Posted by Leo
on 11/11/2008, 5:53 pm, in reply to "Lest we despair, some recent-historical perspective..."
...here, even though he's declined offers to nominate him for OCA Primate tomorrow morning (Wed.).
In particular I was struck by the following:
Within this situation, I believe that the uniqueness of the OCA consists in the fact that it is the first Orthodox Church on the American continent that has declared itself American. It is meant to be not one of the ethnic churches of the “diaspora,” but the national Orthodox church of the USA, Canada and Mexico.* It is meant to be the living testimony to the universality of Orthodox Christianity. As Metropolitan Kallistos Ware said, “The Orthodox Church is not something exotic or oriental. It is mere Christianity.” So, we can say to whoever wants to join the Orthodox Church: “You don’t need to be or to become Russian, or Greek, or Antiochian in order to be Orthodox. You don’t need to become exotic or oriental. You can be Orthodox while retaining your national and cultural identity.”
While being American, however, the Orthodox Church on the American continent must be able to pastorally assist all ethnic groups that need such assistance. This kind of receptivity, indeed, is part of the very American experience. The Church should also be able to react to new waves of immigration and incorporate new immigrants with their languages and cultures. The mission of the Orthodox Church in America with regard to the immigrants should consist not in Americanizing, but in Christianizing and “Orthodox-izing” them. Hence the need to be open to new possibilities offered by new immigration.
(*--IIUC the OCA does not consider Mexico part of its canonical territory, hence "Exarchate of Mexico" rather than "Diocese of Mexico.")
What do you think he means by "not Americanizing immigrants"? Because this is something I keep pointing to in U.S. Catholicism's (Latin Church) ministry here, helping their immigrants and children become 'hyphenated-American Catholics,' eg, through parochial schools, colleges, charitable institutions (hospitals, etc.) ... so they don't have to choose between their faith and getting-along here in America (even in a good way). Is it possible that, like many ethnic-Orthodox here, he equates Americanizing with Protestantizing?
--Leo
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