The International Order of St. Luke the Physician
A Brief Summary
The International Order of St. Luke the Physician is an ecumenical ministry of Christian healing. It is made up of clergy, health professionals and lay people who believe healing is an essential part of the teaching and practice of Jesus and that the healing ministry of Christ belongs in the Church today. It is an interdenominational Christian order of faith, prayer and service. The Order believes that God uses many avenues for healing – some spiritual and some medical – and that they should be supportive of one another.
The Order of St. Luke began in 1955 with the Rev. John Gayner Banks and his wife Ethel Tulloch Banks as a Christian fellowship of clergy and lay people interested in sharing experiences of Jesus’ healing ministry. They shared a dream of drawing all those involved in the healing ministry under the umbrella of a world Christian healing fellowship based on the four Gospels of Jesus Christ.
Chapters of the Order are led by a chaplain and a convener or co-conveners. Often there is a secretary, treasurer and other committee leaders as membership allows. It takes at least five people, including the chaplain and convener to start a new chapter. Because the Order is interdenominational, the chapter may meet in a church or other public place. Chapters are not necessarily managed by the churches that sponsor them.
Chapters are organized into their respective regions. There are 14 regions, some with only a few chapters in them and some with a long list of active chapters. Each region has a director to oversee and represent that region. St. Anthony is in Region 7 headquartered in Riverside, CA. The nine chapters in AZ are located in Scottsdale, Lake Havasu, Sedona, Sun City, Green Valley, Yuma and Tucson.
The Chapter at St. Anthony on the Desert was commissioned on October 16, 2005, by the Rev. Dr. Bob Jepsen, Associate Regional Director of the Order. At that time, twenty persons were inducted into the Order as associate members. The commissioning occurred at services during the church’s Healing Mission Weekend featuring the Rt. Rev. William Frey.
Subsequent to becoming an active chapter in the Order, St. Anthony conducted its first Epiphany Institute, a series of seven evening discussions on The Healing Mercies of Christ. The course was presented by the Rev. Jon Coffey, Rector of St. Anthony, in January and February, 2006. Twenty-five persons attended including all of the newly inducted associate members.
The International Order of St. Luke the Physician is an ecumenical ministry of Christian healing. It is made up of clergy, health professionals and lay people who believe healing is an essential part of the teaching and practice of Jesus and that the healing ministry of Christ belongs in the Church today. It is an interdenominational Christian order of faith, prayer and service. The Order believes that God uses many avenues for healing – some spiritual and some medical – and that they should be supportive of one another.
The Order of St. Luke began in 1955 with the Rev. John Gayner Banks and his wife Ethel Tulloch Banks as a Christian fellowship of clergy and lay people interested in sharing experiences of Jesus’ healing ministry. They shared a dream of drawing all those involved in the healing ministry under the umbrella of a world Christian healing fellowship based on the four Gospels of Jesus Christ.
Chapters of the Order are led by a chaplain and a convener or co-conveners. Often there is a secretary, treasurer and other committee leaders as membership allows. It takes at least five people, including the chaplain and convener to start a new chapter. Because the Order is interdenominational, the chapter may meet in a church or other public place. Chapters are not necessarily managed by the churches that sponsor them.
Chapters are organized into their respective regions. There are 14 regions, some with only a few chapters in them and some with a long list of active chapters. Each region has a director to oversee and represent that region. St. Anthony is in Region 7 headquartered in Riverside, CA. The nine chapters in AZ are located in Scottsdale, Lake Havasu, Sedona, Sun City, Green Valley, Yuma and Tucson.
The Chapter at St. Anthony on the Desert was commissioned on October 16, 2005, by the Rev. Dr. Bob Jepsen, Associate Regional Director of the Order. At that time, twenty persons were inducted into the Order as associate members. The commissioning occurred at services during the church’s Healing Mission Weekend featuring the Rt. Rev. William Frey.
Subsequent to becoming an active chapter in the Order, St. Anthony conducted its first Epiphany Institute, a series of seven evening discussions on The Healing Mercies of Christ. The course was presented by the Rev. Jon Coffey, Rector of St. Anthony, in January and February, 2006. Twenty-five persons attended including all of the newly inducted associate members.