OCA selects new bishops

Thursday, April 2. 2009

OCA selects new bishops

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Posted by Mark at 13:35 | Comments (9)

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When will they form THE RETIRED SYNOD OF THE ORTHODOX CHURCH IN AMERICA? I mean sheeeesh.

I am glad that they finally brought in Vladika Seraphim, well done.

But this is rapidly becoming a bottom heavy organization of retired bishops. Lets see more and more consecrations, good men, honest men. Men that can keep their pants on. Its ok to have 20 retired bishops, just get busy and beef up that synod.

Pleska is a good start, I don't know anything about the other guy..... There are good people out there, lay on some hands boys!
Just this time, put them in the right place!

Bravo on the good work you did do.

#1 no name on 2009-04-02 13:56

2 Bishops today, with up to 4 new bishops over the next year. (Alaska, Bulgarian, South, New York) We are going to have a very very young synod, especially when you consider that there is only 4 Bishops that one would classify as "senior".

This looks like it may be the heralding of a change in our church. (and hopefully the kind of change that is good!)

At least, if there is some sort of inherit mistrust of bishops by the faithful, it is hard to mistrust a synod that was largely not around during certain scandals. I think this will make it easier for our church to move foreward.

#2 Reader Michael on 2009-04-02 20:19

to the Synod of the OCA,

1. Congratulations on finding the wisdom and the courage to follow the Statute of the OCA and elect Archimandrite Melchizedek (Pleska) as the Bishop of Pittsburgh.

2. Why did you elect Archimandrite Irinee (Ronchon) as Bishop of Quebec City? I understand the desire and the need of the Canadian archdiocese for an auxiliary. Is this an attempt to correct an earlier wrong?

3. Why did you not elect Fr. Basil Summer as an auxiliary bishop to assist Metropolitan Jonah? The Metropolitan is now filling 3 major positions: the chief shepherd of 2 dioceses, as well as the primate of the (multi-)national church. The amount of travel required of Metropolitan Jonah since his election has been quite physically demanding. I saw the fatigue on his face during his pastoral visit to St Mark Orthodox Church in early March. Why did you not extend the same concern to the Diocese of Washington and New York that you extended to the Diocese of Canada, as well as the Diocese of Western Pennsylvania?

Please do not wave the red herring of being concerned about Fr. Basil's retirement. Three months should be more than enough time to find at least one way to make sure that Fr. Basil would not suffer financial hardship serving as the auxiliary bishop. If nothing else, just do as you have so often over the past 3-4 years: ignore the rules! You've done that for Metropolitan Theodosius, Metropolitan Herman, Bishop Nikolai, Fr. Paul Kucynda, Fr. Strikis, and Fr. Oselinksy, why not for Fr. Basil? Oh, I forgot ... Fr. Basil has done nothing wrong.

May God forgive my growing cynicism regarding our hierarchs and their behavior, and my growing lack of respect for them.

#3 Mark C. Phinney on 2009-04-03 03:41

I have been a monk for over forty years and a priest for almost 30---so I've been around for some time...and, as any of my close friends will tell you, as a group, I'm not particularly fond of priests...and I've always considered bishops a necessary 'evil'---one of the few exceptions I've found in my life is His Grace, Bishop SERAPHIM. He is one of THE most prayerful, humble, intelligent and thoughtful men I've ever met! He is an authentic Christian...and a down to earth warm and loving human being! There is ZERO clericalism here! All those who meet him and deal with him will be overjoyed at the blessing he will be to their lives. This alone gives me hope for the Church! Now I KNOW that God is with us...and blessing us!

In His great love for us all,
Fr. Pius, priestmonk

#4 Fr. Pius on 2009-04-03 07:39

..... On ability, depth of character, theological knowledge and experience, and the fact that Bishop Seraphim is a humble man, the Holy Synod made the correct choice.

Well done Holy Masters. Many Years!

#5 Anonymous on 2009-04-03 07:59

I have not had the pleasure of meeting Bp. Seraphim, but I readily accept your description, having no reason to do otherwise.

Glory and thanks be to God that he is not the only bishop who merits such praise. The newly-retired Archbishop Dmitri well deserves equal praise for his personal character and God-centered faith (and faithfulness)..... He is not sinless -- nobody is -- but his name justly could have "filled in the blank" for Fr. Pius' post concerning another bishop. He truly has been the "father" for my family, and for many, many others, for years. That is a title I bestow but carefully and rarely.

#6 Antonia Colias on 2009-04-03 09:23

Please explain the censorship of something else which was part of my original post.

(editor's note: You asserted something which I know personally to be untrue. If you wish to contact me personally at the same email address I will discuss it with you at greater length.)

#7 Anonymous on 2009-04-03 11:32

Add to the four dioceses needing bishops the Midwestern American Diocese, where Archbishop Job has repeatedly stated his intention to retire in two years (it might be a year and a half now :-/ ). He's as close to irreplaceable as it gets - whoever follows him will have his work cut out for him!

#8 M.T.T. on 2009-04-03 14:54

No decisions on matters of church discipline, or on the various lawsuits facing the OCA?

Melanie Jula Sakoda

#9 Melanie Jula Sakoda (Link) on 2009-04-04 16:00

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OCA selects new bishops

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Thursday, April 2. 2009

OCA selects new bishops

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