GEORGE of Canterbury, please take note

Orthodox leadership is painfully aware of overlapping jurisdictions in the USA

Recently I have written and sent out by e mail several pieces on what I have
called the cultural bishopric in contrast to the territorial bishopric. In
these I have argued that the political reality of the USA requires of
Churches that they make use of the ethnic and cultural bishopric alongside
the territorial bishopric.

The article below by the Greek Orthodox bishop in Detroit reveals that the
Orthodox leadership in the USA is very conscious that the Orthodox have
overlapping [ethnic] jurisdictions and that thereby they break their own
doctrine that there should be one and one only church with one bishop in
each city.

Yet the practice of cultural or ethnic dioceses is justified at least for
the time being by the practical reality of the United States with its
massive immigration.

What the Orthodox rarely concede is that alongside their overlapping
jurisdictions are those of the Roman Church, and then of course, the
Anglican, Lutheran and so on.

In the American competitive supermarket of religions it would seem that
overlapping dioceses and jurisdictions are with us until the end of time.
One day the Anglican family will recognize this fact and adjust to it!

Please read on.

Peter Toon