A (probably overdue) Introduction

[BelindaP]

I understand that. And it is a good thing that Time has friends here. Perhaps everyone in the forum should make a pact to never speak of the past two days again, because everything has just been incredibly unfortunate. Then, maybe we could get back to normal.

 

[Hentenza]

Come on guys, this thread is turning ugly very quickly. I please ask everyone to pray before you post. Thanks.

 

[Nadiine]

Yes it is Hen - but then so is what's happening.

I said all I can and I stand by the statements - yes, I'm angry and I admit that. But I'd be very angry if that were done to me.
And if this was done to Frick or Belinda, I'd rightfully expect the same reaction by their friends to request (or demand) to remove these accusitory statements if the other person couldn't give defense of themselves.

Right is right. I'll wait to see if he retracts these statements in good faith.
If not, I stand in Time's place to object to them until they can be properly and fairly discussed and evaluated thru the proper forum channels.

 

[BelindaP]

I fully understand and support that Nadiine. I would do the same for my friends. However, I don't think his posts in this thread are the issue. It was his post in another thread.

 

[edie19]

Back to the OP - thanks Father Rick for your post.

I'm a L&O fan too I do prefer the CSI spin-offs over the original (no special reason why - just personal preference).

Thanks for sharing the link to your church. I was totally unfamiliar with the Old Catholic church - extremely interesting stuff.

Looking forward to putting the past behind us and moving ahead to fellowshipping together.

edie

 

[JimfromOhio]

Welcome Father Rick. Looking forward seeing your posts around here.

 

[No Swansong]

Hi Fr. Rick thanks for the mention (check's in the mail)

I have to disagree with some on this thread. I have had the opportunity to get to know Fr. Rick I think probably as well as one can on a message board and I do not think his intentions for starting this thread were malicious.

Fr. Rick and I disagree on the same subject that others disagree with him about, but if nothing else we are proof that we can, as Christians, disagree and still be charitable and understanding of each other. I am sure that his concern is for the members in question as is mine, we simply disagree on the best way to serve them. That is not an issue to argue about it is one to discuss and attempt to reason out.

Give the man a chance, as I posted to Belinda I appreciate him opening himself up to such scrutiny even though it is not necessary. I think that if you give the man a chance you will find that he is a strong Christian man with a desire to serve Christ through His children.

As for his reasons for joining; he has been honest about them from the beginning. We all have reasons for joining whichever fora we belong to. My reasons when I joined could be determined to have been political. He wanted to dispute what he felt was misinformation on a board he certainly qualifies to be a member of. That he joined so that he could honor the rules of our forum is admirable in my opinion not nefarious.

How is +Combs? I have kept in loose contact with +Nesmith and I am sure he would send his greetings if he knew we were in touch.

Welcome to CC Fr. Rick.

 

[Father Rick]

It's like going to court all by yourself, presenting the public with all your evidence against somebody & making statements about what they did wrong;
then having the judge bang the gavel in your favor without the other person being there to make a peep to explain anything. It also causes others who may not know the other person to think Ill of them or negatively.
(providing a Bias).

yes, I'm angry and I admit that. But I'd be very angry if that were done to me.
And if this was done to Frick or Belinda, I'd rightfully expect the same reaction by their friends to request (or demand) to remove these accusitory statements if the other person couldn't give defense of themselves.

Are you equally angry at all who have done this? or just me?

 

[RobNJ]

Hey! I know you, from somewhere!!!

 

[Father Rick]

Hey! I know you, from somewhere!!!

LOL...

How ya' doing buddy?

 

[PastorDiane]

hi Father Rick, I am Pastor Diane, 4 square non denom (which isnt true it is)Charismatic. I was called into the ministry at the age of 8 (1960) while at my Lutheran Church. I was ordained in1995 but charged and licenced in the early 80"s. I have a master in theology. I just joined 2 days ago and am not giving deep anything explanations or discussion just keeping it lite......after all i still can not figure out all these buttons let alone type............

 

[Father Rick]

hi Father Rick, I am Pastor Diane, 4 square non denom (which isnt true it is)Charismatic. I was called into the ministry at the age of 8 (1960) while at my Lutheran Church. I was ordained in1995 but charged and licenced in the early 80"s. I have a master in theology. I just joined 2 days ago and am not giving deep anything explanations or discussion just keeping it lite......after all i still can not figure out all these buttons let alone type............

Good to meet you...

There aren't that many FourSquare folks in this area... but I'm very familiar with the history/theology of FourSquare.

So... I just have to ask... as a lady FourSquare pastor have you ever ridden a motorcycle onto the platform?

 

[Father Rick]

How is +Combs? I have kept in loose contact with +Nesmith and I am sure he would send his greetings if he knew we were in touch.

+Combs is doing ok--as ornery as ever (lol). His health hasn't been the best in the world the past couple of years.

I haven't been in touch with +NeSmith much lately.

 

[Rochir]

I am the pastor of St. Thomas More Old Catholic Church, and am a priest in the Old Catholic Church of North America. For those who don't know who/what Old Catholics (OC's) are-- we separated from Rome at Vatican I (even though still recognized by the RCC)

You ARE??? My understanding was that OC totally separated from Rome since they do not recognize papal infallability!

Am I wrong here?

 

[Father Rick]

You ARE??? My understanding was that OC totally separated from Rome since they do not recognize papal infallability!

Am I wrong here?

We are completely separate from the RCC, however our sacraments, lines of apostolic succession, etc. are recognized as valid by the RCC. (Our relationship to the RCC is basically the same as that of the EO.) And while it is preferred for a RC to receive sacraments from an RC priest and an OC to receive from an OC priest, the canons of each allow for their members to receive from the other.

 

[Rochir]

We are completely separate from the RCC, however our sacraments, lines of apostolic succession, etc. are recognized as valid by the RCC. (Our relationship to the RCC is basically the same as that of the EO.) And while it is preferred for a RC to receive sacraments from an RC priest and an OC to receive from an OC priest, the canons of each allow for their members to receive from the other.

Aha! Ok Thanks for the explanation!

 

[ContentInHim]

Father Rick - I have a question. Tell me if it's too nosey!

Many of us are not in the church in which we were raised. Were you raised OCC? If not, how did you "find" them?

 

[Father Rick]

My father was an Assemblies of God pastor, so I grew up AoG. I attended Southeastern University (an AoG school) and while there attended WoF/Charismatic/NonDemon churches (mostly WoF) as well as studying under a Messianic (formerly Chassidic) rabbi--eventually doing quite a bit of teaching myself in the area of the Jewish Roots of Christianity (had a radio program, etc.), writing a Haggadah, etc.

As I moved into my grad work, I kept running into certain discrepancies between what would have been seen in the earliest days of the Church (when the believers still met in synagogues, etc.) and "modern" Christianity. During this time, I kept feeling God drawing me toward the historic churches. I began to wrestle with the issue of apostolic succession-- I mean, who really gives someone the authority to "ordain" others for ministry? I saw what actually occurred in scripture (Acts, specifically) and had to ask myself if anyone was actually doing things they way they were done there? I also could see and understand the Jewish liturgies-- the symbolism, etc. contained with them... yet the average Charismatic worship service looked nothing like that. Eventually, I found a copy of the Quorbana-- one of the oldest known Christian liturgies from the Middle East. For me, it was the "missing link", as it was an early eucharistic liturgy-- still partially in Hebrew, even including the Sh'ma.

So, now I realized that I could either accept what I saw to be true in both Scripture and Church history... or I could try to ignore it and stay where I was (I was actually on staff at a mega-church at the time). I began to search the different historic churches... to see where I could fit. The Orthodox churches were just to ethnic for me (I'm a white boy from south Georgia) and I couldn't see myself fitting with Russia, Greek, etc. culture. I could not agree with Papal Infallibility, as that was not a dogma (even in the RC) until the 1870's. I seriously looked at the Episcopal Church, but some of the issues that were just starting to really come to the surface at that time (think Gene Robinson) made it clear that the Episcopals were heading a direction I did not want to go. I repeatedly tried to make contact with the Charismatic Episcopal Church (which actually have OC lines of apostolic succession) and each attempt just came to nought. Somehow along the way I stumbled across the OC's. I began to do some research, and found that they were almost a "hybrid" of the RC's, the EO's, and the Anglicans. They are more 'open', in that sacraments are available for all baptized Christians (like the Anglicans)... they are western in culture (like the RC's)... and they are more open to "mystical" experiences (gifts of the Spirit) like the EO's. It was just the right fit.

And the rest is history...

 

[ContentInHim]

Wow, thanks! Isn't it interesting the different paths our searches have taken us on. Good historical liturgy is very appealing, isn't it!

But you could have fooled me that you are just a white boy from south Georgia!

 

[ReformedChapin]

Wow, thanks! Isn't it interesting the different paths our searches have taken us on. Good historical liturgy is very appealing, isn't it!

But you could have fooled me that you are just a white boy from south Georgia!

Crazy white ppl