Orthodox Ecclesiology: Congregational or Hierarchical?

Let all respect the deacons as representing Jesus Christ, the Bishop as a type of the Father, and the presbyters [i.e., priests] as God’s high council and as the Apostolic college. Apart from this respect, no church deserves the name.” (St. Ignatios of Antioch [+107], letter to the Trallians)

With this ancient quote from the Spirit-filled writings of the holy “God-bearer,” I am establishing from the onset of this paper that Orthodoxy has always been a hierarchical Church. As you proceed, you will encounter many additional quotes from this holy Church Father – himself taught directly by St. John the Theologian. In this way, you should be able to conclude that this only true form of Orthodox Ecclesiology has been firmly established within the Church’s foundation from apostolic times.

During her 2000+year history, many heresies have attacked God’s true Church, both from within and without; and the Holy Spirit has always kept these false teachings from becoming permanent within Her. In fact, each attempt to bring corrupt doctrine into the life of the Church has made Her more adamant in maintaining the purity of the “Faith of the Apostles” – oftentimes to the shedding of blood.

Let us give thanks to God, my dear brothers and sisters in Christ, for fashioning His Bride with a hierarchical structure; because, through it, the Holy Spirit has preserved the unity of the Faith. Imagine how fragmented the Church would have become if she had been governed by congregationalism during all of the heretical attacks. We only need look at 21st Century Protestantism for an example: From the time of Martin Luther until today, over 22,000+ different Protestant churches have come into existence, and 5 more are added each week. (Of course the original ‘mother’ for each of them is the heterodox Roman Catholic Church.) Thus, many of us were deeply saddened recently when I read the comments of a layperson (himself a member of the para-church group) that took issue with the fact that the proposed new Archdiocesan Charter of another jurisdiction contained the word, “hierarchical.” Unfortunately, he reflects the erroneous thinking of many souls that look upon the Orthodox Catholic Church as a “democratic institution.” The consummate expression of this false teaching was made in the “bottom line” section of a past flyer by that jurisdiction, in which it was demanded that the word, “hierarchical” be completely omitted from their new Charter!

The Orthodox Church has always been a Theocracy, never a democracy. The clergy have always been the governing force of the life of the Church in general, and Her faithful souls in particular. As St. Ignatios explains:

“You must follow the lead of the Bishop, as Jesus Christ followed that of the Father; follow the Presbytery as you would the Apostles (Editorial comment: 'Bishops'); reverence the Deacons as you would God’s Commandments. Let no one do anything touching the Church apart from the Bishop…” (Letter to the Smyrnaeans)

In his letter to the Ephesians, St. Ignatios admonishes the lay people to “live in harmony with the mind of God;” and in order to do this they must “act in agreement with the mind of the Bishop.” He calls upon the priest and deacons to “harmonize with the Bishop as completely as the strings with a harp.” Then, the martyred Bishop compels the “rank and file” (i.e., the laity) to:

In light of the events that have occurred within various jurisdictions over the past several years, these words of St. Ignatios should weigh heavily on our souls. If they do not, then perhaps these fatherly admonitions will pierce through the wall of indifference that has plagued so many of us for so long:

“…He that does anything apart from the Bishop, presbyter or deacon has no pure conscience…” (Letter to the Trallians)

“Therefore, just as the Lord, being one with the Father, did nothing without Him, either by Himself or through the Apostles, so neither must you undertake anything without the Bishop (who is an apostle in the line of succession from the apostles) and the presbyters; nor must you attempt to convince yourselves that anything you do on your own account is acceptable…” (Letter to the Magnesians)

“Shun division and bad doctrines. Where the Shepherd [i.e., the Bishop] is, there you, being sheep, must follow.” (Letter to the Philadelphians)

“He who does anything without the knowledge of the Bishop, worships the devil…” (Letter to the Smyrnaeans)

“Do not let yourself be anointed with the foul-smelling doctrine of the prince of this world, for fear that he might carry you off into captivity – away from the [heavenly] life that is in store for you.” (Letter to the Smyrnaeans)

Through the many years of our existence, we have been plagued by the “foul-smelling doctrine” of Congregationalism and worse. Perhaps it entered partially by accident, since at least some parishes came into being prior to the formation of the diocese in which they reside. The ones who helped assemble these various communities had no one present to guide them into the Orthodox hierarchical ecclesiology. They brought over priests from other jurisdictions, most of whom had little theological training, formal or otherwise. Out of necessity, the lay people elected the “Boards of Trustees” (now called Parish Councils); and they considered these lay groups to be the governing body of their respective parishes. The priest was simply the “hired hand” that did the services and sacraments, and was paid by – and responsible to – the Board. Unfortunately, for whatever reason, this false ecclesiology was allowed to continue and to develop; and gave ‘birth’ to such totally un-canonical activities as the following:

Parish Council members chosen by the majority vote of the ‘dues paying members.’ In actuality, the council members are to be chosen by the priest, with the approval of his Bishop.

Secularly influential and/or wealthy individuals successfully forced a priest out of his parish, not for teaching heresy or for moral improprieties, but because those few souls who did not like the way the priest did things, had their way.. Of course, this anomaly had existed even in the years of St. John Chrysostom; but not to the extent it had within our jurisdiction until recent times..

Priests, especially those with several children, had been forced to compromise their convictions in order not to offend certain people. The priest was “reminded” who pays his salary.  A true priest who is holds to his convictions in the faith, may have need to obtain secular employment should his salary not be enough.

The confusion amongst some ‘rank and file’ Orthodox Christians was brought about by some members being very vocal in expressing their total misunderstanding of Orthodox Ecclesiology.

Brothers and Sisters in Christ! It is time for all of us – clergy and laity – to both repent and return to Orthodox ecclesiology, so that we can become the Church that God wants us to be – one whose primary goal is “to make relics”, i.e., saints – one that becomes a living icon of what St. Ignatios describes so eloquently. We are not ready for autonomy until we do this.

Since, at the present time, we do not have the “blood of martyrs” of any local saints, it is even more imperative that we surrender our wills to our Lord Jesus Christ and offer obedience to our Deacons, Priests, Bishops, Metropolitan Archbishops and Primate; the hierarchs of our jurisdiction. Let us run to our Spiritual Fathers and confess our sins. Let us make worship, prayer, fasting, and prostrations a living “presence” in the trenches of our lives. Let us daily read from God’s Word, the lives of the Saints, and the writings of our holy Church Fathers. Let us, through God’s grace and the continuous practice of the ascetical/sacramental life of our hierarchical Church, become the Gospel – living witnesses of God’s True Church to this sinful world. And if God so wills, let us also be ready at any moment to shed our blood in defense of His Bride! Grant this, O Lord!