Quote from Irl Gladfelter: What is the attraction leading some Lutherans to cross the Bosphorus (and by implication, the Tiber?)
Answer by ptmccain: I think there is some element in here of guys preferring the fancy duds and playing "dress up."
My comment: That may be an element for some but if so that is unfortunate and is no reason to convert.
ptmccain observes: Seriously, I believe that Pres. Benke is correct that a good bit of the time it is a desire to find "security" and a highly authoritarian structure claiming divine right to make eternally binding decrees on the people of God offers a certain comfort to people who need that kind of thing. The romance of alleged "historic succession" is also important for some. Much more could be said, of course.
My observation: I agree. Among possible reasons for choosing to "swim the Bosphorus" rather than the Tiber is that Eastern Orthodoxy considers the Roman Catholic Church to be heretical on a number of points, including the institution of the monarchial Papacy. The Eastern Orthodox Churches are ruled by a Holy Synod (council of Bishops) presided over by a Patriarch who, while greatly respected, is only a "first among equals;" and Constantinople seems to have no direct authority over the Autocephalous Churches. Moral authorithy, yes, but not legal authority. There is a sort of "rough democracy" in Eastern Orthodox polity (I mean that in a good sense) which requires the assent / consent of the Bishops before any significant change in doctrine etc. really becomes effective. For the Greek Church, the assent of a majority of the Monks on Mt. Athos seems to be important, etc. Unlike Rome, Eastern Orthodoxy does not "fix the moment" of the real presence, or attempt to define it in other than rather general terms.
There are many other points which would seem to make Eastern Orthodoxy more comfortable than Roman Catholicism to someone coming out of conservative Lutheranism, but I will leave those to someone who has "crossed the Bosphorus" like Priest Robert McMeekin.
The short course is like this (and forgive the terseness I'm on a tight schedule this morning):
1. The visible head of the Church on Earth is Christ in the Eucharist surrounded by His bishops, priests, deacons and people gathered in the one true faith as proclaimed in the Scriptures and defined by the Creed (Nicene-Constantinopolitan), and as faithfully taught in the Divine Liturgy, Holy Tradition (capital "T") and the teachings of the fathers. (Luther agrees with us on this point at least: there is no "Vicar of Christ" as "vicar" implies an absence of someone. Christ is present and ruling in His Church, not absent.)
2. Apostolic Succession is a succession of teaching and fellowship (Acts 2:42) among those set apart for the episcopal and priestly offices as a stewardship of the truth. (An understanding implicit in previous Lutheran ordinals, but somehow lost to those lusting after ECUSA orders... weird!)
3. If any one departs from the faith (vis a vis heresy or apostasy) they have, by their own volition, excommunicated themselves from the Church.
4. If a bishop or priest teaches contrary to the faith they are considered "anaxios" (unworthy) and the people should neither listen to them or acknowledge them as bishops or priests (and I have heard of the laity shouting down an Orthodox bishop with "anaxios!" and turning their backs on Him for permitting a female Episcopal priest to process vested in his cathedral at an "ecumenical" service).
5. The ministry of the proclamation of the Word of God is the right and the responsibility of all the baptized "royal priesthood" in the Church. The Bishops and priests are set apart as teachers of Orthodoxy, and to administer the holy mysteries (sacraments). They stand at the altar when required to serve, and among the laity at all other times.
Again, sorry for the brevity and tone. Gotta run.
Fr. Bob
