Karl Pruter
Encyclopedia
Karl Hugo Prüter was an Old Catholic bishop
.
Pruter was raised in the Lutheran church, and was a Congregationalist minister under the name of Hugo Rehling Pruter Sr. from 1945 to 1958. In the Congregationalist Church he was one of the leaders in the liturgical movement
within the church during the late 1940s and early 1950s. He was also an opponent of the merger of the Congregational Christian Churches
with the Evangelical and Reformed Church
to form the United Church of Christ
, begun in 1957 and concluded in 1961. As a continuing Congregationalist, he led his church and several other Midwest Congregational churches to reject the merger and form a new body, the Central Association of Congregational Christian Churches.
In the late 1960s, Pruter became involved in the Free Catholic Movement, an association that lasted until his death. Pruter's introduction to the Free Catholic Movement and Old Catholicism came in 1963, when he traveled to Europe where he met several leaders of the Old Catholic tradition. When he returned to the United States, he settled in Boston
hoping to find an available church or bishop. Not finding any, he arranged with Archbishop Peter A. Zurawetsky to start a new church, in the Back Bay area of Boston, which stressed the contemplative life, mysticism, and a faith based on personal experience.
He was consecrated Bishop of the Diocese of Boston by Archbishops Zurawetsky and Uladyslau Ryzy-Ryski in 1967. The following year, Pruter designated his diocese an independent communion. After a meeting the following year, the new Christ Catholic Church (Pruter)
was recognized when its constitution and canons were given to it by Archbishop Zurawetsky.
Pruter was a vigorous publisher and distributor of literature in his fields of interest. The press he founded, St. Willibrord's Press, was a major distributor of literature about the Old Catholic church. He wrote a number of tracts and pamphlets, as well as books such as The Teachings of the Great Mystics and A History of the Old Catholic Church. He also operated the Tsali
Bookstore, specializing in American Indian
literature, and Cathedral Books which emphasizes literature about the topic of peace.
Pruter died on 18 November 2007.
Book
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
.
Pruter was raised in the Lutheran church, and was a Congregationalist minister under the name of Hugo Rehling Pruter Sr. from 1945 to 1958. In the Congregationalist Church he was one of the leaders in the liturgical movement
Liturgical Movement
The Liturgical Movement began as a movement of scholarship for the reform of worship within the Roman Catholic Church. It has grown over the last century and a half and has affected many other Christian Churches, including the Church of England and other Churches of the Anglican Communion, and some...
within the church during the late 1940s and early 1950s. He was also an opponent of the merger of the Congregational Christian Churches
Congregational Christian Churches
The Congregational Christian Churches were a Protestant Christian denomination that operated in the U.S. from 1931 through 1957. On the latter date, most of its churches joined the Evangelical and Reformed Church in a merger to become the United Church of Christ. Others created the National...
with the Evangelical and Reformed Church
Evangelical and Reformed Church
The Evangelical and Reformed Church was a Protestant Christian denomination in the United States. It was formed in 1934 by the merger of the Reformed Church in the United States with the Evangelical Synod of North America . After the 1934 merger, a minority within the RCUS seceded in order to...
to form the United Church of Christ
United Church of Christ
The United Church of Christ is a mainline Protestant Christian denomination primarily in the Reformed tradition but also historically influenced by Lutheranism. The Evangelical and Reformed Church and the Congregational Christian Churches united in 1957 to form the UCC...
, begun in 1957 and concluded in 1961. As a continuing Congregationalist, he led his church and several other Midwest Congregational churches to reject the merger and form a new body, the Central Association of Congregational Christian Churches.
In the late 1960s, Pruter became involved in the Free Catholic Movement, an association that lasted until his death. Pruter's introduction to the Free Catholic Movement and Old Catholicism came in 1963, when he traveled to Europe where he met several leaders of the Old Catholic tradition. When he returned to the United States, he settled in Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
hoping to find an available church or bishop. Not finding any, he arranged with Archbishop Peter A. Zurawetsky to start a new church, in the Back Bay area of Boston, which stressed the contemplative life, mysticism, and a faith based on personal experience.
He was consecrated Bishop of the Diocese of Boston by Archbishops Zurawetsky and Uladyslau Ryzy-Ryski in 1967. The following year, Pruter designated his diocese an independent communion. After a meeting the following year, the new Christ Catholic Church (Pruter)
Christ Catholic Church (Pruter)
The Christ Catholic Church is a Christian religious denomination founded by Karl Pruter. Pruter died November 18, 2007 and the church did not completely survive his passing, although remnants of the works of Christ Catholic Church remain....
was recognized when its constitution and canons were given to it by Archbishop Zurawetsky.
Pruter was a vigorous publisher and distributor of literature in his fields of interest. The press he founded, St. Willibrord's Press, was a major distributor of literature about the Old Catholic church. He wrote a number of tracts and pamphlets, as well as books such as The Teachings of the Great Mystics and A History of the Old Catholic Church. He also operated the Tsali
Tsali
Tsali, originally of Coosawattee Town , was a noted figure at two different periods of Cherokee history, both of them vital.From which of the main divisions of the Cherokee prior to the American Revolution he came is not known, but records do indicate that as a young man he followed Dragging Canoe...
Bookstore, specializing in American Indian
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
literature, and Cathedral Books which emphasizes literature about the topic of peace.
Pruter died on 18 November 2007.
Books by Karl Pruter
- Pruter, Karl. (1997) The mystic path San Bernardino, Calif.: St. Willibrord's Press. Book, Vol. 5 in a series/set )
- Pruter, Karl. (1996) The priest's handbook 2nd, rev. and expanded edition. San Bernardino, Calif.: St. Willibrord's Press. Book, Vol. 4 in a series/set )
- Pruter, Karl. (1996) The directory of autocephalous bishops of the churches of the Apostolic succession 8th, rev. and expanded. edition. San Bernardino, Calif.: St. Willibrord's Press. Book, Vol. 1 in a series/set )
- Pruter, Karl. (1996) The Old Catholic Church: A history and chronology 2nd, rev. and expanded. edition. San Bernardino, Calif.: St. Willibrord's Press.
- Pruter, Karl. (1995) A directory of autocephalous bishops of the Churches of the Apostolic succession 7th, rev. and expanded. edition. San Bernardino, Calif.: St. Willibrord's Press.
- Pruter, Karl. (1987) Jewish Christians in the United States: A bibliography New York: Garland Pub.. Book )
- Pruter, Karl. (1986) Bishops extraordinary San Bernardino, Calif.: Borgo Press. Book )
- Pruter, Karl. (1986) The strange partnership of George Alexander McGuire and Marcus Garvey San Bernardino, Calif.: Borgo Press.
- Pruter, Karl. (1985) The theology of Congregationalism San Bernardino, Calif.: Borgo Press.
- Pruter, Karl. (1985) The teachings of the great mystics San Bernardino, Calif.: Borgo Press.
- Pruter, Karl. (1985) Neo-congregationalism San Bernardino, Calif.: Borgo Press.
- Pruter, Karl. (1985) A history of the Old Catholic Church San Bernardino, Calif.: Borgo Press.
- Pruter, Karl. (1985) The people of God San Bernardino, Calif.: Borgo Press.
Book
- Pruter, Karl; Melton, J. Gordon. (1983) The Old Catholic sourcebook New York: Garland Pub..