From "Of information and Belief":
The passings of Fr. Iosaph (ROCOR) and Archbishop Job (OCA) on Friday has left another vacuum of leadership for the Church in America. Arguably, loss of +Job will be more acutely felt given the unfortunate reality that it is a jurisdiction facing both a dearth of hierarchs and proper candidates for the episcopacy. This is not to say that Fr. Iosaph's passing isn't a real loss for ROCOR. As his C.V.from Princeton indicates, he was a man of deep learning who could have had a profound impact on his Church had he lived to be consecrated a bishop. By all accounts, he was a much loved and respected member of ROCOR--a man who, like +Job, loved Christ and His Church. May their memories be eternal.
Though I fear that it may not be entirely appropriate, I confess that my mind has wandered quite a bit to the question of the future of Orthodoxy in America with specific reference to the place of the OCA and ROCOR in that future. A few years ago, I joined many in saying that the OCA was a sinking ship and perhaps not worth saving; that its best parts should go under the Moscow Patriarchate or ROCOR; and that the few hierarchs with integrity it had left--particularly +Job--should be allowed to end their days in a Church that truly loves and follows them. The elevation of Metropolitan Jonah changed my tune and the tune of many others. It seemed that the OCA was in the midst of a renewal and that while there was still a lot of healing which needed to take place, the dawn had arrived and the darkness would soon fade away.
But potentiality is not actuality. The truth is that despite the renewal, the harsh reality has begun to set in that the OCA is not yet in a position to produce the sorts of leaders it needs to fully revive. A concern shared by Met. Jonah as he mentioned the strong possibility of looking to other jurisdictions for episcopal candidates some months back. Many were pleased to see certain hierarchs placed on the fast track to retirement, but only now does it seem that many are coming around to the fact these vacancies have no obvious successors. Bringing Fr. (now Bishop) Melchisedek back to the U.S. provided one answer for one diocese which was left vacant for years. All eyes appear to be on Fr. Gerasim, formerly of St. Herman's Monastery and the Serbian Archdiocese, to be consecrated Bishop of Alaska in the next year. That still leaves the Diocese of the South, Midwest, and the Bulgarian Diocese (which no one seems to be in a rush to fill) empty. The Diocese of the South, also, will be a long time in finding a new hierarch. The search committee's updates are full of reminders that the process will be long out of necessity to find the "right" bishop to fill the shoes of Abp. Dmitri for over thirty years.
So, what now? My fear is that "what now" entails some unnecessary compromises. But it doesn't have to. Now more than ever the OCA should seriously begin thinking about looking to its neighbors, particularly its brethren in ROCOR. For years people have spoke of rapprochement between these two jurisdictions--jurisdictions which share a common spiritual heritage despite the many decades of division and conflict. That is--or at least should be--over by now. Bishop Peter of the ROCOR Diocese of Mid-America has directed his parishes to commemorate +Job at the Divine Liturgy for the 40 days following his repose. Mentropolitan Jonah and Hilarion have met on numerous occasions and are committed to advancing the healing process. Is it not time for the OCA to ask ROCOR for help? This is not a merger, mind you. As logical as that may be (it his hard to speak of Orthodox unity in America with the likes of the Antiochian archdiocese while the two jurisdictions linked with Moscow are not one), it's obviously out of the question for political purposes. No, this is about coming together in the name of Christ for "behold now, what is so good or so joyous as for brethren to dwell together in unity?" It's about forging a common vision for the Church in America, one which +Job certainly sought to uphold in his lifetime and, undoubtedly, Fr. Iosaph would have strengthened further had he not been called home to the Heavenly Mansions. It is my sincere hope that this will happen, that the OCA and ROOCR will act in the interest of the Church, and ensure not just her survival, but her organic growth in this land. Hear, hear!
Though I fear that it may not be entirely appropriate, I confess that my mind has wandered quite a bit to the question of the future of Orthodoxy in America with specific reference to the place of the OCA and ROCOR in that future. A few years ago, I joined many in saying that the OCA was a sinking ship and perhaps not worth saving; that its best parts should go under the Moscow Patriarchate or ROCOR; and that the few hierarchs with integrity it had left--particularly +Job--should be allowed to end their days in a Church that truly loves and follows them. The elevation of Metropolitan Jonah changed my tune and the tune of many others. It seemed that the OCA was in the midst of a renewal and that while there was still a lot of healing which needed to take place, the dawn had arrived and the darkness would soon fade away.
But potentiality is not actuality. The truth is that despite the renewal, the harsh reality has begun to set in that the OCA is not yet in a position to produce the sorts of leaders it needs to fully revive. A concern shared by Met. Jonah as he mentioned the strong possibility of looking to other jurisdictions for episcopal candidates some months back. Many were pleased to see certain hierarchs placed on the fast track to retirement, but only now does it seem that many are coming around to the fact these vacancies have no obvious successors. Bringing Fr. (now Bishop) Melchisedek back to the U.S. provided one answer for one diocese which was left vacant for years. All eyes appear to be on Fr. Gerasim, formerly of St. Herman's Monastery and the Serbian Archdiocese, to be consecrated Bishop of Alaska in the next year. That still leaves the Diocese of the South, Midwest, and the Bulgarian Diocese (which no one seems to be in a rush to fill) empty. The Diocese of the South, also, will be a long time in finding a new hierarch. The search committee's updates are full of reminders that the process will be long out of necessity to find the "right" bishop to fill the shoes of Abp. Dmitri for over thirty years.
So, what now? My fear is that "what now" entails some unnecessary compromises. But it doesn't have to. Now more than ever the OCA should seriously begin thinking about looking to its neighbors, particularly its brethren in ROCOR. For years people have spoke of rapprochement between these two jurisdictions--jurisdictions which share a common spiritual heritage despite the many decades of division and conflict. That is--or at least should be--over by now. Bishop Peter of the ROCOR Diocese of Mid-America has directed his parishes to commemorate +Job at the Divine Liturgy for the 40 days following his repose. Mentropolitan Jonah and Hilarion have met on numerous occasions and are committed to advancing the healing process. Is it not time for the OCA to ask ROCOR for help? This is not a merger, mind you. As logical as that may be (it his hard to speak of Orthodox unity in America with the likes of the Antiochian archdiocese while the two jurisdictions linked with Moscow are not one), it's obviously out of the question for political purposes. No, this is about coming together in the name of Christ for "behold now, what is so good or so joyous as for brethren to dwell together in unity?" It's about forging a common vision for the Church in America, one which +Job certainly sought to uphold in his lifetime and, undoubtedly, Fr. Iosaph would have strengthened further had he not been called home to the Heavenly Mansions. It is my sincere hope that this will happen, that the OCA and ROOCR will act in the interest of the Church, and ensure not just her survival, but her organic growth in this land. Hear, hear!
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