Editing Evangelical Orthodox Church

{{Short description|American Christian denomination, 1979–}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2024}}
{{Infobox Christian denomination
| icon               = 
| icon_width         = 
| icon_alt           = 
| name               = Evangelical Orthodox Church
| image              = 
| imagewidth         = 300px
| caption            = 
| type               = [[Evangelical Christianity]]
| main_classification = [[Eastern Protestant Christianity|Eastern Protestant]]
| orientation        = [[Charismatic Movement|Charismatic]], [[Evangelicalism|evangelical]]
| theology           = 
| polity             = [[Episcopal polity|Episcopal]]
| structure          = 
| leader_title       = Bishop
| leader_name        = [[Jerold Gliege]]
| division_type      = Churches
| division           = 6<ref>{{Citation | url = https://www.evangelicalorthodox.org/who-we-are | title = Who we are | publisher = Evangelical orthodox}}.</ref>
| division_type1     = 
| division1          = 
| division_type2     = 
| division2          = 
| fellowships_type   = 
| area               = United States, Canada, parts of Africa and Sweden<ref>{{Citation | url = https://www.evangelicalorthodox.org/where-we-are | title = Where we are | publisher = Evangelical orthodox}}.</ref>
| headquarters       = [[Indianapolis]], [[Indiana]], US
| origin_link        = 
| founder            = [[Peter E. Gillquist]], other unnamed former Campus Crusade for Christ members
| founded_date       = 1979
| founded_place      = 
| members            = 
| liturgy            = [[Byzantine Rite]]
| language           = English
| website            = {{Official URL}}
}}

The '''Evangelical Orthodox Church''' ('''EOC'''), founded on January 15, 1979, is an [[Eastern Protestant Christianity|Eastern Protestant]] [[Christian denomination]] established by former leaders of [[Cru (Christian organization)|Campus Crusade for Christ]], who, reacting against the [[Jesus movement|Jesus People movement]], developed their own synthesis of [[evangelicalism]], [[Eastern Orthodoxy]], and [[Shepherding movement]] principles.<ref>Lloyd R. Thompson, “A Critical Analysis of the Evangelical Orthodox Church (New Covenant Apostolic Order)” (Ph.D. diss., Yale Divinity School, 1979), 20.</ref><ref>Ruth Stiling, “An Examination of the Evangelical Orthodox Church” (M.A. thesis, Dallas Theological Seminary, May 1980), 17-18.</ref><ref>Steve Barth, “Development of Evangelical Church Traced: Twelve Years of Theology Change Moves Away from Anti-Authority,” ''Daily Nexus'' (November 13, 1979): 2.</ref><ref>D. Oliver Herbel, Turning to Tradition: Converts and the Making of an American Orthodox Church (Oxford University Press, 2014), 104-117.</ref>

==History==

=== Foundation ===
On January 14, 1979, the six members of the General Apostolic Council of the [[New Covenant Apostolic Order]] (NCAO)[[Peter Gillquist|&mdash;Peter Gillquist]], Jack Sparks, [[Jon Braun]], J. R. Ballew, Gordon Walker, and Kenneth Berven&mdash;stood in a circle and self-ordained and proclaimed each other bishops.<ref>{{cite magazine | last=Walker | first=Gordon | title=Odyssey to Orthodoxy | magazine=Again | volume=6 | number=3 | date=September 1983 | page=10}}</ref> The following day they announced the formation of a new denomination—the Evangelical Orthodox Church&mdash;consisting of congregations following the NCAO.<ref>{{cite thesis | last=Stiling | first=Ruth L. | title=An Examination of the Evangelical Orthodox Church | type=MA | location=Dallas, TX | publisher=Dallas Theological Seminary | date=1980 | page=25}}</ref> According to NCAO leaders, the EOC was launched with 2,500 members in fifty churches organized into seventeen dioceses.<ref>{{cite magazine | last=Hitt | first=Russell T. | title=Go East, Young Men | magazine=Eternity | volume=31 | number=3 | date=March 1980 | page=13}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine | last=Vecsey | first=George | title=New Group Combines Evangelism and Orthodoxy | magazine=The New York Times | date=March 11, 1979 | page=25}}</ref> However, former members reported the membership as less than 1,000.<ref>{{cite report | last=Counts | first=Bill | title=The Evangelical Orthodox Church and the New Covenant Apostolic Order | location=Berkeley, CA | publisher=Spiritual Counterfeits Project | date=November 2, 1979 | page=1}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Dart |first=John |date=November 15, 1986 |title=The Evangelical Orthodox Church, a tiny denomination... |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1986-11-15-me-3728-story.html |access-date=February 20, 2024 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}</ref>

=== Controversies ===
The EOC generated controversy throughout its short history, mostly regarding its view of [[apostolic succession]] and of apostolic authority. In mainstream Eastern Orthodoxy, the hierarchy of authority is based on belief in an unbroken line of apostolic succession, from which the appointment of bishops proceeds. Jack Sparks argued that any attempt to trace such a succession inevitably included false apostles and bad men. In place of the Eastern Orthodox tradition of apostolic succession, Sparks argued for "charismatic" succession.<ref>{{cite book | last=Herbel | first=D. Oliver  | title=Turning to Tradition: Converts and the Making of the American Orthodox Church | location=New York | publisher=Oxford University Press | date=2014 | isbn=9780199324958 | oclc=869486494 | pages=108–110}}</ref>

The EOC was itself criticized by both secular and evangelical sources for the bishops' exercise of binding authority over members.<ref>Counts, "The Evangelical Orthodox Church..."</ref><ref>{{cite magazine | last=Wollenburg | first=Bruce | title=The Evangelical Orthodox Church: A Preliminary Appraisal | magazine=The Christian Century | volume=97 | number=23 | date=July 2, 1980 | page=700}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine | last=Barth | first=Steve | title=Local Church a 'Potentially Dangerous Situation': Sources Say EOC has Total Authority Over Members | magazine=Daily Nexus | volume=60 | number=44 | date=November 12, 1979 | page=1 | url=https://www.alexandria.ucsb.edu/downloads/00000114j}}</ref> The EOC was plagued with internal problems, one notable case involving disclosure of confidential communications from a penitent in [[confession]] which was taken to civil court. In that case, the [[California Courts of Appeal]] denied the EOC leaders' legal claim to [[Priest–penitent privilege|ecclesiastical privilege]].<ref>{{cite journal | last=Hayden | first=Paul T. | title=Religiously Motivated 'Outrageous' Conduct: Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress as a Weapon Against 'Other People's Faiths' | journal=William and Mary Law Review | volume= 34 | number=3 | date=1993 | pages=659–661 | url=http://scholarship.law.wm.edu/wmlr/vol34/iss3/4/}}</ref>

=== Dialogues ===
In 1977, the first 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]] of the [[Orthodox Church in America]] (OCA).<ref>{{cite book | last=Liacopulos | first=George P. | title=Lights of the Modern World: Orthodox Christian Mission and Evangelism in the United States | location=Minneapolis, MN | publisher=Light & Life Publishing | isbn=1880971577 | date=2000 | page=125}}</ref> EOC leaders invited seminary faculty to instruct them in Orthodoxy and pursued dialogues with the OCA from 1978 to 1983, but talks broke down because of the EOC's divergent conception of church government.<ref>{{cite thesis | last=Fester | first=Joseph H. | title=The Evangelical Orthodox Church and Its Dialogue with the Orthodox Church in America | type=M.Div. | location=Crestwood, NY | publisher=St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Seminary | date=1982 | oclc=926121110 | page=46}}</ref> EOC leaders also opened dialogue with the [[Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America]] in 1981.<ref>{{cite book | last=Gillquist | first=Peter | title=Becoming Orthodox: A Journey to the Ancient Christian Faith | edition=rev. | location=Ben Lomond, CA | publisher=Conciliar Press | date=1992 | isbn=9780962271335 | oclc=27034433 | pages=125–128}}</ref>

In 1984 the bishops applied for the EOC's membership in the [[National Association of Evangelicals]]. Their application was tabled over concerns by members of the executive committee concerning the EOC's teachings and practices.<ref>Herbel, ''Turning'', pp. 120-122.</ref><ref>National Association of Evangelicals Papers (SC-113), Wheaton College Special Collections.</ref> Growing impatient with the lack of progress in dialogues with the OCA and Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, the EOC bishops travelled to [[Istanbul]] where they were turned away and not given an audience with the [[Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople]].<ref>Herbel, ''Turning'', pp. 122-123.</ref><ref>Gillquist, ''Becoming'', pp. 135-143.</ref><ref name=":0" /> Orthodox sources have stated that the two primary reasons why the collective [[Eastern Orthodox Church]] was hesitant to embrace the EOC were the continued influence of Shepherding movement teachings regarding hierarchical authority and the EOC bishops' desire to remain as bishops, which was unacceptable as Eastern Orthodox bishops must be celibate and appointed by the appropriate authorities through standard procedure based on apostolic succession. It was unthinkable that any Eastern Orthodox Church patriarch would agree to these terms.<ref>{{cite web |author1-link=Jason Zengerle | last=Zengerle | first=Jason | title=Evangelicals Turn Toward … the Orthodox Church – Orthodox Christian Resource Center | date= April 25, 2010 | access-date=March 3, 2011 | url=http://theorthodoxchurch.info/blog/ocrc/2010/04/evangelicals-turn-toward-the-orthodox-church/}}</ref><ref>Fester, "The Evangelical Orthodox Church", p. 49, citing Alexander Schmemann, "Report on Participating in the Session of the Council of Bishops of the Evangelical Orthodox Church—Santa Barbara, Ca., June 7–9, 1981", a report submitted to the Metropolitan Council of the Orthodox Church in America.</ref>

=== Disposition of parishes ===
Fr. John Bartke, who had been a member of the Christian World Liberation Front with Jack Sparks and had acted as the primary intermediary with the AOCANA, served as host for the initial set of [[Chrismation|chrismations]] and [[Ordination of women in Christianity|ordinations]] of the EOC at St. Michael's Church in Van Nuys, California.<ref>Herbel, ''Turning'', p. 123.</ref><ref>Gillquist, ''Becoming Orthodox'', p. 141.</ref> The group of 20 parishes became known as the Antiochian Evangelical Orthodox Mission, which subsequently issued a statement to [[Philip Saliba|Metropolitan Philip]] of the [[Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America]] stating that they knew what Orthodoxy was. The Antiochian Evangelical Orthodox Mission lasted until 1995 when it was disbanded and the parishes put under the standard diocesan framework of the archdiocese.<ref>{{cite magazine |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> | title=Evangelical Orthodox Join Antiochian Jurisdiction | magazine=Theosis | volume=9 | number=9 | date=September 1986 | page=8}}</ref>

=== Conversion to Eastern Orthodoxy ===
On September 8, 1986, the majority of the EOC became part of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America under Metropolitan Philip Saliba. The bishops of the EOC who joined were demoted to the rank of priests{{Emdash}}a requirement by the Antiochian Archdiocese which caused some EOC bishops to refrain from joining. According to Peter Gillquist, about three-fourths of the bishops accepted Metropolitan Philips' terms and joined, a total of 17 parishes.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Life of Metropolitan Philip {{!}} Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese |url=http://ww1.antiochian.org/Metropolitan_Philip_Biography |access-date=February 20, 2024 |website=ww1.antiochian.org}}</ref><ref name=":0" />

Peter Gillquist said to the [[Los Angeles Times|''Los Angeles Times'']], "We will not be a 'church within a church.' Metropolitan Philip wants us to maintain our evangelical identity and to concentrate on [[evangelism]] and building mission churches."<ref name=":0" />

== Modern-day ==
According to the EOC's official website, as of September of 2024 it consists of six churches: four in the United States, and one each in Canada and Sweden. The EOC is overseen by a synod of bishops currently consisting of: Bishop Jakob Palm (Saskatoon, Canada), Bishop Thomas Andersson (Halmstad, Sweden), Bishop Mike Quigley (Brookfield, Missouri), and Bishop Joshua Beecham, presiding (Indianapolis, Indiana). Over 200 African parishes that had belonged to the EOC were released in August of 2024 on the grounds that the EOC did not have the resources to care for them properly.<ref name=":1"> {{Cite web |title=www.evangelicalorthodox.org |url=https://www.evangelicalorthodox.org/ |access-date=September 26, 2024 |website=evangelicalorthodox |language=en}} </ref>
== Cultural identity ==

The Evangelical Orthodox Church (EOC) represents a unique synthesis of [[evangelical Christianity]] and [[Eastern Orthodox Church|Eastern Orthodox]] liturgical tradition. While doctrinally rooted in [[evangelical theology]], the EOC fully embraces the [[Byzantine Rite]], making it one of the few [[Eastern Protestant]] denominations to adopt traditional Eastern Christian worship in its entirety.

EOC congregations celebrate the [[Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom]], observe the [[liturgical calendar]], and incorporate [[iconography]], [[incense]], [[vestments]], and [[chant]] in their services. Churches often feature [[iconostasis]] screens and East-facing altars, reflecting the architectural and symbolic norms of Eastern Orthodoxy.

=== Views on orthodoxy ===
The official EOC website says,<ref name=":1" />

* We believe that apostolic succession is primarily a matter of holding apostolic faith.
* We believe that the traceable lineage of bishops is one aspect of apostolic succession but not the exclusive condition upon which apostolic succession rests.
* We have retained our self-governing status in order to avoid being required to follow some other ethnic expression of the faith rather than an indigenous and culturally authentic one.

The EOC today is not in communion with nor recognized by any [[Eastern Orthodox Church]].

==See also==
* {{annotated link|African Orthodox Church}}
* {{annotated link|Duane Pederson}}
* {{annotated link|Independent Catholicism}}
* {{annotated link|Independent sacramental movement}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Sources==
* Gillquist, Rev. Peter E. ''Becoming Orthodox: A Journey to the Ancient Christian Faith''. Ben Lomond, CA: Conciliar Press, 1989. ({{ISBN|0-9622713-3-0}})

== Further reading ==
* [https://www.evangelicalorthodox.org/_files/ugd/daf14b_4db5c101766e45f186e7624cdf74b3b4.pdf?index=true History of the EOC (from the perspective of the EOC)]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20141006091752/http://www.ogreatmystery.com/about/ About the Evangelical Orthodox Church], a site by former members
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20120419025427/http://www2.wheaton.edu/bgc/archives/GUIDES/033.htm The Chicago Call]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20101119120714/http://arcchurch.org/about/history-of-the-arc/ History of the ARC], a communion with roots in the NCAO
* [http://www.twelvetribes.com/ Twelve Tribe community] {{Webarchive|url= https://web.archive.org/web/20050822092938/http://www.twelvetribes.com/ |date=August 22, 2005 }} founded by former NCAO apostle Elbert Spriggs
* [http://www.neirr.org/histry.html History of Spriggs' community] {{Webarchive|url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110717175353/http://www.neirr.org/histry.html |date=July 17, 2011}} mentioning his time with the NCAO

==External links==
* {{Official website}}

{{Eastern Protestants}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Christian new religious movements]]
[[Category:Greek Orthodox Church of Antioch]]
[[Category:Christian organizations established in 1979]]
[[Category:Evangelical denominations in North America]]
[[Category:Independent Eastern Orthodox denominations]]
[[Category:Eastern Orthodox Church bodies in North America]]
[[Category:Evangelicalism in Sweden]]
[[Category:Evangelicalism in Africa]]
[[Category:Eastern Orthodoxy in Africa]]
[[Category:Eastern Orthodoxy in Sweden]]
[[Category:Christian denominations established in the 20th century]]
[[Category:Christian denominations founded in the United States]]