Becoming a Community of Disciples

Chapter 2: Legislative Teachings – The Role of the Abbot

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Attitude of an Abbot toward Those He Rules (RBas §15) Q: What mind in himself ought the one who presides have towards those who he commands or rules? R: 1 Before God he should be as a minister of Christ and steward of the mysteries of God (1 Cor 4:1), fearing lest he say or prescribe anything apart from the will of God or apart from what is clearly attested in the Scriptures, 2 and be found bearing false witness to God (1 Cor 15:15) or sacrilegious, whether by introducing anything foreign to the Lord’s teaching, or indeed by allowing to pass or by overlooking anything that is pleasing to God. 3 Towards the brothers, however, he should be as a nurse cherishing her children (1 Thess 2:7), being prepared according to the will of the Lord and according to the better good of each, to share with them not only the Gospel of God, but even his own life (1 Thess 2:8), 4 mindful of the commandment of our Lord and God (John 20:28), who said: A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you. Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends (John 15:12–13). ChangingWork without Permission (RBas §69) Q: Is it permissible for anyone to excuse himself from the work he is charged to do and to seek something else? R: 1 Since it is defined that the measure of obedience is even until death (Phil 2:8), anyone who avoids what he is charged to do and seeks something else is first of all guilty of disobedience and manifestly shows that he has not yet denied himself (Matt 16:24; Mark 8:34; Luke 9:23).