Comments on: Metropolitan Jonah requests prayers in anticipation of North America’s first Episcopal Assembly

By: Geo Michalopulos

Geo Michalopulos — Sat, 24 Apr 2010 11:41:11 +0000

In reply to Andrew. I'm totally with you Andrew on this one. The only things that should be kept secret in the Church are confessions, giving, and in the case of councils, perhaps deliberation regarding certain moral issues relating to specific individual ordinands.

By: Andrew

Andrew — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 18:21:00 +0000

Prayers are essential but so is transparency. There is no moral, canonical or spiritual reason not to broadcast the proceedings of the assembly online. I hope Metropolitan Jonah will advocate for such broadcasting so all of America can see how the leaders of the Church work.

By: George Michalopulos

George Michalopulos — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 20:30:19 +0000

In reply to Scott Pennington. Scott, I pray you're right. I shudder to think what account we Orthodox are going to give to our Lord at the dread judgment seat if this turns out to be just another, more sophisticated method to frustrate canonical unity and/or impose ethno-triumphalism on the American people.

By: Scott Pennington

Scott Pennington — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 20:16:17 +0000

At first I was skeptical and a bit pessimistic about the above. But in reading and re-reading Met. Jonah's petitions, it seems to me that he might not be under any illusion as to what the EA represents: "That the Lord may grant our Hierarchs gathering in Episcopal Assembly to grow in wisdom and strength, through the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and to increase in love for each other . . ." One could compose those petitions and still believe that the EA's were intended to move sideways, not forward. The petitions could be looked at as a prayer that those hierarchs involved who do intend for the EA's to accomplish nothing might grow to change their minds.