Metropolitan
Jonah Ousted
Something for you
Orthodox readers on Sunday morning: It has been confirmed that Metropolitan
Jonah of the OCA has resigned under pressure from the Holy Synod.
They finally got him.
What they don’t understand is that they probably signed the OCA’s death warrant
in so doing — not because Jonah was necessarily an exceptional metropolitan (he
had his problems as an administrator, and though a very good man, was
temperamentally ill-suited for the job), but because the sleazy, corrupt way
the Synod has handled this from the beginning shows them to be a pack of
ravening wolves.
Now would be a good
time to invoke the old saying about how the Church must be a work of God,
because there is no way it could have survived for 2,000 years the fools and
knaves who run it.
UPDATE: I’m
hearing this afternoon that Jonah made his resignation most likely on Friday
evening, but that it is unclear whether or not it has been formally accepted.
It is possible that the terms of his exit are being negotiated. Stay tuned;
this situation is fluid.
I think it proper to take to pause and reflect on where many of us agree with Metropolitan Jonah and his vision for the OCA.
ReplyDelete1). We agree on vigorous mission to North America which reflects a Centrist – Traditional presentation of Orthodoxy.
2). We agree on cultivating traditional Orthodox monasticism and piety to see the day of an American Orthodox spirituality and local tradition.
3). We agree on outreach to the communities where our faltering legacy parishes find themselves, rooted in witness to the Orthodox immigrations, traditional Christians and Americans interested in a Faith with a sound, consistent moral core.
4). We agree that North American Orthodoxy is to be formed not at the direction or by the “intentional neglect” of “mother churches” but that the time has come to recognize that we are in a different chapter in America where various ethnic “jurisdictions” are called to unity for survival and joint effort. In the OCA, we presume to structure this unity beginning with absorption of bodies which reflect our original Russian and Romanian heritages, but then to branch out to Bulgarians, Serbs and Antiochians.
5). We recognize that assimilate Orthodoxy is not local Orthodoxy, but a denaturing of ethnic Orthodoxy. It is our intent using the paradigms set by the local churches to oversee an American Orthodoxy which cares for the souls of cradle, convert, revert and assimilate in a Centrist – Traditional coalition.
6). The financial soundness and stability of the OCA is a matter of transparency which calls for not only righting the ship of the OCA, but preventing further abuses and projecting a model for growth.
7). We endeavor to produce a 20 to 25% presence in North America and Latin America within a century. We foresee an incremental process commensurate with growth or multiple metropolias structured around a Katholikosate, then a handful of Katholikosates structured around a Patriarchate which will become the exclusively canonically presence in North America and be recognized by other local Orthodox churches with whom we will share Communion.
8). We endeavor to save our legacy parishes, rebuild them and populate them while creating an infrastructure of new missions, parishes, monasteries, seminaries, charities and religious institutions for America.
9). We endeavor to engage America and her culture for the propagation of Traditional morality and moral order. This will include political activity.
10). We endeavor to foster an Orthodox formation which is founded upon prayer, Sacramental witness, immersion in Scripture and the LIFE of CHRIST as well as regular church life to consecrate America to Orthodoxy and to work out our personal and corporate salvation. Unus Christianus, nullus Christianus. We are not saved alone, but in community with CHRIST in the HOLY EUCHARIST constituting the Church.
11). We endeavor through dialogue to better understand religious and irreligious institutions and movements here to witness to all and convert some. It is our goal to first unite liturgical and likeminded Christians to Holy Orthodoxy in North America while making common cause with other Christians and those of good will toward the betterment of society. This is not ecumenism inasmuch as it is witness and mission.
12). We will foster an evangelical community which welcomes our country in to share in the transfiguration of our Orthodoxy, upholding the Truth and piety handed to us and sharing it and its blessings on all who are sincerely interested in upholding it without adulteration.
This was and is what Metropolitan Jonah stood for. This is what we are “clamoring about.” This is what we are working for. This is what we envision for our OCA as our American local church. This is what we call ourselves, our clergy and our hierarchy to uphold.
I will publish your post.
ReplyDeleteThank you for writing.
However, my usual policy has been to not publish anonymous posters. I once indicated that policy in the header, but pulled that.
Given that lapse, I shall repost the advisorial.
But, your response was intelligent, orderly and on point, so I posted it.
But, I will post my issue about "anonymous posters."
Again, thank you.