Daughters of the King

Who We Are

The Daughters of the King is an order for women who are communicants of the Episcopal Church, churches in communion with it, or churches in the Historic Episcopate. The Order was founded in 1885 by Margaret J. Franklin at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in New York City. Our Anglican tradition includes Episcopal oversight, Holy Scripture containing all things necessary for salvation, recognition of the gift of the Holy Spirit in Baptism, the real presence of our Lord in Holy Eucharist and worship according to The Book of Common Prayer.

Members undertake a Rule of Life, incorporating the Rule of Prayer and the Rule of Service. By reaffirmation of the promises made at Baptism and Confirmation, a Daughter pledges herself to a life-long program of prayer, service and evangelism, dedicated to the spread of Christ's Kingdom and the strengthening of the spiritual life of her parish.

Vision Statement

As Daughters of the King, we are women of courage who have made a commitment to serve God our King. We wear crosses as an outward and visible sign that we cannot live a day without Christ in our lives. We see our Order as a community of nurturing women, accepting all people, bridging differences and cherishing traditions.

Empowered by the Holy Spirit, our vision is to encourage and enable all to be reflections of God's love, reaching out through prayer, service and evangelism to spread His Kingdom.

The Prayer of the Order

O eternal Father, you have sent us your Son to teach us things pertaining to your heavenly Kingdom. Give your blessing to our Order wherever it may be throughout the world. Grant that we, your Daughters, ever may discern your truth and bear the cross through the battles of our earthly life. Give us strength to overcome temptation and the grace to work to spread your Kingdom and to gather your scattered sheep within your fold. Pour out upon us the sevenfold gift of the Holy Spirit that we may always remember it is your work we are called to do; that all we think, do or say may be pleasing in your sight. We ask it all For His Sake, our King and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.

The Motto of the Order

The Colors of the Order

The Rule of Life of the Order

THE RULE OF PRAYER

In the Christian life nothing can be substituted for prayer. It is a Daughter's daily recourse to the source of life and strength. Every member must have a rule of daily prayer. Communication with God must be a growing, deepening relationship with Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Each Daughter's Rule of Prayer should be carefully considered and guarded. It should be prayerfully chosen, reviewed regularly and revised periodically.

Part of the Rule of Prayer is to pray daily:

• For the unity of Christ's Church.
• For the spread of Christ's Kingdom, especially among women and girls.
• For God's blessing upon the members of the Order.

For the spiritual growth of the parish and for the clergy of the parish to which the chapter owes allegiance.

THE RULE OF SERVICE

Through her Rule of Service, a Daughter daily seeks to do the will of God wherever she is, remembering Jesus' words, "I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these...you did it for me." Matthew 25:40 (NIV). The Rule of Service is the application of one's baptismal vow, reaffirmed by Confirmation:

• To be Christ's faithful servant in the extension of His Kingdom.
• To regularly take part in the worship, study and work of the Church.

To render at all times aid to the clergy as deemed necessary for the spiritual up-building of the parish.

Through membership in our Order women are:

• Strengthened through prayer.
• Helped to learn through study.
• Provided community with other Daughters.

We are a group of women living a Rule of Prayer and Service to our neighbors. We are women to whom parishioners can look for love and for help in time of need, loneliness or strangeness. We seek to walk with God as our guide and try to draw those with whom we come in contact into the Church. We are women who work to spread Christ's Kingdom here on earth. We can never forget that prayer is the foundation from which our service grows.

There are 900 daughters in 44 Chapters in the diocese of West Texas.

To get more information about Daughters of the King or how to start a chapter in your parish, Call or e-mail Betty Smith, Diocesan President at 325-387-3078 or c) 361-537-0707 or bettyfsmith40@yahoo.com

Junior Daughters of the King

• Encourage members in personal and group prayer.
• Provide service opportunities suitable for membership and purpose.
• Provide study opportunities for Christian growth.
• Provide loving and supportive Christian community to strengthen members for service.

A chapter is made up of three or more baptized girls and young women, beginning at age 7 and to not more than age 20, who are under the leadership of a senior daughter. To get more information about Junior Daughters of the King or how to start a Junior chapter in your parish, Call or e-mail Betty Smith, Diocesan President at 325-387-3078 or c) 361-537-0707 or bettyfsmith40@yahoo.com