Met. Jonah of OCA resigns

[spiritmech]

I'm surprised none of you guys have mentioned this.

[Rusty T]

Huh. Don't follow Orthodox goings on like I used to :)

[One Bad Pig]

I'm surprised none of you guys have mentioned this.

I had a good talk with an OCA deacon I know. As much as he likes Met. Jonah, he also knows several of the bishops on the synod, and is certain that they would not have asked him to step down without good reason. I don't figure talking about it will shed much light, and trust that God will get His Church through this little rough patch like He has so many times before. I'm just keeping the situation in prayer, that His will be done.

[T-Shirt Ninja]

His Eminence +Jonah is a really good man and I was saddened to hear of his departure. I've heard plenty of rumors as to why he resigned, but I refuse to contribute to them and pass them along, especially on the internet. The best thing to do is pray for His Eminence Bishop +Jonah and the OCA. I believe he knew what he was doing was best for everyone and that he can do more now that he's not the Metropolitan anymore.

[Rdr. Arsenios]

I'm surprised none of you guys have mentioned this.

It is an ongoing, slo-mo, ecclesiastical train-wreck of a night-mare that is layers deep... As soon as you think: "OK - I am awake - It was only a bad dream - It's not real..." then you blink and it is starting all over again, and you were not awake... Our parish is NOT discussing the particulars, but is simply praying for the OCA...

I would personally like to see the MP take them back over, and place them under ROCOR...

Arsenios

[One Bad Pig]

I would personally like to see the MP take them back over, and place them under ROCOR...

Arsenios

Maybe if they were able to work out a New Calendar/Old Calendar compromise. I'd far rather continue working towards a canonical solution to the whole jurisdictional mess in the New Countries.

[Rdr. Arsenios]

Maybe if they were able to work out a New Calendar/Old Calendar compromise.

I think you might be surprised - And maybe I would be the one surprised - At the results of having each parish vote for the calendar under which they desire to worship... One Abbot I know calls the Old Calendar the Orthodox Calendar - But the calendar is not an issue worth tearing up Churches over... I sure wish I were in the Old Calendar...

I'd far rather continue working towards a canonical solution to the whole jurisdictional mess in the New Countries.

AMEN to THAT! It is just that the OCA got infected with a big group entry into it, and the problems keep festering because those carrying them are still at all levels... I do not think that those matters would persist under the conservative administration of the ROCOR Bishops... And with the flight of the demons, the healing that Bp. Jonas desired could then proceed...

Sorting out USA canonical matters would probably not prove helpful to the OCA for quite awhile, because of the unwieldly nature of such a transition from many jurisdictions to one... And even when that happens, [may it be soon!], the local Churches will still, I should think, be having administrative responsibility over their current dioceses in some manner, and this is a local Russian Church issue... The issues need timely addressing - They are not mere doctrinal issues that can be worked out over time, but are immediate and well within Canonical jurisdiction - They simply are being allowed to continue for lack of proper leadership... And Jonas desired to save the pain of cleansing the wound before giving it time to heal - I think he feared the wound's cleansing would irreparably harm the patient... But now the wound continues to fester, and it will kill the patient without some kind of cathartic...

So we pray for our Sister... She is, after all, the Church of St. Peter the Aleut, and St. Innokenti, and St. Herman... The original Missionary Church of Alaska and the Northwest... She deserves better, and indeed needs better, than what she has received of late... Her faithful are long-suffering indeed...

At least that is how I am seeing Her now... I could be utterly in error, for I am not a first-hand participant in Her struggles...

Arsenios


Arsenios

[Rushing Jaws]

Nothing that weakens one Church can ultimately be good for for the others.

[RBerman]

Here's an August 27 Christianity Today article about it.

[Rdr. Arsenios]

Here's an August 27 Christianity Today article about it.

Thanks, RB - I sure love him... The OCA is still struggling... And in need of our prayers...

Arsenios

[Jawa Man]

I think we need to be careful with this. One has to assume that one man, the metropolitan, was a victim of a conspiracy. The synod didn't force him to resign at all. They asked him to reform his ways of not listening to the synod or he should step down. If you wonder about the character of these bishops, read about Bishops Michael, Matthias, Archbishop Tikhon. They are great people who love the tradition of the Church and the people.

[RBerman]

I think we need to be careful with this. One has to assume that one man, the metropolitan, was a victim of a conspiracy. The synod didn't force him to resign at all. They asked him to reform his ways of not listening to the synod or he should step down. If you wonder about the character of these bishops, read about Bishops Michael, Matthias, Archbishop Tikhon. They are great people who love the tradition of the Church and the people.

I suspect that you are corect that traditions had a lot to do with it. It's always dangerous for a newcomer to assume a position of influence in an organization's culture.

[Jawa Man]

In an organization that elected him their leader?

[RBerman]

In an organization that elected him their leader?

Yes, even then.