Paul Massey selected to start new church in Fayetteville

Father Paul Massey, one of the founding members and presently associate pastor of Christ the King Charismatic Episcopal Church in Sharpsburg, has been approved to serve as the vicar, or missionary pastor, of a new church coming to Fayetteville next month.

The Church of the Holy Cross, as it will be known, will begin meeting on Saturday evenings beginning Sept. 11, in the historic train depot facility in downtown Fayetteville. The mission is being planted by Christ the King and is a member congregation of the International Communion of the Charismatic Episcopal Church (ICCEC).

Massey, a former educator and school principal, is retired from the Printing Industry Association of Georgia, where he served as president. Active in church leadership roles for many years, Massey was ordained to the diaconate in 1997 and to the priesthood in 1999. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Carson-Newman College, a master’s degree from Georgia State University, and has received additional training at the University of Tennessee and St. Michael’s seminary.

In 1996, Massey and his wife, Judy, became founding members of Christ the King, formerly in Fayette County and now located in Sharpsburg. Fr. Massey currently serves as curate, or associate pastor, for that congregation.

Judy Massey, who holds a doctor of ministry from Regent University and is a commissioned minister in the ICCEC, has been in Christian leadership for a number of years and has spoken at conferences both in the United States and overseas.

The Masseys reside in Peachtree City and have two adult children and three grandchildren.

The ICCEC was founded in 1992 with three churches and is considered by Touchstone magazine to be the largest of the 28 Anglican/Episcopal denominations.

However, the ICCEC is not a ‘break-off’ of any other denomination, but was begun by independent charismatic and Pentecostal ministers who, while embracing their charismatic experience, were seeking a stronger connection with the historic church. Now present on all but two continents, the ICCEC numbers more than 1,000 churches with hundreds of thousands of members, and is regarded as one of the fastest growing Christian bodies.

For additional information concerning the Church of the Holy Cross, call 770-631-3566.