The Order of Saint Luke (OSL) is a

religious order A religious order is a lineage of communities and organizations of people who live in some way set apart from society in accordance with their specific religious devotion, usually characterized by the principles of its founder's religious practi ...

begun within the

Methodist Church Methodism, also called the Methodist movement, is a group of historically related Christian denomination, denominations of Protestantism, Protestant Christianity whose origins, doctrine and practice derive from the life and teachings of John W ...

in the United States that is dedicated to sacramental and liturgical scholarship, education, and practice. As a

Christian Christians () are people who follow or adhere to Christianity, a monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. The words ''Christ'' and ''Christian'' derive from the Koine Greek title ''Christós'' (Χρι ...

religious order, it is a dispersed community of women and men,

lay Lay may refer to: Places *Lay Range, a subrange of mountains in British Columbia, Canada *Lay, Loire, a French commune *Lay (river), France *Lay, Iran, a village *Lay, Kansas, United States, an unincorporated community People * Lay (surname) * ...

and

clergy Clergy are formal leaders within established religions. Their roles and functions vary in different religious traditions, but usually involve presiding over specific rituals and teaching their religion's doctrines and practices. Some of the ter ...

, from many different denominations, seeking to live the sacramental life. "Membership in The Order is open to persons of all Christian denominations who seek to live the sacramental life in accordance with our Rule of Life and Service, in community with and acceptance of their brothers and sisters in the Order." The Order gathers annually in mid-October for several days of worship, fellowship, and administration. The Order proclaims itself as

Wesleyan Wesleyan theology, otherwise known as Wesleyan– Arminian theology, or Methodist theology, is a theological tradition in Protestant Christianity based upon the ministry of the 18th-century evangelical reformer brothers John Wesley and Charles W ...

and

Lukan The Order of Saint Luke (OSL) is a religious order begun within the Methodist Church in the United States that is dedicated to sacramental and liturgical scholarship, education, and practice. As a Christian religious order, it is a dispersed co ...

in its spirituality,

Methodist Methodism, also called the Methodist movement, is a group of historically related denominations of Protestant Christianity whose origins, doctrine and practice derive from the life and teachings of John Wesley. George Whitefield and John's b ...

in its origins,

sacrament A sacrament is a Christianity, Christian Rite (Christianity), rite that is recognized as being particularly important and significant. There are various views on the existence and meaning of such rites. Many Christians consider the sacraments ...

al in its practice, and

ecumenical Ecumenism (), also spelled oecumenism, is the concept and principle that Christians who belong to different Christian denominations should work together to develop closer relationships among their churches and promote Christian unity. The adjec ...

in its outlook.

History

The Order of St Luke was founded in 1946 in the former Methodist Church and, until 2012, held the status of Affiliate Organization with the Section on Worship of the General Board of Discipleship of the

United Methodist Church The United Methodist Church (UMC) is a worldwide mainline Protestant denomination based in the United States, and a major part of Methodism. In the 19th century, its main predecessor, the Methodist Episcopal Church, was a leader in evangelical ...

. The Order was formed under the leadership of the Rev. R. P. Marshall, a former editor of the Christian Advocate. It was dedicated to the cause of liturgical renewal, and led the way in a serious liturgical awakening across the Methodist Church and much of post-war Protestantism.

A maturing comprehension of liturgical renewal in an ecumenical era has become the guiding vision of members within the Order, just as it has become a dawning concern in the minds of many persons in the Church presently outside the Order. Recent evidence of this emerging vision may be seen in the design of the official worship books of many denominations. The additional emphasis of directed spiritual formation, adopted in 1980, sets the direction in which the Order believes itself called. While it will shun doctrinaire positions, the Order is dedicated to the task of breaking down the barriers of historical ignorance, theological sectarianism and liturgical illiteracy in the Church. The Order has no special revelation about the future of the emerging ecumenical consensus, but will do what it can to encourage the people called Christian to look outward and work toward the greater Church which God is surely gathering for Christ' s sake from a broken Christendom.

OSL Publications

A major ministry of the Order of Saint Luke i
OSL Publications
This ministry specializes in providing printed resources for those who lead worship and scholarly resources for those interested in liturgical matters. Publications include resources on liturgy, church architecture, prayer, theology, worship, spirituality, sacraments, and music. OSL publishes three periodicals: * Doxology - This is the annual journal with contributions from writers in the areas of liturgical and sacramental scholarship. It is a "juried" or "refereed" journal which offers a service to the academic world as well as those who are involved in the active practice of ministry in its many contexts. * Sacramental Life - This journal is published four times a year. It is designed to provide theologically sound reports of developments from across the church-at-large. Rather than have a theoretical or scholarly approach, the articles and liturgical aids have been practically proven and have grown out of the experiences of people "in the trenches." * The Font - A once every two months in-house paper helping members to keep current on what is happening with their brothers and sisters around the world.

Leadership

General Officers *Current Abbot- Sister Elizabeth Sue Moore (Invested on Oct 19, 2016) *(most recent) Former abbot - Brother Daniel T. Benedict *Prior-General - Brother George Crisp *Chancellor-General - Sister Jeanette Block *Provincial-General - Sister Heather Josselyn-Cranson Appointed Officers *Chaplain-General: Sr. Alice Kay Lovelace *Webscribe: Br. French Ball *Pastoral Care Officer: Br. David Eichelberger *Companion for Inquirers and New Members: Br. Jim DuFriend *Sacramental Life editor: Br. Jonathan Hehn *Font Editor: Sr. Cynthia Astle *Daily Office Revision Team leader: Br. Dwight W. Vogel *Prior for Life-vowed Members: Br. Frank Coates *Immediate Past Chancellor-General: Br. Scott Alford

Chapters

The Order of St. Luke maintains 15 active chapters and associations. While most are geographic, two chapters conduct meeting and business primarily or solely online. Chapters are led by chapter Priors and appointed officers. North America * California-Pacific Chapter, with a subchapter located in Claremont, CA * East Ohio Chapter * Eastern PA Chapter * Illinois Great Rivers Chapter * New Jersey Chapter *

Perkins School of Theology Perkins School of Theology is one of Southern Methodist University's three original schools and is located in Dallas, Texas. The theology school was renamed in 1945 to honor benefactors Joe J. and Lois Craddock Perkins of Wichita Falls, Texas. De ...

Chapter
Hoyt Hickman Memorial Chapter
(Western and Central Pennsylvania) * St. Francis Chapter (West Ohio) * Trinity Chapter (North Texas) * Upper New York Chapter * Koinonia Chapter (Alabama) Asia *

Philippines The Philippines (; fil, Pilipinas, links=no), officially the Republic of the Philippines ( fil, Republika ng Pilipinas, links=no), * bik, Republika kan Filipinas * ceb, Republika sa Pilipinas * cbk, República de Filipinas * hil, Republ ...

Chapter * Charles Mosebrook Chapter (Philippines) *

Singapore Singapore (), officially the Republic of Singapore, is a sovereign island country and city-state in maritime Southeast Asia. It lies about one degree of latitude () north of the equator, off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, borde ...

Association Non-Geographic * Dayspring Chapter (using conference calls, non-geographical) * Cyber Chapter (email and Facebook, non-geographical)

Habit

The

habit A habit (or wont as a humorous and formal term) is a routine of behavior that is repeated regularly and tends to occur subconsciously.

of the Order of St. Luke is voluntary. If worn, it includes: * a white alb of unspecified style * a red rope

cincture The cincture is a rope-like or ribbon-like article sometimes worn with certain Christian liturgical vestments, encircling the body around or above the waist. There are two types of cinctures: one is a rope-like narrow girdle or rope-like belt a ...

knotted on the left side (optional) * a red

scapular The scapular (from Latin ''wikt:scapula#Latin, scapulae'', "shoulders") is a Western Christianity, Western Christian garment suspended from the shoulders. There are two types of scapulars, the Monasticism, monastic and Catholic devotions, devot ...

with the OSL logo * an OSL patch attached to the left sleeve of the alb Many members also choose to wear a

pectoral cross A pectoral cross or pectorale (from the Latin ''pectoralis'', "of the chest") is a cross that is worn on the chest, usually suspended from the neck by a cord or chain. In ancient and medieval times pectoral crosses were worn by both clergy and ...

that bears the OSL logo.

Novices A novice is a person who has entered a religious order and is under probation, before taking vows. A ''novice'' can also refer to a person (or animal e.g. racehorse) who is entering a profession with no prior experience. Religion Buddhism ...

are authorized to wear the alb and red cincture, and are given the scapular upon taking temporary vows.

References

External links

Official site
* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Order Of St. Luke Methodism Christian prayer

Luke People *Luke (given name), a masculine given name (including a list of people and characters with the name) *Luke (surname) (including a list of people and characters with the name) *Luke the Evangelist, author of the Gospel of Luke. Also known as ...

United Methodist Church