Apostolic Pastoral Congress

History

The Congress was formed (initially under the name "Apostolic Pastoral Association") during the first decade of the 21st century. It started in the north of England and now has country-wide membership. The Congress remains particularly active in Greater Manchester and the surrounding areas, and has its administrative office at Manchester.

In 2013, the presiding prelate of the Congress was elevated to the status of archbishop, at a ceremony held in Southwark Cathedral at London Bridge in central London, England.

Character

The Congress is Pentecostal in character, firmly evangelical in its soteriology, sacramental in theology and practice. members of the Congress use adapted forms of ancient church liturgy whenever sacraments are expressed, but at other times allow more open styles of Pentecostal worship. As such, it may be identified as being part of the Convergence Movement.

The Congress also promotes knowledge of and respect for the ancient Christian church of the first millennium in the Atlantic Isles (the British Isles), and indeed knowledge of and respect for the ancient Christian church worldwide, and encourages disciplined prayer life based on insights derived from the early monastics.

Congress policy is to preach and practice Holy Baptism by full immersion in water, following confession of faith in Jesus Christ and a personal infilling of the Holy Spirit, evidenced by the biblical gifts (see spiritual gift) and fruit of the Holy Spirit. Congress is dedicated to promoting holy living which is the right result of salvation in Christ.

There is particular emphasis upon the spiritual heritage deriving from early monastic communities such as those at Whithorn (Candida Casa) (see St Ninian of Whithorn) in Galloway, Scotland, Iona and Lindisfarne and from the seventh century north African (Berber) scholar-monk Hadrian of Canterbury (Adrian of Canterbury) (Hadrian the African) (c.635 - 710) and Antony of Egypt.

There is particular focus upon the African and Asian diaspora community in the Atlantic Isles and upon BAME (Black, Asian and other minority ethnic) community interests and affairs generally.

Bishops

Bishops are listed alphabetically by surname. The list is not necessarily exhaustive. Where known, the date of admission into the APC House of Bishops is indicated in parentheses.

Dr Doye Agama (presiding archbishop) Anthony Atwam (2016) Edmund Akyea-Mensah (2009) James Hansen-Sackey (2014) Dr Mustaq Masih (2009) Richard Norburn (2015) George K.A. Obeng David Osei (2016) Moses Owusu-Sekyere (2012) Mike Royal (2016) Clive Whittle (2016)

Overseas bishops associated with APC

In addition, bishops who are not members of the APC House of Bishops but who are associated with APC and whose sphere of ministry is believed to be wholly or mainly outside the United Kingdom are listed below. Where known, the date on which the bishop became associated with APC is indicated in parentheses. Again the information is provisional and is not necessarily exhaustive.

Mark Kambalazaza (archbishop)(southern and eastern Africa) Peter Kaweta (Malawi) Dr Christian Kliver (2014) (Germany, and to German-speaking peoples) Professor Joshua Owusu-Sekyere (2015) (Cape Coast, Ghana) Harry Sebastian (archbishop) (2014) (India)

Annual Pentecostal Summit

For several years now, the Congress has organized and hosted an annual conference or "Pentecostal Summit" in an English cathedral, usually Manchester Cathedral, though in 2013 Southwark Cathedral was used. This event is combined with the Congress's annual ordination ceremony, and also with awards by the Apostolic Order of St Hadrian of Canterbury (see below).

Other activities

The Congress provides training, mentoring, networking, ordination and licensing.

St Hadrian's College

Training provision is mainly through St Hadrian's College.

The Christian Way of Life Churches

This is a group of Christian churches mainly in or around the Manchester area of England. The Congress's current Presiding Prelate is also Senior Pastor of the Christian Way of Life Churches. While the "Christian Way of Life Churches" and the Congress are distinct organizations, there is close synergy between them.

The Order of St Hadrian of Canterbury

The Noble Communion and Holy Apostolic Order of St Hadrian of Canterbury is another organization very closely linked with the Congress. The Order declares itself to be a Pentecostal Christian and educational Order. The Order has as its grand patron Prince Ermias Sahle Selassie Haile Selassie. Prince Ermias is a grandson of the Emperor Haile Selassie (1892-1975), and president of Ethiopia's Crown Council (a council in exile). The Order aims to promote aspects of monastic prayer life within black Pentecostal Christian churches. The Order grants awards to individuals in recognition of outstanding service, and particularly recognizes outstanding community service by Christians from black and other minority ethnic backgrounds in the United Kingdom and beyond.

Among those who have been granted awards by the Order are Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke, Dr Goodluck Jonathan, Bishop Nigel McCulloch, and Bishop David Walker.

International Apostolic Pastoral Congress

(Congres Pastoral Apostolique Internationale)

This is the international arm of the organization and it is particularly active in Africa.

It has been said that there are close relations between the Church of England and the Apostolic Pastoral Congress. This is exemplified by the fact that the Congress's presiding prelate leads a church that operates in Church of England church buildings, that Church of England bishops attend and participate in the Congress's Annual Pentecostal Summit, that a greeting from the archbishop of Canterbury was read at the 2013 Summit, and that the Summit and the Congress's ordinations take place within Church of England cathedrals.

Churches Together in England (relations with)

The Congress is a member of Churches Together in England. The Congress's current (2014) presiding prelate is a member of the board of directors/trustees of Churches Together in England and he is moderator for the three year period 2012 to 2015 of the Forum of Churches Together in England.

Joint College of African-American Pentecostal Bishops (relations with)

The Congress's presiding prelate is a former member of this Joint College. He is also a member of the House of Bishops of the Pentecostal Churches of Christ (based in USA).

In 2013, the Consecration Mandate for elevating the Congress's presiding prelate, (Bishop (now Archbishop) Doyé Agama), to the status of archbishop was provided by J. Delano Ellis who is presiding prelate of the Joint College and also of the Pentecostal Churches of Christ. Archbishop Ellis also sent an episcopal delegation (comprising Bishop Darryl Woodson and Bishop Benjamin Douglass) from USA to London to take the lead role in the ceremony of elevation. Bishops Woodson and Douglass are bishops among the Pentecostal Churches of Christ.

Bishop Duke Akamisoko (Church of Nigeria) was one of the bishops who laid hands upon the Congress's presiding prelate Doye Agama, at the ceremony in London on 19 October 2013 elevating Bishop Agama to the status of archbishop.

Church of Nigeria is a church within the worldwide Anglican Communion.