Post by Theotokos on Jun 17, 2005 1:02:03 GMT -5
On Independent "orthodox catholic" Groups
In the Philippines there exist a number of "home made and fly by night" groups masquerading as "orthodox", one example is the Philippine Orthodox Catholic Church which was recently featured in one of the local television program (GMA Channel 7 "IMBESTIGADOR) and has brought public scandal because of it's immoral practices and cultic beliefs. The public is warned against this independent and cultic "orthodox catholic" groups who used the name of our Church for their own vested interest.
From an Orthodox point of view, a bishop or a branch of the church can never be "independent", that is, exist apart from the communion of the Church and her moral and doctrinal teachings. In the Orthodox faith, this is underscored by having the bishop stand in the midst of his flock rightly teaching the truth while protecting his people from error and exploitation.
To "exist" as a bishop or a priest outside the church is a contradiction in terms. The Church is the body of Christ Himself, and the bishop occupies the place of Christ here on earth. To want to be a bishop or a priest for personal gain or prestige is contrary to the Gospel which calls the bishop "servant" and "one who oversees" a flock. A man does not become a bishop to establish a church, rather the church exists to call bishops - men able to propagate Christ's work among the faithful. Christ chose men, taught them, then established a church for them to teach and guide. He founded a church opon the "rock" (petra), i.e. on the belief in Him as the son of God, while placing apostles (later called bishops) in charge of teaching the people in all places, at all times, this basic tenet of faith.
In the United States and Canada alone there are about hundreds of "vagante bishops", most of which are sole paper organizations without any faithful to guide, others with several scattered parishes, some few men with establsished congregations and important apostolates among the faithful.
We cannot and will not judge all "independent bishops". Yet, one can only wonder why a man would want to be a bishop if he had no church? - A truly sincere and honest man would establish a legitamite parish and seek unity and recognition with other fellow Christians of the same faith. Any other way betrays a self-serving attitude, or a venal mind which desires the office of bishop for personal gain or recognition!
Vagante bishops have been known to place innocent and naive people in a precarious situation. Sometimes these groups fall into a cult-like mentality, a one man rule, a haven for immoral or lustful clergy. These "churches" degenerate into independent and personal "churchianity" dangerous to the faith and spiritual progress of sincere men and women seeking the truth! - Some "bishops" have even been known to develop a "cafeteria-style" Christianity where one can pick and choose what to believe, often mixing pagan and new-age beliefs with the Lord's own words.
One guideline often found useful is to ask questions. Seek information about a church's history or affiliation with other churches, either of the same faith, or locally on the ecumenical level. If a man is honest, he is never theatened or angered by your concerns. Write to authorities in the area. They will guide you, or lead you to someone who will. Never hand over large sums of money or a deed of property to these newly "established" churches, often using names like "Independent Orthodox", "Orthodox Catholic", "Old Catholic", "Apostolic", "Apostolic Orthodox", "Independent Catholic (Episcopal/Anglican)", and so on.
Fortunately, virtually all vagante groupings or individuals are fly by night enterprises, unable to maintain relationships with those in authority. They must exist apart from others, a dangerous sign of misguided souls. One cannot exist in a vacuum, or claim to be part of a church while remaining unrecognized by that church, or blend certain pagan beliefs and morals with authentic Christianity. We cannot develop a "new faith" because of personal whim or vanity. One cannot be "independent" and at the same time claim to be part of the Orthodox (or Catholic, Episcopal, ....) church.
There always will be false shepherds among us. The real test of one's desire to be united with the truth is
(a) to avoid joining an eclectic, home-made "Christianity" apart from the true Church of Christ; and
(b) to join a sincere, stable and recognizable church or Synod.
In almost every city around the globe one can find religious splinter groups that were started by someone for a particular purpose. Though some of them have a legitimate reason for existence, most of them are simply self styled. Often such groups are called "vagante" from the Latin word "vagans", because their leaders and members (if any) do not belong to a church (other than the one they themselves created) and are therefore spiritually vagrant.
Many characteristics have been attributed to the vagante world. The following are guidelines that have been found helpful:
I. On the Ecclesiastical or Canonical level:
(1) A bishop or church without ordinary laity.
(2) Lack of higher education of all or the majority of clergy.
(3) More bishops than actually needed.
(4) Bishops with a nonexistent diocese or a diocese/church on paper only.
(5) Self assumed titles or elevations (such as Metropolitan, Archbishop, etc.) never given to the person.
(6) Lack of theological and/or liturgical knowledge of the clergy.
(7) Isolationism, religious fanaticism and holier-than-thou existence.
(8) Refusal or inability to enter ecumenical relations with other viable jurisdictions of the same faith.
(9) Claims of legitimacy that easily can be refuted.
(10) Lust for power and numbers.
www.geocities.com/philorthodox/caution.htm
[edited to correct tags]
In the Philippines there exist a number of "home made and fly by night" groups masquerading as "orthodox", one example is the Philippine Orthodox Catholic Church which was recently featured in one of the local television program (GMA Channel 7 "IMBESTIGADOR) and has brought public scandal because of it's immoral practices and cultic beliefs. The public is warned against this independent and cultic "orthodox catholic" groups who used the name of our Church for their own vested interest.
From an Orthodox point of view, a bishop or a branch of the church can never be "independent", that is, exist apart from the communion of the Church and her moral and doctrinal teachings. In the Orthodox faith, this is underscored by having the bishop stand in the midst of his flock rightly teaching the truth while protecting his people from error and exploitation.
To "exist" as a bishop or a priest outside the church is a contradiction in terms. The Church is the body of Christ Himself, and the bishop occupies the place of Christ here on earth. To want to be a bishop or a priest for personal gain or prestige is contrary to the Gospel which calls the bishop "servant" and "one who oversees" a flock. A man does not become a bishop to establish a church, rather the church exists to call bishops - men able to propagate Christ's work among the faithful. Christ chose men, taught them, then established a church for them to teach and guide. He founded a church opon the "rock" (petra), i.e. on the belief in Him as the son of God, while placing apostles (later called bishops) in charge of teaching the people in all places, at all times, this basic tenet of faith.
In the United States and Canada alone there are about hundreds of "vagante bishops", most of which are sole paper organizations without any faithful to guide, others with several scattered parishes, some few men with establsished congregations and important apostolates among the faithful.
We cannot and will not judge all "independent bishops". Yet, one can only wonder why a man would want to be a bishop if he had no church? - A truly sincere and honest man would establish a legitamite parish and seek unity and recognition with other fellow Christians of the same faith. Any other way betrays a self-serving attitude, or a venal mind which desires the office of bishop for personal gain or recognition!
Vagante bishops have been known to place innocent and naive people in a precarious situation. Sometimes these groups fall into a cult-like mentality, a one man rule, a haven for immoral or lustful clergy. These "churches" degenerate into independent and personal "churchianity" dangerous to the faith and spiritual progress of sincere men and women seeking the truth! - Some "bishops" have even been known to develop a "cafeteria-style" Christianity where one can pick and choose what to believe, often mixing pagan and new-age beliefs with the Lord's own words.
One guideline often found useful is to ask questions. Seek information about a church's history or affiliation with other churches, either of the same faith, or locally on the ecumenical level. If a man is honest, he is never theatened or angered by your concerns. Write to authorities in the area. They will guide you, or lead you to someone who will. Never hand over large sums of money or a deed of property to these newly "established" churches, often using names like "Independent Orthodox", "Orthodox Catholic", "Old Catholic", "Apostolic", "Apostolic Orthodox", "Independent Catholic (Episcopal/Anglican)", and so on.
Fortunately, virtually all vagante groupings or individuals are fly by night enterprises, unable to maintain relationships with those in authority. They must exist apart from others, a dangerous sign of misguided souls. One cannot exist in a vacuum, or claim to be part of a church while remaining unrecognized by that church, or blend certain pagan beliefs and morals with authentic Christianity. We cannot develop a "new faith" because of personal whim or vanity. One cannot be "independent" and at the same time claim to be part of the Orthodox (or Catholic, Episcopal, ....) church.
There always will be false shepherds among us. The real test of one's desire to be united with the truth is
(a) to avoid joining an eclectic, home-made "Christianity" apart from the true Church of Christ; and
(b) to join a sincere, stable and recognizable church or Synod.
In almost every city around the globe one can find religious splinter groups that were started by someone for a particular purpose. Though some of them have a legitimate reason for existence, most of them are simply self styled. Often such groups are called "vagante" from the Latin word "vagans", because their leaders and members (if any) do not belong to a church (other than the one they themselves created) and are therefore spiritually vagrant.
Many characteristics have been attributed to the vagante world. The following are guidelines that have been found helpful:
I. On the Ecclesiastical or Canonical level:
(1) A bishop or church without ordinary laity.
(2) Lack of higher education of all or the majority of clergy.
(3) More bishops than actually needed.
(4) Bishops with a nonexistent diocese or a diocese/church on paper only.
(5) Self assumed titles or elevations (such as Metropolitan, Archbishop, etc.) never given to the person.
(6) Lack of theological and/or liturgical knowledge of the clergy.
(7) Isolationism, religious fanaticism and holier-than-thou existence.
(8) Refusal or inability to enter ecumenical relations with other viable jurisdictions of the same faith.
(9) Claims of legitimacy that easily can be refuted.
(10) Lust for power and numbers.
www.geocities.com/philorthodox/caution.htm
[edited to correct tags]