OCA rules and teachings on social matters?

[Mikhail R.]

I was wondering, does OCA have any one document that enumerates the obligation of the members of its tradition and/or its dogmata and teachings on social issues?

[Father David Moser]

I was wondering, does OCA have any one document that enumerates the obligation of the members of its tradition and/or its dogmata and teachings on social issues?

I don't rightly know, however, I would guess that if such a document existed, it would be on the OCA website (http://www.oca.org/) Failing that, your priest should have that information.

Fr David Moser

[Cyprian (Humphrey)]

If one searches around in the Questions and Answers portion of the OCA website, many of these issues are answered.

I too, am unsure whether there is a single document about this since the issues are multiple and complex. To do such a wide subject justice (no pun intended!) it would have to be closer to a book written, rather than a relatively shorter document. I am confident that they would be roughly the same as any other Orthodox jurisdiction since we are all of the same faith. :)

[Herman Blaydoe]

Orthodoxy is not a "cult". The Church does not tell you what to think or what to do. The Church is a spiritual hospital, not a legal court. We are to be cured, not dictated.

We learn how to think, not what to think. We learn how to listen for the small quiet voice, not told what it says. We are told how to find God, He will help us figure out what to do in specific situations from there.

Sometimes there is more than one right answer.

Or so it seems to this bear of little brain.

Herman the Pooh

[Mikhail R.]

If one searches around in the Questions and Answers portion of the OCA website, many of these issues are answered.

I too, am unsure whether there is a single document about this since the issues are multiple and complex. To do such a wide subject justice (no pun intended!) it would have to be closer to a book written, rather than a relatively shorter document. I am confident that they would be roughly the same as any other Orthodox jurisdiction since we are all of the same faith. :)

Thank you Father.

True, it should be the same for all Orthodox churches. Do you know of any reference book about Orthodoxy that enumerates the teachings and stances of the Church in an extensive and complete manner (or at least as complete as is possible for a book)? It'd be nice to have a handy reference when I need to look up information, especially when I can't ask my priest at the moment and need a quick answer.

[Christophoros]

I know it wasn't produced by the OCA, but the Moscow Patriarchate's "Bases of the Social Concept of the Russian Orthodox Church" is an excellent resource on the Church's teaching on contemporary social issues.

http://orthodoxeurope.org/page/3/14.aspx

[Mikhail R.]

I know it wasn't produced by the OCA, but the Moscow Patriarchate's "Bases of the Social Concept of the Russian Orthodox Church" is an excellent resource on the Church's teaching on contemporary social issues.

http://orthodoxeurope.org/page/3/14.aspx

Thank you Christophoros! I've only glanced through the document so far, but it seems to just the kind of document I was looking for.

[Gerard]

I know it wasn't produced by the OCA, but the Moscow Patriarchate's "Bases of the Social Concept of the Russian Orthodox Church" is an excellent resource on the Church's teaching on contemporary social issues.

http://orthodoxeurope.org/page/3/14.aspx

The Social Concept has already been mentioned on the dutch website
http://www.ruskerk.nl/nl/index_g.html
It is also in russian and english, but I`m not sure if the term Social Concept can be found in the several links. It does anyhow in the dutch version and consists even of seventien Chapters, which have been translated from russian by Father Sergi Merks.
Silouan, the Netherlands

[Paul C.]

Dear Mikhail

The Rudder may be helpful, although it is not OCA - specific but for Orthodoxy in general.

My worthless crumb,
Paul

[Mikhail R.]

Dear Mikhail

The Rudder may be helpful, although it is not OCA - specific but for Orthodoxy in general.

My worthless crumb,
Paul

Thank you Paul! I;m not familiar with The Rudder though. Is that some sort of publication or website?

-Mikhail R.

[Paul C.]

Thank you Paul! I'm not familiar with The Rudder though. Is that some sort of publication or website?

-Mikhail R.Dear Mikhail

The Rudder is a nickname for the book that contains the Orthodox canons (Church laws and guidlines). It was nicknamed the Rudder because we are to see our Church as a boat, much like Noah's Ark, tossed in the sea of the world and life. And a rudder is the mechanism used for stearing a boat.

The book is quite large, about as big as a city telephone book and is available in bigger Orthodox bookstores.

If my memory is wrong, may someone correct me please.
Paul

[Olga]

This book is also known as the Pedalion, which is the Greek word for rudder. Some bookstores list it under this name.

[Christophoros]

The Rudder has been out-of-print in English for some time (at least in the States); used copies are being sold for up to $1,000. They have re-released it on CD though as a .pdf file for around $100.

[Anthony Stokes]

Thank you Father.

True, it should be the same for all Orthodox churches.


I believe this is an issue that was mentioned in Patriarch Bartholemew's opening address this week in Constantinople to the other Patriarchs. Basically, that we need an Orthodox stance on social or moral issues that is the same throughout the churches, in order to give the Orthodox a unified voice in the world.

Sbdn. Anthony

[Father David Moser]

Thank you Paul! I;m not familiar with The Rudder though. Is that some sort of publication or website?

The Rudder is not what you are looking for. It is simply a collection of the various canons (decisions or proclamations) of early councils. The Rudder often is self contradictory (because different councils addressed different times and places and cultures). This collection of canons is more useful as a guide for hierarchs and pastors in setting a course for the flock rather than for all the people to pick and choose which canons to follow for themselves. Also the English version contains a vast amount of commentary as notes that may or may not be helpful to the Orthodox Christian (and which in fact may be confusing or detrimental to the individual Christian life).

For what you are seeking, I would start with the aforementioned "Social Construct" of the MP and join that to the various epistles and documents that come from or are endorsed by the synod of the OCA (since that is the local Church of which you are a part).

Fr David Moser

[Sophronia]

There are a number of books/collections of essays published by St. Vladimir's Seminary Press which deal with the Orthodox position on social/ethical/bioethical issues. As Herman stated, the Church does not dictate to us what our position should be on any of these things, but provides us with the guidance of the Holy Tradition.
Anyhow check out an SVS catalogue or online lisitings for what they have as some may interest you.

Sandy