Wednesday, March 7, 2001
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Wednesday, March 7, 2001 |
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Christ the King's Epps joins national pro-life, church-based political group Father David Epps of Sharpsburg, pastor of Christ the King Charismatic Episcopal Church in Peachtree City, became the first priest to become a member of the CEC for Life, a new pro-life group recently established by the International Communion of the Charismatic Episcopal Church (ICCEC), based in California. Also, Epps' church became the first congregation to receive church membership. The CEC for Life is a new association of priests, deacons and laity dedicated to ending abortion in America and around the world. Its membership will provide resources for the Christian community on voting, lobbying and candidate recruitment. Founded in 1992, the ICCEC is rooted in the pro-life movement. Founding Bishop Randolph Adler and many priests in the late 1980s and early 1990s publicly voiced their concern for the lives of the unborn by participating in prayer and ministry activities outside of abortion clinics. "The vision of the ICCEC is to make visible the void which has oftentimes been a church reluctant to speak on behalf of the millions of innocents who have no voice in this culture," said Archbishop Adler. "The Lord has raised up the men and women in our church communion to be a prophetic voice to the world and to come against our culture of death. CEC for Life will take action in parochial, social and political arenas to restore the dignity of human life." CEC for Life will provide resources for ICCEC churches and the entire Christian community by encouraging clergy, lay people and young people to participate in voting and lobbying activities as well as in the recruitment of new political leaders. Included in the many activities of the new organization will be holding conferences and training camps to teach its leaders the history, theology and current application of Christian activism and leadership in the cultural and political realm. "The world has, for all intents and purposes, taken away the humanity of unborn children," said Fr. Terry Gensemer, director of CEC for Life. "Only God is able to truly affirm their humanity as His image-bearers. But the church is obligated to proclaim the truth of the gospel which includes the protection of the unborn and sounding an alarm for a nation that is in peril of losing its soul." Local church leader Epps has been a longtime voice for the pre-born and has been instrumental in assisting several young mothers with problem pregnancies. He also helps place "unplanned children" in Christian homes. The first national gathering of CEC for Life was in January in Washington, D.C. in conjunction with the annual March for Life to protest the Roe v. Wade decision. Many CEC clergy and laity joined in the march. For more information on the CEC for Life, call Diana Banister at 703-207-9476. |
