Comments Posted By J-TAC

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From 105 to 50 in a New York Minute — Part IV. Back to the Future: A History of the Diocese of the South

It occurs to me that if the AAC ends up in an ugly stalemate, an option that should be considered to move the OCA in a positive direction is for Metropolitan Jonah to step down and let someone else take the helm at Syosset (someone that has the full and unconditional support of the HS) —
only on the guaranteed condition that these occur when and if the Holy Synod:

1. allows the Diocese of Washington DC and the Diocese of the South to merge;
and
2. the newly merged Diocese elects and installs Metropolitan Jonah as its Archbishop;

Jonah, the HS or the DOS and DOW may not be open to this, but is this kind of solution possible?
If so, how would it be proposed?
Any opinions from you other DOS’ers?

» Posted By J-TAC On October 28, 2011 @ 4:44 pm

What Are We Getting for $105? Part I. One Priest’s Question

It seems to me that the root of the problem within the OCA is a protestant one.

Either you trust that the Holy Spirit is present and even uses the difficulties that result from human weakness, or you protest that “the Holy Spirit was not present” and then try to listen thru the cacophony to figure out, using protestant ears, who makes the loudest or most compelling argument.

Those that can’t stand the cacophony stop giving $$ to the mayhem and eventually leave.

The Holy Spirit was de facto present 3 yrs ago. The chaos that’s ensued has been the result of the HS and MC and Syosset staff going about their business, from day one, as if He wasn’t, as if THEY KNEW BETTER.

While there’s many things that Jonah could’ve done better, we need to trust that the Holy Spirit didn’t expect him (or very thankfully, us) to be perfect from day one. Theosis is a process. So is becoming a good bishop, much less a great metropolitan.

Instead of giving Jonah, the Holy Spirit’s choice, a staff that was loyal to him and the room to grow into the job (thru his own human weaknesses), the HS and MC saddled Jonah with a staff that had 3 yr fixed highly paid contracts. Jonah walked into a hostile environment at Syosset and was given zero power by the HS and MC to change it. Using their secure positions of influence Garklavs and Tossi have taken every opportunity to cut Jonah’s legs out from under him and make him look stupid.

Instead of trusting that the Holy Spirit was present and looking for the good that was to come, they treated Jonah with suspicion, as if the Holy Spirit may not have been present, seeming to relish a parental role of beating sense into a bad child.

Instead of coming alongside Jonah and helping him while he matures as bishop, the HS listened to those bishops and others with an axe to grind, then made decisions as if they believed the Holy Spirit was not present, empowering the MC and Syosset staff to treat Jonah as if he were the enemy.

Responsibility for the chaos and bleeding that’s resulted from those decisions is entirely on the HS’s hands.

Hopefully there are still bishops in Seattle with the guts to admit they made some mistakes and do the right thing. Otherwise the cacophony and bleeding will continue.

The easiest mistake for the HS to admit in the next two weeks is their choice of Jillions as the new Chancellor. This choice vindicates the “the Holy Spirit was not present” gang and solidifies the fractious culture of Syosset.

Regardless of the $1.05 vs $0.50 or location of the Chancery, it seems to me that if nothing else happens in Seattle, two compromises could begin the healing process in the OCA:

1. the Holy Synod accept that the Holy Spirit was present in 2008 by:
a. retracting their offer to Jillions, and
b. accepting Jonah’s choice for a new Chancellor and a staff that can work harmoniously with him (not stab him in the back at every opportunity).

2. Jonah must make his own painful compromise (given his personality) and begin to lead as one who unites rather than as simply a prophetic voice in the wilderness. This can only happen if he establishes and sincerely and regularly listens to a kitchen cabinet of key bishops and others; who understand and can work cohesively to find compromises that bring together old guard and new, NE, South, West & MidWest.

These two actions will form the foundation for a desperately sick OCA to begin to heal into unity and vigor.
The alternative is increasing anemia and a collection of polarizing protestants.

» Posted By J-TAC On October 21, 2011 @ 6:47 pm

From 105 to 50 in a New York Minute — Part III. Syosset: Ends, Means, Wants and Necessities

Helga,

For what it’s worth,

http://www.TaxiFareFinder.com puts the estimated cost of a taxi

to the OCA Chancery (6850 N. Hempstead Turnpike, Syosset, NY)
from JFK Airport: $79.99
from La Guardia Airport: $77.36

to St Nicholas Cathedral in DC (3500 Massachusetts Ave Northwest)
from Ronald Reagan Airport $19.94

Office Space Comparison using http://www.cityfeet.com

in OCA Chancery zipcode (11791)
$24 per sf/yr i.e. $120k per yr (for space comparable to the DC space below)

in St Nicholas zipcode (20007)
$21 to $40 per sf/yr i.e. $105k to $200k per yr

A Chancery in the 20007 zipcode would be right near embassy row, in the heart of the capital. It’d be a place that many, many, more people would come to visit than Syosset, which is hard to find and out of the way, kind of like alot of OCA parishes.

Additionally, the housing options within a reasonable commute of the DC zipcode are far greater (including rentals for employees on a tight budget) than for the Syosset zipcode.

J-TAC

» Posted By J-TAC On October 20, 2011 @ 8:39 pm

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