MILTON "BISHOP!"

[Nathaniel Kapner]

"A bishop must be the husband of one wife having a good report from
those without."

IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER AND OF THE SON AND OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. AMEN.

My dearly beloved Orthodox Christians, I would love this morning to
tell you a story that I heard so many years ago.

Once upon a time in the 4th Century AD there lived a man named
Ambrose. Now this man "Ambrose" was a barrister who became the
magistrate of the city of Milan. Ambrose was a righteous man, an
Orthodox Christian though he was never baptized. How is it possible
to say that Ambrose was an Orthodox Christian if he was never
baptized? With men my dearly beloved ones, this is impossible.

Now the bishop of the city of Milan at that time was a man named
Auxentius who was an Arian. When he died in 374 a riot broke out
with regard to who should be elected as the new bishop. A tumultuous
crowd gathered in the Church to discuss the appointment of a new
bishop. Ambrose felt it his duty to calm the mob.

Upon entering the Church, there Ambrose made an oration exhorting
all to proceed in their choice in a spirit of peace. Suddenly a
child cried out, "Ambrose Bishop!" "Ambrose Bishop!"

Many of you are clamoring for me to become a bishop. If elected I
will not run. Though I am a monk and therefore since monks are
natural picks for this high position and of course it goes without
saying we monks are highly qualified - I don't want it - I refuse -
do not ask me again!

You all would be much better off with a married man who has proven
himself in the world rather than a monk who (of course this is
highly unlikely and is simply my own private opinion), couldn't make
it in the world, and (of course this is also highly unlikely and
again my own private opinion), might possibly be a homosexual.

We have today my dearly beloved Orthodox Christians many bishops
who were never married and simply because they were monks for
perhaps a couple of years or so, are elected to the episcopacy.Thus
these men, I mean monks, have been found worthy to be the successors
of St Paul and his apostolic team. For instance St Paul speaks of
these monks become bishops thus:

"A bishop must be one who ruleth well his own house having his
children in subjection. For if a man know not how to rule his own
house, how then shall he take care of the house of God?"

And, "A bishop must have a good report from them that are without."

Obviously the far sighted St Paul had in view that 700 years later
someone would decide that only monks should become bishops. Very
wise. Much wiser than St Paul for sure.

What's so bad about married men becoming bishops again? Let's get
back to the good old days when men were bishops and bishops were
married men who had proven themselves both from within their own
homes and from without in their public careers. I do not think the
great St Paul would argue do you all not agree? And I think that in
your hearts you know that I am right. Right?

THROUGH THE MERCIES OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, WHO WITH THE FATHER
AND THE HOLY SPIRIT LIVES AND REIGNS FOR EVER AND EVER. AMEN.

Milton.(milton "bishop?")-milton "bishop?")-(milton "bishop?")-(m..

NO WAY!

MARRIED MEN "BISHOP!"-MARRIED MEN "BISHOP!"-MARRIED MEN "BISHOP!"-M..

[Subdeacon Jerjis]

Because of massive persecution and apostasy, and because the remnant
True Church has become so small, and because monasticism in general
is in steep decline, I believe the time has come for the true
Israelites to heed the words of St. Paul to St. Timothy, and re-
establish the tradition of the early Church, by ordaining bishops
from among older married men, who have a good report from those
within the Chruch, and from those without, who have proven
themselves in their own house by ruling their children well.

The Church under antichrist has to become more flexible and
versatile. Married men should be seriously considered for the
episcopacy.

Sbn Jerjis/Dr Alajaji

[Subdeacon Jerjis]

There are many reasons to have more married bishops who volontarily
separated from their wives.

First they are more financially independent, and are hopefully thus
less corruptible.

Second, they could be more astute in worldly matters.

Third, they will not be molded by any monastery or seminary. The new
world order (communists, masons, zionists, modernists, ecumenists,
etc...) does naturally target seminaries and monasteries , because they are
the sources of the future leaders of the church. However the NWO cannot
control every married couple. If an orthodox man is upright and
faithful with his wife in his married life, and studies the Scriptures,
Fathers, Rudder, etc.. on his own, practices ascetism and a prayer rule,
outside a corrupted seminary or monastery, we have the promise of Christ
that the Holy Spirit will teach him all things. You are an example in
point.

Fourth, the NWO can control 20 bishops better than 200 bishops.

Fifth, just by shear numbers, whenever there is apostasy, it would be
easier to find two remnant true bishops among 200 as compared to 20.

Therefore, maybe having a higher ratio of bishops to priests and laity
may be a safer trend. Who knows? May God help us, as He always has.

Sbn. Jerjis/Dr. Alaljaji

[Edward]

"Many of you are clamoring for me to become a bishop. If elected I
will not run. Though I am a monk and therefore since monks are
natural picks for this high position and of course it goes without
saying we monks are highly qualified - I don't want it - I refuse -
do not ask me again!"

You are clearly crazy. Maybe you should ordain yourself to the Episcopacy and then you can be Patriarch of the Genuinely True Schizophrenic Orthodox Church of the Near and Far Galaxy.

Better yet, keep believing that this discussion room reflects any shimmer of reality.

Edward

[AndyHolland]

A Bishop's one wife is the Church, and his children are the flock of Christ. A man who rules his own house is a man who has tamed the passions. A man who has a good report from those within is a man whose conscience is clear. A man who has a good report from those without is a man whom even the demons cannot accuse.

Anyone who fits the above description is too good for the job and must be forced into it. So the violent take the kingdom of heaven by force.

andy the pious twaddler

Uncle Milty for Bishop - as Milton called it, a safe unenvied throne.

[Justin Kissel]

You all would be much better off with a married man who has proven himself in the world rather than a monk who (of course this is
highly unlikely and is simply my own private opinion), couldn't make
it in the world, and (of course this is also highly unlikely and
again my own private opinion), might possibly be a homosexual.

Maybe he is bi, this theoretical person. For that matter, maybe the girl is into poly and is looking for a bi individual. shrugs