Neither presbyters, nor deacons, nor any others enrolled among the clergy, who, not having the fear of God before their eyes, nor regarding the ecclesiastical Canon, shall recklessly remove from their own church, ought by any means to be received by another church; but every constraint should be applied to restore them to their own parishes;1 and, if they will not go, they must be excommunicated.2 And if anyone shall dare surreptitiously to carry off and in his own Church ordain a man belonging to another, without the consent of his own proper bishop, from whom although he was enrolled in the clergy list he has seceded, let the ordination be void.
This canon serves as counterpoint to the previous with emphasis being placed on the responsible conduct of the church being visited by a rogue leader. Any spiritual leader in the church who removes himself from one church in order to serve in another is not to be accepted into fellowship but sent back from whence he came. And any attempt to appoint the newcomer in a leadership position will be voided.
I wonder how many churches would be spared if they did due diligence toward those purporting to know the scriptures and desiring a place to speak and teach?
1 In this context parish is equivalent to diocese.
2 The idea is "not joining in sacrifice with" or "not being allowed to celebrate together with" rather than complete banishment.
This canon serves as counterpoint to the previous with emphasis being placed on the responsible conduct of the church being visited by a rogue leader. Any spiritual leader in the church who removes himself from one church in order to serve in another is not to be accepted into fellowship but sent back from whence he came. And any attempt to appoint the newcomer in a leadership position will be voided.
I wonder how many churches would be spared if they did due diligence toward those purporting to know the scriptures and desiring a place to speak and teach?
1 In this context parish is equivalent to diocese.
2 The idea is "not joining in sacrifice with" or "not being allowed to celebrate together with" rather than complete banishment.
1 comment:
Ohhhh, could I tell you stories about pastors booted out for biblical reasons and they end up leading another assembly!
Church bodies should certainly investigate why their pastor left his previous position!
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