Posted by Jolynn Ruggerio I am the mother of four children.
on 10/13/2009, 4:56 pm, in reply to "Re: Fr. Herbel Returned to OCA; Fargo AOCNA Mission Parish Disbands"
Message modified by user Jolynn Ruggerio 10/13/2009, 4:57 pm
George,
My oldest son attends an Evangelical Universty and is a founding member and president of his OCF. My Oldest daughter, a recent College Grad. of a Big 10 School Served on the national student board for OCF and currently is active in YAL. I point this out because I am living and watching as I see my children move from the sheltered view they have had of their church to observing what's really out there. And this an example of what they see.
Last year a lecture was held at my Daughter's OCF with two notable convert priests. With a very busy schedule she called me and asked, "Are these people worth my time to hear?"
I answered yes. I had heard them both in the eighties and she would get something out of it. That these folks were very knowledgable about campus ministry.
She went and this was her response,
" Mom, that was the biggest waste of my time!!! That was nothing but two old guys doing nothing but bad mouthing bishops and complaning about unity. Honestly mom, when we get together at College conference, Crossroad, or OCF events nobody asks what jurisdiction are you from, whose your bishop or what language do you worship in. We're all Orthodox We embrace and enjoy each others heritage.
We worship, pray, and chant together, And we work hard to serve the church, we're out there on the streets doing missionary work, doing service projects and studying our faith.
I don't know what made you think they know anything about campus ministry. They were still complaining about things that happened 20 years ago. Really mom, they need to get over it.
Quite frankly, I thought they were depressing and not at all in touch with our lives on campus!! I should have stayed home and studied." End of story
My point being, that instead of fingerpointing at our heirarchs and how they look to our youth and the outside world.
WE SHOULD LOOK TO OURSELVES AND HOW WE ARE REPRESENTING THE CHURCH.
Name calling our heirarchs and complaining about them in a public fashion will do more harm than any bishop can. and we certainly don't need people who can't unload their baggage to burden our youth.
Look out now because we have an army of faithful young people who are way ahead of us in living their Orthodox faith.
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