| Anglican Province of Christ the King | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Abbreviation | APCK |
| Classification | Christian |
| Orientation | Anglican |
| Theology | Anglo-Catholic |
| Polity | Episcopal |
| Intercommunion | |
| Region | United States |
| Founder | Robert S. Morse |
| Origin | 1977 St. Louis, Missouri, US |
| Separated from | Episcopal Church in the United States of America |
| Congregations | 41 |
| Members | 8,000 |
| Official website | www |
TheAnglican Province of Christ the King (APCK) is aContinuing Anglicanchurch with traditional forms both of doctrine and liturgy. It is considered one of the moreAnglo-Catholic jurisdictions among Continuing Anglican church bodies.
At the founding of the Continuing Anglican movement in 1977 at theCongress of St. Louis, a proposed constitution for a newAnglican church in North America was put before the four existing dioceses for ratification. The two which did ratify the constitution later adopted the nameAnglican Catholic Church.[1][2] The two which did not ratify because of concerns that the role of the new church's bishops was overly narrow, elected to continue under the original name of the movement.[3] One of these non-ratifying dioceses, the Diocese of the Southeastern States, dissolved within a short time leaving only the Diocese of Christ the King under its bishop ordinary,Robert Morse of California. In 1981, the Diocese of Christ the King reported 40 parishes across the United States, with more than 35 clergy.[4] A new name, Province of Christ the King, was adopted as the church expanded to become a nationwide jurisdiction spanning the United States. The province was renamed as the Anglican Province of Christ the King in 1991.[5]
On July 25, 2007, the bishop and most of the parishes in the Eastern Diocese of the APCK withdrew, joining theAnglican Church in America.[6] However, four of its parishes decided to remain within the APCK.
On June 29, 2007, James E. Provence was elected as successor to Morse upon the latter's retirement as archbishop of the province. Morse continued as provost of St. Joseph of Arimathea Anglican Theological Seminary which he was instrumental in founding in 1979. Provence was installed as Archbishop in 2008. He resigned on July 20, 2015 after allegations of misconduct.[7] Frederick G. Morrison was elected to succeed him as archbishop.[8] Morrison retired on January 1, 2020, and was replaced by Archbishop John E Upham.[9] Upham had been consecrated a Suffragan Bishop of the Diocese of the Atlantic States on August 15, 2012.[10] Archbishop Upham deceased in February, 2023.[11]
On June 14th, 2023, Blair W. Schultz was elected as the fifth Archbishop of the Anglican Province of Christ the King.[12] Archbishop Schultz was consecrated Bishop Suffragan of the Diocese of the Atlantic States in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on September 21, 2017, by The Most Reverend Frederick G. Morrison, The Right Reverend Donald M. Ashman, The (then) Right Reverend Doctor John E. Upham, and The Right Reverend Frank W. Brulc.[13]
From 2003 to 2011, theAnglican Catholic Church (ACC), the Anglican Province of Christ the King (APCK), and theUnited Episcopal Church of North America (UECNA) explored opportunities for greater cooperation and the possibility of achieving organic unity. In 2003, Archbishop John-Charles Vockler of the ACC in a letter, called for prayers for healing of the damaged relations between the ACC and the APCK.[14] In 2007 intercommunion was formally astablished between the APCK and the ACC and UECNA. In January 2009, one bishop from each jurisdiction consecrated threesuffragan bishops inSt. Louis, intending that they serve all three jurisdictions.[15]
Archbishop Robert Morse died in 2015.[16]
The publishing arm of the APCK is known as theAmerican Church Union (ACU).[17] The APCK publishes a newsletter called The Shepherd's Staff.[18]
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The APCK has over forty parishes across three dioceses organized geographically.[19] Sixteen of its parishes are in California.
Saint Joseph of Arimathea Anglican Theological College was founded in 1979 as a seminary for the newly formed Diocese of Christ the King. It continues to offer classes, in person and online, mostly for prospective clergy of the APCK. It is located one block south of theUniversity of California, Berkeley.
The college had originally been founded in 1952 by Robert S. Morse as the Episcopal Chaplaincy at Stanford University, with the St. Joseph of Arimathea Foundation established in 1960. In 1964 the current location was purchased. Due to disagreements between Robert S. Morse and the then Episcopal bishop,James Pike, in 1963 Morse resigned as Chairman but filled the Board with Orthodox and Catholic clergy, includingPrince Vasili Romanov and the Very Rev.Alexander Schmemann. The St. Joseph’s Student Center hosted Orthodox, Catholic, and Anglican services throughout the week.[20]
