Evangelical Orthodox Church
Encyclopedia
The Evangelical Orthodox Church is an Eastern Orthodox Christian movement with its origins in Evangelical Protestantism
, particularly in the Campus Crusade for Christ
student missionary
organization, that came to embrace an Eastern tradition of Christianity.
The Campus Crusade missionary Peter E. Gillquist
(1938-) established in 1973 in Chicago
a network of house church
es throughout the United States, aiming to restore a primitive form of Christianity, which was called the New Covenant Apostolic Order (NCAO).
Researching the historical basis of the Christian faith, Gillquist and his colleagues found sources for this restoration in the writings of the early Church Fathers
. This led the group to practice a more liturgical
form of worship
than in their previous evangelical background. In 1977 initial contact with the Eastern Orthodox Church was initiated through Orthodox seminarian and former Berkeley - Christian World Liberation Front member (Karl) John Bartke, who introduced them to Fr. Alexander Schmemann
, Dean of St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary. In 1979, the Evangelical Orthodox Church (EOC) was organized. Some of the member clergy and communities of the NCAO left prior to its transition to the EOC, including those communities which now form the Alliance for Renewal Churches, and former Apostle Elbert Spriggs, who founded the Twelve Tribes communities.
The belief of needing Apostolic Succession
led most members of the EOC to join the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America
in 1987 after a lengthy and considerable search. The EOC first traveled to Istanbul to meet with the Patriarch of Constantinople but were unable to complete any substantial progress toward their goal. They next reunited with an old friend, Fr. John Bartke, who opened the door for them to meet Ignatius IV of Antioch
, the Patriarch of Antioch, during his historic visit to Los Angeles. Fr. Bartke then served for the next year as the primary intermediary with the Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese and served as host for the initial set of chrismations and ordinations of the EOC at St. Michael's Church in Van Nuys, California. The group of 20 parish
es became known as the Antiochian Evangelical Orthodox Mission, lasting until 1995 when it was disbanded and the parishes put under the standard diocesan
framework of the Archdiocese. Some parishes which did not join the Antiochians eventually joined the Orthodox Church in America
, while a few remain independent and still use the EOC name. Outside the continuing EOC, there are other independent clergy and communities with origins in the EOC, most notably Holy Trinity Fellowship, Fort Collins, Colorado, led by (former EOC priest) Fr Jordan Bajis.
Currently, Bishop Jerold Gliege serves as the presiding bishop of the EOC, which has a religious order and 12 congregations spread across the United States (IA, IL, IN), Canada (SK), Sweden, Rwanda, and Burundi.
Evangelicalism
Evangelicalism is a Protestant Christian movement which began in Great Britain in the 1730s and gained popularity in the United States during the series of Great Awakenings of the 18th and 19th century.Its key commitments are:...
, particularly in the Campus Crusade for Christ
Campus Crusade for Christ
Campus Crusade for Christ is an interdenominational Christian organization that promotes evangelism and discipleship in more than 190 countries...
student missionary
Missionary
A missionary is a member of a religious group sent into an area to do evangelism or ministries of service, such as education, literacy, social justice, health care and economic development. The word "mission" originates from 1598 when the Jesuits sent members abroad, derived from the Latin...
organization, that came to embrace an Eastern tradition of Christianity.
The Campus Crusade missionary Peter E. Gillquist
Peter E. Gillquist
Peter E. Gillquist is an archpriest in the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America and chairman of the archdiocese's department of missions and evangelism. He is chairman of , and is the author of numerous books, including Love Is Now, The Physical Side of Being Spiritual and...
(1938-) established in 1973 in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
a network of house church
House church
House church, or "home church", is used to describe an independent assembly of Christians who gather in a home. Sometimes this occurs because the group is small, and a home is the most appropriate place to gather, as in the beginning phase of the British New Church Movement...
es throughout the United States, aiming to restore a primitive form of Christianity, which was called the New Covenant Apostolic Order (NCAO).
Researching the historical basis of the Christian faith, Gillquist and his colleagues found sources for this restoration in the writings of the early Church Fathers
Church Fathers
The Church Fathers, Early Church Fathers, Christian Fathers, or Fathers of the Church were early and influential theologians, eminent Christian teachers and great bishops. Their scholarly works were used as a precedent for centuries to come...
. This led the group to practice a more liturgical
Liturgy
Liturgy is either the customary public worship done by a specific religious group, according to its particular traditions or a more precise term that distinguishes between those religious groups who believe their ritual requires the "people" to do the "work" of responding to the priest, and those...
form of worship
Christian worship
In Christianity, worship is adoration and contemplation of God.-Overview:Throughout most of Christianity's history, corporate Christian worship has been primarily liturgical, characterized by prayers and hymns, with texts rooted in, or closely related to, the Scripture, particularly the Psalter;...
than in their previous evangelical background. In 1977 initial contact with the Eastern Orthodox Church was initiated through Orthodox seminarian and former Berkeley - Christian World Liberation Front member (Karl) John Bartke, who introduced them to Fr. Alexander Schmemann
Alexander Schmemann
Alexander Schmemann was a prominent 20th century Orthodox Christian priest, teacher, and writer.-Early life:...
, Dean of St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary. In 1979, the Evangelical Orthodox Church (EOC) was organized. Some of the member clergy and communities of the NCAO left prior to its transition to the EOC, including those communities which now form the Alliance for Renewal Churches, and former Apostle Elbert Spriggs, who founded the Twelve Tribes communities.
The belief of needing Apostolic Succession
Apostolic Succession
Apostolic succession is a doctrine, held by some Christian denominations, which asserts that the chosen successors of the Twelve Apostles, from the first century to the present day, have inherited the spiritual, ecclesiastical and sacramental authority, power, and responsibility that were...
led most members of the EOC to join the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America
Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America
The Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America is the sole jurisdiction of the Antiochian Orthodox Church in the United States and Canada with exclusive jurisdiction over the Antiochian Orthodox faithful in those countries, though these faithful were originally cared for by the...
in 1987 after a lengthy and considerable search. The EOC first traveled to Istanbul to meet with the Patriarch of Constantinople but were unable to complete any substantial progress toward their goal. They next reunited with an old friend, Fr. John Bartke, who opened the door for them to meet Ignatius IV of Antioch
Ignatius IV of Antioch
Patriarch Ignatius IV of Antioch and All The East is the current primate of the "Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch and All The East".-Life:...
, the Patriarch of Antioch, during his historic visit to Los Angeles. Fr. Bartke then served for the next year as the primary intermediary with the Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese and served as host for the initial set of chrismations and ordinations of the EOC at St. Michael's Church in Van Nuys, California. The group of 20 parish
Parish
A parish is a territorial unit historically under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of one parish priest, who might be assisted in his pastoral duties by a curate or curates - also priests but not the parish priest - from a more or less central parish church with its associated organization...
es became known as the Antiochian Evangelical Orthodox Mission, lasting until 1995 when it was disbanded and the parishes put under the standard diocesan
Diocese
A diocese is the district or see under the supervision of a bishop. It is divided into parishes.An archdiocese is more significant than a diocese. An archdiocese is presided over by an archbishop whose see may have or had importance due to size or historical significance...
framework of the Archdiocese. Some parishes which did not join the Antiochians eventually joined the Orthodox Church in America
Orthodox Church in America
The Orthodox Church in America is an autocephalous Eastern Orthodox church in North America. Its primate is Metropolitan Jonah , who was elected on November 12, 2008, and was formally installed on December 28, 2008...
, while a few remain independent and still use the EOC name. Outside the continuing EOC, there are other independent clergy and communities with origins in the EOC, most notably Holy Trinity Fellowship, Fort Collins, Colorado, led by (former EOC priest) Fr Jordan Bajis.
Currently, Bishop Jerold Gliege serves as the presiding bishop of the EOC, which has a religious order and 12 congregations spread across the United States (IA, IL, IN), Canada (SK), Sweden, Rwanda, and Burundi.
Source
- Gillquist, Rev. Peter E. Becoming Orthodox: A Journey to the Ancient Christian Faith. Ben Lomond, CA: Conciliar Press, 1989. (ISBN 0-9622713-3-0)
External links
- The Evangelical Orthodox Church, official Communion homepage
- About the Evangelical Orthodox Church, a site by former members
- The Chicago Call
- http://arcchurch.org/about/history-of-the-arc/, history of the ARC, a communion with roots in the NCAO
- http://www.twelvetribes.com/, community founded by former NCAO apostle, Elbert Spriggs
- http://www.neirr.org/histry.html, history of Spriggs' community, mentioning his time with the NCAO
- http://www.holytrinitycommunity.org/, website of Holy Trinity Fellowship, Fort Collins, CO, led by former EOC priest, Fr Jordan Bajis