TRADITIONAL ~ ORTHODOX ~ CATHOLIC ~ ECUMENICAL WHERE LAITY & CLERGY ARE EQUALS IN CHRIST THE KING. “THE BLOOD OF CHRIST IS THICKER THAN THE WATER OF DENOMINATIONALISM.”
The Order of Christ the King is an Orthodox Catholic Inter-Jurisdictional Religious Order. Laity and Clergy are without distinction among our members in terms of Privilege. In fact, it is possible for Lay Members to hold certain Offices above those who are Clergy within our ranks. All Believers who Acknowledge The Lord Jesus Christ as the Eternal Supreme Monarch are counted by Him as His Equal Subjects. This is an Eternal Truth and no matter how far we stray from The Throne of Grace He Always Reconciles Himself to All who Seek His Reconciliation.
CELEBRATING A CENTURY AND A QUARTER OF CONTINUOUS SERVICE TO HOLY MOTHER CHURCH.
THE ORDER OF CHRIST OUR MOST HOLY REDEEMER AND HEAVENLY KING was Organized in Leeds, England on the Feast of Christ the King in 1900 A.D. The unwritten motto of the Order came to be the Biblical directive, “be in the world, but not of it.” Our Organizers sought to strengthen their daily lives through a common discipline of devotion and study thereby encouraging the faithful to participate more fully in the Sacramental and Liturgical life of the Church. It was not uncommon in our early History to find members of the Church of England, Roman Catholic, Old Catholic, Non Theosophical Liberal Catholic and the Eastern Orthodox Church Praying and Worshiping together at our Gatherings. The Order of Christ the King was the pioneer organization to first bring Christians together who shared the Universal Faith and Historic Episcopate. We have carried on this same Tradition for a century and a quarter without interruption or inhibition.
A PATRIMONY THAT IS HISTORIC ~ TRADITIONAL ~ PRACTICAL
Over the decades as a matter of practicality our members developed the habit of abbreviating our identity to “the Order of Christ the King,” It was also thought this would better express the emphasis we place on our Devotional life and the Kingship of Christ to non-members. The Order of Christ our Most Holy Redeemer and Heavenly King remains our official designation and will ever remain so, that we hold firm to our Mission and Ideology. The post nominals (OCR) which follow the names of those who are professed members of the Order stand for the name of the Order as it appears when written in Latin: Ordo Christus Rex, which is literally translated as the Order of Christ the King. We have simply become “the Rexist’s” by those who have come to know us. “Who is that Priest”? “He is a Rexist Father”; Is usually the scenario as it plays out among our Members.
UNITY WITHOUT UNIFORMITY ~ WE COME FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE
The chief source of unity which exists among our members is our unceasing mission to promote devotion to Christ our Lord and King, while devoting our entire being to a life of unconditional service to His Bride the Church. All professed members of the Order undergo a rigorous period of self-examination prior to acceptance into the Order. All professions must be made in a public liturgical setting and authorized by the Master General or his duly appointed representative. Newly Professed Members of the Order choose a Religious Name of a Saint or from the Holy Bible. Thereafter, the New Member is to be called Brother______________ or Sister____________________. This to ever keep before their Mind as a Member of the Ordo Christus Rex they have Vowed and Promised to, “LIVE IN THE WORLD AND NOT OF IT.”
LAY & CLERGY CHAPLAINCY CERTIFICATIONS ~ PRAYER GROUPS ~ BIBLE STUDIES
Over the Decades the Order of Christ the King has proven to be an excellent venue for such Ministries (but not limited in scope) as those in Nursing Homes. The Elderly who all too often feel marginalized and neglected as Members of the Order find to their delight they are no longer alone. Severally and Individually they can be ACTIVE MEMBERS of of a Religious Order that values their Wisdom, Longevity of Life and Appreciates the Contributions and Sacrifices they endured for those who have come after them. Opening a Chapter of the Order in a Nursing Home or Assisted Living Facility often brings a sense of Purpose, Community and Vigor to this often neglected segment of the Church. Laity of many different Faith-based Traditions have opened Chapters of the Order and conducted Bible Studies, Prayer Meetings, Disaster Relief, Worked as Volunteers in Animal Shelters, Soup Kitchen’s and taken on projects as needed that benefit the Residents of their Local Communities. OUR MEMBERS HAVE SERVED AS HOSPITAL CHAPLAINS, POLICE & FIRE DEPARTMENT CHAPLAINS, PRISON CHAPLAINS AND CHAPLAINS IN MANY FRATERNAL ORGANIZATIONS. The opportunities for Christian Service and Community Outreach are without bounds for Members of the Order of Christ Our Most Holy Redeemer & Heavenly King. If you have an on going Ministry you feel would benefit by Membership in our Order, do not hesitate to contact us. The Order will Certify all Qualified Men & Woman as Chaplains-General or as Chaplains in their particular area of Service-Ministry. Credentials are supplied to our Chaplains to present to all Church and Secular Authorities. THE FIRST STEP IN BECOMING AN OCR CHAPLAIN IS TO APPLY FOR MEMBERSHIP IN THE ORDER. ONCE ACCEPTED AS A MEMBER, DUE CONSIDERATION WILL BE GIVEN TO YOUR DESIRE FOR OUR CHAPLAIN CERTIFICATION PROCESS. YOU WILL HAVE OUR 125 YEARS OF PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE IN SERVICE TO THE LOCAL COMMUNITY TO SUPPORT YOUR MINISTRY.
Qualifications For Membership
Ordained male clerics, male candidates for Holy Orders, and laity of both genders are eligible to become members of the Order. Females claiming to be Ordained Ministers are not considered for Membership. Those females who have been Set Aside as a Lay Deaconess are heartily welcomed into the Order. We invite you to explore the opportunity to serve with us. Applicants are accepted from Communions within the Church who Recognize the Historic Episcopate as essential to preserve and maintain a proper and Sacramental Ministry as was intended in the Book of Acts. This would include but not necessarily be limited to: Members of the Orthodox Communions, Roman Catholics, Traditional Old Catholics, Traditionalist Anglicans, Non Theosophical Liberal Catholics and High Church Lutherans who accept the essentials of the Holy Orthodox Christian Catholic Faith.
IF MY DENOMINATION DOES NOT POSSESS THE HISTORIC EPISCOPATE IS THERE AN AVENUE FOR ME TO STILL JOIN THE ORDER AS A FULL PARTICIPATING MEMBER?
Yes absolutely! It has never been the Intent of our Leadership (over the decades) to keep sincere Christians who share our Ideology and Devotion to Christ Our King from Membership. Accordingly, we will entertain Applicants from Christian Traditions who do not share our Theology of the Historic Episcopate. These Applicants will be considered on a case by case criterion depending on the status of their current Church affiliation. We have been Blessed with the adding New Members from Lutheran Jurisdictions who are Well Educated and Firmly Grounded in the Book of Acts Orthodoxy. They have Brought the Richness of Their Tradition of Mission and Ministry which has Given Greater Witness and Reinforced our Purpose as Rexist’s. The Commonality our Members Share in the Belief of the Genuine Presence of Christ under the Veil of Bread and Wine in the Holy Sacrament of the Altar Unites Us in a Manner Which was Christ’s Explicit Intent. Lutherans of but not limited to the Tradition of Archbishop Laurentius Petri the 16th century Archbishop of Uppsala, the Latvian Evangelical Lutheran Church and the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod are Welcome to apply.
What Does It Take to be a Rexist Brother or Sister?
Monthly Meetings
THE REXIST WAY
- DEVOTION TO CHRIST THE KING: Members of the Order of Christ the King are devoted to Jesus Christ, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
- SERVICE: A member of the Order of Christ the King is a servant to all who are in need; striving to always be of assistance, as the Lord enables him or her.
- DISCIPLINE: Members of the Order of Christ the King must walk in Godly discipline, not forsaking their duties.
- FELLOWSHIP: Members of the Order of Christ the King are united in the love of Christ. Though physical distance may separate members one from another, our spiritual life increases the bond of fellowship.
- REGULAR WORSHIP: Members of the Order of Christ the King shall, as they are able, regularly attend worship services, the Sacraments, and be faithful in prayer.
- HOSPITALITY: Members of the Order of Christ the King endeavor to always be Welcoming, showing kindness and generosity to strangers and acquaintances alike.
- CHARITY: Godly love shall ever be the mark of a Christian; Love for God and love for our fellow human beings shall be the daily striving of all Rexists
Spiritual Life
The Rexist Brother or Sister is concerned with the spiritual lives not only of the community around us, but of the Church at large, Members of the Order are to attend Christian worship services regularly, and are encouraged to observe Morning and Evening Prayer, as well as other spiritual devotions.