Chicago area holds Town Hall Meeting July 24, 2008—Next meetings, Indianapolis, IN, Carnegie, PA, July 31
On the evening of Thursday, July 24, 2008, Saints Peter and Paul Orthodox Church, Burr Ridge, IL, hosted the Chicago area Town Hall Meeting in preparation for the OCA’s 15th All-American Council. His Eminence, Archbishop Job of Chicago and the Midwest was present for the meeting and OCA chancellor, Archpriest Alexander Garklavs, served as facilitator. Over 100 people took part in the meeting.
Echoing sentiments of other Town Hall Meetings, participants at the Burr Ridge meeting expressed feelings of hurt, broken trust and frustration over the financial mismanagement that took place at the OCA Chancery. They also called for increased transparency, a clearer understanding of the relationship between the central administration and the dioceses, honesty, the release of the Special Investigation reports, and a final answer to Archbishop Job’s initial question, “Are the allegations true or false?”
Some participants spoke of the central Church administration being too large for a Church the size of the OCA. Others noted that problems arose decades ago when, in loosing vision, Church membership began to think that the OCA was much larger than it was in reality. “We started seeing what was in essence a lemonade stand as a ‘Fortune 500’ company,” noted one participant. Some called for a downsizing of the administration and for moving the OCA chancery to another location.
Another comment expressed at the gathering, heard also at other Town Hall meetings, was that the OCA should give more priority to the pursuit of Orthodox administrative unity in North America. “If we’re the local autocephalous Church, we should be at the forefront of unity,” said one participant. A number of participants emphasized the importance of the OCA should be playing in North American Orthodoxy, and on the larger Orthodox landscape. “The OCA represents that pan-Orthodox inclusive vision of what the Church is to be,” another participant said. “It is more important than ever to continue to represent that.” Another participant said, “We have nothing to be afraid of. We have the strength and joy. Maybe part of the growing pains of having an Orthodox Church in this country is to grow out of what has happened.”
In his remarks at the end of the meeting, Fr. Alexander Garklavs said that there is a clear need for the Church to have a central administration but that events of recent years demonstrate that the administration’s relationship with the wider Church must be redefined. He also spoke with a sense of hope about the future of OCA: “God is driving us, guiding us into resolving these issues. There is no Orthodox Church that would have Town Hall meetings with a bishop and chancellor listening. With our ability to forgive, to pray, to commune together, God will lead us out of this time of trouble.”
In his closing remarks, His Eminence, Archbishop Job said that he felt confident in the stance that the Diocese of the Midwest has taken in response to the revelations of financial mismanagement in the OCA central administration. He also thanked all participants for their input, stating that all the voices of all members of the Church’s “royal priesthood” were of value. “These Town Hall meetings are so important,” His Eminence said. “We could give a blue print for world Orthodoxy on how to solve difficult problems. We are experiencing conciliarity. That is a good thing. What we are doing tonight is the work of the whole Church. It is an exciting time. Yes it has been difficult. But it is all worthwhile. I thank you for support prayers and love.”
The next Town Hall meetings will take place on Thursday, July 31, 2008, at St. John the Forerunner Orthodox Church in Indianapolis, IN, 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., and Intercession of the Holy Virgin Church, Carnegie, PA, 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Notes from the Burr Ridge, IL, Town Hall meeting may be read on the 15th All-American Council blog by clicking here.