International Order of St. Luke the Physician
Encyclopedia
The International Order of Saint Luke is an inter-denominational religious order dedicated to the Christian
healing ministry. It was founded by John Gayner Banks, an Episcopal priest, in 1947.
Members engage in healing prayer
with those who are physically ill, emotionally troubled or in other distress, often with the laying on of hands
. Members may be clergy
or lay people
, Ministry by members of the Order is seen and experienced as an extension, but not a replacement for other parts of Christian religious observance and practice. Chapters, or groups of members of the Order, meet together regularly to study Scripture and engage in prayer.
There are several hundred chapters of this organization in the USA and Canada
. There is also an unaffiliated organization called The Order of St. Luke.
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
healing ministry. It was founded by John Gayner Banks, an Episcopal priest, in 1947.
Members engage in healing prayer
Prayer
Prayer is a form of religious practice that seeks to activate a volitional rapport to a deity through deliberate practice. Prayer may be either individual or communal and take place in public or in private. It may involve the use of words or song. When language is used, prayer may take the form of...
with those who are physically ill, emotionally troubled or in other distress, often with the laying on of hands
Laying on of hands
The laying on of hands is a religious ritual that accompanies certain religious practices, which are found throughout the world in varying forms....
. Members may be clergy
Clergy
Clergy is the generic term used to describe the formal religious leadership within a given religion. A clergyman, churchman or cleric is a member of the clergy, especially one who is a priest, preacher, pastor, or other religious professional....
or lay people
Laity
In religious organizations, the laity comprises all people who are not in the clergy. A person who is a member of a religious order who is not ordained legitimate clergy is considered as a member of the laity, even though they are members of a religious order .In the past in Christian cultures, the...
, Ministry by members of the Order is seen and experienced as an extension, but not a replacement for other parts of Christian religious observance and practice. Chapters, or groups of members of the Order, meet together regularly to study Scripture and engage in prayer.
There are several hundred chapters of this organization in the USA and Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. There is also an unaffiliated organization called The Order of St. Luke.