Wiki: The Ancient Way rules

[kamikat]

The Ancient Way is a forum for Orthodox Christians and catechumens belonging to a canonical Orthodox Church, which is in communion with one or more of the Patriarchs listed at http://www.orthodoxresearchinstitute.org/

Rules For Posting In 'The Ancient Way" Forum:
1.Non-Orthodox are permitted only fellowship and honest, sincere questions. No debating, teaching or preaching will be tolerated.
2.All posters wil treat each other respectfully.
3.Debate between Orthodox is left up to the discretion of the mods.
4.Active Promotion of views contrary to the established teachings of canonical Orthodox Churches are prohibited.
5.All members claiming to be clergy must be verified with staff
6.Only members belonging to a canonical Orthodox Church (as outlined above), will be considered for Moderators of TAW.
7.Any promotion of schismatic or Old Believer teachings will be considered non-Orthodox and treated as such

[Orthosdoxa]

How shall we define Christians/non-Christians? I like still using the Nicene Creed as a guide.

[SeraphimSarov]

I agree. That is, after all, our symbol of faith. And that's the way it was before, so nothing is changing that way.

[kamikat]

How about instead of non-Christians, we change it to read non-Orthodox? That way, we aren't defining "Christian", which I think might go against the CF rules. We are allowed to define "Orthodox", but I think that's it.

[Orthosdoxa]

So even people who hold to the Nicene Creed and such would only be allowed to post on [OPEN] threads?

Maybe we could change "Christians" to read "Members who hold to the statutes spelled out in the Nicene Creed"? I hate to have to work around such silly rules.

[kamikat]

I'll ask in the staff forum. I believe it's open to view by all members.

[nestoj]

How about instead of non-Christians, we change it to read non-Orthodox? That way, we aren't defining "Christian", which I think might go against the CF rules. We are allowed to define "Orthodox", but I think that's it.
OK,
Then you are also not confining non-Christians to [OPEN] threads which is against allowing all to post - borders can be put on what they can post (rule no.1 and 2 I think). You have defined Orthodox as “member of canonical Orthodox Church” – should we add something more?

nestoj
God helps

[kamikat]

Has anyone read any of the other congregational rules WIKIs? I'm just curious if other forums are taking a hardline approach like we would like to.

[kamikat]

Ok, after taking a look at the OBOB rules, I'm going to edit ours bit.

[nestoj]

Has anyone read any of the other congregational rules WIKIs? I'm just curious if other forums are taking a hardline approach like we would like to.
Last time I looked Cathlicks ware having something like us, just without "non-Christians can post only to [OPEN] threads"

nestoj
God helps

[kamikat]

yup! I've edited it so it says "non-Orthodox may only post fellowship post or honest, sincere questions. No debate, teaching or preaching will be tolerated"

[Orthosdoxa]

Aww, you didn't like my numbering the rules? :D I must be anal-retentive like that - I like them orderly. ;)

[SeraphimSarov]

So is someone like myself who has completely abandoned all other faiths and is awaiting chrismation not considered Orthodox for the purposes of this forum?

[Orthosdoxa]

Catechumens and sincere inquirers are not considered non-Orthodox for the purposes of the forum, IMO. Er, wait, did that make sense? :D

[nestoj]

So is someone like myself who has completely abandoned all other faiths and is awaiting chrismation not considered Orthodox for the purposes of this forum?
I rarely see any of regulars on TAW debating anything - so I see no problem for anybody. Speaking for myself, I wouldn't like seeing that you (and few others we see all the time on TAW) are forbidden anything, but then mods could have problems and be accused for "selective appliance of subforum rules"... - (do you have a problem with putting Orthodox faith icon, if not some mod could do it since most of us, if not all, sees you as Orthodox brothers and sisters)

nestoj
God helps

[kamikat]

So is someone like myself who has completely abandoned all other faiths and is awaiting chrismation not considered Orthodox for the purposes of this forum?

You bring up a good point. Anyone have ideas on how to change the wording? Prior to the new rules, we generally just kept an eye out for the members we knew to be serious inquirers or catechumen, no matter what their faith icon was. I guess we need it to be a bit more formal now.

[Akathist]

I first want to say I like the wikki. I think you are doing a great job.

I am writing not as staff but as a participant here.

I am concerned about the use of only "catechumen" as we do have people who are sincerely pursueing conversion but whose Priest or Bishop likes things to take .... a .... long..... time...... kwim?

How about: "catechumens and those who are ready to be catechumens and are regularly attending an EO Church"

"sincere inquirer" is too vague imo. We have had "sincere inquierers" gathering info for evangelical "mission" work after all.

Another concern is that the "mods" can determine if we can debate or not.

I would prefer that we be allowed to debate as long as we are respectful. Therefore, I would like to see that rule removed as it is covered by the rule above.

I wish Recovery could have such simple rules! We added all the same rules present for the whole board.

But I do wonder about the rules about comments on google, and copywrite. Are they needed or does the FSR's not need to cover them?

[RobNJ]

I first want to say I like the wikki. I think you are doing a great job.

I am writing not as staff but as a participant here.

I am concerned about the use of only "catechumen" as we do have people who are sincerely pursueing conversion but whose Priest or Bishop likes things to take .... a .... long..... time...... kwim?

How about: "catechumens and those who are ready to be catechumens and are regularly attending an EO Church"

"sincere inquirer" is too vague imo. We have had "sincere inquierers" gathering info for evangelical "mission" work after all.

Another concern is that the "mods" can determine if we can debate or not.

I would prefer that we be allowed to debate as long as we are respectful. Therefore, I would like to see that rule removed as it is covered by the rule above.

I wish Recovery could have such simple rules! We added all the same rules present for the whole board.

But I do wonder about the rules about comments on google, and copywrite. Are they needed or does the FSR's not need to cover them?

Those are sitewide concerns..they need to be addressed at the sirte level, IMHO

[Shubunkin]

I was wondering about the "sincere inquiries" for information gathering to go on a missionary trip in other denominations just to proselytize the Orthodox believers in another country. Should this even be tolerated here?

[kamikat]

That implies motive. Unless the poster comes out and says it's for missionary work, we have no idea what someone's intent it. If it is for missionary work, than it doesn't qualify as "sincere inquirary".

[Akathist]

The rule about debate is up to the descretion of the moderators is inappropriate.

Debate between Orthodox should be allowed as along as the other rules are followed.

We do not need a repeat of past censorship by moderators.

[MariaRegina]

I was wondering about the "sincere inquiries" for information gathering to go on a missionary trip in other denominations just to proselytize the Orthodox believers in another country. Should this even be tolerated here?

Dear Cygne,

The grace of God works in strange ways.

We have had so many inquirers here at TAW who might have had other motives when they first came here.

But we usually tell them to "taste and see how good the Lord is" by attending a Vespers Service or a Divine Liturgy. Many then convert when they discover the sheer beauty of the Divine Liturgy.

Lovingly in Christ,
Elizabeth

[MariaRegina]

I would like to propose this addition to the TAW forum specific wiki:

8. Blasphemy in TAW, in addition to any foru.ms general rules, is considered to be any joking, insulting, or rude comment made against the Trinity, God, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and Jesus Christ. And by extension, since Christ is present in the Holy Sacraments, this will forbid any joking, insulting, mocking, or belittling statements made against Baptism, Chrismation, Holy Communion (the Eucharist), the Divine Liturgy, the Holy Services, Holy Confession, Tonsuring, Holy Matrimony, Holy Order, Holy Unction, and the Funeral Service. Note: It is also forbidden to compose jokes or to mock or insult the Theotokos and the Saints since Christ is present within them.