Father Orthohippo and Father Orthoduck were both assistant pastors in the same congregation once upon a time. We know each other well enough to laugh together, share grandducklings (or grandhippos) stories together, etc. He recently posted the below, which I am glad to share with you. Comments are welcome.
What is your church’s practice when it comes to implementing God’s Word and direction? Your denomination? American Christians are very familiar and comfortable with committees. Committees often have a revered status in the American church pantheon. On the other hand, many American Orthodox are somewhat puzzled and a little scandalized by this cartoon. Historically, the committee does not have the same power in decision making for Orthodox Christians.
Can you answer the questions above without a great deal of searching? What is your church’s practice when it comes to implementing God’s Word and direction? The winner is “The committee, An American Saint by acclamation.”
Uh, well…
Aren’t SYNODS committees of a sort?
And, uhm, do not diocesan conferences and national (archdiocesan) conferences often behave as though they were committees? The idea of a committee often comes out of an anti-hierarchical viewpoint. In the USA, we are so egalitarian that even after a committee reaches a decision and it is implemented many still refuse to “own” the decision because they were not personally involved in the crafting of it.
A synod is a gathering of hierarchs. There may be supporting staff present, but ultimately it is about the bishops and archbishop meeting together to decide on the course of the ship of the Church. And that course is not subject to a vote of the conference or other body unless it be a “higher” synod.
Regular synods, as I understand them, only decide housekeeping details rather than theology and tradition evaluations. Bishops, Patriarchs, etc. in Orthodoxy and Rome have much more control than do liturgical Protestants including Anglicans. Matters of faith and morals require much more examination.
Anglican and other US church committees often have usurped these type of things unto themselves.