for or of the other. However, each minister IS answerable to the Corpus Christi Ecumenical Fellowship and does come under the Episcopal oversight of the Presiding Bishop and the Corpus Christi Ecumenical Fellowship Council of Elders. If an investigation finds serious violations of Christian ethics, morals and values have indeed been committed, certain sanctions can and may be applied, up to and including removal and or revocation of the clergy members faculties and ordination and a return to the state of laity.
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