CRC Question: Who’s Got Next?

For this months Carnival of Christian Reconciliation (which will be here at Connected Christianity), the question for the month is on near misses, specifically:

I’m challenging Carnival participants to confess something they admire about a different Christian group or denomination so much they they would almost consider changing churches. Let it be stipulated that we are all very happy in our own faith communities and that our deepest theological convictions would keep us from going anywhere else. But whom do you see doing something so right that, if other more crucial matters could be resolved, you’d likely find yourself drifting their way?

This is (of course) a highly personal question and also has a number of different ways of looking at it. Find several answers to ways looking at this question below the fold.

I’ve recently moved from another confession/faith community, having toward the end of last year (2006) left an ECUSA (Epsicopal) parish for an Orthdoox (OCA) church (with by the by a very active website). My former parish is/was a wonderful place, which holds many fond memories and has people who I still love and care about. So that would be the community, to which if I had to leave where I am now would be my first choice. However, that I think, is not the real point of the question. for the question hinges less on a loving community (to which I still have ties) than on theological confession and liturgical praxis.

Liturgically speaking one of the things right now drawing me to Orthodoxy is the Byzantine rite(s) of St. John Chrysostom and St. Basil. After experiencing an adult return to Christianity, I felt among other things a striking liturgical change from what I was used to (being the medium/high liturgical western rite liturgy) might help me to find and reinforce the “fanaticism of the convert”. In that mode, a Byzantine Catholic church (of which there is actually one nearby) would be the logical choice. Byzantine catholic churches, use the St. Chrysostom liturgy, skip the filioque in the creed, and are otherwise basically identical to the Orthodox church except they acknowledge the primacy of the Pope.

On the other hand, one might ask what confession or faith community is theologically the next thing I might turn to, if the liturgical and personal were set aside. There are a lot of different ways to approach the theological diversity in the cafeteria of confessions in America today.

• I’ve been recently reading works by Metropolitan John Zizioulas and have been convinced the the episcopate is an essential feature/dogma which has been part of the church from the start. This, as I understand it, today leaves only the Anglican/Episcopal, Catholic, and Orthodox churches as valid choices so far as I’m aware.
• Rowan Williams book Arius describes the Arian heresy as opposed by St. Athanasius in part as a rejection of the study group or confessional following clustered around a charismatic teacher. That description, to my view, is descriptive of the defining feature of the Protestant faith confessions and communities. Which teacher, teachings, and community is the most attractive Spurgeon and the Baptist, Calvin and the Presbyterian, Luther/Melancthon and the Lutheran, John Wesley and Methodism, Cramner & Hooker and the Anglican, or more modern schisms/confessions. Which to choose, if a choice is requested? Each can be defended, and each has teachings and writings that are compelling and important insights for the larger Christian community. But St. Athanasius argument against Arius besides his attack on the particular heresy enclosed a larger point. Heresy and even progress and changes in outlook theologically should be via councils of Bishops and the acceptance by the Church Catholic. Christianity is not an “open source” religion and should not be treated as such.
•  Furthermore don’t think a choice should be made in this way really. We shouldn’t choose a church For I think we should less be searching and attending a church which conforms to me, than the reverse. That is, the church as such is something to which I am subsidiary. One should not choose a church based on it’s beliefs and confession being consonant with who I am and what I believe. Right doctrine demands I join the church which is consonant doctrinally and historically connected with the church that was established by the Apostles.

So, all in all then, from a theological and doctrinal perspective if I was not Orthodox … I think I might have to cross the Tiber and become Catholic (in one of their rites). I think it good that priests marry and I am growing fonder of the Byzantine rite so Byzanitine Catholic would be my current choice. If Byzantine rite was in some sense excluded as being too close to my current church then, there are rites that are communion with the See of Rome in which priests may marry.