It is our belief that there is a multitude of valid expressions of Christ’s Church. We are following God’s call to us to provide an expression of His Church that holds certain core beliefs and distinctives centered around the convergence of the primary historical streams of Sacramental, Evangelical, and Charismatic theology. The particular blend of these historic streams is expressed through the ministry of The Canonical Order of Chaplains. An acknowledgment of the value and some specific expression of each is necessary for membership in this family.

    The Sacramental Stream: emphasizing the sacramental presence of God through liturgy and rites, symbolism and signs, orthodoxy, preservation of historical episcopacy, and a historical view of the church. While honoring God the Son and God the Holy Spirit, the sacramental worship emphasis is upon God the Father. A defining ministry characteristic of sacramentalists is incarnational ministry of the Gospel, demonstrating spirituality through ministry to human needs and material signs and symbols.

    The Evangelical Stream: emphasizing salvation by faith in the atoning death of Jesus Christ through personal conversion, the authority of Scripture, theological intellectualism, evangelicalism, the importance of preaching as contrasted with ritual, and a reformational view of the church. While honoring God the Father and God the Holy Spirit, the evangelical worship emphasis is on God the Son. A defining ministry characteristic of evangelicals is proclamational ministry of the Gospel, emphasizing the importance of proclaiming biblical truth to the world around us.

    The Charismatic Stream: emphasizing the free expression of the gifts and person of the Holy Spirit, especially in expressive praise and in miraculous signs and wonders, practical theology, and focus on life and ministry in the Spirit, and an informal New Testament view of the church. While honoring God the Father and God the Son, the charismatic worship emphasis is upon God the Holy Spirit. A defining ministry characteristic of charismatics is supernatural ministry of the Gospel, emphasizing miraculous personal experience with God through His word and power. (from The Sound of Rushing Waters, used by permission of the author)

Therefore, the beliefs, teachings and practices of the Canonical Order of Chaplains are base in the Holy Scriptures. God’s people have believed that it is fundamental to live by each word that proceeds from the mouth of God (Mathew 4:4). These Articles of Convergence truths is intended simply to be a basis of communion among us (i.e., that we all speak the same thing, [I Corinthians 1:10, Acts 2:42]).

We should consider the Canonical Order of Chaplains is a Spirit-led community of believers and, thus, we are exhorted to “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18). The Spirit of God leads the Order of Chaplains into all truth (John 16:13). We are constantly renewing our commitment to truth and deeper understanding as we respond to God’s guidance in our beliefs and practices.