About Us

  • Church of the Risen Christ is an Episcopal-Catholic Church.

    Our Manual
    The Holy Bible with Deuterocanonical/Apocryphal Books of the Old Testament (KJV, NRSV or ESV)

    Our Message
    Jesus Christ crucified, buried, risen and coming again!

    We believe God loves you with no exceptions! There are no conditions on the unconditional love of God.

    Our Goals
    To Worship God
    To Grow in holiness
    To Seek the Old Paths
    To share the Faith with others

    We are an independent (autonomous) church that adheres to the theology and practices of the Episcopal- (Old) Catholic Church.

    • We are NOT associated or affiliated with the Episcopal Church, USA (ECUSA or The Protestant Episcopal Church)

    • We are NOT associated or affiliated with the Roman Catholic Church

    • We are NOT associated or affiliated with the Anglican Church of North America (ACNA)

  • We seek to return to an authentic Christian worship experience, to find true spirituality in our hearts and lives, discover and present genuine Christianity in those around us and experience the joy of Jesus Christ in our daily lives.

    We believe that faith is more than just a set of beliefs; it’s a way of life. Our vision is to create a spiritual community that is welcoming and empowering while laying aside mainline denominational barriers. We strive to be a place where individuals can connect with others, explore their faith, and find guidance and support along the way.

    Our core values are rooted in the teachings of Jesus Christ, and we seek to live out these values in everything we do. We believe that love, kindness, and acceptance are essential to a meaningful spiritual experience, and we work to create a space where marginalized and oppressed groups feel valued and respected.  We welcome all who take Jesus’ command to love our neighbor as ourselves and whatever we do to the least of them, we do to Jesus.

    Through our various programs and initiatives, we aim to build a community that is actively engaged in the world around us. Whether through community outreach or social justice work, we strive to be a force for good in our community and beyond. We believe that everyone has a unique spiritual journey, and we are committed to supporting and guiding individuals as they explore their faith. We invite you to join us on this journey, as we work together to create a vibrant and welcoming spiritual community.

    Our mission is to spread the word of the Holy Scriptures, offer the sacraments and provide the church to those that seek it, and can't find it elsewhere. We do not (and will not) spend our time doing debate. This simply is not practical. We share Jesus and the love that God has for ALL people. We are a vibrant community steeped in tradition, bringing the concepts and precepts of the Ancient Apostolic Churches to our modern age. We are open, Christ centered, Scripture based, non-judgmental and non-political.

  • Worship 

    Worshiping the Triune God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit through liturgy under the anointing and leading of the Holy  Spirit.

    Prayer

    Making prayer the heartbeat and center of all we are and do, giving life to the body and ensuring vibrant health and fruitfulness.

    Orthodoxy

    Living in fidelity to the Faith contained in the Holy Scriptures and handed down to us by the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church.

    Mission

    Joining God in his great mission of redemption by proclaiming the good news of the kingdom in word, deed and sacrament, and calling all people to discipleship in Jesus’ name.

    Healing  

    Pursuing emotional, spiritual and physical healing through the redeeming, sanctifying power of the Holy Spirit.

    Community

    Being a growing, committed, welcoming and happy family where people are loved, cared for, supported, encouraged and strengthened in their faith.

    Equipping 

    Helping every baptized person become more like Christ and discover a meaningful place of service.

    • We believe that Jesus is the Christ and our savior.

    • We believe in The Holy Trinity.

    • We believe in and profess the Apostles, Nicene and Athanasian Creeds.

    • We believe that Jesus loves us all unconditionally and through His death and resurrection, we are brought to new life.

    • We believe in the seven sacraments of the Church: Baptism, Confirmation, Holy Eucharist, Anointing and Prayers for the Sick, Confession and Reconciliation, Marriage, and Holy Orders.

    • We believe that all Holy Orders (bishops, priests, and deacons) are open to both men and women.

    • We believe that celibacy of those in Holy Orders is a personal decision.

    • We believe and hold apostolic succession.

    • We believe and accept the doctrines of the Seven Early Church Ecumenical Councils.

    • We believe and appreciate the wisdom and guidance of the early Church Fathers.

    • We appreciate culturally diverse people and we welcome all those who are seeking a spiritual comfort.

    • We do not discriminate against anyone regardless of sexual orientation, race, gender, marital status, or age.

    • We believe that abortion and euthanasia is the taking of human life and a grave sin and must be avoided. However, each scenario is different and we do NOT condemn or judge those who have participated in these acts. Rather, we try to comfort, understand and pray for those who are in need of help.

    • We believe in the responsible stewardship of our planet.

    • We believe in the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church.

    • We believe in the sanctity of marriage and commitment ceremonies; however we believe that Jesus is merciful and those who have been divorced and/or remarried are offered the sacraments of the church.

    • We believe that family planning is a personal decision.

    • We believe and follow scripture to the extent in which it was written regarding a Theological and Historical Level.

    • We believe in the scriptural teaching of Jesus Christ.

    • We believe that everyone is welcome to the table of Christ and we reject any doctrine that denies those who seek him.

  • A mission work that ministered to the spiritual needs of the greater Memphis area began in May of 2009 in Memphis, TN. The parish (then called St. Francis Old Catholic Church) was an independent Anglican-Catholic Church founded by The Rev. Fr. Tommy Sheppard. From 2009 until 2020, the church met in various shared facilities down through the years. After the covid pandemic of 2020, the church struggled to reopen, mainly conducting services via livestream and eventually the pandemic forced it to close.

    From 2020 through 2023, the church met occasionally for special events and Holy Days.

    In 2023, Fr. Tommy stepped down as Priest and Rev. Justin L. Gates (then an ordained deacon) became the new leader of the church. The church reorganized and was moved to Trenton, Tennessee. The church currently retains its presence in Memphis with a mission to the deaf community, with an American Sign Language interpreter assisting with services. The church was affiliated with the Evangelical Anglican Church in America and then The Free Anglican Mission Society.

    In 2024, Rev. Justin was ordained a Priest and consequently called to be the new pastor of the church. The church also began work on Holy Trinity Gardens which is the location of the chapel that is currently being remodeled. God has blessed the work, and many churches and individuals have donated items and finances to ensure the work of offering the sacraments to all people continue in this area. The altar and podium were donated by Faith Lutheran Church of Knoxville, Tennesse. The Hammond Organ and a Piano was donated by the Rev. Fr. Justin L. Gates. The tabernacle was donated by the Right Reverand Doctor Thomas Tsakounis, of the St. Francis Anglican Church in Silver Spring, Maryland.
    In late 2024, the church decided to disaffiliate with the Free Anglican Mission Society and to restructure. The name was decided on and changed to Church of the Risen Christ.

    In January of 2025, Church of the Risen Christ (while maintaining it’s the autonomous status & position) became a member parish of the Episcopal Free Fellowship (province in North America) in the Diocese of St. Patrick, a member of the Episcopal Catholic Free Communion. A Deacon ordination was held in February of 2025. Rev. M. Caleb Hayes, who had served as Licensed Lay Reader for the church for 2 years became the first deacon. The baptismal fount, altar candles and large lectern Bible was donated by Rev. Bennett Clough, a Methodist pastor and personal friend of Fr. Justin.

  • Our Communion
    The Episcopal Catholic Free Communion

    North America Province
    The Episcopal Free Fellowship

    Our Diocese
    The Diocese of St. Patrick

  • We acknowledge Jesus Christ as our Lord, Founder and Eternal High Priest.

  • Catholic means "Universal".  As members of The Episcopal Catholic Free Communion and the Episcopal Free Fellowship (North American Province) we are part of an independent rite of the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church and is not Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox or Protestant. Our priests are ordained to Holy Orders by bishops who trace their ministry in an unbroken line through the laying on of hands to the original apostles and, through them, to Jesus Christ himself.

  • We hold that the sacraments are outward signs that confer the very grace they signify. These Mysteries ordained by Christ are seven in number: Baptism, Confirmation, Holy Eucharist, Reconciliation, Matrimony, Holy Orders and Anointing the Sick.

    We practice open Communion, welcoming to the Lord’s Table all who approach it with reverence, regardless of religious affiliation

  • We believe that the Church must seek to cultivate and to protect individual freedom of thought, conscience and choice. While gently offering guidance, it is her duty to help God’s People develop the faculty of discernment and take personal responsibility for their choices in life. As members of The Episcopal Catholic Free Communion and Episcopal Free Fellowship, we are encouraged to think, to explore and to be true to their own conscience. We are non-dogmatic, emphasizing instead the life of the Spirit and the law of love.

    "You have been called to freedom, brothers and sisters, only do not use your freedom for self-indulgence, but through love serve one another." —St. Paul

  • We respect all parts of the one Body of Christ, whether Catholic Orthodox or Protestant; and we desire, insofar as it is possible, to be in loving communion with all, while humbly receiving what each one teaches us. Furthermore, we believe that the Church must remain open to recognize the wisdom of the other great spiritual traditions of the world. With humility, we honor the holy people of all times and places. Recognizing the unity of God’s family on earth, we welcome to our altars all who reverently approach them, erecting no barriers based upon dogma or religious affiliation.

  • The Church of the Risen Christ offers an attractive alternative for Catholic and Orthodox Christians who seek a truly sacramental church which is open to the message and movement of the Holy Spirit for our times. Many sincere people have given up on the mainstream due to its inertia, rigidity, and dogmatism, They feel at home in the Catholic tradition, with its deep spirituality and sacramental worship, but they can no longer accept many of the things that go with it. For example, there are men who are called to the priesthood but do not want to be celibate, and there are women who desire to serve the Church but are told that there is no place for them. Others seek a Catholic Church: which recognizes the importance of free thought, conscience, and expression, instead of one that offers in its place the pronouncements of an “infallible” hierarchy. Free Catholicism also provides an alternative for Protestants and others not from a traditional Catholic background who are attracted to Catholic spirituality, sacramental worship and apostolic tradition but could never join one of the more conservative mainline sacramental churches.