Questions

[Macrina]

Your talking as though Orthodox have only just begun missionary work here. While they may have begun with some Native American Indians in this country, the Russian Orthodox wound up with a nation full of Christianized Europeans who conquered the native Indians of this country. Then add to that eastern immigrants. Generally speaking in that sense, you could say the "parents" came to live with the kids and raise them.

Then by your saying, "... a result of the need of such cropping up organically as time passed. " That must mean they were fruitful and multiplied. Did the parents coming to live with the children have such a result? If so it was only within their ethnic group.

I do not think that anyone could have forseen the cost (in the spiritual sense) of such as resulted with the USA.

So then my answer must be, from what you've pointed out, that being there isn't sufficient need, that unless there are enough churches with monasteries and populated with enough Orthodox people, then there is no need for a synod. Bit of a catch 22 situation there.

Out of curiosity how many Orthodox churches and monasteries in Russia equating to "enough faithful" sustain our synod in Russia?

[Mark Templet]

If we are so "mature" in our Orthodoxy then why are we so divided? How could so many "fruitful children" be involved in the breaking of the canons in their participation in ecumenism among the World Orthodox? True there have been Orthodox people here for a very long time, but the average person in America doesn't even know what Orthodoxy is. Am I wrong?

As for how many people, churches and monasteries are necessary to have your own synod, I know of no particular number, but I know it is more than what we have. Russia had hundreds of monasteries and thousands of churches and millions of faithful before she received her autonomy.
Ultimately, I still think that such a thing is putting the cart before the horse. It is definitely true in Orthodoxy that you don't crown yourself a Metropolitan and then look for people to be under you. Bishops, diocese, and synods are formed because there is a practical need, not because a group of people feel they are ready. What we should be doing at this stage of the game is working on building our parishes and attracting new members, then as we grow we will form new diocese and when there is say a bishop in every state, or at least every other state (or something like this) then we will see the need to have our own synod.

I for one take comfort in receiving my Orthodoxy from those who have had it for hundreds of years. I feel that our needs are met at this point from our leadership in Suzdal, we have been given a good American bishop who understands our needs and Russia Orthodoxy. Let's take care of saying our prayers and purifying ourselves for this coming Sunday; let's try to build up our parishes into thriving communities with full-time clergy. The rest will take care of itself in time.

[Macrina]

f we are so "mature" in our Orthodoxy then why are we so divided?

This statement applies to any and all Orthodox IMO.

How could so many "fruitful children" be involved in the breaking of the canons in their participation in ecumenism among the World Orthodox?

Probably because the Orthodox never educated them on the subject. Talk to any Orthodox and you wind up more confused than when you started or thought you understood.

True there have been Orthodox people here for a very long time, but the average person in America doesn't even know what Orthodoxy is. Am I wrong?

No, your not wrong. The average American doesn't know much if anything about Orthodoxy because the ethnic Orthodox never relayed info to the English speaking population just their own ethnic groups who understood their language. Am I wrong?
Really I think that happened because the Russian Orthodox didn't get to evangelize Native Americans here after the Europeans took over. They went back to doing as they do in any other country.

The rest of your post seems to head toward waiting for the Russians. Don't really know what to say about that. More like an echo from over a thousand years from the east to the west, only difference now is that it is coming from Russia instead of Constantinople.
Only problem with the same ole stuff is that it doesn't make any headway one way or another. But then I guess that really doesn't matter at all in the grand scheme of things. It's all about choices.

...Let's take care of saying our prayers

Without ceasing!