The Metropolitan Council

Wednesday, August 9. 2006

The Metropolitan Council

Comments on the Council, on Mr. Nescott's reflection, on how to change or improve the Council are welcomed.
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Posted by Mark at 15:04 | Comments (10)

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This letter to me is a tell all tale of what happened to the church; why it was appropriate that Metropolitan Herman terminated Fr. Kondratick, how that same culture had Dr. Skordinski expected to sign on the dotted line on the loan without financial statements, and how any strong willed, good minded people bowed out or were asked to leave.

As I stated earlier, a closer look at resignations from the MC should show us the dynamic.

Fr. Kondratick clearly deserved to be fired based on the letter from Mr. Nescott. I believe Mr. Nescott has come under fire from Bishop Tikhon. To me, from this distance, this letter further explains the termination and the means taken were appropriate and necessary actions. About the only get out of jail card for Fr. Kondratick is if he was emulating the Metropolitan's wishes. If that is the case, the Metropolitan should resign.

The letter doesn't elevate the former Metropolitan either. If a part of what is said is true, he is probably the greatest reason for the path we ended up on...

The AAC in 2005 was a complete joke. Same problems. No Q&A, no financial reports. It was run by Fr. Kondratick.

Thanks for posting this letter Mark. It explains a lot.

Sounds like another apology from the OcA is in order to Mr. Nescott.

#1 Daniel E. Fall on 2006-08-09 16:41

Mr. Nescott's observations are astute. I believe that Orthodox Christianity herself needs to face another painful truth. The Byzantine regalia, pomp and circumstance surrounding even the most mundane aspects of Church life is highly intimidating to most people. It creates unnecessary relational barriers among the clery and laity. Deference out of honor, love and respect is good. Flacidness emanating from ignorance, fear and intimidation is bondage. What Mr. Nescott describes, unfortunately, seems to be the later. Dysfunctional is an overused word on this site, but wholly appropriate. Are the MC members abused and behaving accordingly?

#2 Annoymous on 2006-08-09 16:49

Mr. Nescott's reflection now confirms what many of us had feared and suspected. Unless there is a definitive refutation of the events outlined in his reflection (fat chance!), then the time has come for drastic and effective action to restore the emasculated authority of the Metropolitan Council. Sadly, but not unexpectedly, this dastardly deed has been perpetrated by the central authority of the OCA.

Drastic action will undoubtably require the talents of the OCA's lay lawyers--which we know is the only agency to date that seems to command fear and respect from the powers that be. How pathetic that a religious institution requires the application of civil, and possibly even criminal law, to put its house in order.

Where are the Roman/Byzantine Emperor, the Tsar, the Sultan, or for that matter the Communist thugs now on the ash heap of history, when you need them? (a joke for the literal minded!)

KRT

#3 Kenneth R. Tobin on 2006-08-09 16:56

Thank you Mr. Nescott for confirming what many of us already knew or suspected! Power corrupts, absolutely power corrupts absolutely. In deference to the current members of the MC, intimidation is greater factor in all of these proceedings than has been heretofore revealed. I have been witnessing a disturbing trend among of the laity in many of our parishes to simply not question anything the hierarchy says or does for fear of being disobedient to authority. This behavior plays into the hands of those who love to assert authority and power over others in contradiction to the clear teachings of the Savior that we are to wash one another’s feet. The basic foundation of the Orthodox Church is humility and repentance, but unless that is demonstrated beyond platitudes and empty words, then the OCA will never fulfill its calling.

#4 Rich on 2006-08-10 08:17

I have been an Orthodox Christian for nearly 71 years. My belief has always been that His Grace and his leading flock were among the most religious God fearing and honest people on this planet.

For months I have been reading all the spin about what happened, who did what, etc. All of this just creates more and more disdain towards our faith. Why can't those to blame, and who I have always felt directed me in my life, just step up and confess their wrongdoings and face the accountability deserving of their acts.

It is time to move into the healing and restoration of our church and if the guilty truly believe in God they will step forward and do what is right and human.

#5 Anonymous on 2006-08-10 09:57

Last "official" word on the loan...
"The Board of Directors of the Honesdale National Bank offered an Extension of Commitment Letter dated June 28, 2006, with a termination/closing date of August 3, 2006."
Wouldn't best practices suggest an update by now? Inquiring minds want to know...
...or is it just more of what Mr Nescott wrote???

#6 Anonymous on 2006-08-10 10:40

Everyone, don't buy gas from company "X" on Wednesday's.
- Didn't work, gas price keeps going up.
Everyone, don't send money to the central church.
- Didn't work, just more "SMOKE" screens.
Everyone, "TEMPORARILY" stop all OCA donations "ESPECIALLY" to your local Church.
- Might work???
Those ("EVERYONE") who receive salaries are "EMPLOYEES".
Those who "PAY" salaries are employers.
Those who steal are CRIMINALS.
Until the employers figure this out, we are just wasting our time.
We don't need Best Practices, we need "HONEST" employees.
If there is no major progress by Jan 1, 2007, we should start contacting the civil authorities for a criminal investigation. I know people who are considering this and I won't try to discourage them.
- This might work?????
Thanks, Ande

#7 Ande on 2006-08-10 11:32

Thank God for courageous and honest people like Mr. Nescott! It is with tears that I read what evils have been perpetrated by some on the God-fearing, loving faithful of the OCA and how their actions have threatened our church. God bless the efforts of those who are trying to right our floundering ship.

#8 please withhold on 2006-08-10 12:36

"His spirit generally speaking was one of absolute submission to the 'official' Church. He did absolutely nothing without her approval. He knew from experience in the Holy Spirit that bishops are bearers of divine grace quite independent of their personal virtue. He perceptibly felt divine grace and he saw where it was acting and where it wasn't acting. He graphically emphasized that grace is opposed to the proud, but not to sinners, however humble."

"For this reason, he didn't agree with actions that provoked disputes and conflicts within the Church or verbal attacks on bishops. He always advised that the solution to all the Church's problems should be found in the Church and by the Church with prayer, humility and repentance. It is better, he said, for us to make mistakes within the Church than to act correctly outside it."

From: Elder Porphyrios - Testimonies and Experiences, p. 53

#9 Joe on 2006-08-14 17:44

Are you really Metropolitan Herman or Bishop Tikhon? Certainly, one could agree with Elder Porphyrios in general without believing his observation applied to every conceivable situation. Or maybe he was just plain crazy?!

KRT

#9.1 Kenneth R. Tobin on 2006-08-15 11:38

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