Local President: Genny Koziol koziol@ntin.net
For more information please click here to be taken to the National DOK website.
Empowered by the Holy Spirit, our vision as Daughters of the King® is to know Jesus Christ, to make Him known to others, and to become reflections of God’s love throughout the world.
The Order of the Daughters of the King® (DOK) is a spiritual sisterhood of women dedicated to a life of Prayer, Service and Evangelism. We have made a commitment to Jesus as our Savior, and we follow Him as Lord of our lives. We are an Order for women who are communicants of the Episcopal Church, churches in communion with it, or churches in the Historic Episcopate. Today our membership includes women in the Anglican, Episcopal, Lutheran (ELCA) and Roman Catholic churches.
An Order is a community under a religious rule; especially one requiring members to take solemn vows. We don’t just enroll as members and attend meetings; we take life-long vows to follow the Rule of Prayer and Rule of Service.
A Rule is a prescribed guide for conduct or action by laws or regulations prescribed by the founder of a religious order for observance by its members.
The Order of the Daughters of the King® was founded in 1885 by Margaret J. Franklin at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in New York City. Members of the Order undertake a Rule of Life, incorporating the Rule of Prayer and 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.
“With heart, mind and spirit uphold and bear the cross”
The emblem of the Order is in the form of a modified Greek fleury cross inscribed in Latin, “Magnanimiter Crucem Sustine,” the watchword of the Order, meaning “With heart, mind and spirit uphold and bear the cross.” At the base of the cross are the letters “FHS”, initials that stand for the Motto of the Order: “For His Sake”.
The emblem, never wavering from the original design, has been trademarked for the exclusive use of the Order. The cross is worn at all times. It is customarily worn on the left side over the heart or it may be worn on a silver chain around the neck, but it is never to be worn simply as an ornament. Only a member in good standing may wear the cross of the Order, which remains the property of the Order. When a Daughter dies, her cross may be buried with her or incorporated into her memorial; otherwise, it must be returned to the National Office.
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.
Through her Rule of Service, a Daughter daily seeks to do the will of God where 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:
For His Sake...
I am but one, but I am one.
I cannot do everything, but I can do something.
What I can do, I ought to do.
What I ought to do, by the grace of God I will do.
Lord, what will you have me do?
The primary way that the financial needs of the Order are met is through annual dues paid by each Daughter. Chapter presidents are asked to check each year the annual chapter listing sent by the National Office to verify that all chapter members are paid for the year. This money is used to support the work of the Order at the national, provincial and diocesan levels and includes a subscription to The Royal Cross, our national quarterly publication. In addition many provinces and dioceses have newsletters for members. Dues Financial Assistance is available for those who occasionally need financial help. This is one way Daughters truly love and support each other.