On Scandal

The following was circulated last fall with the intent to post it before all this broke lose in February. Oh, how relevent it truely was and IS!


ANTIOCHIAN ARCHDIOCESE NOT WHAT MANY THINK

“Put not your trust in princes or sons of man, in whom there is no salvation…”

During the time of the OCA crisis there have been written and spoken comments by clergy and laity that perhaps the best solution to the OCA’s lost credibility would be to join with the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America. This would unify the two jurisdictions which have the most to offer to Americans searching for the historic Apostolic Christian Church. Recently, there was a posting on OCA.ORG that the secretaries of the two jurisdictions met to discuss matters of mutual interest.

It is sad to report that common perceptions of the Antiochian Archdiocese are not based on reality.

Like the tombs, which Christ said are whitewashed on the outside, but full of corruption on the inside, so too are some of the inner workings of the AOCA, at the highest level. Much of what is visible is but a facade. Underneath is narcissism, lust of power, ethnic prejudice, contempt for America, avarice and moral decadence. Top this all off with a gross distortion and disregard for Orthodox ecclesiology. Sobering enough?

Surely, many may wonder, how can this be?

For over Forty years Metropolitan Philip has projected a very progressive image of the Antiochian Archdiocese. He has repeatedly called for Orthodox Christians to get out of our “ethnic ghettos” and unite into one Orthodox Church in North America. This message has resonated with both clergy and laity across the land. Additionally, His Eminence, has made a “poster child” of the former Evangelical Christians, who joined and have been joining the Antiochian Archdiocese over the past two decades, with the invitation, “come home America.” The Antiochian Village, an initiative of Metropolitan Philip has been a central gathering place for many Orthodox Christians over the past quarter century. Highlighted by the historic 1994 meeting of canonical Orthodox Bishops of North America, which His Eminence was one of the chief architects.

So what is wrong with all of this?
Again, it’s not real!

A few years ago, after His Eminence was brought back from near death, he talked openly about retiring. In the course of time this talk has changed into actions which demonstrate his maneuvering to hold on to power. Why the change? Because his inner circle of ethnic minded priests have encouraged him to hold on because “we need you, Saidna (i.e. Vladyka), to hold us together.” While in fact, what they need is the Metropolitan to hold on so they can continue in their positions of power, money and influence. And you thought Washington D.C. is the only place of mercenary opportunists! They openly show their contempt for America, because of our government’s Pro-Israeli political policies, while never condemning the militant Islamic governments of the Middle East. They even rush to cavort with Islamic clerical and government leaders in America and when they visit the Middle East. Yet the Metropolitan and most of his “old country” clergy have prospered greatly in this country.

But the most disturbing actions of Metropolitan Philip and his ethnarchs has been the continued undermining of the diocesan bishops. Metropolitan Philip, in seeking “self-rule” status for the archdiocese, advocated to the Holy Synod of Antioch that the existing auxiliary bishops and the proposed new bishops would be enthroned as diocesan bishops. Enthroned they were, but allowed to function as diocesan hierarchs they cannot. The Metropolitan has reserved the right of economia, determination of ordination and recently asserted his unilateral right to assign and move clergy anywhere in the archdiocese – diocesan bishops are regarded simply as surrogates. The Metropolitan and his inner circle of priests rule over the diocesan bishops – who says that we do not have a pope in the Orthodox Church!

The caveat to this is that the new archdiocese constitution, as passed at the special convention, July 2004, in Pittsburgh, has not been accepted, as is, by the patriarchate. On the patriarchal website, they have posted their version of the North American Archdiocese Constitution, which differs from that which was voted on in Pittsburgh. Hierarchs from the mother church have acknowledged that they know that there is not true diocesan order in America. In true Byzantine style, the “old country” is waiting for there to be a vacancy of the primate’s office to move in and unilaterally implement the structure they want for North America. To those who think otherwise, just witness what the patriarchate has legally been able to do within the Greek Archdiocese of America.

To make matters even more distasteful, there have been efforts over the past several years, by the “inner circle” to reinstate the retired former auxiliary bishop who pleaded guilty and was convicted of and incarcerated for a “felony for sexual assault.” Part of their agenda is to replace the “white” bishop who was installed as diocesan bishop in the place once occupied by the convicted bishop. Why would they want to do this – because the former bishop is part of the “tribe.” But the greater indignation to the “white” bishop is that the Metropolitan has allowed and defended select “tribal” clergy who have been outright disobedient and disrespectful to their diocesan hierarch. Most recently one of the “fair haired” priest’s, who has blatantly disregarded directives from his diocesan bishop, did not commemorate his diocesan bishop at the divine services and announced to his parishioners that he was instructed to omit the bishop’s name as the result of a directive from the Metropolitan.
Again, underneath is narcissism, lust of power, ethnic prejudice, contempt for America, avarice and moral decadence. Top this all off with a gross distortion and disregard for Orthodox ecclesiology.

There are many lessons to be learned from the OCA scandal, just to name a few:
1. A centralized church administration in North America is very dangerous as it breeds un-Orthodox ecclesiological order. It also supports a climate of intimidation and fear to those clergy who do not follow the “arbitrary” order of Englewood (for those who thought that Met. Herman could be vindictive, they haven’t seen how vengeful Met. Philip can be).
2. It perpetuates “the good old boy” network that works not for the greater good of Orthodoxy, but for the self-serving benefit of those at and directly connected to the top.
3. That there should be a mandatory retirement age (75) for hierarchs (because they are incapable of willfully relinquishing the trappings and power of their office).
4. That the old countries still want to control the American Church (even the OCA has been undermined during its crisis by Moscow’s acceptance of ROCOR).
5. All the above, along with a myriad of other dysfunctional destructive behaviors, has (no surprise here) MONEY at its root!

It makes one wonder if some of our hierarchy and priests really believe or simply are in it as a business.

It is sadly obvious that what once appeared to be the hope of Orthodoxy in North America – The OCA and the AOCA – have devolved into a outward show and that the rest of the jurisdictions in America are retreating to an ethnic mentality which is worse than that which existed fifty years ago.

As is evident in the OCA scandal, the only hope is for dedicated and knowledgeable lay-persons and clergy to stand up for “whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you” (Philippians 4:8,9).

It is time for clergy and laity to distinguish between right and wrong. St. John Chrysostom wrote: "There is a gift which surpasses all others - the gift of knowing right from wrong, and the courage to choose what is right. This gift is not something which is given at birth, for which some people possess and others do not. It is like a seed sown in every human heart, and it grows only if it is nurtured through education, prayer and practice."