The following is an excerpt from Elaine Pagels'
The Gnostic Gospels, regarding the way Valentinian Gnostic groups conducted their meetings.
Irenaeus tells us that when they met, all the members first participated in drawing lots. Whoever received a certain lot apparently was designated to take the role of priest; another was to offer the sacrament, as bishop; another would read the Scriptures for worship; and others would address the group as a prophet, offering extemporaneous spiritual instruction. The next time the group met, they would throw lots again so that the persons taking each role changed continually.
...At a time when orthodox Christians increasingly discriminated between clergy and laity, this group of gnostic Christians demonstrated that, among themselves, they refused to acknowledge such distinctions. Instead of ranking their members into superior and inferior "orders" within a heirarchy, they followed the principle of strict equality. All initiates, men and women alike, participated equally in the drawing; anyone might be selected to serve as priest, bishop, or prophet.... (p. 41)
On the next page Pagels includes this quote from Tertullian:
To begin with, it is uncertain who is a catechumen, and who a believer; they all have access equally, they listen equally, they pray equally -- even pagans, if any happen to come... They also share the kiss of peace with all who come, for they do not care how differently they treat topics.... (p. 42)
Sounds like my kind of group.
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