Dialogue Is Best

The recent invitation of His Eminence Archbishop Spyridon to the organization known as GOAL (Greek Orthodox American Leaders) should give all members of the Church in America a hopeful perspective on the issues facing the Church today. Although the invitation was declined (see related story), His Eminence immediately extended another invitation to, in his own words, "come together to prayer, gather lay people together to discuss the GOAL resolutions and concerns, and personally engage me in a full and open dialogue." We hope that the members of GOAL will respond to this second invitation positively.

We should never forget that, although the Church is primarily a spiritual institution, the human element is not immune to a politicization, even a polarization, over issues of common concern. As Aristotle once observed, man is a "politikon zon" (political animal).

However, in the Church each of us has become, as one of the Church Fathers wrote, an ekklesiastikon zon, a creature of the Elect and Chosen Gathering of the Faithful, the Ekklesia. We have each been given new gifts and graces that enable us to communicate with each in new and divinely-inspired ways. As the Lord Himself said: "They shall speak with new tongues" (St. Mark 16:17).

At this time in the history of our Church and our Archdiocese, as we approach the dawn of the third millennium of our Greek Orthodox Church, we need every resource, every talent and every person to be focused on the message of Christ and His Holy Gospel. The things we hold dear as Greek Orthodox Christians, the things we share with our Orthodox brothers and sisters around the world, the things we want to pass down to our children and their children -- they all call for a spirit of dialogue and reconciliation.

There will always be differences of opinion and interpretation about Church policies and procedures, but the way we go about settling our differences should be informed by our love for Christ and His Church. It would be a sad day indeed, if our community would prefer poltical solutions, based on the models of a fallen world, rather than the graces and gifts of the Church, which God has given to us renew the world. As His Eminence said in his first invitation to GOAL: "It is my fervent conviction that through open dialogue we can come to a better understanding of that which can be good for the Church, and ultimately that which is necessary to make sure that our Church prosper and grow as we enter in the new millennium. We are one Church, one Family, and one Community, and only through the unity of spirit and heart can we continue to do the work of the Lord in His Vineyard which He has established."

This spirit of openness and receptivity would seem to be the best way for all of us to best serve our Church. Our hope is that this is the spirit which shall prevail.