Readers may know by now that Metropolitan Jonah Paffhausen, leader of the Orthodox Church in America, resigned suddenly this past Friday night. It was Rod Dreher who broke the news, and for the better part of the weekend, hosted the primary forum for updates and feedback till word Sunday night from OCA headquarters in Syosset made it official.
It is very curious business – and a further burden on the people of the Church who have struggled to navigate the white water of recent leadership scandals in which Jonah played no part, and whose election was hailed by so many as the dawn of a new era.
So far, the main characters in the drama are staying quiet while websites grow long with lists of conjectures, regrets, accusations, frustrations, and exhortations – all of which throws into sharp relief just how opaque things are.
Barring the sudden engagement of Mr. Holmes, Dr. Watson, Monsieur Poirot and Captain Hastings, we may just have to wait and watch. We could also pray that Metropolitan Jonah, and the entire OCA, are able to discern and follow the promptings of the Holy Spirit through what will undoubtedly be a difficult and painful process.
July 10th, 2012 | 1:02 pm
Thank you for this – reporting without speculation or recrimination. For better or for worse, I am sure that more information will come out in time.
July 10th, 2012 | 1:40 pm
By all accounts, Jonah met nonstop resistance in his efforts to change the OCA and American Orthodoxy. Here is an (unattributed) summary of some of the flash points that led to his resignation:
http://lifeondoverbeach.wordpress.com/2012/07/09/metropolitan-jonah-has-been-ousted-as-leader-of-the-orthodox-church-in-america/
July 10th, 2012 | 3:59 pm
Jay – Those are the sort of conjectures, regrets, accusations, frustrations, and exhortations the original post was referring to.
July 11th, 2012 | 3:18 am
I am saddened once again to see a perfectly capable man of God forced to step down. Beware that this must be God’s will and not another self serving act.
anthony,
a sinner
July 13th, 2012 | 2:37 pm
When sufficient facts are not disclosed then conjecture is the only reasonable result.
People who want to end conjecture or theories should provide facts.
Although I am only a layman and have no “inside” information, I believe that Metropolitan Jonah’s resignation is a great loss to the Church and to Christianity in general, especially during this time of religious persecution by the Obama regime.
For Life and Liberty,
David Macko
Libertarian for Congress Ohio Dist. 14
July 18th, 2012 | 2:21 am
Any such situation is sorrowful for all involved, but most especially for the people of the OCA. The real facts may never be forthcoming, for better or worse … hopefully, this will be an opportunity for a beginning for the OCA to return to a more traditional Orthodox stance …
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