Whither the OCA

Before making any replies, please know that this person is not well-informed in regards to the extraordinary details of this financial/moral affair. This forum is in part an open invitation, so I am merely accepting this written request for an opinion.

Most people do their ‘thinking and doing’ in accordance to what their conscience prescribes. We count on our leaders to assist us up the spiritual ladder and hope that they have no intentions of knocking us down. RIGHT NOW my eyes are seeing and my ears are listening to both Bishop Job and Father Hopko. They are the leaders who have provided me with the most practical and sound spiritual delivery.

As an equal leader amongst the Holy Synod, only Bishop Job has convinced me that his actions do speak the truth and the way to proceed through this web of fear, dissipation and unrest. His actions also demonstrate a realization that the Holy Synod can not act alone without the aid of the entire Holy Orthodox Church. To do otherwise would only confound the many issues at hand. The right hand needs to know what the left hand is doing. He faithfully and effectively continues to lead his flock by means of direct and ongoing open communication. He provides an exemplary and much needed unprecedented plan for spiritually discernable direction.

This example sets the stage for his clergymen to do the same within their own individual parishes. He sternly warns and cautions them against the dangers concerning fingerpointing or casting blame.

In an undisputable way, Bishop Job has in essence, ‘risked his life’ for his flock by making his oppositions within the Holy Synod public. Bishops have been deposed before, so we now know that this practice has already been attempted recently. Regardless of who knew what and when, that risk has always been apparently quite real to each and every bishop and might very well explain the reasons for much of the ‘silence’ over the years.

Metropolitan Herman has also made a stance, however his plan of action does not yet appear ‘practical’ nor very clear to me. The other bishops are silent. Why? Is it the fear of deposition or simply the fear of being wrong? It’s not at all uncommon to fear ‘fear’. Fear reinforces itself with inaction alone. If every priest in every diocese followed their conscience, then why are they not collectively making their concerns known to their respective bishops? The bishop may or may not refuse to listen to a priest or group of priests in a literally, audible way, that would be his own prerogative. However, it would be undeniably irresponsible for any bishop not to read their messages. All it takes is a piece of paper, ink and signatures. The precedent has already been set. The Mid-West has already found the way and initiated a means to tackle this chaotic blunder. With this kind of consensus , how on earth could any threat from any one bishop possibly hold sanctified water? How could any one bishop possibly make a righteous, well-thought out decision to depose that many priests calling for accountability?

More importantly, as I see it, the bishops are being defensive for no valid reason. I feel that some of them are overlooking the fact that many of their priests are trying very hard to receive their proper blessing. This disaster is too complex for any group of 12 bishops, let alone one metropolitan to solve by themselves.

Understanding one another’s required needs are necessary to function effectively as well as amicably. Without this and ongoing communication no one is going anywhere and the confusion grows much more fierce each day. The church adamantly refuses to leave anyone behind; those left behind do so because of their own choosing. Not unlike a strengthening hurricane, those who do not prepare themselves properly, die. The survivors lose almost everything and are forced to start anew from scratch. The bishops are supposed to keep each other in check. The church’s outside attorneys and accountants are needed as consultants to the inside attorneys and accountants to keep them in check. They have to keep order set forth by the decisions of the metropolitan council in regards to all monetary affairs. Formulating budgets, money flow charts, and all other relevant tasks require their expert opinion and guidance. No one with any other credentials should ever be the sole decision-maker.

Similarly, the metropolitan council needs their direct input as well as the input from the laity from the various dioceses. The financial team is counting on the council to act quickly, clearly and competently. If competence is lacking, the church expects and demands each member to seek education from those persons exceptionally knowledgeable to assist. The consulted persons should only be those the council has unanimously agreed upon.

Who’s going to figure out which people do what, where they do it, when it needs to be done, how it should be done and most importantly, why it must be done? To prolong the necessary only hurts the church. I think that any sensible person would agree that it’s been beaten up badly enough already. To do nothing would be the same as leaving the church to struggle against itself in an unabated, sardonically inclined, masochistic manner.

The Mid-West Diocese has already started the train’s engine and the wheels have already been slowly, but surely set in motion. It’s obvious that the co-operation of the other dioceses is required and necessary. There’s no other way around it.

All of Fr. Tom Hopko’s letters have collectively summed up our problems which have led to this current crisis. He has also meticulously explained and provided guidelines of what should be done. Bishop Nathaniel thanked him for his concern and sound advice. That’s a good sign. From an optimistic viewpoint, it allows me to believe that he’s still struggling, contemplating, and is possibly mastering a concurring plan of his own.

From my standpoint, Fr. Hopko's recommendations are desired and sorely needed. I’m praying for him to devise additional recommendations for improvement and change. Trusting in the goodness God bestows on each and every human being, I’m counting on the entire synod’s sincerity of heart and am asking them to have confidence in their concerned priests and laypeople who love them. Their desire is to correct flaws when and where it’s possible. It’s also a good time to improve on what has been working well. Our good works need to be constantly sharpened in order to slay the evil one’s works of darkness leading to death. Father Hopko has made his appeal for all of us to choose life.

Speak the Truth and embarrass the devil.

About a year ago, there was a bizzare article in the press:

(07-08) 18:59 PDT ISTANBUL, Turkey (AP) -- Friday, July 8, 2005 450 Sheep Jump to Their Deaths in Turkey

First one sheep jumped to its death. Then stunned Turkish shepherds, who had left the herd to graze while they had breakfast, watched as nearly 1,500 others followed, each leaping off the same cliff, Turkish media reported. In the end, 450 dead animals lay on top of one another in a billowy white pile, the Aksam newspaper said. Those who jumped later were saved as the pile got higher and the fall more cushioned, Aksam reported."There's nothing we can do. They're all wasted," Nevzat Bayhan, a member of one of 26 families whose sheep were grazing together in the herd, was quoted as saying by Aksam.The estimated loss to families in the town of Gevas, located in Van province in eastern Turkey, tops $100,000, a significant amount of money in a country where average GDP per head is around $2,700."Every family had an average of 20 sheep," Aksam quoted another villager, Abdullah Hazar as saying. "But now only a few families have sheep left. It's going to be hard for us”.

We all know that in various places the Bible makes reference to animals which are intended to be analogous to people. Many of them are not intended to be complimentary. Could it be said that when it comes to disasters, we sometimes emulate some of the worst characteristics of Sheep? Sheep are known to be dumb animals. Usually they follow the leader, even if their path of choice is one that could conceivably lead to their demise.

Accepting what is thought as impossible to acheive is only motivation for defeat. It is possible to treat any dysfunctional being or entity. A highly dysfunctional church is no exception. It’ll take many talented people from all the dioceses to come up with the best plan and test it over and over until it’s perfected to it’s best possible degree. The sheep follows what has gone before, even when that has been proven to be unworkable.

Pray that the truth be known and dealt with accordingly.

Father Reeves and many others have made many references to the teachings of Fr. Alexander Schemman. I remember a couple more: www.schemann.org/byhim/reflectionsonconfession ( Paper discussed at the Alumni Retreat, St. Andrew’s Camp, June 20-June 22, 1961 and Confession and Communion ( Report to the Holy Synod of Bishops, Accepted and Approved in the minutes February 17, 1972 ) I also remember a much more recent article written by a Greek priest( in general, the first two paragraphs.)
www.goarch.org/en/ourfaith/articles/article8493.asp

Why haven’t we been adhering to Fr. Schemann’s advice? I look for the answers to start from the top and then on down to the lay people.

Again, I’m only expressing my opinions and it’s not to be intended as advice. I’m counting on the leaders that I can trust.

Lastly, Daniel, keep the budget issue ongoing. The OCA can’t survive without it .

You can't make cookies when you haven't got the dough.