Editing Nun (section)

=== Protestantism ===
[[Image:Monastery Ebstorf.jpg|thumb|upright=1.5|[[Ebstorf Abbey]] has continued as a Lutheran convent in the Benedictine tradition since 1529.]]

After the Protestant Reformation, some monasteries in Lutheran lands (such as [[Amelungsborn Abbey]] near [[Negenborn]] and [[Loccum Abbey]] in [[Rehburg-Loccum]]) and convents (such as [[Ebstorf Abbey]] near the town of [[Uelzen]] and [[Bursfelde Abbey]] in [[Bursfelde]]) adopted the Lutheran Christian faith.<ref>{{cite web|date=8 August 2014|title=Kloster Ebstorf|work=Medieval Histories |url=http://www.medievalhistories.com/kloster-ebstorf-convent-bad-bevensen-near-luneburg/|access-date=20 November 2017|language=en|quote=The monastery is mentioned for the first time in 1197. It belongs to the group of so-called Lüneklöstern (monasteries of Lüne), which became Lutheran convents following the Protestant Reformation. […] It is currently one of several Lutheran convents maintained by the Monastic Chamber of Hanover (Klosterkammer Hannover), an institution of the former Kingdom of Hanover founded by its Prince-Regent, later King George IV of the United Kingdom, in 1818, in order to manage and preserve the estates of Lutheran convents.|archive-date=1 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201040013/http://www.medievalhistories.com/kloster-ebstorf-convent-bad-bevensen-near-luneburg/|url-status=live |last1=Histories |first1=Medieval }}</ref> Other convents, especially those in Reformed areas, closed after the Reformation, with some sisters deciding to marry.

A modern resurgence of the early Christian [[Deaconess]] office for women began in Germany in the 1840s and spread through Scandinavia, Britain and the United States, with some elements of the religious life, such as simple vows, and a daily obligation of prayer. Lutherans were especially active, and within both Lutheranism and Anglicanism some Deaconesses formed religious communities, with community living, and the option of life vows in religion.<ref>See CSA history [http://anglicanhistory.org/women/rich_deaconesses1907/ here] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110610055736/http://anglicanhistory.org/women/rich_deaconesses1907/ |date=2011-06-10 }}.</ref> The modern movement reached a zenith about 1910, then slowly declined as secularization undercut religiosity in Europe, and the professionalization of nursing and social work offered better career opportunities for young women. A small movement still exists, and its legacy is seen in the names of numerous hospitals.<ref>Cynthia A. Jurisson,  "The Deaconess Movement", in Rosemary Skinner Keller et al., eds. ''Encyclopedia of Women and Religion in North America'' (Indiana U.P., 2006). pp. 821–33 [https://books.google.com/books?id=WPILfbtT5tQC&pg=PA821 online]</ref>

The example of the Deaconess communities eventually led to the establishment of religious communities of monks and nuns within some Protestant traditions,<ref>One example of a Protestant [http://www.lutheranfranciscans.org/Home.html religious order] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140716185753/http://www.lutheranfranciscans.org/Home.html|date=2014-07-16}}</ref> particularly those influenced by the more liturgical Protestant reformers (such as [[Martin Luther]]) rather than the more extreme reformers (such as [[John Calvin]]). This has allowed for communities of nuns (or, in some cases, mixed communities of nuns and monks) to be re-established in some Protestant traditions. Many of these are within the episcopal Lutheran tradition and the closeness of Lutheranism with Anglicanism in its belief and practice has led to local arrangements of inter-Communion between the two traditions, such as the [[Porvoo Communion]].<ref name="TOI">Israeli press report concerning one [http://www.timesofisrael.com/lutheran-nuns-end-jerusalem-mission-to-shoah-survivors/ German Lutheran order] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140824234452/http://www.timesofisrael.com/lutheran-nuns-end-jerusalem-mission-to-shoah-survivors/ |date=2014-08-24 }} of nuns.</ref>

==== Lutheranism ====
[[File:Kloster Bursfelde von NO.jpg|thumb|[[Bursfelde Abbey]] has continued as a Lutheran convent since A.D. 1579]]

There are a plethora of religious orders within the [[Lutheran Church]]es, such as the [[Order of Lutheran Franciscans]] and [[Daughters of Mary (Lutheran)|Daughters of Mary]]. Nearly all [[Template:Lutheran orders|active Lutheran orders]] are located in Europe.

The [[Evangelical Sisterhood of Mary]], an order of Lutheran nuns, operates a guesthouse for Holocaust survivors in Jerusalem.<ref name="TOI" />

==== Anglicanism ====
{{main|Anglican religious order}}
[[File:Julianofnorwich.jpg|thumb|Two Anglican nuns]]
[[File:Nunnor - Ystad-2019.jpg|thumb|Two Birgitta sisters in [[Sweden]] 2019.]]
Religious communities throughout England were destroyed by King [[Henry VIII of England|Henry VIII]] when he separated the [[Church of England]] from papal authority during the [[English Reformation]] (see [[Dissolution of the Monasteries]]). Monasteries and convents were deprived of their lands and possessions, and monastics were forced to either live a secular life on a pension or flee the country. Many Catholic nuns went to France.

Anglican religious orders are organizations of [[laity]] or clergy in the [[Anglican Communion]] who live under a common rule. The term "religious orders" is distinguished from [[Holy Orders]] (the sacrament of [[ordination]] which bishops, priests, and deacons receive), though many communities do have ordained members.

The structure and function of religious orders in Anglicanism roughly parallels that which exists in Catholicism. Religious communities are divided into orders proper, in which members take solemn vows and congregations, whose members take simple vows.

With the rise of the [[Oxford Movement]] in Anglicanism in the early 19th century came interest in the revival of "religious life" in England. Between 1841 and 1855, several religious orders for nuns were founded, among them the Community of St. Mary at [[Wantage]] and the [[Society of Saint Margaret]] at [[East Grinstead]].

In the United States and Canada, the founding of Anglican religious orders of nuns began in 1845 with the Sisterhood of the Holy Communion (now defunct) in New York.

Whilst there is no single central authority for all religious orders, and many member churches of the Anglican Communion have their own internal structures for recognising and regulating religious orders, some central functions are performed by the Anglican Religious Communities Department at [[Church House, Westminster]], the headquarters of the Church of England's [[Church Commissioners]], [[General Synod of the Church of England|General Synod]], [[Archbishops' Council]], and [[National Society for Promoting Religious Education|National Society]]. This department publishes the biennial ''Anglican Religious Life'', a world directory of religious orders, and also maintains an official Anglican Communion website for religious orders. ''Anglican Religious Life'' defines four categories of community.<ref>Anglican Religious Life 2012–13, published Canterbury Press, Norwich, 2011, {{ISBN|978-1-84825-089-5}}, pp. iii, iv, 19, 147, 151, 171.</ref>
* "Traditional celibate religious orders and communities": Members take a vow of celibacy (amongst other vows) and follow a common Rule of life. They may be enclosed and contemplative or open and engaged in apostolic works.
* "Dispersed communities": These are orders or communities whose members, whilst taking vows (including celibacy), do not live together in community. In most cases the members are self-supporting and live alone, but follow the same Rule of life, and meet together frequently in assemblies often known as 'Chapter meetings'. In some cases some members may share a common life in very small groups of two or three.
* "Acknowledged communities": These communities live a traditional Christian life, including the taking of vows, but the traditional vows are adapted or changed. In many cases these communities admit both single and married persons as members, requiring celibacy on the part of those who are single, and unfailing commitment to their spouse on the part of married members. They also amend the vow of poverty, allowing personal possessions, but requiring high standards of tithing to the community and the wider church. These communities often have residential elements, but not full residential community life, as this would be incompatible with some elements of married family life.
* "Other communities": This group contains communities that are ecumenical (including Anglicans) or that belong to non-Anglican churches that have entered into relationships of full communion with the Anglican Church (particularly, but not only, certain Lutheran churches).

In the United States (only), there is a clear distinction between "orders" and "communities", as the Episcopal Church has its own two-fold definition of "religious orders" (equivalent to the first two groups above) and "Christian communities" (equivalent to the third group above).<ref>See Title III, Canon 24, sections 1 and 2 of the Canons of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America, also quoted at [http://communities.anglicancommunion.org Anglican Communion Religious Communities] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150221122644/http://communities.anglicancommunion.org/ |date=2015-02-21 }}.</ref> The ''Anglican Religious Life'' directory affirms this, stating "This distinction in not used in other parts of the Anglican Communion where 'communities' is also used for those who take traditional vows."<ref>''Anglican Religious Life 2012–13'', Canterbury Press, Norwich, 2011, {{ISBN|978-1-84825-089-5}}, p. 151.</ref>

In some Anglican orders, there are sisters who have been ordained and can celebrate the Eucharist.<ref>[http://www.ssmbos.com/Pages/whatwedo.html What We Do] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100616160844/http://www.ssmbos.com/Pages/whatwedo.html|date=2010-06-16}} sisters of St. Margaret, (Episcopal religious community of women)</ref>

==== Presbyterian ====

The Emmanuel Sisterhood in Cameroon, Africa, is part of the Presbyterian Church in Cameroon (PCC).<ref>{{cite web |title=Ihre Homepage - HOME PAGE |url=http://www.emmanuel-sisterhood.org/ |website=www.emmanuel-sisterhood.org |access-date=23 October 2023 |language=de |archive-date=7 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231107074534/https://www.emmanuel-sisterhood.org/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>{{better source needed|date=October 2023}}

==== Methodism ====
The [[Saint Brigid of Kildare Monastery (Methodist-Benedictine)|Saint Brigid of Kildare Benedictine Monastery]] is a [[United Methodist]] double monastery with both monks and nuns.<ref name="Lefevere">{{cite book|author=Patricia Lefevere|url=http://www.natcath.org/NCR_Online/archives/022103/022103v.htm|title=Methodist woman founds monastery|publisher=National Catholic Reporter|quote=St. Brigid’s oblate group has grown to 16 members since the dedication of the monastery on St. Brigid’s feast in 2000. Besides Stamps, it counts another 13 United Methodists, one Catholic and one Disciples of Christ member. The ages of group members range from 23 to 82. One-third of them are men; half are ordained. The community continues to grow.|access-date=1 October 2011|archive-date=3 November 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131103224914/http://www.natcath.org/NCR_Online/archives/022103/022103v.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>