The Catholic Charismatic Renewal (CCR)
The CCR is not a single, unified worldwide movement.
It does not have a single founder or group of founders as many other
movements do. It has no membership lists. It is a highly diverse collection
of individuals, groups and activities, often quite independent of
one another, in different stages and modes of development and with
differing emphases, that nevertheless share the same fundamental experience
and espouse the same general goals. This pattern of loose-knit relationships
is found at the diocesan and national levels as well as on the international
level. The relationships are very often characterised by free association,
dialogue, and collaboration rather than by integration into an ordered
structure. Leadership is characterised by offering service to those
who want it rather than by governance.
The Central Goals of the CCR
1. To foster mature and continuous personal conversion
to Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour.
2. To foster a decisive personal receptivity to the
person, presence. and power of the Holy Spirit.
These two spiritual graces are often experienced together
in what is called in different parts of the world a Baptism in the
Holy Spirit. a Release of the Holy Spirit. or a Renewal of the Holy
Spirit. They are most often understood as a personal acceptance of
the graces of Christian initiation and as an empowering for personal
Christian service in the Church and in the world.
3. To foster the reception and use of the spiritual
gifts (charismata) not only in the Charismatic Renewal but also in
the broader Church. These gifts, ordinary and extraordinary. are abundantly
found among laity, religious and clergy. Their proper understanding
and use in harmony with other elements of Church life is a source
of strength for Christians on their journey towards holiness and in
the carrying out of their mission.
4. To foster the work of evangelisation in the power
of the Holy Spirit: Spirit. including the evangelisation of the unchurched,
the re-evangelisation of nominal Christians, and the evangelisa-tion
of culture and social structures. The Renewal especially promotes
sharing in the Church's mission by proclaiming the Gospel in word
and deed, and by bearing witness to Jesus Christ through personal
testimony and through those works of faith and justice to which each
one is called.
5. To foster an ongoing growth in holiness through
the proper integration of these charismatic emphases with the full
life of the Church. This is accomplished through participation in
u rich sacramental and liturgical life. appreciation of the tradition
of Catholic prayer and spirituality. ongoing formation in Catholic
doctrine guided by the Church's magisterium. and participation in
the pastoral plan of the Church.
These goals and the projects that flow from them have
marked the CCR in individuals, prayer groups and communities, and
in local, diocesan and national service teams and ministries.
International Catholic Charismatic Renewal
Services (ICCRS)
In order to serve the worldwide needs for communication,
co-operation. and co-ordination, a Council and International Office
were set up in 1978 under the auspices of Cardinal Leon Joseph Suenens.
named by Pope Paul VI as his Episcopal Advisor to the Renewal on the
international level. Since 1978 the Council has developed an international
organisation which on the one hand promotes communication and co-operation
for the international Renewal with the Holy See. This organisation
is known as ICCRS -International Catholic Charismatic Renewal Services
- and has received formal recognition by the Pontifical Council for
the Laity as a body for the promotion of the CCR with a juridical
personality according to Canon 116. The Statutes of ICCRS were approved
by the Pontifical Council for the Laity in the Vatican on 14th September
1993.
In pursuing its goals and objectives ICCRS seeks to
offer helpful service to the CCR by gathering wisdom, insight and
experience from around the world. and in turn making it available
worldwide. When ICCRS presents teaching or pastoral advice, issues
guidelines. or offers on-site training. it does so as a servant offering
help. not as an authority expecting compliance.
In relating to national and local expressions of the
CCR, ICCRS desires to stress its commitment to this servant role.
It has, therefore, an authority of service, a certain moral authority.
but does not seek to impose its authority -only to offer its services.
The relation-ship between ICCRS and national and local expressions
of the CCR in no way limits the relationships between renewal groups
and their local and national bishops. Nor does the relationship with
ICCRS in any way limit the freedom of any individual or group in the
CCR to relate to the Holy See.
[Thee National Service Committee (NSC) for Catholic
Charismatic Renewal in England accepts and endorses the above statements
of the International Catholic Charismatic Renewal Services (ICCRS),
which form part of the Statutes at ICCRS]
The National Service Committee for Charismatic
Renewal in England (NSC)
The NSC is at the national level the principal co-ordinating organisation
of the CCR in England. Its mission is service, communication, and
promotion of the CCR in England under the Holy Spirit's action, and
in close contact with the Bishops' Conference of England and Wales
primarily through its Episcopal Advisor, Bishop Ambrose Griffiths.
In most dioceses in England, the bishop has given approval
for the formation of a Diocesan Service Committee (DSC) which functions
at a local level in a similar way to the NSC, offering service and
assistance to the prayer groups and other local expressions of charismatic
life. In some areas there are regional offices of the CCR, new communities,
special ministries and services, or courses and programmes undertaken
or provided by those actively involved in the CCR. The NSC maintains
a close relationship with all these bodies as well as with the DSCs.
The NSC has a special concern for the faithfulness
to the Catholic Church of those served by the CCR, both individuals
and groups, for their obedience to their bishops, and to the teaching
of the Church. However, whilst preserving its Catholic identity, the
NSC maintains fraternal bonds and relationships with other Christian
communities and takes part in ecumenical activities in accordance
with the guidelines laid down by the Church.
In offering its services to the Church, primarily to
and through Diocesan Service Committees (DSCs), regional offices,
local representatives, and prayer groups, the NSC is supported and
enabled by a charitable trust for Charismatic Renewal in England and
Wales (CREW Trust). The Trust and the NSC both exist to promote a
living faith in our Lord Jesus Christ and to work for renewal and
growth in the Catholic Church in England in the power of the Holy
Spirit. The Trustees of CREW Trust are made up of four members of
the NSC assisted by three financial advisers.
In its mission, the NSC shares the central goals and
objectives of the worldwide CCR, and seeks to follow the pattern of
communication, co-operation, and service laid down by ICCRS as described
earlier. To carry out Its mission in England, the work of the NSC
through CREW Trust includes:
Teaching and Communication
+ The bi-monthly publication of GOODNEWS
+ The supply of Christian books, tapes and videos
+ Provision of local and national information I communication
structures
+ The publicising of CCR events, locally and nationally
+ Speaking I writing about or on behalf of the CCR
Meetings, Conferences, Retreats
+ The organisation of regional meetings and conferences
+ The sponsorship of an annual retreat for bishops,
priests, deacons
+ The organisation of special conferences for the training
of leaders
+ Financial assistance for CCR leaders attending international
events
+ Participation by NSC members in European and worldwide
CCR events
Special Initiatives
+ The support of the Youth Network and ‘Celebrate’
family conference.
+ The promotion of ALPHA through the Catholic Alpha
Office.
+ Financial help for new projects
Contacts with the hierarchy
+ With the President and other members of the Bishops'
Conference
+ With diocesan bishops through Diocesan Service Committees
(DSCs)
+ With the Holy See through ICCRS and the NSC Chairman
Structure of the NSC
The NSC meets at least three times a year, normally
for 2 days. The meetings include times of prayer, praise, adoration;
listen mg and the exercise of gifts of prophecy; celebrations of the
Eucharist; personal sharing; reports on regions and activities; discernment
of spiritual questions / initiatives; planning of NSC events; decisions
on staff, business, and financial matters; requests and advice to
CREW Trust; fellowship and ministry.
Sub-committees for special activities/projects may
be appointed and may include non-NS members. They will present regular
reports to the NSC.
An Executive Committee (the Chairman and up to 4 members
chosen by the NSC) may be appointed for specific tasks with agreed
terms of reference.
In everything the NSC and CREW Trust do we seek the
Lord's guidance in prayer and discernment, and we ask his blessing
on our work. Without him we could do nothing. In human terms, we owe
any success in our mission to the dedicated members, staff, and volunteers
who so generously support our work with their finances and their prayers.
This support is an eloquent manifestation of the presence and work
of the Holy Spirit in our midst today. In the words of Pope John Paul
II on 15th May 1987:
“The vigour and fruits of the Renewal certainly
testify to the powerful presence of the Holy Spirit in the Church
during these years following the Second Vatican Council. The Spirit
has, of course, guided the Church in every age bringing forth a great
variety of gifts among the faithful.
Thanks to the Spirit, the Church constantly keeps her
youth and vitality. And the Charismatic Renewal is an eloquent manifestation
of this vitality today, a vigorous affirmation of ‘what the Spirit
is saying to the Churches’ (Rev 2:7) as we draw near to the end
of the second millennium."
This document was drawn up by the NSC, February 1998
