The OCA

Anastasios · Post by **Anastasios** » Wed 20 October 2004 6:32 pm

Due to the efforts of several people, the OCA just issued a statement against altar girls:

http://www.oca.org/pages/news/news.asp?ID=678

Anastasios

Justin Kissel · Post by **Justin Kissel** » Thu 21 October 2004 12:14 pm

$/\$ Good to hear.

gphadraig · Post by **gphadraig** » Thu 21 October 2004 1:34 pm

Oh, dear, granny will be upset!

Natasha · Post by **Natasha** » Thu 21 October 2004 4:29 pm

Just got back on the board! Anyways, does anyone have the pictures of this still? Obviously, the link is gone, but I would like to see for myself what this was all about....

Anastasios · Post by **Anastasios** » Fri 22 October 2004 11:20 pm

email me anastasios0513 @ yahoo.com (remove spaces) and I will send you the pic.

gphadraig · Post by **gphadraig** » Sun 24 October 2004 10:35 am

Today it appears that unless one occupies an office or post one is deemed to have no 'status' or is unable to contribute fully to the life of one's local church? This attitude was first brought to my attention when Anglican friends would talk about a friend or relative who being priested was referred to as having, "Having joined the Church". This despite their many years of active membership of the Anglican communion?

Only a tiny minority will be 'elected' as clergy and of them who will be worthy of that awesome responsibility before the altar of God? Throughout our history women have played a crucial role within the Christian community at many levels. Indeed many local churches would not just be empty but desolate without those faithful women. How many of us would queue up to pray, fast, prostrate and give of our time, energies and money to those in need? And how many would be in the queue if some bishop were to hold a raffle for some ecclesiastical office. The first queue would be very short and the second? Well, it would likely be out the church door and half way down the block.

I am severely disabled and will never serve in the altar. As a sometime campaigner on disability issues I suppose I could get worked up and challenge this on the basis I feel excluded. The truth is I don't. Because salvation is the prize, not pride, office or preferment. The first queue is open to me and everyone else. In each local place there are always tasks needed and hands to tackle them. There is a place there to for me and as many as are willing and able too. The one thing not needed is my pride or misplaced feelings of not being used fully. The principle obstacle there is one thing and one alone, me!

Christianity is not concerned with the mores and fashions of this world, which is preoccupied with this or that today, and something else tomorrow. Women have always played a major role in the Christian community. Apeing the methods and principles of an increasingly secular and alien society around us will not bear good fruit but destruction surely?

Tessa · Post by **Tessa** » Sun 24 October 2004 10:55 am

gphadraig, that was a very nice post. $/\$