The Joint Meeting and its Agenda

One thing sticks out foremost in my mind in the description of the MC agenda. The dismissal of Fr. Searforce by, surprise, surprise, Bishop Nikon. I talked yesterday about Bishop Nikon and today there’s yet more dismissal and disappointing actions out of him to talk about again. When I think about all he has done and remembering this above action, one can only come to one thought about what life in the New England Diocese is like: spiritual terrorism. The likes of which have no other diocesan parallel now that Nikolai is gone.

Let’s remember, however, the steps that the former Nicholas Liolin took to become bishop of New England and you might understand how he is so lockstep in the path of the administration, and in particular Herman. Nicholas Liolin was elected Bishop of Baltimore, auxiliary to Met. Theodosius on April 3, 2002. What people do not know is that Fr. Liolin took up residence at Syosset for two months prior to his election in order for his training as bishop. They only mention he took up studies at St. Tikhon’s prior to his consecration. Only now, more than six years later, do we know what a fine pupil he was in learning the ways of Syosset, learned so well, that he has taken it to it heart and must warm the hearts of his teacher Met. Theodosius and those under him. What we must take to heart is that this was a wholly two months before his election, meaning that the election, the consideration by the Synod was just not that. He was a chosen one, chosen by the powers to be, and they sent him along the path so well used to protect the administration and the Synod, they made him an auxiliary in the DC Diocese, where there would be no question about intentions until he was consecrated. But he wasn’t going to take up shop in Baltimore, he was sent to New England. Just like they did with Nikolai, Bishop of Baltimore running the show in Alaska. And Bishop Tikhon, another auxiliary, the Trojan horse method of episcopal selection that has done so much harm to the Church that it will take years to fully grasp its magnitude. And then, when the fullness of time had come, in 2003, he was elected Bishop of the Albanian Diocese, like who else would they pick? And then in 2005, get this, he was elected bishop of New England, like, who else would they pick? We asked earlier this summer and we ask again, if the good people of the Diocese of New England were put in a room back in 2002 and tasked with choosing a leader of their good and faithful diocese, would Fr. Liolin have walked out with their nomination?

Since being in control in New England, which we kind of question the timing of his election as Bishop of New England, having come just around the time of the Wheeler letters, Nikon has been a textbook representative of the special interests not of the laity, not of his clergy, not of Christ, but of Herman and the miscreants that then, and now, rule in Syosset, that are so painfully obstructionists to the truth. Yesterday I spoke to a good degree of Bishop Nikon, but let’s look at something he wrote in the Diocesan Newsletter in the summer of 2007:

“Yet, the pressing question is this, are we witnessing concretely to the love of God? When people visit our parishes, do they encounter vibrant communities, animated by the love of God, the truth of Jesus Christ and the transforming power of the Holy Spirit? Do our parishes stand out in the local community as sources of mercy, charity and witness? When we attend the divine services, do we come with joy and excitement, to receive the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ, and to come closer to our brothers and sisters in bonds of divine grace? If we answer “no” to any of these questions, indeed we are facing a real crisis, because the Church is supposed to be all of these things, and when it is not, there is a crisis.”

Remarkable. Truly remarkable. Its remarkable because the author of that statement has done his very best to terrorize and punish those that stand out in the local community as sources of witness. Clergy who are “animated by the love of God, the TRUTH of Jesus Christ and the transforming power of the Holy Spirit” are taken away from the situation in which that animated feeling is most needed right now. We ask, does the Bishop truly believe what he writes? Is he hypocritical and just in it to keep the gentlemen’s club steady and safe. Does he just say what he says above because he has to in his job. Does he really believe? Would anyone consider his actions the result of the transforming power of the Holy Spirit? Has he witnessed concretely to the love of God considering his actions against his own diocese? The Faith is not mere nice words for the laity to consume but a guide to our actions, for we do not act for our own benefit, but for the benefit of who’s Church this really IS! A guide for ALL! The most powerful words are those that are followed by actions, these words, we’re sorry to say are as hollow as the letter of the Synod last night.

In the end, my friends, we refer back to that statement of the treasurer of the Diocese of DC/NY, Larry Tosi, when he stated that we can’t handle the truth for if the truth came out it would be the end of the Church. He might have said that with more truth than we have credited him with because we are being shown, time and again, and very prominently this past day that the Holy Synod of the Orthodox Church in America cannot handle the truth and that if the truth came to light it would be the end of that Synod. To the rest of us, the truth is what we thirst after and follow the Lord for.

There has been more and more mention of the Sidebottom case.

What has been the outcome of that with the EEOC?

People should wake up from any dreams people have of Herman resigning at the meetings or the AAC. The removal of a priest who was going to reintroduce the resolution for his resignation, not even his removal, is a sign that it is not going to happen. It is yet another shot across the bow of the laity (I leave out a complicit MC) that they are going to have to do a lot more than hope and plead with him to leave. He's got TOO much to lose.

And, Ken, he's a bishop, no action of his has to be explained. He was put into a role of no accountability and they're going to do all they can to make sure it stays that way. But, when he comes over, to visit I'm sure if you don't hand him his tribute envelope, he'll say something about THAT! He, and the rest of them on the Synod, are nothing but mercenaries.

God, save us from our bishops!

Save the day? We're just asking him for truth, justice, and the Orthodox way!

We ask that of all the bishops. And all of them except for one has been singing the party song of obstruction and cover up and even dance to the song committing actions against their very own. We had hope for Nikon thinking that newer blood would be able to guide us through the muck and do what's right. What we, instead, are treated to is a man who keeps the status quo and does what he can do to maintain it.

We express our disappointment in Nikon, we hope that he will live up to his obligations and responsibilities as bishop, that's all. To practice what he preaches and to set an example of how to follow Christ. Unfortunately, he's only been a bad example to this point. We'd even accept if he came out and said that what has happened was wrong. Doesn't take much training to say those words, does it - just a belief in the commandments. If he was to return to being a good priest, maybe the level where he is best suited for his abilities, we'd have lower expectations, but when someone assumes the role of bishop, one must do more than be the center of attention at the services he presides at, he has to be a leader, he has to be a person who truly follows in the footsteps of Christ and not just use that as a explanation for why he should not be held accountable.

Let us say, to start, that we have no personal problems with Nikon. He’s probably a great guy, great with the kids, tells a joke here and there, and outwardly does not show any signs of any malicious intent. However, as bishop he leaves a lot to be desired and that’s where we have our problem. And therein lies the problem because of the serious responsibilities he holds not only administratively, but also for our spiritual well being. When a bishop fails, its not just himself that fails, its his flock. The very fact that you mention that “he is still finding his way and will be ok in time” shows us a man, that after 6.5 years after being consecrated bishop still doesn’t know what to do in that role. In a normal organization if a person doesn’t show competence in his job in a year he’s most likely ranked low and let go if significant improvement hasn’t been shown. In the OCA we make excuses for them and others use them for their own advantage.

Nikon, along with most of the Synod, especially Herman, are TRUE examples of the Peter Principle, that "in a hierarchy every employee tends to rise to his level of incompetence." While an employee works competently at a level he is promoted until he reaches the level of incompetence. In the case of the OCA this goes along with the idea that the cream sinks to the bottom. Fr. Liolin was probably a great priest with no enemies and no real tests of his faith, he was competent at being a good priest, but then he was plucked out of there and like a fish out of water put into a role that he wasn’t suited for to begin with and easily manipulated by his colleagues for their benefit and protection. The problem in our little organization here is that a bishop is forever and that we can’t rank them lowly and then dismiss them. It’s a pain in the neck to remove a bishop, just look at all the problems with Nikolai. That’s why its important that due diligence is done in selecting a bishop and that it is not a popularity contest and not done behind closed doors in incense filled rooms by those with hidden agendas. The ones with hidden agendas practice what is called Negative Selection. Here is an explanation of that from wikipedia:

“Negative selection, in politics, is a process that occurs in rigid hierarchies, most notably dictatorships.

The person on the top of the hierarchy, wishing to remain in power forever, chooses his associates with the prime criterion of incompetence - they must not be competent enough to remove him from power. The associates do the same with those below them in the hierarchy, and the hierarchy is progressively filled with more and more incompetent people.

If the dictator sees that he is threatened nonetheless, he will remove those that threaten him from their positions - "purge" the hierarchy. Emptied positions in the hierarchy are normally filled with people from below - those who were less competent than their previous masters. So, over the course of time, the hierarchy becomes less and less effective. As this happens relatively often, once the dictator dies, or is removed by some external influence, what remains is a grossly ineffective hierarchy.”

This is what happens in our church and why people who are ill suited for the hierarchy are promoted within the current and immediate past regimes. Its why its important that a process that includes the greatest scrutiny of candidates exist and why the Trojan Horse selection of bishops, which brough us Nikon, Tikhon, Nikolai, and Benjamin, needs to be stopped.

We do not need excuses for the actions of these bishops, we need the bishops to act in a manner that requires no excuses, a manner in which we would, ourselves, strive to emulate.

Well, breakfast certainly has been scaled back in recent years!