Thanks, Cafe, for still being here

[Suaidan]

As I mull over the fact that I've been moderated on orthodoxchristianity.net (again) I thought I'd take a moment to say thanks to all the moderators of the E-Cafe for working with us all.

Debating on a True Orthodox forum is probably not easy, considering our different jurisdictional stances and opinions. But today, I was once again reminded why the alternative is far worse. The simple truth is that some folks don't like any of us. And we should always keep that in the forefront of our thinking; my guess is that it will keep us a little more humble. Sure, it's the internet, and the temptation to just "come out swinging" comes alive; and True Orthodox are often on the defensive most of the time anyway.

But for just a minute, I'd like to say thank God this forum was kept alive-- and to Jonathan and the other moderators, thanks again.

[jgress]

Thanks, Fr Joseph.

I was talking with a clerical wag about the current Serbian business and he told me he could probably write a convincing canonical defense of just about any jurisdiction over against any other, i.e. any jurisdiction that tries to claim canonical purity (and hence the right to judge all other jurisdictions) is simply blowing hot air. We have long since left behind the era of keeping the canons to the letter (if indeed such an era ever existed). We are living now in the time when simply a bishop that preaches Orthodoxy without adulteration and who has apostolic succession will be a great blessing. Our criteria (I'm speaking as a layman) for which bishop to choose should now be based simply on whether the bishop is truly Orthodox, and whether he's a good pastor. Any attempt to ascertain his or his synod's canonical perfection will only be used by the devil to confuse us.

In other words, I agree with your words.

[Suaidan]

Thanks, Fr Joseph.

I was talking with a clerical wag about the current Serbian business and he told me he could probably write a convincing canonical defense of just about any jurisdiction over against any other, i.e. any jurisdiction that tries to claim canonical purity (and hence the right to judge all other jurisdictions) is simply blowing hot air. We have long since left behind the era of keeping the canons to the letter (if indeed such an era ever existed). We are living now in the time when simply a bishop that preaches Orthodoxy without adulteration and who has apostolic succession will be a great blessing. Our criteria (I'm speaking as a layman) for which bishop to choose should now be based simply on whether the bishop is truly Orthodox, and whether he's a good pastor. Any attempt to ascertain his or his synod's canonical perfection will only be used by the devil to confuse us.

In other words, I agree with your words.

Wow. That's a very true sentiment that I agree with 100%, but it's going to take a while before it becomes an institutional sentiment. But it will have to if and when True Orthodoxy becomes fully united (assuming the end doesn't come first). And that is the hardest thing in the world. It requires us to take the canonical yardstick by which we have traditionally applied to those outside our respective jurisdictions and apply it to ourselves.

I think the work that the TOC's are doing in these days are becoming increasingly missionary and recovery endeavors, and because of this, we are going to see far superior and more interesting analyses of the canons than we have in the most recent past. I can't help but think that jurisdictionally across the board, this is an incredibly exciting time as an observer.

[jgress]

I just want to say that I didn't intend to give the impression that I believe the rules are unimportant and we can ignore them whenever we feel like. The point is that, since everyone is now guilty of breaking them, we simply can't use legalistic arguments on their own to determine where the true Church lies. We have to allow that the Holy Spirit continues to descend on the Church even where the rules have been broken, and therefore we must use other criteria for judging the presence of the Spirit, namely the preaching of True Orthodoxy, and the manifestation of the Spirit's activity in the life of the Church, such as a pious congregation, or a loving and courageous bishop. If I lived in Serbia, I would choose whether or not to follow Bp Akakije based on these considerations, not on a dry and legalistic understanding of the limits of some Synod's territorial authority.