OCA Bishop on involuntary Leave of Absence

[Aramis]

oca.org/News.asp?ID=1485&SID=19
OCA.org:

SYOSSET, NY [OCA Communications] – On Tuesday, March 4, 2008, the Lesser Synod of the Orthodox Church in America met to address the current situation in the Diocese of Alaska. The remaining members of the Holy Synod also took part in the meeting by telephone. Subsequently, the Secretary of the Holy Synod, His Eminence, Archbishop Seraphim issued a letter to His Grace, Bishop Nikolai, informing him that:

"(the members of the Holy Synod ) received many letters of serious complaint from deaneries, clergy, and faithful of the Diocese of Alaska... Not relying on hear-say, yet acknowledging the seriousness of these letters, at your suggestion, all your brother bishops were contacted; and they unanimously agreed that the best course of action for you is that you be placed on a temporary Leave-of-absence (OCA Statute, Article II.1; II.7.a,f,I,j; Apostolic Canon 74, and 34)."

The letter instructed Bishop Nikolai that, while on Leave-of-absence, “you will, according to the direction of Metropolitan HERMAN, absent yourself from the territory of the Diocese of Alaska.” During this time the day-to-day affairs of the Diocese will be conducted by an Administrator appointed by His Beatitude and “a Committee will be appointed to investigate the complaints, and accusations”.

This is a sad thing.

According to Bp. +Nikolai, he has no intention of leaving. (Channel 2 KTUU News, Aired March 8, 5:04pm).

This is even sadder.

(Moreover, Nikolai has often spoken of hope for reunification between the Orthodox and the Catholics… which makes this even further sad for me.)

 

[panoikei]

What is he accused of to have been given this temporary leave status?

 

[Aramis]

What is he accused of to have been given this temporary leave status?

Several things, amongst them:

• Being too harsh & scary (his own words for it, and he admits it, too)
• Being too authoritarian
• Not taking adequate action on claims of sexual harassment by his protosynchelis.
• Not having dealt with claims of priestly substance abuse seriously enough.
• Abuse of Episcopal Authority.

 

[roanoker]

Being too harsh and scary? Being too harsh and scary? We need more pastors like that, in my opinion. Too many are touchy-feely, everything is good, you can’t do any wrong types. (I’m speaking now of protestant pastors, but of what I’ve seen at the EWTN masses, this might well apply to some catholic pastors also). Correct me if I’m looking at this the wrong way. Roanoker

 

[Aramis]

Being too harsh and scary? Being too harsh and scary? We need more pastors like that, in my opinion. Too many are touchy-feely, everything is good, you can’t do any wrong types. (I’m speaking now of protestant pastors, but of what I’ve seen at the EWTN masses, this might well apply to some catholic pastors also). Correct me if I’m looking at this the wrong way. Roanoker

One of the “Issues” with Orthodox Ecclesiology is that a bishop is at the mercy of the other bishops of the Synod. While no one bishop has authority over the others (Met. +Herman may have exceeded his own in ordering Bp. +Nikolai out of Alaska), the Synod is the highest authority.

He’s not a Pastor, per se, but the Annointed successor to the Apostles for the Russian Orthodox in Alaska, answerable only to the assembled Synod.

Conciliarism runs rampant. Often, parish assemblies suggest to the bishops whom they want made rector (chief priest of a given parish); Bishops often take such advice. Further, OCA parishes must agree to the compensation for the rector before his appointment.

Deans (who head deaneries) are elected by the Rectors of the deanery, and then installed by the bishop.

The Diocese’s assembly nominates candidates for bishop. The Holy Synod picks the bishops, and the Metropolitan ordains and enthrones them.

At every level, authority seems to flow from the bottom up.

So, when a fairly authoritarian Bishop is elected, there is much dissent.

An outspoken critic, Rev. Fr. Oleska, was relieved of a teaching position at the seminary. The cause was not made public. Fr. Oleska is, shall we say, well known for his secular teaching efforts, far more than his religious education efforts. I’ve taken some training from him at work. Awesome teacher. Not certain I’d want him teaching seminarians, tho’, as he stresses freedom of thinking, and open criticism. Bad for morale. He’s also well known for not liking Bp. Nikolai. Well known enough that it is no surprise he was relieved of his seminary teaching post to even non-RO… Well enough known that it was a surprise it took +Nikolai so long to remove him from the seminary. (Note: That is the ONLY public effect of his criticism until today. It’s still “today” for me in Alaska.)

 

[Hesychios]

Being too harsh and scary? Being too harsh and scary? We need more pastors like that, in my opinion. … Roanoker

The allegations are a bit more serious and distasteful, true or not I cannot know.

It is too early to speculate on, but believe me this is not an issue of a liberal church disliking a conservative bishop, or anything like that.

Nor is it a case of the failings of a conciliar church as some would like to suggest. It looks to me like the process is moving along properly, which may not have been the case if there was not a very public way to make the synod address the issue. Cover ups do not help (we have all seen how that is ultimately the worst policy), outspoken indignation is what I would expect, and what I would have expected of any parish or diocese in your church as well as mine.

I say, better safe than sorry. I would think most Catholics would agree.

If the bishop is guilty of some of the charges made, he will be removed permanently, if not he will be reinstated permanently. He knows more than anyone what a heavy burden one carries as a pastor, like all pastors he will answer before God for every soul entrusted to his care. He might not like it (nobody likes to be accused of misbehavior) but as a bishop he is fully accountable and there is a 2000 year old mechanism in place to address it.

Michael

 

[Hesychios]

Conciliarism runs rampant…

At every level, authority seems to flow from the bottom up…

** So, when a fairly authoritarian Bishop is elected, there is much dissent. **

Conciliarity is not a dirty word although you may wish to make it so.

Your opinion has been duly noted.
*
Michael *

 

[Aramis]

Conciliarity is not a dirty word although you may wish to make it so.

Your opinion has been duly noted.
*
Michael *

Nor did I say it was a dirty word.

It is, however, part and parcel of +Nikolai’s problems. He’s a fairly heavy handed authoritarian, and conciliarity leads to an immediate questioning of such an authoritarian.

Especially since he was elected from amongst, and by, those he has been shepherd for for the last many years.

His stating on the news that he was not leaving Alaska was interesting. (Also the first time I’ve seen him without his Miter or Klobuk on in a public appearance since his enthronement.)

I’ve met him. He does have an imposing air. He’s also been extremely warm in his relations with the Roman Catholics. Attending (as a guest of Honor) Parish dedications, and occasional other events of note. Again, to much discontent by the Orthodox. (Several RO friends made negative comments when I mentioned his speaking at the opening of the new St. Andrew Catholic Church building. Actually, thinking about it, ALL my RO friends/coworkers were critical of his attending the dedication.)

The expectation of a bishop being as much as a subject of the people as the shepherd is at the heart of his problems with the clergy. Several other priests have been interviewed and hinted at an expectation of schism.

THe issue with the protosynchellus (or whatever the term is that they are using) is quite profound, and in recent interviews was still “under investigation”…

I do like HG +Nikolai. He’s an awesome preacher, and a nice guy. But his understanding of his role is different than the understanding of those who elected him bishop-nominee. (Which he also is aware of, based upon the TV interview.)

Yes, the charges are serious. But they are also nothing new. Rev. Fr. Oleska, however, is quite vocal, quite well known, quite popular, and quite on the opposite end of the conciliarity scale from HG +Nikolai.

 

[Servus_Pio_XII]

They cry “Axios!” or they cry “Anaxios!” and it is so.

 

[Isa_Almisry]

Bishop Nikolai tried to have Bishop Job removed, the latter bishop, not known for being either liberal, nor a rubber stamp for the laity, having brought the accusations to the synods knowledge.

It is interesting: I have seen the case of Nikolai thrown in the face of the Orthodox several times, including mine. Now we’re being blamed because his troubles are attributed to him being too pro-Rome.