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Father Deacon Edward,

But would you say that requirement (5 years in the same parish) applies to someone transferring in from another parish where they have had an active presence for at least 5 years? I agree - one year active presence is not enough on its own. But if an applicant has been active either within the Eparchy or the Metropolia and moves/is transferred for job/family reasons, those five years of active service should count for something...are we not one church sui juris after all? Not to mention the fact that the deacon is ordained as servant to the bishop first, with his assigned service to a specific parish community being only an extension of his service to the bishop.

As you said, we are talking about Holy Orders and not a volnteer position. I say let the individual ordaining bishop discern the worthiness of each candidate, with the guidelines from the Metropolia being applied in the spirit of economia .

Diak,

I can see that perspective as well. Again, it is a matter for discernment on the part of the ordaining bishop. Eight years may be somewhat excessive, perhaps four is more reasonable. Presumably a deacon could be a younger man, who grows in wisdom and pastoral leadership under the guidance of the bishop and presbyters who are true "elders" in the faith.

As far as ordaining a young "newlywed" to the presbyterate, I'm not so much a fan of that practice. I would favor a more mature experienced married man to be ordained presbyter (in the spirit of authentic "eldership") as St. Paul exhorts Timothy. The witness of how he manages his household is a sure testimony to how we will manage the affairs of the "household of faith".

Gordo

At the time I made my initial post the great question was essentially "what is the vision for the future of the BCC?".

I think the church has a potentially great future, but really now the vast majority of priests are 50+ years old (50 may be the youngest age with a few notable exceptions) and many are already over 60.

We know that new people are coming into the BC, mostly from the Latin church (with some conversions as well) and if there is going to be any kind of rebound in the fortunes of the BC these people are a key element.

We are discussing here a cycle time that could be as much as 15 years to develop a deacon from a new person coming in from outside today. In 15 years most of the priests in the Metropolia will be over 60 and a whole lot more parishes will have closed.

The dynamics just aren't there, the vision has to change dramatically and the process of developing talent must become very aggressive. Every deacon should consider the possibility that his bishop may ask him to become a priest.

Still, more closures are probably inevitable. If people want the Byzantine Ruthenian Metropolia to be around for the grandchildren there is going to have to be a new way of thinking, planting missions where the kids are going, consolidating parishes in areas where it makes sense and developing the "grass roots". Perhaps it's time to aerate the lawn.

That's right, Gordo. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. I'm not disagreeing that sometimes the youthfulness can cause some problems. Perhaps a minimum one-two year marriage requirement?

But on the other hand dozens, many of them excellent, priests who were by the standards discussed here very mature are now laicized.

The maturity needs to be carefully discerned both by the reviewers and the applicant/aspirant.
Fr. Dcn Diak

Since the candidate is, usually, going to return to the parish in which he resided during the application process, it should be in that parish. While the Eastern Churches in general are more open and welcoming of deacons from other areas, it is of great benefit that the candidate be a leader in the parish where he will serve as a deacon.

Fr. Deacon Edward

Father Deacon Edward,

I agree completely. What you indicate is of great benefit - one could say even ideal. I would only say that exceptions should be made in certain cases by the ordaining bishop.

God bless!

Gordo