was founded in Germany 1927 within Hochkirchliche Vereinigung. Franciskus Tredje Orden, FTO in Church of Sweden, is part of the European Province of the Third Order of the Anglican Society of St Francis. Stockholm based pastor Ted Harris is a well established member and contact man for Franciskus Tredje Orden. Ecumenical organisations In addition, there are associations of Franciscan inspiration not connected with a mainstream Christian tradition and describing themselves as ecumenical or dispersed. The Free Episcopal Church in the USA sponsors the Order of Servant Franciscans, whose members are committed to "the process of becoming" ministers of Christ's message of reconciliation and love, as demonstrated by the holy lives of Saints Francis and Clare. The Mission Episcopate of Saints Francis and Clare, "an autocephalous (self-governing) ecclesial jurisdiction", sponsors the Order of Lesser Sisters and Brothers, open to Christians male or female, married, partnered or single, clergy or lay. The Australian Ecumenical Franciscan Order is now an independent community in which most members live their everyday life in the world. They may be male or female, married, partnered or single, clergy or lay. They may belong to any Christian tradition. There is no discrimination of any sort, save as to minimum age. The Companions of Jesus, founded in the United Kingdom in 2004, is "a Franciscan Community of Reconciliation". The United States Order of Ecumenical Franciscans adopted its Rule on 22 November 1983. The Order of Lesser Sisters and Brothers is a dispersed ecumenical Franciscan community similar to the older Third Order model under which most members live their everyday life in the world. They may be male or female, married, partnered or single, clergy or lay. There is no discrimination of any sort, save as to minimum age. The Ecumenical Franciscan Society from Eastern Europe has Lutheran, Catholic, Orthodox, Anglican and free Protestant members. See also Order of Friars Minor, the original Catholic mendicant order founded by Saint Francis of Assisi References Notes Literature —4 volumes —Shows how Franciscans shifted away from an early emphasis on poverty and humility and instead emphasized educational roles Articles External links Lutheran Evangelische Franziskaner-Tertiaren in Germany Franciskus Tredje Orden in Sweden The Kanaan Franciscan Brothers Helige Franciskus Systraskap The Order of Saint Francis-Lutheran (OSF-L) Order of Lutheran Franciscans Franciscan Brothers of St. Michael at website of Evangelical Marian Catholic Church Franciscan Order of the Divine Mercy, United States Assisi-Kredsen Franciskus-Sällskapet i Finland The