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He tells like he thinks it is...He was wrong on Iraq, wrong again on Constantinople. Unity sounds wonderful but not at the expense of primacy.

There is no reason the Orthodox faithful cannot do all kinds of Christian work such as the mission projects together, without asking the GOC to cut ties to the seat of Orthodoxy. Numbers do not necessarily lead to increased power or visibility.

"He tells like he thinks it is..."

This was the first thought that I had when I read that particular quotation from him. Metropolitan Philip has a couple of good ideas, but he is not the one I would want designing an "American Orthodox Church." The presumptuousness of stating that his opinions are "like it is" is exhibit A, and there are many other exhibits. Promoting the idea that American ideas of democracy should guide the Church on these shores is another, very dangerous idea.

America is nowhere near ready for any kind of autocephalous, independent existence. Bad as the status quo is, the alternatives are, for the time being, worse.

That said, Constantinople is not "the seat of Orthodoxy," and there is no "primacy" to be "expensed." The EP is a beleaguered rump diocese with more bishops than faithful -- and on the worldwide scene, it is an answer desperately seeking a question. The reason that the EP spends so much time talking to the Pope and trying to micromanage the American Greek Church is that he doesn't have anyone in his own diocese to talk to, and essentially has nothing to do. He should work on converting the Turks to Christianity so he will have a diocese again, and then he can busy himself with catechesis and pastoral work like every bishop is supposed to be doing. The EP is "first among equals," has the right to call a council, and has the place of honor. That's it.

But ultimately, I agree that unity will be achieved through joint work such as missions and charity. Unity will happen, and a distinctively American church will happen. Both ARE happening, and nothing can keep either from happening.

Our time is better spent attending the services, praying, and doing Christian work than in trying to figure out the jurisdictional situation politically. Every jurisdiction in America has strong points, every jurisdiction has weaknesses. Our prime job should be to build strong parishes, and a secondary job should be to build strong extended local Orthodox communities across jurisdictional lines. The rest will take care of itself -- or rather, the Holy Spirit will take care it it.

Did you know that when you put all of the Orthodox Churches together in this country we become the fourth largest Church in the country. I disagree with your assertion about numbers. Too often our Parishes are mysterious fortresses in the minds of the average American citizen and something like this would simplify things. In other words, you would have the Church from Rome and then you would have the Church from Constantinople The keyword from this article is "one voice." Supposing you were a reporter and something happened in lets say Russia and you want an opinion on something who would you go to? If there is one voice it makes the reporters job easier. Finally, in my case. should this happen, the Bishop goes from being someone who lives an hour away to someone who lives less than five minutes away