The Mid West Bishop Speaks Out

Arch Bishop Job submitted a letter indicating his continued frustration with his fellow Bishops and the Metropolitan in handling the current OCA crises. He revealed that in spite of administrative, personnel, and outside influences, the management of the OCA was still not going well. He indicated he had no trust in the Metropolitan at this point to bring the OCA out of crises. This Bishop had already been the most outspoken one about the financial mishandlings and had been withholding his diocease funds to the OCA.

Job further indicated that as of a year ago, he himself was ready to resign as Bishop and at the very last minuet gain the courage to pull away from this weak view and turn towards the idea that he needed to fight on. A great revelation and courage was revealsed to me about this man in that statement.

Another Perspective on the Crises

I reviewed another reflective letter about the OCA crises by Fr. Lowe. He recapitulates the story of Elijah, and how this prophet fell way short of what he was told to do by God. Even running off in fear after an initial confrontation with the enemies of God. In the story, even Elijah's adversaries saw him as troublesome to Israel. He was God's anointed prophet but his actions and results did not do any real good from God's asking. So God pushed him aside and choose another prophet to complete the work.

If you read between the lines and the innuendos he presents, the message Fr. Lowe is presenting suggests that the instigator of the OCA crises is comparable to Elijah. He cried out as a prophet (or tattle tail) and then like Elijah did not take the prophet's role and try to right things. His closing implication suggests that the present leadership could at some point all be pushed aside and God will select new leaders to finish the job for the Orthodoxy in America.

Where Do I Take My Thoughts

So I am trying to figure out how to determine my perspective on the OCA's situation and what type of effort is expected on my part to serve. I have evolved some my thinking from the time I first start to familiarized myself with the "crises," -- before Christmas of 2007. Now that I have studied and thought through the situation, it is clear that much of what has transpired financially will remain unknown and unsolved. It may very well be that there was malfeasance and wrong use of the Church's money, but it also likely was caused by a variety of factor's including the Church trying to do more than its budget allowed. All that was done was not necessarily all morally wrong, but rather, just bad management and an unwillingness to change.

Our Priests

This past weekend, two of our attached priests at St. Nicholas weighed in on the "crises" facing the Orthodox Church in America. Father Joseph issued a letter on the the Orthodox Christians for Accountablity Web Site indicating a need to condiser the view of a tough and truthful love by our Bishops. his view indicated that through standing for reelection the Bishops could bring about a significant change for the Church. The result of the election was not the end result, rather the act of this kind of love would accomplish a number of steps to establsihing the trust which is no so lacking. Father Denis gave a sermon on Sunday, recapitualating a brief history of the strucutre of the Orthodox Church. He then went on to address the current crises. His view in general was to maintain the structure, since the Bishops and Leaders are annointed and serve until they themselves decided the timing of their leaving. But he gave a very elioquint diatribe on forgiveness, even if one has "done wrong."

Thoughts on the Future of Orthodoxy in America

I am starting this blog to create a conversation on what possibilities exist for the future of the Orthodox Church in America. Recent issues and events have disturb trust and credibility of the current structure for the Orthodox Church in America. Some of the issues are related to how the Church leadership have handled finances and finance management over the last 10 years. But the problem is more encompassing. I want to explore ways to help and change the present situation.