Remembering Who We Are
Ambassadors of Christ is a unique organization. First, we are a local congregation of Holiness Believers. Second, we are an organized group of congregations; hereafter called a denomination; with 208,000 members worldwide. While we recognize individual congregations, the individual members are the most valuable part of Ambassadors of Christ. As Ambassadors of Christ, we are called to be like Jesus. For us, this means:
Who Are Ambassadors of Christ
The blessing of being an Ambassador of Christ is that we are ordinary people living ordinary lives to love God and others as we are able. We do our best to be “all things to all people” meaning that we look for ways to care for those around us. For the fatherless we are a parent who loves, for the one without a family, we are that family. For the lost, we strive to be the ones to guide them to a place to take harbor in liberty, and experience God’s saving grace. We do our best to walk worthy of Christ in gentleness, humility, patience, lovingly enduring one another, and eagerly seeking to maintain the Unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. (Ephesians 4.1-3 ESV). For the one looking for solid biblical teaching, without compromise, and full acceptance, we would love to greet you during worship, online or in person.
How Ambassadors of Christ Began
The Establishment of Ambassadors of Christ as a church; and as a fellowship of assemblies; is one of Great Joy! Although we have had trials, we have overcome them by the Blood of the Lamb and the Word of our testimony (Revelation 12:11). The congregations that became Ambassadors of Christ began in October 1986.The vision and mission of the Church was planted, took root, and grew in the hearts and minds of a handful of people. The desire of the people was to have a congregation for all people to come together for worship and serve God regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identification. The traditions of the individuals who came together to form a congregation ranged from Assemblies of God, Various Baptist denominations, the Old Evangelical and Reformed Church, Wesleyan Holiness, Pentecostal Holiness, Presbyterian, Lutherans, and many more.
Our first Pastor and Bishop W.R. Memmott brought his Theological tradition from the Christian and Missionary Alliance into focus for us. Bishop Memmott emphasized that creeds are meant ONLY as a means to express the Unity and covenant of faith that unites a congregation. Today, we continue to understand that creeds are not meant to be a test leading to the exclusion of individuals, but as a means to incorporate them into the Body of Christ to be celebrated in fellowship with Christ.
During these formative years, and for the first time in centuries, individuals from various conflicting theological backgrounds came together to form a congregation. With wisdom, Bishop Memmott initiated an intentional study committee to determine those essential areas of Christian faith and practice. After a list of essentials was created, the subsequent steps were to study those statements of belief from the Scripture alone. The study needed not to come from personal interpretation or biases but from the Scriptures.
The outcome of this study produced a unity that, according to scholars, was utterly impossible. In this study, we were able to unify Armenian and Calvinist theology—which, according to Armenian and Calvinist Theologians, is impossible—by being intentional. Intentional became the central theme of every point of doctrine and theology for what would become a worldwide Christian Movement.
Instead of taking the “generic” definition of the word “intentional,” which is “done with intention or on purpose,” the members found the Metaphysical description more in line with the theological investigation. The description of intentional in a theological sense became a definition “pertaining to an appearance, phenomenon, or representation in the mind. The description is relational and representative pertaining to the capacity of the mind and heart to refer to an existing or non-existing subject. We grew to understand being intentional as acting in a manner that pointed beyond ourselves to something greater. We live, move, have our being, taking action that points the purpose and mission of Christ Jesus our Lord.
We reach the unified conclusion that as Ambassadors of Christ, we are representatives of the Kingdom of God in the present and point to the coming Kingdom of Heaven. We are ever mindful that our mission is a mission of reconciliation in and through Jesus Christ. Therefore, our mission is to Be and Make Christlike Disciples. In our testimony, we pay close attention to pointing beyond ourselves and to Jesus Christ, who is the only one who can save the lost.
Having established a biblical foundation and intentional directive, the third purpose of the study group was to understand what it means to be the Church of Jesus Christ. The study group established that “The Church is the body of Jesus Christ, the habitation of God through the Spirit, with divine appointments for the fulfillment of the Great Commission. Each believer, born of the Spirit, is an integral part of the Church of the firstborn, which is written in Heaven (Ephesians 1:22-23; 2:22; Hebrews 12:23)”. Furthermore, the Study Committee established that the ministry and work of evangelism is a divinely called and scriptural ordained ministry that has been provided by our Lord for a two-fold purpose: The evangelization of the world; and The edifying of the Body of Christ (Mark 16:15-20; Ephesians 4:11-13),”.
In 2008, we felt God's leading to respond to the continuing call of God in a rapidly changing world. n our study of what it means to be the Church, we found the following points to be important:
Apostolic Authority
Too often, our Apostolic Authority comes into question. However, The Bishops of Ambassadors of Christ have been consecrated in succession from Erasmus of Arcadia, of the Archdiocese Metropolis of Smyrna presiding as Bishop of the Diocese of Arcadia. Erasmus of Arcadia consecrated John Wesley in London, 1763, and we have continued that same Apostolic tradition today.
Rev. W. R. Memmott actively served Ambassadors of Christ for 25 years from his consecration in 1986 until his retirement in 2011. Although there is gratitude for the long history of service, the transition was challenging in the overall history of Ambassadors of Christ. Simultaneously, the transition crisis helped to fortify who we are as a church, helped us clarify our mission, and helped us see who God called to be the next Bishop of Ambassadors of Christ.
In January 2012, a special meeting of Ambassadors of Christ was held to present and approve candidates, pray, and seek the Holy Spirit's leading, and cast a vote for Bishop-Elect. It was resolved in this special meeting that a Bishop-Elect will serve in the Bishop's office for a “proving period” of no longer than six (6) months. On January 14, 2012, a letter declaring the final count of all votes for the new Bishop's election had been counted, and a final declaration had been made. The Rev. Richard J Lee, who has served as an Elder of the Church since 1996, was elected by unanimous vote to serve as the next Bishop of Ambassadors of Christ.
Rev. Richard J. Lee was consecrated Bishop on July 14, 2012, in a special meeting called for that purpose. Bishop Lee called the Church of Jesus Christ to be the Family of God and be intentional in removing the bondage of “religion” and renewing the relationship with Christ in a real and practical way. Separating ourselves from religiosity and embracing Christ is an ongoing work of grace to this day. As Ambassadors of Christ, we are excited to see what God does in the years to come.
A NOTE Further notation of events and history will be recorded on The Commissioner Blog
- Love each other as Christ has loved us
- Share the Gospel with every living soul
- Maintain and Guard the Unity of the Faith
Who Are Ambassadors of Christ
The blessing of being an Ambassador of Christ is that we are ordinary people living ordinary lives to love God and others as we are able. We do our best to be “all things to all people” meaning that we look for ways to care for those around us. For the fatherless we are a parent who loves, for the one without a family, we are that family. For the lost, we strive to be the ones to guide them to a place to take harbor in liberty, and experience God’s saving grace. We do our best to walk worthy of Christ in gentleness, humility, patience, lovingly enduring one another, and eagerly seeking to maintain the Unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. (Ephesians 4.1-3 ESV). For the one looking for solid biblical teaching, without compromise, and full acceptance, we would love to greet you during worship, online or in person.
How Ambassadors of Christ Began
The Establishment of Ambassadors of Christ as a church; and as a fellowship of assemblies; is one of Great Joy! Although we have had trials, we have overcome them by the Blood of the Lamb and the Word of our testimony (Revelation 12:11). The congregations that became Ambassadors of Christ began in October 1986.The vision and mission of the Church was planted, took root, and grew in the hearts and minds of a handful of people. The desire of the people was to have a congregation for all people to come together for worship and serve God regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identification. The traditions of the individuals who came together to form a congregation ranged from Assemblies of God, Various Baptist denominations, the Old Evangelical and Reformed Church, Wesleyan Holiness, Pentecostal Holiness, Presbyterian, Lutherans, and many more.
Our first Pastor and Bishop W.R. Memmott brought his Theological tradition from the Christian and Missionary Alliance into focus for us. Bishop Memmott emphasized that creeds are meant ONLY as a means to express the Unity and covenant of faith that unites a congregation. Today, we continue to understand that creeds are not meant to be a test leading to the exclusion of individuals, but as a means to incorporate them into the Body of Christ to be celebrated in fellowship with Christ.
During these formative years, and for the first time in centuries, individuals from various conflicting theological backgrounds came together to form a congregation. With wisdom, Bishop Memmott initiated an intentional study committee to determine those essential areas of Christian faith and practice. After a list of essentials was created, the subsequent steps were to study those statements of belief from the Scripture alone. The study needed not to come from personal interpretation or biases but from the Scriptures.
The outcome of this study produced a unity that, according to scholars, was utterly impossible. In this study, we were able to unify Armenian and Calvinist theology—which, according to Armenian and Calvinist Theologians, is impossible—by being intentional. Intentional became the central theme of every point of doctrine and theology for what would become a worldwide Christian Movement.
Instead of taking the “generic” definition of the word “intentional,” which is “done with intention or on purpose,” the members found the Metaphysical description more in line with the theological investigation. The description of intentional in a theological sense became a definition “pertaining to an appearance, phenomenon, or representation in the mind. The description is relational and representative pertaining to the capacity of the mind and heart to refer to an existing or non-existing subject. We grew to understand being intentional as acting in a manner that pointed beyond ourselves to something greater. We live, move, have our being, taking action that points the purpose and mission of Christ Jesus our Lord.
We reach the unified conclusion that as Ambassadors of Christ, we are representatives of the Kingdom of God in the present and point to the coming Kingdom of Heaven. We are ever mindful that our mission is a mission of reconciliation in and through Jesus Christ. Therefore, our mission is to Be and Make Christlike Disciples. In our testimony, we pay close attention to pointing beyond ourselves and to Jesus Christ, who is the only one who can save the lost.
Having established a biblical foundation and intentional directive, the third purpose of the study group was to understand what it means to be the Church of Jesus Christ. The study group established that “The Church is the body of Jesus Christ, the habitation of God through the Spirit, with divine appointments for the fulfillment of the Great Commission. Each believer, born of the Spirit, is an integral part of the Church of the firstborn, which is written in Heaven (Ephesians 1:22-23; 2:22; Hebrews 12:23)”. Furthermore, the Study Committee established that the ministry and work of evangelism is a divinely called and scriptural ordained ministry that has been provided by our Lord for a two-fold purpose: The evangelization of the world; and The edifying of the Body of Christ (Mark 16:15-20; Ephesians 4:11-13),”.
In 2008, we felt God's leading to respond to the continuing call of God in a rapidly changing world. n our study of what it means to be the Church, we found the following points to be important:
- To live God's Love and Compassion as completely as possible.
- To live as a Community of Jesus Christ in our neighborhood, city, and nation.
- To become anti-racist, pro-reconciling, and affirming congregations, bringing together God's people from different races, cultures, and sexual orientations.
- To reach out to communities and each other in care and support in the face of illness, grief, and pain.
- To enjoy and celebrate life in Christ together as we search for the best in every person we encounter.
- To serve God by loving all God's people, without judgment or backbiting.
- To nurture the faith of all Believers through the open and honest study of God's Word, and.
- To work for freedom from strife, striving for righteousness and dignity for those oppressed by society so all may know Christ.
Apostolic Authority
Too often, our Apostolic Authority comes into question. However, The Bishops of Ambassadors of Christ have been consecrated in succession from Erasmus of Arcadia, of the Archdiocese Metropolis of Smyrna presiding as Bishop of the Diocese of Arcadia. Erasmus of Arcadia consecrated John Wesley in London, 1763, and we have continued that same Apostolic tradition today.
Rev. W. R. Memmott actively served Ambassadors of Christ for 25 years from his consecration in 1986 until his retirement in 2011. Although there is gratitude for the long history of service, the transition was challenging in the overall history of Ambassadors of Christ. Simultaneously, the transition crisis helped to fortify who we are as a church, helped us clarify our mission, and helped us see who God called to be the next Bishop of Ambassadors of Christ.
In January 2012, a special meeting of Ambassadors of Christ was held to present and approve candidates, pray, and seek the Holy Spirit's leading, and cast a vote for Bishop-Elect. It was resolved in this special meeting that a Bishop-Elect will serve in the Bishop's office for a “proving period” of no longer than six (6) months. On January 14, 2012, a letter declaring the final count of all votes for the new Bishop's election had been counted, and a final declaration had been made. The Rev. Richard J Lee, who has served as an Elder of the Church since 1996, was elected by unanimous vote to serve as the next Bishop of Ambassadors of Christ.
Rev. Richard J. Lee was consecrated Bishop on July 14, 2012, in a special meeting called for that purpose. Bishop Lee called the Church of Jesus Christ to be the Family of God and be intentional in removing the bondage of “religion” and renewing the relationship with Christ in a real and practical way. Separating ourselves from religiosity and embracing Christ is an ongoing work of grace to this day. As Ambassadors of Christ, we are excited to see what God does in the years to come.
A NOTE Further notation of events and history will be recorded on The Commissioner Blog
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