Some Form of Response to Nathan Monk

[buzuxi02]

Monks are known to contact Priests or other monks who've abandoned their vocation to plead with them to return. Christ said the shepherd will leave 99 sheep to recover the one that got lost. Monks take this stuff seriously so contacting and warning about the danger of apostasy is plausible.

They should have never ordained a person who has yet to hit 30 years of age. All he's done is made more cradles distrust the intensions of converts. As a cradle Orthodox I have to wonder what kind of family and background non-Orthodox so called Christians come from that they head their own cults and think they are priests since high school as this individual claims.

 

[Protoevangel]

Do what you feel you must, but keep this in mind:

"Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them. For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple."
- Romans 16:17-18

"But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner—not even to eat with such a person.
For what have I to do with judging those also who are outside? Do you not judge those who are inside? But those who are outside God judges. Therefore “put away from yourselves the evil person.”"
- 1 Corinthians 5:11-13

"If anyone teaches otherwise and does not consent to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which accords with godliness, he is proud, knowing nothing, but is obsessed with disputes and arguments over words, from which come envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions, useless wranglings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. From such withdraw yourself."
- 1 Timothy 6:3-5​

Nathan is not a big deal. Treating him as such only serves to play into his hands, and validates him to himself and to those whom he influences. He has already cut himself off. The proper response is clear, as Saint Paul instructs us above.

One last quote, this one from a heiromonk, and specifically about Nathan:

"Father N is known to me and is a WR recent convert and quite full of himself and he and his wife are all ways superior to the rest of us sundry mortals. I have had a few rounds with him in his non-Orthodox times. I do not see him as anything but a distraction. He and his disrespectful wife like to be indignant on a regular basis because they know everything. They will add nothing to the conversation but for egos sake dominate it. Disregard them for the good of the cause!"​

But if you really want to be dragged into his sphere of influence, go ahead, and let him goad you into a "response". That's really all he wants, and you are playing right into his egotistical hands.

Unless something changes, this is the last time I will even reference him. As far as I am concerned, he is anathema.

 

[ArmyMatt]

"Father N is known to me and is a WR recent convert and quite full of himself and he and his wife are all ways superior to the rest of us sundry mortals. I have had a few rounds with him in his non-Orthodox times. I do not see him as anything but a distraction. He and his disrespectful wife like to be indignant on a regular basis because they know everything. They will add nothing to the conversation but for egos sake dominate it. Disregard them for the good of the cause!"

good point

 

[rusmeister]

Do what you feel you must, but keep this in mind:

"Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them. For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple."
- Romans 16:17-18

"But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner—not even to eat with such a person.
For what have I to do with judging those also who are outside? Do you not judge those who are inside? But those who are outside God judges. Therefore “put away from yourselves the evil person.”"
- 1 Corinthians 5:11-13

"If anyone teaches otherwise and does not consent to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which accords with godliness, he is proud, knowing nothing, but is obsessed with disputes and arguments over words, from which come envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions, useless wranglings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. From such withdraw yourself."
- 1 Timothy 6:3-5​

Nathan is not a big deal. Treating him as such only serves to play into his hands, and validates him to himself and to those whom he influences. He has already cut himself off. The proper response is clear, as Saint Paul instructs us above.

One last quote, this one from a heiromonk, and specifically about Nathan:

"Father N is known to me and is a WR recent convert and quite full of himself and he and his wife are all ways superior to the rest of us sundry mortals. I have had a few rounds with him in his non-Orthodox times. I do not see him as anything but a distraction. He and his disrespectful wife like to be indignant on a regular basis because they know everything. They will add nothing to the conversation but for egos sake dominate it. Disregard them for the good of the cause!"​

But if you really want to be dragged into his sphere of influence, go ahead, and let him goad you into a "response". That's really all he wants, and you are playing right into his egotistical hands.

Unless something changes, this is the last time I will even reference him. As far as I am concerned, he is anathema.

Agreed.
It's not like he's trying to pass himself off as being in the Church.

 

[Protoevangel]

The thread's old, and perhaps this is moot at this point, but the Abbot of the ROCOR monastery, Brotherhood of the Holy Cross brought this to my attention this evening:

A Statement from the Rector regarding the former priest Nathan Monk | St Elizabeth the New Martyr Orthodox Church

A Statement from the Rector regarding the former priest Nathan Monk

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

It has come to my attention that the former priest Nathan Monk continues to represent himself in various social media outlets as a priest of the Orthodox Church, even though he publicly renounced his priesthood and membership in the Orthodox Church on June 26, 2013 (Stepping Down - YouTube). I would like to take this opportunity to state that although Nathan Monk was attached to our parish by our ruling bishop in March of 2013, he was suspended from all priestly functions by His Eminence Metropolitan Hilarion on June 27, 2013. Nathan Monk was then subsequently deposed from the priesthood by the Synod of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia on July 10, 2013. Thus, I state unequivocally, that Nathan Monk has no relationship to the parish of St Elizabeth the New Martyr in West Columbia, SC, nor with the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia. Please see the attached directives related to Nathan Monk’s suspension and deposition from the priesthood.

Sincerely Yours in Christ,

Archpriest Mark Mancuso, Rector



http://www.stelizabeth.net/files/Suspension - Nathan Monk.pdf
http://www.stelizabeth.net/files/Deposition - Nathan Monk.pdf

 

[Protoevangel]

The thread's old, and perhaps this is moot at this point, but the Abbot of the ROCOR monastery, Brotherhood of the Holy Cross brought this to my attention this evening:

A Statement from the Rector regarding the former priest Nathan Monk | St Elizabeth the New Martyr Orthodox Church

The link in my above post/quote to the youtube video won't load, because I mangled it so it wouldn't post the video itself in the midst of the text. Below is the correct link/video:

Stepping Down - YouTube

 

[ArmyMatt]

thanks for the info Proto

 

[Dorothea]

at gracefulllamb,

It is Nathan that went on FB and created that public figure page where he is doing exactly what you are accusing everyone else of doing. Many of us are coming to the defense of the Church and our brothers and sisters and clergy that Nathan is badmouthing on his FB page for all the world to see. Don't you see he is causing a scandal? It is very appropriate to respond to him letting him know how his behavior is affecting us and that he needs to stop.

He could have kept this private between him and his bishop, but instead, he went on FB and created that page. Sorry, but that is not a mature way of going about such things.
This tread was created to formulate a loving but firm response to Nathan and what he is doing on FB, not to speculate on his or anyone else's state of mind or heart.

It seems the man wants a bit of attention. I think the less we respond, the better.

 

[Dorothea]

Agreed, except I don't think there's any "maybe" about it. I see that we absolutely need to make it clear, through our bishops, that they will be defrocked.

The Synod made a comment on him a few weeks back that should have settled all of this.

 

[AV1]

Who? That's my response. If this guy is seriously a threat to the first Church, I picked the wrong one to convert to...

Since I don't believe that for a second, I'm off to pursue something more worthwhile...

 

[Protoevangel]

Who? That's my response. If this guy is seriously a threat to the first Church, I picked the wrong one to convert to...

Since I don't believe that for a second, I'm off to pursue something more worthwhile...

He's no more a threat than that mosquito that has been annoying everyone in the room.

 

[ArmyMatt]

Who? That's my response. If this guy is seriously a threat to the first Church, I picked the wrong one to convert to...

Since I don't believe that for a second, I'm off to pursue something more worthwhile...

nah he is not a threat, just a tragic thing when someone leaves, especially for shallow reasons

 

[MariaRegina]

He's no more a threat than that mosquito that has been annoying everyone in the room.

Nevertheless, he is an elephant in the room.

 

[gzt]

An elephant? Really?

 

[Protoevangel]

An elephant? Really?

Well, his head, anyway.

 

[MariaRegina]

Well, his head, anyway.

Yes, the snake like snout. It tends to wrap around people and drag them away.

 

[GregConstantine]

I think what might be being referred to as the "elephant in the room" in regards to Nathan Monk (please correct me if I'm wrong) is what the whole issue of sexual morality in the Church that is not being dealt with, which the Nathan Monk issue is a manifestation of.

We bury our heads in the sand and we don't resolve this problem by hiding behind excuses such as "we are all sinners so how dare we be discerning and how dare we confront any problems in the Church." if we take this approach folks, its only going to get worst.

We don't only do this btw in regards to sexual morality, but to a whole host of other problems in the Church. It seems to be a pervasive problem.

 

[buzuxi02]

I think what might be being referred to as the "elephant in the room" in regards to Nathan Monk (please correct me if I'm wrong) is what the whole issue of sexual morality in the Church that is not being dealt with, which the Nathan Monk issue is a manifestation of.

We bury our heads in the sand and we don't resolve this problem by hiding behind excuses such as "we are all sinners so how dare we be discerning and how dare we confront any problems in the Church." if we take this approach folks, its only going to get worst.

We don't only do this btw in regards to sexual morality, but to a whole host of other problems in the Church. It seems to be a pervasive problem.

Your right. Most of our great grandparents would be shocked as to what path their descendants have taken.

 

[MariaRegina]

Your right. Most of our great grandparents would be shocked as to what path their descendants have taken.

Lord have mercy. God spared our great grandparents this grief by taking them home.

Concerning our generation:
Abba Ischyrion said, "The men of that generation will not accomplish any works at all and temptation will come upon them; and those who will persevere in that day will be greater than either us or our fathers".

 

[isshinwhat]

I pray he is right, MariaRegina...