SUMMARY LESSONS FOR ORTHODOX PERSONAL, FAMILY AND COMMUNITY LIFE - LOCAL AND NATIONAL CHURCH

1. SUMMARY LESSONSFOR ORTHODOX PERSONAL, FAMILY AND COMMUNITY LIFE - LOCAL AND NATIONAL CHURCH

2. Fr. Andrew – Part I: The Holy Personal and Family Life • Theology of the Trinity and Incarnation/Mankind • Purpose of Human Existence and Human Sexuality • Role of Images both True and False

3. SOME LESSONS: • Casual relations versus living in and through others – impact of ‘hooking up’ • Trend to remove theology out of the individual and sexuality • Love versus self-love • Image of God – the Holy Trinity • Ability to give and to receive

4. SOME MORE LESSONS: • Sacraments, Holy Spirit, relationships • Disconnect between view of sex and sexuality in today’s world and our earlier experience

5. Fr. Andrew – Part II: Theology Transforming Culture – redemption of image, language and culture of human sexuality • Nature of Priesthood • Marriage According to Orthodox Theology • Sexuality outside of marriage

6. SOME LESSONS: • Christ as the Bridegroom – obedience, submission, humility • Theotokos – receiving God as Savior • Marriage … death & sex …dying to self versus giving & receiving • Orthodox view of marriage – going beyond procreation • Ecstasy – orgasm of the soul

7. SOME MORE LESSONS: • Question – roles of Bishops, clergy and issue of married bishops? Understanding the historical context and the modern context • Historically – proving oneself in his/her family context before higher order of service • Reference to the “whatever” generation and need to deal with • Underlying theme of “giver-receiver” throughout • The “iconic” imagery of Orthodoxy – use of icons to teach what happens of us in life as result of receiving God

8. Dr. Valerie Karras: Lessons of Past – How the Gospel changedpre-Christian views of gender,sexuality and family life

9. SOME LESSONS: • On distinction between sex and gender • Sources of early understanding and Biblical references • Image and growing into God’s likeness • St. John Chrysostom on sex and gender – fellowship and communion • Emphasis on sex beyond procreation • Divorce and Orthodoxy

10. SOME MORE LESSONS: • Patristic idea that God did not initially create humanity with sexual differentiation – gender is a social construct and will not continue into the Resurrection…… • St. Gregory of Nyssa teachings on sex and what God intended for humanity • God and image in terms of gender – metaphoric depiction of the Holy Spirit and God the Father

11. Fr. Roman Bozyk: How the Christian Gospel influenced Morality and Life in Kyivan-Rus’

12. SOME LESSONS: • The ‘big bundle’ transfer • St. Illarion of Kyiv on St. Volodymyr as the ‘new Paul’ or the ‘new Constantine’ • Metropolitan Illarion (Ohienko) on positive understanding of family and gradation of commitment in marriage relationships • Teachings of Volydymyr Monomakh in his instructions to his children • Salvation by serving others

13. SOME MORE LESSONS: • Passion bearing in Slavic experience – Stts. Boris and Hlib

14. Dr. Peter Kondra: Challenges to Leading a Holy Personal and Family life – insights of an Orthodox Psychiatrist

15. SOME LESSONS: • Context of an Orthodox believer – sin, virtue, stages of Christian life (St. Theophan the Recluse) • Human sexuality • The power of gay politics • What approach should Orthodoxy take? • Fr. Andrew : how much have Canons been studied concerning the sexual malady?

16. SOME MORE LESSONS: • Inconclusive science on homosexuality • Dangers of inappropriate conclusions • How with humility and love to approach gays and lesbians • Access to counseling • Homosexuality as sin ? i.e. the acts and the behaviour……

17. The Panel Presenters –some challenges • Role of prayer • Forgiveness • Vigilance • Watchfulness • Worship • Role modeling • Ecclesial oneness • Serving, giving and receiving • Necessity of an open heart

18. SOME MORE LESSONS: • An example – ‘no God’ ads on city buses • Impact of high profile scandal and contribution to disbelief