www.byzcath.org Forums General Discussions Town Hall Koinonia?

Dear Friends, Greetings from the University of Illinois. I have a question. My roomate just got back from a Koinonia retreat (we live in the newman center). I didn't go. I noticed that the group that went seems to act kinda cliquish. When I ask about something she tells me that I have to experience it for myself like it is some big secret. I and a few others can't help but feel like the peopel who went think less of us. They segregate themselves. She is trying to subtly force me to go on the next one. She keeps telling me that I have to see it for myself. Isn't this kinda like a doubting Thomas complex? Shouldn't she be able to tell me things and I should be able to beleive and understand? What the heck is Koinonia?
-Katie g

Dear Katie,

'Koinonia' means 'community' in Greek.

A quick google search turned up some small Christian faith groups at different universities.
I suspect that is what it is.

It seems that at the University of Illinois, it is called 'Koinonia Christian Cooperative' and it is considered an organization along with other religious organizations.

These girls are making it sound quite exclusive, and they don't seem like they want to 'share the wealth'. Their attitude definitely doesn't sound very Christian to me.

In Christ,
Alice

Dear Alice,

You forgot to mention that Koinonia also means Communion, like in Aghia Koinonia (Holy Communion), in Greek. Now you know that?

Zenovia

Katie,

Maybe their approach is like ours when trying to explain Byzantine or Orthodox worship. I explain to my students but until they go they do not know.

On the other hand, if this is just another Protestant group you have much more to offer them, many more secrets you hold, than they will ever know until they experience. Strike a bargain with them. When they go an equivalent number of hours to a Byzantine liturgy you will go to Koinonia. Keep the invitation on a light hearted basis. They may someday turn out to be life long friends, especially if you can gently encourage their curiosity for your secret.

Perhaps their experience is like moving from a room lit only by one candle to moving to a room lit by a 15 watt bulb. They are very excited as one might imagine. However, you are used to being in a room lit by a series of 1000 watt bulbs.

CDL, Who was a Protestant minister for 27 years.

Here are links for "Koinonia Christian Cooperative" on the U of I campus:

http://certified.housing.uiuc.edu/viewprop.asp?id=13
https://netfiles.uiuc.edu/ro/www/KoinoniaChristianCooperative/

--tim

Tim,

It would appear that is not what Katie is talking about. Those are links to a men's only house. I don't think we've quite discerned what she's talking about.

CDL

If you read through the group's site, the second link, their activities are not limited to men.

--tim

I see what you mean. Stratford house.

CDL

Sounds gnostic/occult to me - but then I have a strong aversion to exclusive clubs of whatever variety.

Fr. Serge

The "Newman Center" (St. John's Catholic Newman Center) at the U. of I, Urbana/Champaign, is one of the 70 or so Newman Centers in colleges and universities in the Midwest.

These are Catholic chaplaincies or Catholic campus ministries but accept non-Catholics into their student residential halls.

There are so many activities offered by the Newman Center that going to or joining the "Koinonia Christian Cooperative" should be a surplusage and the fact that it is sponsored by Baptists.

In a sense, they are in competition with the Catholic Newman Center.

Amado

"the fact that it is sponsored by Baptists."

Ah, I see why Father Serge detected a Gnostic overlay.

CDL

From what Katie has posted it appears that these students are not willing to share about their experience and seem somewhat uppity about it. Anyway, time will tell if the fruit of their experience was really of the Holy Spirit or just a temporary "high."

What concerns me is if the Newman Center is not providing a seamless access to Eastern Catholics like Katie.

Then, Eastern Catholics should rattle the Roman Catholic Chaplain's cage a little bit and present their case for integration into the various outreach programs of the Newman Center.

Or, package an outreach program, within the Newman Center, manned by Eastern Catholics if there are a handful of them at the U. of I, Urbana/Champaign.

Amado

Amado,

Father Loya goes down to Champaign every so often and offers a liturgy under the auspices of the Newman center. It's difficult to have an ongoing presence there. There are so few of us to go around, yet Katie and a couple of others we know, may be able to plant a seed for an eventual ongoing ministry there.

CDL

Dan:

Is it possible to haul the Peoria attendees to Champaign to beef up the presence of Byzantines when Fr. Tom goes there?

And for Fr. Tom to arrange with the RC priest to have the Divine Liturgy celebrated instead of the Mass to "force" RC students to attend (with explanations, of course)?

Amado