Demographics: Mixed
Service: Liturgical, Traditional
Locale: Urban                                                 
Attendance: <199

The Church of Our Saviour is a parish in the Diocese of the Western States, a part of the Anglican Province of Christ the King. The Province of Christ the King is an independent body of Episcopal Churches which was formed in 1978 to ensure the continuation of historic Anglican Christianity in America. The need for the new Province arose because of changes in the fundamental faith and practices of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America (ECUSA).

The radical restructuring of the Episcopal Church came to a head at the 1976 Episcopal Convention in Minneapolis, Minnesota. At this meeting the ECUSA adopted sweeping changes to accommodate new beliefs and practices. These changes, which culminated in approval of the 1979 Book of Common Prayer, included: the teaching of new and unorthodox theology which, in effect, abrogated the historic teachings of the Faith; an ever-increasing secularization of the church and the subsequent failure to uphold scriptural standards of morality in the church; ordination of women to the priesthood; and, finally, a growing confusion about the nature of human sexuality, which has resulted in the church's increasing tolerance of sexual activities outside the estate of Holy Matrimony.

In 1977 concerned Episcopal clergy and laity who objected to these radical changes gathered in St. Louis, Missouri. They set forth a statement of faith called the Affirmation of Saint Louis, which expressed their commitment as Episcopalians to orthodox Christianity. The next step was the creation of the Diocese (now Province) of Christ the King, whose purpose is to put the St. Louis statement of faith into action.

Six Western parishes joined together and elected as their Bishop the Rev. Robert S. Morse, Rector of Saint Peter's Episcopal Church in Oakland, California. On January 28, 1978, in Denver, Colorado, Father Morse was consecrated Bishop. The Rt. Rev. Albert A. Chambers, retired Episcopal Bishop of Springfield, Illinois, was chief consecrator.

In its first decade and a half of existence the Province of Christ the King progressed from a small, struggling diocese of concerned Episcopalians to a confident, growing Province of over fifty congregations working to maintain and promote the historic Christian faith in the Anglican tradition. New churches are being built all over the country, and a national headquarters has been established at the Episcopal Heritage Church in Washington, D.C.. The entire national church is now headed by The Most Reverend Robert S. Morse, Archbishop of The Anglican Province of Christ the King.

In addition, the Saint Joseph of Arimathaea Anglican Theological College in Berkeley, California, is producing a steadily increasing number of knowledgeable and dedicated clergy for the entire Province.

So,what do we stand for?
The Province of Christ the King represents historic Christianity in the Episcopal tradition. Our beliefs are stated on the pages of the 1928 Book of Common Prayer. We believe that, while mankind's state of knowledge and thought evolves and expands throughout history, God's fundamental message to each of us -- the good news of personal redemption through Jesus Christ -- never changes.

We believe that, while decisive action to rectify political, economic, and environmental ills is a vital duty for all believing Christians, such action should not be made a substitute for the inner search for faith in the mystery of an incarnate, transcendent Christ.

The Church's duty, therefore, is to understand and interpret Christ's revelation to the contemporary world. As this historical process unfolds, the Anglican Province of Christ the King will continue to proclaim "that faith once delivered to the saints."