Comments on: Greek lobby: Bartholomew leads U.S. church into ‘canonical normalization’

By: Chrys

Chrys — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 01:05:20 +0000

I didn't know where else to put this. A nice article published today about the issues involved in the upcoming "Road to Unity" conference at Ligonier: Hopes rising for unifying Orthodoxy's U.S. churches (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

By: George Michalopulos

George Michalopulos — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 06:04:14 +0000

In reply to Fr. Gregory Jensen.

Fr Gregory, re point #2, absolutely correct. In reading and rereading Rev Lambrianides’ address at Holy Cross last March, much mention was made of the cacaphony that characterizes much of American Orthodoxy (in his eyes). Yet after much thought, it became obvious that while the EP’s minions claimed leadership over the Diaspora in America, they never once acknowledged the failure of their leadership (assuming his critique was correct). As I’ve written and said countless times, if (for example) the quality of our hymnody is poor, then why doesn’t the Phanar pay for the proper training of the GOA’s cantors and choristers? To ask the question is to answer it…

By: Leadership Requires Responsiblity | Koinonia

Leadership Requires Responsiblity | Koinonia — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 22:55:06 +0000

[…] Couretas has an interesting post on the AOI blog “Greek lobby: Bartholomew leads U.S. church into ‘canonical normalization‘.” As always John is worth reading both for the facts of the matter and his […]

By: Fr. Gregory Jensen

Fr. Gregory Jensen — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 22:46:23 +0000

While I’m willing to entertain the kind of primacy for the EP that some want him to have, it seems to me that assuming leadership in the “Diaspora” requires at least two things:

(1) Here in America demonstrate tangibly that the GOA can and will make room for non-Greek Orthodox Christian (both individually and as parishes). Yes, non-Greeks can join a GOA parish but those parish are (to a greater or lesser degree) always GREEK parishes. It is one thing to have separate ethnic dioceses under the EP here in America but it is another thing to integrate these other ethnic groups in to the GOA. The former is smacks of separate but equally, the latter will require the surrender of Greek ethnic identity as normative for the GOA.

(2) Claiming leadership in the Diaspora seems to me to require also the humble acceptance and acknowledgment that the EP is also responsible for the failures of the Diaspora. The EP can’t simply come in and take over without accepting responsibility for the mess made by neglect and/or mismanagement. Responsible leadership is more than simply declaring victory.

In Christ,

+FrG

By: George Michalopulos

George Michalopulos — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 16:36:05 +0000

We can only hope that that is all that will take place during these events. Instead, I fear that the heavy hand of the Acorns and 79th Street will do/say something comical.

By: Andrew

Andrew — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 19:25:35 +0000

I doubt you will see much authentic interaction between the EP and the media during this visit. The most people will see are some cotton candy pictures of the EP planting a tree followed up by pre-fab press releases to ethnic media outlets.