Readers may know by now that Metropolitan Jonah Paffhausen, leader of the Orthodox Church in America, resigned suddenly this past Friday night. It was Rod Dreher who broke the news , and for the better part of the weekend, hosted the primary forum for updates and feedback till word Sunday night from OCA headquarters in Syosset made it official.
It is very curious business – and a further burden on the people of the Church who have struggled to navigate the white water of recent leadership scandals in which Jonah played no part, and whose election was hailed by so many as the dawn of a new era.
So far, the main characters in the drama are staying quiet while websites grow long with lists of conjectures, regrets, accusations, frustrations, and exhortations – all of which throws into sharp relief just how opaque things are.
Barring the sudden engagement of Mr. Holmes, Dr. Watson, Monsieur Poirot and Captain Hastings, we may just have to wait and watch. We could also pray that Metropolitan Jonah, and the entire OCA, are able to discern and follow the promptings of the Holy Spirit through what will undoubtedly be a difficult and painful process.
