June 2009: American Orthodoxy at the Crossroads

The next few weeks could prove to be one of the most important times for American Orthodoxy. Three major events are taking place that could have a great impact on Orthodox Unity in America and the future of a unified, autocephalous, local American Orthodox Church.

Beginning tomorrow, the bishops of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese are meeting with Patriarch Ignatius IV in Damascus to discuss the February 24th decision of the Holy Synod of Antioch. This decision basically demoted the 6 diocesan bishops of the AOCA and made them auxiliary bishops to Metropolitan Philip. Many argue that the decision is against canon law, and that the self-rule status of the AOCA is now in jeopardy. Once the American bishops have had their chance to give their side of the situation to the Patriarch, the Synod of Antioch will meet again beginning June 16th to hopefully give a final decision on the matter. Either decision will have a great impact on American Orthodoxy.

In between these two meetings in Damascus, the Pan-Orthodox Pre-Conciliar Consultation will meet at the Patriarchal Center in Chambesy, Geneva, Switzerland. The major topic is the “so-called diaspora” and what to do with it. Basically, this means any Orthodox churches that are not located within the borders of a local Orthodox Church. Many of the autocephalous Orthodox Churches do not recognize the autocephaly of the Orthodox Church in America (OCA). If it were recognized, then all other jurisdictions would be breaking canon law by having parishes on the American territory. Of course the current situation is a complete break from canon law already. There has been much discussion on this issue recently, and I will provide some links to information at the end. One of the solutions is that every church in America should become part of the Ecumenical Patriarchate until the time for an American Church has come. This is based on an odd interpretation of Canon 28 of the Council of Chalcedon. How this meeting in Chambesy deals with this issue will be very important for us Americans, especially because we are not invited. The last report that I have seen says that there will be no American representatives at the meeting at all, the meeting where they will possibly decide the fate of America. How about that? This meeting is set to run from June6-13.

So, please keep all of the hierarchs and representatives in your prayers and hope for some kind of resolutions to come to America in the near future.

Some helpful links about the different things going on:
www.aoiusa.org
www.ocanews.org
www.ocl.org or www.orthodoxnews.org
www.antiochian.org