In this article, Fr. Theodore Stylianopoulos seeks to examine the contours of Christian leadership from an Orthodox perspective. According to Stylianopoulos, leadership is to be founded upon the model of Christ. Jesus’ mode of leadership was characterized by humility, love, and service. This, in turn, gave him authority that was to be exercised within the Church. Stylianopoulos notes that this way of exercising authority contrasts with many other forms of Christian leadership. For leaders in the Orthodox Church to lead in any other way is to go against Orthodox principles. Such authority is not only found among the clergy. While clergy generally have greater authority than the laity, it is possible for the laity to repudiate flawed clergy. The distribution of authority is spelled out in the Canons of the Church. The Canons are inviolable, but must be interpreted through the paradigm of service, love, and humility noted above.
Coming from a fairly High Church, Anglo-Catholic background, I agree with much of what is expressed in this article. I do not take the “priesthood of believers” to mean that there is little or no distinction between clergy and laity within the life of the Church. I do indeed think that clergy have been tasked with a special position of leadership. Like Stylianopoulos, however, I would argue that this leadership is meant to service the body, not the one leading. Being in some sense Protestant, however, I do not think that Canons are inviolable. I think that should be constantly reevaluated in light of renewed understandings of Scripture.
http://www.holytrinityorthodoxchurch.org/load.php?pageid=49
I agree that leadership in the church should be modeled after Jesus. His leadership held more characteristics then love, humility, and service. What about his less then ecumenical discussions with the religious leaders of his day? He defied their Sabbath laws, contrasted his teachings with the Mosaic law (You have heard…but I say…) and wrecked the local economy at the temple. Ultimately there was love, humility, and service in what he did, but it was all delivered with a hefty dose of power and authority.
ReplyDeleteYou stated that you think there is a difference between clergy and laity, yet clergy do not hold a monopoly on the authority, therefore lay people can “repudiate flawed clergy.” Self-serving clergy would indeed be “flawed.” Would it be possible for laity to possess a greater authority than the clergy if they are engaged in Jesus mode of leadership?
Coming from a fairly low church, Amish-Mennonite background, I agree whole heartedly that leadership is meant to service the body. It would be my hope, that people who become leaders in the church are following the example of Jesus. Serving with love and humility that is not afraid of confrontation for the greater good.