Reflections on the ACNA

Well, it's now official. The Anglican Church of North America, with it's inaugural assembly is officially launched.

One of the guest speakers at this event is Metropolitan Jonah of the OCA. It is my hope that he will generate interest in Holy Orthodoxy among many.

There is much that is admirable about this new Anglican province, but it differs from Holy Orthodoxy in important respects.

While Orthodoxy unreservedly acknowledges the Seven Ecumenical Councils in their entirety, the ACNA accepts the first four, and the Christological statements of the fifth, sixth and seven Councils. One would guess that this would allow ACNA Anglicans to be favorable towards the use of Icons and Images, because they are aspects of the Christology of the Seventh Ecumenical Council.

The Orthodox Church holds Scripture and Holy Tradition to be part of the one revelation of Jesus Christ, while the ACNA puts Holy Scripture alone as the final authority on matters of faith and doctrine.

The ACNA limits the office of Bishop to those who are male, like Holy Orthodoxy. Unlike Holy Orthodoxy, there is limited acceptance of female priests and deacons permitted in some quarters of the province. In other quarters of the province, this practice is not allowed.

The standards for worship will differ between the ACNA and Western Rite Orthodoxy, not to mention with the wider Orthodox world. My guess is that the majority of ACNA Anglicans will worship in a more contemporary manner than what would be acceptable in Holy Orthodoxy.

One area where I expect the ACNA to continue to outdo us in Holy Orthodoxy is in the area of Evangelism and Church Planting. I hope we can gain ground in this area.

I have some unique feelings about this new Anglican endeavor, since I was once a member of one of the sub-groups that make up this new province, the Anglican Mission in the Americas.

I wonder what my life would be like right now if I had stayed in the AMIA.

I think I would have been constantly frustrated by the lack of interest in traditional Anglican worship. Thankfully, I'm not faced with this issue in the Antiochian Archdiocese.

It is unavoidable that there will be ties and frequent interaction with ACNA Anglicans and Western Rite Orthodox Christians. Those in the ACNA are "our country cousins" of a sort and many of them experienced similar battles with the Episcopal Church. But those of us who converted to Holy Orthodoxy went down a different path.

I still believe our Holy Orthodox faith is THE TRUTH and anything else, even if very close, is less than the truth.

So it's good that my family and I are where we are.

This being said, I firmly believe a large percentage of ACNA Anglicans have a closeness to the same God I worship.

Christ is in our midst,

Columba Silouan

Saint Ambrose Orthodox Church, Revisited

Good afternoon and Happy Father's Day everyone!

The Antiochian crisis over auxiliary bishops appears to be over, with a favorable ruling from the Holy Synod stating that the Episcopate is one, and that a Bishop is a Bishop, period. There is no such thing as an "auxiliary bishop."

At first glance, it appears that the decision is a bit of a split decision. No, there is no such thing as an "assistant bishop," but the existing bishops were still said to be those who assist the Metropolitan in the administration of the Archdiocese.

At any rate, during the crisis, one of the silliest edicts that came down was a prohibition of public prayers at the Divine Liturgy for any bishop but the Metropolitan and the Patriarch, unless the "auxiliary bishop" was present in the parish at the time.

Of course, most of the Priests thumbed their noses at this unwise and unnecessary edict. I say, rightly so. All of our bishops need prayer all the time.

I learned from observing this to respect the office of bishop, but not necessarily every lame-brained decision coming down from the individuals who hold the office.

I've also come to the conclusion that it's time to move forward with the dream of finding new convert families in the Parker area in the hopes that an eventual Western Rite mission can be established.

The benefits of establishing new parishes are increased revenues for the new retreat center and for Lancelot Andrewes Press, and a much greater readership for our materials. Other benefits are obvious: Increased conversions, vital parishes, and the blessings of obeying the Great Commission.

A local priest responded to a question I offered about an exception to the 60-mile rule in the following manner:

Benedictions,

I cannot do anything about the 60 mile rule. I can, once some of the
dust settles on the Diocesan bishops crisis, offer an opinion under
the best circumstances and get a response, maybe, from Bp Basil and
that, so far as I am concerned would be the road map. However, a
'mission station' would still need layers of approval further up the
hierarchy at some time. My sense is the whole scheme would float on my
reputation and personal contact with Metropolitan Philip and
Chancellor Kevorkian and Bp Basil. So far all that is working pretty
well.

A Road Map is designed to be followed to a destination.

I took the following from this response:

Maintain a good relationship with the established priests in our area at all times. Be obedient to their leadership and guidance.

Go ahead with dreaming and planning for an eventual mission. Start the work.

Don't do anything that might embarrass our local priests or harm their reputations.

Once enough people and resources are garnered, put the ball in the court of our local priests and let them carry that ball to the Bishop, the Vicar General, and on to the Metropolitan.

We live and serve in a heirarchical church, and acquiring permissions is just part of things with us. As long as everything is done decently and in good order, God can open doors no man can shut.

So if we build it correctly and bathe the endeavor in prayer, perhaps the approval will come.

In other words, do the work and then cross the bridge of gaining the proper approvals when we come to it.

Worst case-scenario: Generate interest and conversions to Holy Orthodoxy and if no approval comes, pack out Saint Marks.

But I believe God can move mountains, and there is no harm in trying to brush back the "60 mile rule."

Pax Christi,

Columba Silouan

The Recent Troubles in the Antiochian Archdiocese

In my opinion, the issue of the American Bishops being reduced to Auxiliary Status came at a really bad time. The Archdiocese is growing and new Western Rite Parishes are joining from the Charismatic Episcopal Church, an organization I spent a year in myself.

In addition to the new parishes joining en-masse, here in Colorado we've seen the publishing of a new Book of Common Prayer, and the continuing progress of the new retreat center in Southern Colorado.

Why now, when enthusiasm is building and exciting things are happening did this unwelcome interruption occur?

I think first and foremost, this controversy is a spiritual attack from the enemy of our souls. My hope is that, as often is the case, the devil will overreach and Christ and His Church will emerge stronger and better for these travails.

I have prayerful hopes that the trip of the American Bishops to Damascus to meet with Patriarch Ignatius will bear good fruit.

Pax Christ,

Columba Silouan

Free at Last! My New I-Mac and Me

At long last, I have a new and powerful tool at my disposal. After following the Dave Ramsey plan, my wife and I saved up enough emergency fund and living expenses money to allow for the purchase of a new computer.

My old PC, complete with Windows 98 finally got to the point where my virus protection would no longer update because the operating system was too old and not supported.

This new machine will allow for better and faster blogging and many other things. It's a powerful tool that I would like to use to promote Eastern Orthodoxy.

Now, if I could just think up a name for my new machine.

Blessings,

Columba Silouan