Official OCA position

[Gregory2]

I think some of these instances are simply people over-eager to get on with ecumenism. But what's the point? It's silly superficialities, taking Orthodoxy down a level.

I'm happy to discuss my faith with a Baptist, a Roman Catholic, or a Hindu, but I'm not going to say we all believe the same thing just to make them happy.

One of the problems with Orthodoxy in America is that we have spent so long trying to be like others, trying to fit in. For what end? So we too could be good Episcopalians or good Baptists? I think things would have turned out better had we just kept to ourselves, being strong witnesses for the faith, removing the organ music from our sanctuaries! (talk about tasteless and plastic.....)

[Natasha]

I could not agree more!
As for the organs, wow, I have never seen such a thing...and to think I was amazed when I found out that the Greeks did not have to stand through services!

[尼古拉前执事]

"I did not become orthodox to leave the false Roman church for the true Orthodox Church... For me the Orthodox and Roman churches, together with the various non-Chalcedoninan churches, these are all the one, true, apostolic, catholic churches of Jesus Christ... The sacraments in these churches, the priesthood, the basic doctrines, are essentially the same..."

From the newsletter by Abbot Laurence of New Skete, the largest OCA monastery in America.

[Natasha]

Am I reading that right?!?
New Skete has always seemed kinda New Age-y to me anyway.....

[bogoliubtsy]

Ha...New Skete. Was that written before or after they were told to remove their murals of Fr. Schmemann and Dorothy Day?

Where did you find that journal?

[Seraphim Reeves]

"I did not become orthodox to leave the false Roman church for the true Orthodox Church... For me the Orthodox and Roman churches, together with the various non-Chalcedoninan churches, these are all the one, true, apostolic, catholic churches of Jesus Christ... The sacraments in these churches, the priesthood, the basic doctrines, are essentially the same..."

From the newsletter by Abbot Laurence of New Skete, the largest OCA monastery in America.

Such a statement makes me wonder why Abbot Laurence even bothered going into the OCA. Such a statement makes it sound like all that separates these groups are aesthetical or tertiary ("matters of opinion" let's say) concerns...and if this were the case, then the "separations" involved would be real, and would be tragic, and in need of quick remedy.

As I'm sure everyone here is aware, this is not the case. Also worth pointing out, is that there is no actual "division" here, since the Body of Christ cannot be divided (St.John 17).

Seraphim

[Methodius]

Well remember the GOA and OCA have both said there is Grace is Roman Catholic Sacrmaents, thus espouse the branch theory that has been anathemized.