Do you want a separate open sub-forum for non-Chrtistians to be allowed to post in?

[Zacharias]

It's not a hard thing to do...

Which denominations want an Open subforum?

As taken from: http://www.christianforums.com/t1810178-non-christian-posting-area-in-congregation-forums.html&page=5

Erwin is allowing congregational forums to have a subforum that allows people from "outside" to come in and post questions about our particular beliefs.

[Greg the byzantine]

OK, before I vote I have a question because I read the other thread too and I am confused. Are we talking about a specific open thread within TAW, a sticky thread that will be open, or are we talking about something else?

[Marjorie]

yes yes yes.

In IC XC,
Marjorie

[Zacharias]

Erwin means a sub-forum within the TAW forum. Like your "Library" sub-forum. :)

[ExOrienteLux]

Da.

[Matrona]

Yep. :)

I was hoping we could just open up TAW to questions and fellowship from all CF members, same as other Christians can do right now, but this is ok, too.

[RobNJ]

Sounds good, to me!:amen:

[Matrona]

What shall we name it?

I think we should call it "The Narthex".

We already have a "Chapel", and the Narthex is the name of the place in the church where those outside the Church learned about her and what she teaches.

:)

[Photini]

YES! I have though we needed a sub-forum like that for a LONG time now. I'm always frustrated in the other area where non-Christians ask questions, because it is so flooded with fundies and others...that it nearly makes it impossible to answer any questions.

[Photini]

What shall we name it?

I think we should call it "The Narthex".

We already have a "Chapel", and the Narthex is the name of the place in the church where those outside the Church learned about her and what she teaches.

:)
I think that would be a great name. :)

[InnerPhyre]

I think it's a great idea.

[Dust and Ashes]

I think it's a great idea.

Same here. I've been thinking for a while that TAW should be open for non-Christian inquirers and this is a great solution to that.

Oh, and "Sucat, his eyes uncovered!"

[Marjorie]

"The Narthex" is an awesome idea for a name!

In IC XC,
Marjorie

[Yiannis550]

Yes "Narthex" is a good Idea but it should have a discription next to it because I don't think other people will know what is about.

The idea of a thread for non christians is good. Actually I was wondering why non Christians cannot post in TAW. I mean they should be able to. That way maybe we can help them to get to know Orthodoxy!

[Marjorie]

Yes "Narthex" is a good Idea but it should have a discription next to it because I don't think other people will know what is about.

The idea of a thread for non christians is good. Actually I was wondering why non Christians cannot post in TAW. I mean they should be able to. That way maybe we can help them to get to know Orthodoxy!

My thoughts exactly. Only allowing Christians to inquire here reminds me of those in the early Church who wanted only converts from Judaism.

In IC XC,
Marjorie

[Rilian]

I voted yes and I would not mind if TAW was open to non Christians unless it got completely out of control.

[Kolya]

Please open the "Narthex" - it's our Christian Missionary Duty!:)

Hey! who said you could vote in the "Orthodox" section Mr Barnes?

Are you a catecumen yet?:D

[jameseb]

Note:

This poll is being conducted to get the feedback of TAW members. If you're not a member of TAW, particularly if you're not a Christian, than please do not cast a vote as I've seen been done here.

Thank you for your cooperation. :)

[Matrona]

Note:

This poll was being conducted to get the feedback of TAW MEMBERS. If you're not a member of TAW, particularly if you're not a Christian, than please do NOT cast a vote as I've seen been done here. The lack of totally honesty has already made me want to cast a "no" vote as it plays on the concerns I have with this idea.

It's a public poll, so how can you claim a lack of honesty? :P

[jameseb]

It's a public poll, so how can you claim a lack of honesty? :P


Matrona,

Its a "public poll" in the context that people can see who's casting the votes, but let's be plain about this... the whole point was to get the feedback from Orthodox members, otherwise what's the point?

Its fairly clear...

[Marjorie]

Matrona,

Its a "public poll" in the context that people can see who's casting the votes,

We can? I can't see them...

In IC XC,
Marjorie

[jameseb]

We can? I can't see them...

In IC XC,
Marjorie

If you haven't cast a vote you can. ;)

[Matrona]

Matrona,

Its a "public poll" in the context that people can see who's casting the votes, but let's be plain about this... the whole point was to get the feedback from Orthodox members, otherwise what's the point?

Its fairly clear...

It's fairly clear that this is a great idea and we should all get behind it. :P

If you adjust the polls to include only *present* TAW members, the vote is unanimous in favor, unless you wish to dissent.

[Matrona]

We can? I can't see them...

In IC XC,
Marjorie

Click on any of the orange numbers in the poll, and it will load the page so that you can see the names of members and what they voted for. :)

[Marjorie]

Click on any of the orange numbers in the poll, and it will load the page so that you can see the names of members and what they voted for. :)

Oh, thanks!

In IC XC,
Marjorie

[Llauralin]

Note:

This poll was being conducted to get the feedback of TAW MEMBERS. If you're not a member of TAW, particularly if you're not a Christian, than please do NOT cast a vote as I've seen been done here. The lack of totally honesty has already made me want to cast a "no" vote as it plays on the concerns I have with this idea.

Thank you for your cooperation.
Erm...oops...sorry...you can ignore my vote if you like...:blush:

[jameseb]

Erm...oops...sorry...you can ignore my vote if you like...:blush:

No worries... it wasn't even your vote that concerned me. :) But I just think if they want a fair view of the Orthodox members here it should only be them that are voting. Granted, it doesn't change the sway of the votes, but it still had to be said.

Peace be with you. :)

[Marjorie]

I don't see anyone who responded who wasn't a Christian, with the exception perhaps of a Christian Unitarian...

Llauralin is a regular poster on TAW and an inquirer into Orthodoxy so unless "TAW members" is consigned to only baptized/chrismated Orthodox Christians, I don't think she's a problem.

In IC XC,
Marjorie

[jameseb]

Erm...oops...sorry...you can ignore my vote if you like...:blush:

By the way, I edited my post... I didn't realize it sounded so harsh. My apologies. :blush: :sorry:

[RobNJ]

If we call it "The Narthex", we'll have to make a sticky, of the old guy selling the candles;)

[Matrona]

If we call it "The Narthex", we'll have to make a sticky, of the old guy selling the candles;)

And sticky of coffee hour too. :)

[RobNJ]

And sticky of coffee hour too. :)

Ahh that's what the basement is for!!:D

[Photini]

It's fairly clear that this is a great idea and we should all get behind it. :P

If you adjust the polls to include only *present* TAW members, the vote is unanimous in favor, unless you wish to dissent.
I don't even know who that other member is, who voted against it. Don't think I've ever seen him here before.


So, the old man selling candles is something that other churches have too? I always buy a candle....I'm scared to see what he'll do if I don't. ^_^

[Matrona]

I don't even know who that other member is, who voted against it. Don't think I've ever seen him here before.


So, the old man selling candles is something that other churches have too? I always buy a candle....I'm scared to see what he'll do if I don't. ^_^

:D

We don't have old men in my home parish or in the Greek church that I walk to. There's just a box with money... I usually put a dollar in for one of the long thin candles because there aren't any posted prices at either parish.

[Yiannis550]

:D

We don't have old men in my home parish or in the Greek church that I walk to. There's just a box with money... I usually put a dollar in for one of the long thin candles because there aren't any posted prices at either parish.

Some Churches have a Candle seller some other's don't. Depends on how big is the Church I guess. Back home in Cyprus our Church has one man in the front and just a box for the money on the back. But there aren't any prices for the candles because in that way you can put as much money as you want for a donation for the church. Here in Edinburgh where I am now we just have a box for the money and no Candle man. Being a member of the Church committee I know how much the candles cost and believe me they are reaaaaally cheap:) But especially if you are in the UK please keep putting enough money in the Boxes. The Orthodox Church here needs money. It is expanding more than it can afford and we need Priests, Churches etc etc ...

By the way this last 2 months we had 5 Baptisms-Chrismations in Edinburgh :) 1 Scottish Couple, 1 Norwegian young guy, and 2 babies :)
These are just the ones I attended because I knew the people. I am not sure if there were more.

[Xpycoctomos]

I think we should call it "The Narthex".
Excellent idea. reps to Matrona!

"The Narthex": For those curious about Orthodox Christianity

[Llauralin]

Is mine the only church with an old candle lady, rather than a candle man??? Actually she's the secratery, but sells candles too.

Yeah, having a "narthex" would be great!

[Matrona]

Some Churches have a Candle seller some other's don't. Depends on how big is the Church I guess. Back home in Cyprus our Church has one man in the front and just a box for the money on the back. But there aren't any prices for the candles because in that way you can put as much money as you want for a donation for the church.

At my church the candle money jar is also the offering jar--we're not very big so we do not pass out a collection plate. So I buy a candle and make my offering then.

However, at the Greek church they pass out a collection plate, too. Since I'm used to making my donation in the narthex at the candle box, it kind of feels like being shaken down twice. And then they have a box at coffee hour for donations for that. Also, I have no clue how much money to pay for the big candles, or for one of the big red jar candles, so I can only get a skinny one. :( So I wish they would put a "Suggested Donation" sign telling me how much to give and save my other folding money for the plate. :)

[MariaRegina]

Some Churches have a Candle seller some other's don't. Depends on how big is the Church I guess. Back home in Cyprus our Church has one man in the front and just a box for the money on the back. But there aren't any prices for the candles because in that way you can put as much money as you want for a donation for the church. Here in Edinburgh where I am now we just have a box for the money and no Candle man. Being a member of the Church committee I know how much the candles cost and believe me they are reaaaaally cheap:) But especially if you are in the UK please keep putting enough money in the Boxes. The Orthodox Church here needs money. It is expanding more than it can afford and we need Priests, Churches etc etc ...

By the way this last 2 months we had 5 Baptisms-Chrismations in Edinburgh :) 1 Scottish Couple, 1 Norwegian young guy, and 2 babies :)
These are just the ones I attended because I knew the people. I am not sure if there were more.


Dear Yiannis,

That is great. Were the adults ever baptized in a protestant church before?

I'm wondering what the fallout will be when the Anglican bishops starts to ordain female bishops. Already some Bishops are threatening to convert to Roman Catholics. Are their any bishops or priests who are thinking of converting to Orthodoxy over this matter?

[Photini]

However, at the Greek church they pass out a collection plate, too. Since I'm used to making my donation in the narthex at the candle box, it kind of feels like being shaken down twice.

My parish passes the collection plate twice. :D One donation is for the church building fund and the other is for your regular tithe. I haven't quite figured out which is which yet..

[Yiannis550]

Dear Yiannis,



That is great. Were the adults ever baptized in a protestant church before?



I'm wondering what the fallout will be when the Anglican bishops starts to ordain female bishops. Already some Bishops are threatening to convert to Roman Catholics. Are their any bishops or priests who are thinking of converting to Orthodoxy over this matter?



Actually the adults were baptized before as protestants, therefore we had only the Chrismation part and not full baptism in the Orthodox Church. The reason they switched is because they felt they discovered the truth. Especially the husband of the Couple he was going Atheist until he met Orthodoxy (and father John) and changed mind:)



But I know people who did change because of that. First of all Father John himself was Episcopalian minister and felt that the church was going to modern and not standing for what is supposed to stand for. That is why he went to Constantinople and became an Orthodox priest many years ago.



Then there is another person I know, who is old as well. He was a minister for church of England. His wife was a deacon I think and they offered her to become a priest too. She resisted and she actually had run a campaign against this practice with presentations and research to support her position.



During a holiday trip in Cyprus they attended a Service in an Orthodox Church (Specifically the one in a village in Cyprus where St Helen left one of the 2 pieces of the Holly Cross she left in Cyprus). And the husband felt the calling of God inside him! While living the church, in the car, he told his wife that he decided to become Orhtodox. Her immediate reaction was "If you do that I ll divorce you!" But after a few days they visited a monastery and then it was her turn to feel the call. She says that she felt the Saint of the monastery to speak to her and tell her that is the right choice. (Unfortunately my horrible memory forbids me from remembering which was the monastery but I can ask them next time I see them). Anyway they returned to England, they did some research and then got Chrismated both. Now they live in the Scottish Highlands, they converted one of the rooms in their house into a Church and there is a Service there once every 2 months by Father Raphael or Father John. His dream is to manage to built a real Church in the Highlands for the Orthodox people there.



It is amazing because I know many people who converted to Orthodoxy and when I asked them how they decided to become Orthodox, usually the answer goes like "I walked into an Orthodox Church and I felt I found the Truth..."



I guess I cannot fully realize this. I am Orthodox since I was 7 moths old :)

[jameseb]

It's a public poll, so how can you claim a lack of honesty? :P

P.S.

Heh. That sounds strangely opposite to something I read just yesterday... ;)


As for the OP....

A subforum - I can't see the harm in that. I'm, of course, opposed to having the Christian Only areas open to all members (experience modding the open areas tells me that would be a very, very bad idea), but having a specific sub-forum available to those who seek is not a bad idea. :)

[Kolya]

Is mine the only church with an old candle lady, rather than a candle man??? Actually she's the secratery, but sells candles too.


In our Russian Church, we always have a lady. Sometimes it's even a young girl or teenager.


My parish passes the collection plate twice. :D One donation is for the church building fund and the other is for your regular tithe. I haven't quite figured out which is which yet..

We also have two plates (Well, one is a box) passed around, one for the building fund, and one for tithe. At the candle counter in the narthx, all the candle prices are marked, so there is no doubt as to how much to donate.:)