Convergence Worship
Discover Convergence Worship
IDENTITY: What is Convergence Worship?
We believe Convergence Worship (also known as Three Streams Worship) is more than a worship style — it is the natural result of a church living in obedience to the Holy Spirit, responding to His prophetic call, and committed to discipleship and unity.
Born from the Convergence Movement, this form of worship brings together the historic streams of sacramental, evangelical, and charismatic worship into a unified expression of faith.
At its heart, Convergence Worship reminds us that worship is more than music — it is the life of the Church fully expressed through Word, Sacrament, and Spirit.
The Sacraments:
Convergence Worship embraces the historic sacraments and sacred traditions of the Church, including the belief in Christ’s real presence in the Eucharist.
It values the ancient liturgies, the Apostolic Succession, and the foundational creeds that have guided the Church for centuries. These traditions are not preserved for the sake of nostalgia, but because they connect us to the faith and worship practices of the earliest Christians, uniting us with the universal Church across time and place.
The Word:
Convergence Worship holds a deep commitment to the authority of Scripture and the faithful preaching of the Gospel, emphasizing salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ.
This commitment shapes how we teach, disciple, and live out the Great Commission. Convergence Worship churches prioritize personal transformation through discipleship and the pursuit of holiness, equipping believers to know the Word and live it daily in their homes, workplaces, and communities.
The Spirit:
Convergence Worship welcomes the present work of the Holy Spirit, embracing spiritual gifts like prophecy, healing, and speaking in tongues as part of normal church life.
The Holy Spirit empowers the Church to hear God’s voice, minister healing, and live boldly obeying His leading. In Convergence Worship, the gifts of the Spirit are not reserved for a select few — they are for every believer, both in corporate worship and in personal life. Churches are encouraged to create space for prophetic words, healing prayer, and Spirit-led moments, allowing God’s presence to move freely among His people.
The Holy Spirit empowers the Church to hear God’s voice, minister healing, and live boldly obeying His leading. In Convergence Worship, spiritual gifts are available to all believers, not just leaders, in church services and everyday life.
Convergence Worship churches intentionally create space for prophetic words, healing prayer, and Spirit-led moments, recognizing that God’s presence moves freely among His people when invited. This openness to the Holy Spirit helps churches become places where lives are transformed through Word and Sacrament and personal encounters with the living God.
Convergence Worship is not a method or musical style — it’s the fullness of God’s plan to transform lives through the complete expression of His Church.
It’s more than just how we worship on Sunday — it’s about how we live, disciple, and minister daily. Convergence Worship calls the Church to walk in unity, grounded in Scripture, empowered by the Spirit, and rooted in the sacraments, bringing the fullness of God’s grace and truth into every part of life and ministry.
The Convergence Movement was born from believers who love the Messiah more than any method. A true Convergence Church follows the Holy Spirit’s leading, desiring transformation and unity above all else.
God has given the Church three extraordinary gifts — Word, Sacrament, and Spirit — not as options to pick and choose, but as His design for all His people. Living fully in Him means embracing all these gifts together, allowing the fullness of God’s grace, truth, and power to transform both individuals and communities.
WHY THIS Matters
The Convergence Movement calls the Church to worship in Spirit and in Truth (John 4:23-24) by embracing the Word of God, the power of the Holy Spirit, and the richness of sacramental worship.
This balanced approach avoids extremes, calling the Church to be biblically faithful, Spirit-empowered, and deeply rooted in Christian tradition. In Convergence Worship, believers encounter God through preaching and Scripture, the sacraments of grace, and the active, present work of the Holy Spirit, creating a whole and healthy Church that reflects the fullness of God’s heart for His people.
This movement is more than just a theological idea—it is a call to experience the fullness of God’s presence, power, and purpose in worship and daily living.
History of Convergence
Robert Webber’s influential works, such as “Evangelicals on the Canterbury Trail,” further popularized the movement by highlighting the appeal of liturgical practices to evangelical Christians.
Three pivotal events solidified the movement:
1️⃣ Saint Michael’s Church in San Clemente, California, adopted convergence worship,
2️⃣Pastor Randy Adler was consecrated as a bishop, and the CEC was Founded
3️⃣Ministries Today Published “Ancient Altars, Pentecostal Fire,” which introduced the movement to a wider audience.
Today, the Convergence Movement continues to offer a unified vision of worship rooted in tradition, empowered by the Spirit and centered on Scripture.
Recent Timeline
1977
“The Chicago Call“ is A call to reconnect the evangelical church with historical faith.
1979
Some Evangelical churches join historic churches to gain apostolic succession and an episcopacy.
1984
Charisma Magazine publishes an article, “The Three Streams, One River?” (Sept 1984).
1984–1991
Many independent churches begin studying and implementing convergence independently.
1992
Stone Mountain church in San Clemente becomes Saint Michael’s and consecrates its first Bishop, Randy Alder. This is the beginning of the Charismatic Episcopal Church (CEC).
1992
Ministries Today Magazine published “Ancient Altar Pentecostal Fire,” and the church reached out to join the CEC
Convergence Worship
(3 Streams) Explained
Convergence Worship unites Three Streams:
– Sacramental – Rooted in the sacred traditions of the Church.
– Evangelical – Centered on Scripture and the Gospel.
– Charismatic – Empowered by the Holy Spirit.
These streams restore families, bring healing, and transform lives.
The Convergence Movement is more than just a way to structure services—it’s about embracing the fullness of God’s gifts to bring real, lasting change. Worship is not limited to Sunday gatherings; it shapes how we disciple, minister, and live daily in God’s presence.
This movement calls the Church to walk in unity, not division, restoring what the early Church practiced—worship rich in tradition, centered on the Gospel, and alive in the Spirit.
Sacramental
Through the sacraments, God empowers His Church to transform lives, restore families, and bringing healing to the mind, body, and soul.
Matthew 16:18-19: “And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.
I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”
John 20:22-23: “If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.’”
Evangelical
The Word Transforms Us
The power of God’s Word and a personal relationship with Him transforms lives, renews families, and brings healing to the mind, body, and soul
2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”
Romans 10:9-10
“If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.”
Charismatic
The gifts of the Spirit move, guide, and empower us to transform our lives, restore families, and heal the mind, body, and soul.
2 Corinthians 3:17-18 “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.
And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.”
Acts 2:4
“All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.”
Leading the Way in Convergence Worship, Bridging Traditions for a Unified Faith Experience.
CEC Northeast Diocese:
At the CEC Northeast Diocese, our mission is to help churches experience the fullness of Convergence Worship—where Word, Sacrament, and Spirit unite to transform lives.
1️⃣ Preparing the Ground for a Healthy Church
A church flourishes in unity, discipleship, and obedience to the Holy Spirit. We seek to build strong, spiritually healthy communities where faith can grow.
2️⃣ Transforming Lives Through Convergence Worship
In a church rooted in faith and led by the Spirit, Convergence Worship becomes a powerful tool for transformation, uniting the sacramental, evangelical, and charismatic streams.
3️⃣ Freely Sharing What We Have Learned
A denomination does not own Convergence Worship—it is an experience open to all. Whether you are sacramental, Pentecostal, charismatic, evangelical, independent, or denominational, we are here to share our knowledge and experiences without conditions, requirements, or expectations.
Our calling is not to claim ownership of Convergence Worship, but to serve those who seek deeper worship and transformation. Through teaching, relationships, and hands-on ministry, we equip churches to embrace the fullness of God’s gifts.
We believe true worship is holistic—transforming both the individual believer and the community of faith. By walking in unity, drawing from the depth of historic Christianity, and embracing the present work of the Spirit, churches can fully step into the worship God desires.
Convergence Worship: Misunderstandings & Truths
1️⃣ “Convergence Worship is not biblical.”
Convergence Worship is deeply rooted in Scripture. The three streams—Sacramental, Evangelical, and Charismatic—are all found in the Bible.
- Sacramental: “Do this in remembrance of me.” (Luke 22:19)
- Evangelical: “All Scripture is God-breathed and useful for teaching.” (2 Timothy 3:16)
- Charismatic: “To each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.” (1 Corinthians 12:7)
Rather than adding something new, Convergence Worship restores biblical practices that have always been part of the Church.
From the earliest days of Christianity, the Church has worshiped through Word, Sacrament, and the power of the Holy Spirit. Convergence Worship is not a fusion of separate traditions, but rather the recovery of the holistic faith practiced in the New Testament Church.
The Apostles baptized, broke bread, preached the Gospel, and moved in the gifts of the Spirit—this was their normal worship (Acts 2:42-47). The Church flourishes when it embraces everything God has given—not just part of it.
2️⃣ “Convergence Worship is just blended worship.”
Response: While blended worship combines different styles of music and service elements,
Convergence Worship goes much deeper—it’s about uniting all of God’s gifts into a fully realized expression of faith.
It’s not about preference; it’s about living out the fullness of the Gospel through the sacraments, the Word, and the Spirit.
🕊 The Sacraments – Encountering Christ’s presence.
📖 The Word – Living under biblical authority.
🔥 The Spirit – Walking in God’s power today.
Blended worship often seeks to mix contemporary and traditional styles for accessibility, but Convergence Worship is not just a stylistic approach—it is a way of living out the faith given to the Church by Christ Himself.
It is about restoring the full expression of the historic Church, where Word, Sacrament, and Spirit were always meant to work together, not separately. This is not about choosing one over the other—it’s about embracing all that God has provided for His people.
3️⃣ “Convergence Worship forces traditions together that don’t belong.”
✅ Response: The three streams of Christianity were never meant to be separate.
The early Church worshiped in ways that were sacramental, scriptural, and Spirit-filled.
Convergence does not force unity—it restores what was already there.
Over time, churches moved away from a holistic expression of faith, separating what was always meant to work together. Convergence Worship is not about blending traditions—it is about recovering the fullness of worship as practiced by the apostles and early Church.
From the book of Acts to the writings of the Church Fathers, we see that the early Church was:
🕊 Sacramental – Celebrating the Eucharist and baptism.
📖 Evangelical – Grounded in Scripture and preaching the Gospel.
🔥 Charismatic – Empowered by the Holy Spirit, moving in spiritual gifts.
Convergence Worship seeks to restore this fullness not by creating something new but by restoring what was always meant to be.
4️⃣ “Convergence Worship belongs only to the Charismatic Episcopal Church (CEC).”
❌ Response: Convergence Worship is not owned by any denomination—it is a move of God that is available to all churches that desire to embrace the fullness of faith.
The sacramental, evangelical, and charismatic streams have existed since the early Church and belong to the entire Body of Christ.
While the Charismatic Episcopal Church (CEC) was one of the first to formally embrace Convergence Worship, the movement itself is not tied to one group or tradition. Many churches—sacramental, charismatic, evangelical, independent, and denominational—have embraced Convergence Worship because it restores what was always present in the early Church.
God desires that His entire Church—across denominations—walks in the fullness of Word, Spirit, and Sacrament, just as the first believers did in the book of Acts.
5️⃣ “Convergence Worship is too complicated—why not just focus on Jesus?”
✅ Response: Convergence Worship does not complicate faith—it’s about embracing everything God has given us to grow in Him.
We focus on Jesus by:
🕊 Receiving His grace through the sacraments.
📖 Following His Word in Scripture.
🔥 Walking in the power of His Spirit.
Some may see Convergence Worship as complex, but in reality, it is the most natural expression of faith—one that fully embraces Christ in every way He reveals Himself to us.
Instead of choosing only one aspect of worship, Convergence Worship acknowledges that Jesus is present in the Eucharist, in His Word, and through the power of the Holy Spirit. When we embrace all three, we are not distracted from Christ—we are drawn deeper into Him.
By living out our faith in Word, Sacrament, and Spirit, we follow Jesus in the fullness of His truth, just as the early Church did.
Convergence Worship in Action: First-hand Insights
A Journey of Worship—Together
📌 Join the Conversation📝 Convergence Worship isn’t about joining an organization—it’s about discovering the fullness of faith together. We believe in sharing experiences, learning from one another, and growing in our understanding of how God moves through the three streams. Whether you’re new to Convergence Worship or have been living it for years, we’d love to hear your story and share what we’ve learned. Let’s start a conversation!
✅Convergence Worship is bigger than any church—a journey we take together. Let’s explore, learn, and grow in faith as we share what God is doing through the three streams.
SPRING 2025 CONVERGENCE CONFERENCE
Wednesday April 30th – Friday May 2nd
Where to Stay: Hampton Inn Shrewsbury, Penn.
How does Convergence work in practice? Please take a look at how we do it.
