More accolades about the courage of Abp. Job facing up to corruption in the Church. As an outsider looking in, it was clear that Abp. Job’s increasingly clear voice that the corruption in the OCA needed the disinfectant that only the light of transparency would allow started to break through when he mustered the courage to speak out. I could see it was not easy on the man. Perhaps it contributed to his early death. <\/p>\n

I could see too it was a role he did not choose for himself but circumstances cast it upon him, and he did not disown the commission. He took it on reluctantly with some missteps along the way but for this he can be forgiven. Lesser men shrink under the challenge but Abp. Job found his voice. His courage clearly fostered the courage of others and opened the door for a renewal in a Church beleaguered by such grave malfeasance that its future was in doubt. Now is a new day. May his memory be eternal.<\/em> <\/p>\n

++++++++++++++++++++++<\/div>\n
H\/T: ocanews.org<\/a><\/p>\n
\u201cThe light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood [or overwhelmed] it.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n
So far.
\n
$\"Archbishop$ <\/a>
Archbishop Job<\/p><\/div><\/p>\n
The light of Christ was held up in our Orthodox Church in America\u2019s darkest hour, and it was held by our beloved, now late, Abp. Job. One incident I now share with you who remember and honor his name.<\/p>\n
To our shame the scandal of misappropriation of millions of dollars and the efforts to conceal the deed took place at the highest levels. The salacious facts are rather well known at least in general terms and figures, while the whole story has yet to be exposed. I\u2019m writing only of one interesting event, the decision to investigate the \u201caccusation\u201d by the Metropolitan Council in the early days of the disgrace, when it was still covered up by intimidation and denial. <\/p>\n
The first day\u2019s MC meeting, as usual in Syosset, agreed at least to place on the agenda the possibility to create an investigating committee. The decision as to whether such an investigation was necessary was to be decided the following day. Of course the hotel where most were staying was abuzz with the topic. Were there ample votes to affirm that the investigation was necessary, or would the majority accede to the obvious wishes of +Herman and vote in the negative? The half dozen of us most interested in exploring the matter tallied up the membership, about three dozen persons, and came up at best with eight members shy of majority to proceed. We all knew that it was only our Abp. Job from the Midwest who was in favor of finding the truth of the matter, in his term made classic: “Transparency”. At best only six of us felt that the scandal had to be exposed and brought to light. We hadn\u2019t the votes\u2014we had only faith in the Lord\u2019s will to be done.
\n
$\"Fr.$ <\/a>
Fr. Vladimir Berzonsky<\/p><\/div>
\nEarly the next day another setback \u2014 it was announced that due to the heavy agenda the matter of investigation of the scandal would be the last item before adjournment. All knew what that meant. After lunch the agenda wears down. Items are treated expeditiously. Many members are on their way to the terminals and airports. Not the time for serious business.<\/p>\n
When the item was brought forward by +Herman he treated it with scorn and disdain, ashamed to have it presented to such a serious assembly. The standard “Amen corner” endorsed his evaluation heartedly, and it seemed apparent that it would be summarily dismissed. +Job, sitting at the presidium suddenly rose, face flushed, cassock askew, asked permission to speak, then went into a storm of indignation. What he said was all but incoherent, because it was so uncharacteristic of his nature. (Editor’s note: You can read a report of the Archbishop’s comments that day here:)<\/p>\n
Finding himself at a loss for further words he made sort of a half genuflection before +Herman begged forgiveness and asked for a blessing to be excused, storming out of the session.<\/p>\n
I for one realized his pattern; i.e., to drive away from Syosset westward, across New Jersey on into Pennsylvania and to take refuge in his beloved little house in Black Lick. Or so it appeared to him at the moment. The joy of getting into his auto, turning on the ignition and driving away from the chancery, putting behind him the locus of so many humiliations. The two tigers that over and again made sport of his humble self-effacing demeanor. Recounting his uncharacteristic passionate eruption, like the One about whom it was said: \u201cZeal for your house will consume me\u201d (John.2:17).<\/p>\n
Enough! <\/p>\n
Enough of pretending that all was in order, reflecting on the humiliating suppression of truth and honesty, going along with the scheme to deny that millions had been misappropriated and the cover-up ordered by those most responsible.<\/p>\n
Enough of lies and posturing, such as the scandal of the All American Council in Toronto, July 2005, marching in and out of sessions with all other bishops, obeying a gag rule to have no free and open conversations with the clergy and lay delegates lest the truth get out, and to skip out without paying the bill for the entire fraud. He drove towards the setting sun.<\/p>\n
(Interesting the place automobiles played in his life on earth. Leaving the Maumee hotel he didn\u2019t quite make it to the safety of his automobile. And then his last trip along the highway he knew so well from Chicago to Black Lick with a stop on the way in Cleveland for us his spiritual children to express our love for our beloved Vladiko. There in the woodlands of western Pennsylvania he would be safe, comfortable in the first parish he had served, comforted by the Holy Spirit who comes to those who know the meaning of Christ\u2019s instruction: \u2018When you pray, go into your room [closet]close the door and pray to your Father who is unseen\u2026\u201d (Mt. 6:6). +Job was lucky. He knew the meaning of that admonition, and now he is there, or his body is\u2014though his soul is elsewhere.)<\/p>\n
What he missed I\u2019m sure he later regretted.<\/p>\n
We had placed our colleagues in a cruciform around the room. Dr. Faith Skordinski took the podium with her prepared agenda. Fr. John Reeves was along one wall and I on the other, Gregg Nescott, Esq. against the back wall. Following Faith, who set forth the rationale for the proposed investigation, Fr. John rose. I had the feeling I was seeing a New England Reformation preacher. He had the Bible in his right hand, and said, \u201cWe\u2019ve not had enough from this book,\u201d then he preached a rousing homily on integrity and transparency.<\/p>\n
I followed by taking his lead: \u201cI am the Way, Truth and Life,\u201d had become for us the wrong way insisted by even our hierarchs that it was leading to salvation; Truth suppressed because the Church was not capable of handling it; and Life of the Orthodox Church in America crippled because the leaders could nor would not allow the Light to shine on us again.<\/p>\n
Gregg Nescott was eloquent, taking +Herman\u2019s phrase \u201cFor the good of the Church\u201d and exposing one financial scandal after another, asking how the fraud and falsehoods enhanced that phrase.<\/p>\n
By a miracle of persuasion the Council members\u2019 hearts were transformed. The voting was for approval of a committee to explore the matter of financial mismanagement.<\/p>\n
+Job was told of the outcome on his cell phone partway through PA. He didn\u2019t turn around actually or metaphorically. He never ceased in his search to find and elevate the transparent truth about God and humanity. May he walk in light, truth, honesty and transparency.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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