Posted by from David Feliciano Link: click here to read the original article
on 7/31/2009, 12:27 pm
Friends,
This just came to my attention...
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Why we shouldn't leave the Antiochian Archdiocese
In light of the recent troubles in the Antiochian Archdiocese it has become a natural impulse for many people to wish to leave the Archdiocese for the GOA or OCA. Some people have thought about leaving the Orthodox Church altogether. Believe me, I understand these sentiments. I have felt this way myself. Please allow me to explain, however, why I think leaving now is a very bad idea.
1) The GOA and the OCA have had their share of scandals in the recent past many of which are ongoing. Leaving Antioch for one of these jurisdictions is only going to lead to more disappointment. Scandals will inevitably come...our job is to try and discern the will of God and act in whatever way possible to promote the health of his Holy Church. If we leave for another jurisdiction, we continue to make the mistake of searching for a pristine, perfect church that has NEVER existed.
2) Leaving for another jurisdiction is taking advantage of the bad jurisdictional situation in the U.S. If we lived in Moscow and were members of the Church of Russia we couldn't just flee to the Greeks because there was a church scandal. There would be one church, and we would have to deal with it from within. The impulse to flee elsewhere is the reason we have thousands upon thousands of Protestant denominations. Let's not facilitate further Orthodox disunity and division in the United States!
3) Leaving the Orthodox Church over something like this fails to recognize that the Church has had to face MUCH GREATER obstacles than this in its history. We should all think for a minute about how the iconoclastic controversy laster for over 100 years. Likewise, Arianism dominated Christianity for almost the entire 4th Century. Some synods approved these heresies, others rejected them. How would anyone know what synods to follow in those days!?! Violence amongst Christians resulted! We must remember that the truth of the Gospel always remains present in the Church even when the hierarchy refuse to recognize or obey. we must remember that WE have an integral role to play in upholding the Tradition...it is not merely for the bishops!!
So what SHOULD we do? I encourage everyone who is upset by the recent occurrences to begin writing letters to all of the relevant parties. Write a letter to your diocesan bishop. Write letters to the Metropolitan. Write letters to the chancellors and the board of Trustees. Let them know how you feel about financial transparency, an audit, the handling of Bishop Demetri, etc. Copy Mark Stokoe on your letters and show that there are those willing to speak out and NOT be ANONYMOUS like so many of our clergy sadly must do. Let them know that you will be giving no more money to the Archdiocese until standard accounting practices like an external audit is put in place!
And if you do decide to leave, which I hope you do not, PLEASE make sure you write the Metropolitan and your diocesan bishop letting them know why you are leaving the Archdiocese.
In Christ,
An Antiochian Clergyman
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