Franciscan orders in Lutheranism

Franciscan spirituality was not favoured by Reformation, but later the 20th century
High Church Movement has given birth to Franciscan orders among revival of religious orders and confraternities in Lutheran Churches.

Third orders

In Europe, there are two Franciscan third orders.

Evangelische Franziskaner-Tertiaren (Lutheran Franciscan Tertiaries, officially "Evangelische Franziskanerbruderschaft der Nachfolge Christi") was founded in Germany 1927 within Hochkirchliche Vereinigung.

Franciskus Tredje Orden, FTO in Church of Sweden, is part of the European Province of the Third Order of the Anglican Society of St Francis.

In North America, there is also a third order, Evangelical Society of the Cross Franciscan (ESC/F), founded in January of 1988 in Orlando, Florida. [http://www.mcsletstalk.org/Vol2No25.htm]

Other Franciscan orders

In Germany, apart from the high church movement, there exists in German Evangelical Church a Protestant Evangelische Kanaan Franziskus-Bruderschaft (Kanaan Franciscan Brothers), affiliated with Evangelical Sisterhood of Mary.

In Church of Sweden, there is Helige Franciskus Systraskap (Sisterhood of Saint Francis), a religious community in Klaradal convent in Sjövik. In North America Order of Saint Francis-Lutheran (OSF-L) within International Lutheran Fellowship has establishments in Canada and the United States. The Order includes both ordained clergy and lay brothers and sisters.

Franciscan Brothers of St. Michael (FBSM), also in North America, within Evangelical Marian Catholic Church, is a Congregation of men, women and children.

In Lutheran church, there has been also more general interest to Franciscan spirituality. E.g. "Assisi-Kredsen" in Denmark is an ecumenical society, which e.g. arranges journeys to Assisi and in Franciscan convents. Members are mostly Lutherans.

External links

* [http://www.hochkirchliche-vereinigung.de/evt.html Evangelische Franziskaner-Tertiaren] in Germany de icon
* [http://www.fto.st/ Franciskus Tredje Orden] in Sweden sv icon
* [http://www.marysisters.org.au/international/kanaan/kanaan-brothers.htm The Kanaan Franciscan Brothers]
* [http://www.svenskakyrkan.se/klostren/Francisk.htm Helige Franciskus Systraskap] sv icon
* [http://www.ilflutheran.org./page14.html The Order of Saint Francis-Lutheran (OSF-L)]
* [http://www.evmcc.org/ Franciscan Brothers of St. Michael] at website of Evangelical Marian Catholic Church
* [http://www.assisi-kredsen.dk/ Assisi-Kredsen] da icon and en icon