| Let Each of Us Take the First Step Toward Orthodox Unity |
By Bishop David (Jones)
President of the UAO and Pastor of St. Innocent Orthodox Church
Efforts to bring unity to Orthodox jurisdictions operating in America have been discussed among the clergy and laity for most of this century. Yet, today, we are no closer than we were in 1927 when the Russian Orthodox Church created an autonomous, independent, American Orthodox Catholic Church. A second attempt by Moscow, 30 years ago, created the autocephalous Orthodox Church in America (OCA). This too, has proven not to be the answer to unity.
In recent months, we have witnessed the internal conflicts of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese as groups of clergy and laity sought to have the archbishop assigned by the Ecumenical Patriarch replaced. Much of the discussion was centered on the need for a locally governed Church in America. Some thought that the Greek Archdiocese should be independent of the Ecumenical Patriarch and others took that further, calling for an American Patriarchate to be created. All were in agreement that American Orthodox were ready to govern themselves.
The Antiochian Archdiocese in America has also been subject to division and dissent. This seems to stem from a conflict at one California parish, but took on national significance by allowing an opportunity for people to speak out about the governance of an American Church by a Patriarch on another continent.
The OCA convened their All-American Council this summer, and along with the usual slate of internal business, they discussed the idea of Orthodox unity. The address delivered by Metropolitan Theodosius at the council banquet has been widely distributed and is, perhaps, a good barometer of their position. He makes a number of good points, and eloquently underscores facts that perhaps many Orthodox are not ready to accept. He talks about exposing ecclesial disunity and says, “No longer can [disunity] hide behind the empty rhetoric that promotes a reality that does not exist.” He continues, “...the status quo of Orthodox Church life in North America is not only abnormal, but contradicts and undermines our Orthodox ecclesiology and the very Gospel we have been commissioned to proclaim. The time is now for all the Orthodox in America to state with one voice that the status quo of the Church is unacceptable!” The Metropolitan then continues with what appears to be an effort to sell the listener on the idea that the OCA, as an autocephalous Church, offers the necessary vehicle to unite the Orthodox in America.
I would suggest that the real solution to Orthodox unity in America does not lie within the stated goals and objectives of any of these three groups. Their own internal conflicts and self-promotion reveal that there is not the unity of purpose necessary to bring about the changes required to achieve a unified American Orthodox Church. There appears to be little change in the posture of these jurisdictions since early in the 20th century. The Church of Antioch was the first to establish an ethnic diocese within the American territory evangelized and served by the Russians. They still seem intent on governing from afar. The Ecumenical Patriarch has jurisdiction over the largest percentage of the Orthodox population in America, but seems to be very intent on maintaining control through archbishops selected by the Phanar. The OCA, which grew out of one of the Russian Orthodox groups in America seems to still be fighting for recognition, an activity that hasn’t changed much since the Russian revolution.
Perhaps it is time to face the reality that what has been tried in the past hasn’t worked, what’s being done today is not working, and if we continue to do the same thing, we can only expect the same results. J. Asher of Charlotte, North Carolina offers a strong, but sobering admonition: “If it were not for our own individual pride, carried out in a million small ways, in the course of every day, we would not be divided now. Think about this. The next time you make a disparaging remark against your brethren of a different jurisdiction, think about what you are doing to unity. Next time you take careful pains to name names and point out the faults of other American jurisdictions and the people in them, think about what you are doing to unity. Next time you insist on ‘accuracy’ instead of love, think about what you are doing to unity.”
Just like the first step to being loved is to be lovable, the first step toward unity is to become someone (or something) with whom people want to unite. Each of us, first, needs to become united with Christ. Not simply declaring it to be so, but living it so that others see in us the icon of Christ. When we all become icons of Christ, there will no longer be a need to discuss unity; it will have occurred.
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