i remember us briefly talking about that last time 😅 one of the debatable benefits of the protestant tradition is no centralized authority. I would argue that a lack of objective interpretational authority is a very dangerous thing, and that point was the nail in the coffin, so to speak, for me finally leaving the protestant system and moving towards orthodoxy
I find myself--after a lifetime of observation of "churches as they exist" compared and contrasted with a lifetime of studying scripture--strongly opposed to heirarchy, especially in the ecclesia.
My working conclusion is that all such trappings are importation of worldly philosophy, and that they have become encrusted in tradition...
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Corinthians+14%3A26&version=ESV
Discussion
It is indeed a very knotty problem. In fact, I'm presently personally impacted in a very dramatic way.
About a month ago now, I chose to withdraw from membership in a church because I could not in good conscience accept it's demand that I cease speaking, even privately, about what I see scripture teaching that diverges from the traditional (but extrabiblical) reformed documents accepted by this church.😢
I can and do listen and learn from blessed and unique insights shared by my Orthodox brothers, but I believe they--along with Presbyterians--are in error about heirarchy.
With regards to the decentralised nature of protestant churches, it definitely has its advantages and disadvantages, just as hierarchy does. Sometimes hierarchy done well can be a beautiful thing, it can also be abused by unscrupulous people 🤷🏽♀️.
It's probably going to take me a while to discern a path for this one aspect of orthodox belief. I don't think I could ever convert to Orthodoxy though because that would mean no more worshipping with my hubby and community and that I believe would be the morally incorrect choice for me and my family.