www.byzcath.org Forums General Discussions Town Hall Any News on a Metropolitan?

Already happens elsewhere. Why not here? I'm perfectly happy to have ALL the seminaries under Orthodox administration, should that prove to be necessary. Joint administration would be better, though.

How about adding/creating four more. Cheaper by the dozen you know!

It would, but I tried to ensure that each bishop would have at least one parishoner.

Stuart,

Texas should be assigned to the Eparchy of the Southwest... or split it between the Southwest and the Gulf. Now if you ask a Texan... the response would be, "Texas is large enough to be its own Eparchy!" <G>

If the bishops would be pastors of Churches I can imagine that happening. But we have so few viable congregations now I don't see much point in more bishops. I suspect that we have fewer than 100,000 parishioners, probably fewer than 50,000. That a heck of a lot of bishops per member. Then who would you think would have the leadership capacity to be bishop. How many leaders do we have now? I wouldn't think that we have very many.

When I lived in Oklahoma state law only allowed the sale of reduced alcohol 3.2% beer. The saying went that in Oklahoma Catholics were weaker than the beer, less than 3.2%. I would guess that here in Texas Byzantine Catholics are weaker than near beer.

I agree, Texas should be with the Southwest. We have far more in common with the Phoenix Eparchy than with Pittsburgh or with any place in the South. Of course, no one asked me.

I'd be favorable to transferring our parishes here in the Lone Star State to the Phoenix eparchy. Pittsburgh has no significance for me - I've only been there once.

Your post reminds me of that important but little-explored theological principle: a little bit of bishop goes a long way. Kinda like an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

I think it is exactly like that. I did a study of Conscience once to discover that it is a negative force to keep us from doing the wrong thing. Bishops too often are a force to keep us from doing anything. Let us pray for courage among our bishops. Let us pray for courageous leadership. I really don't think we need more bishops. I do believe we need more courage among our bishops.

It wasn't until I joined the Melkites that I realized there were actually people who loved their bishops and looked forward to meeting with them. I know that I am looking forward to the first visit from Bishop Nicholas after his formal installation, and cannot wait until His Beatitude Patriarch Gregorios comes to the United States once more. It isn't necessary for the people to have a dysfunctional relationship with their bishops.

Actually, believe it or not, many Ukrainians expect to have (and go to the trouble of developing) a close connection with their bishop.

The Latins seem reluctant for the bishop even to meet their own laity.

Fr. Serge

Say what you will about Bishop William on other matters, when he was Bishop of Van Nuys, he frequently traveled to our parish, at his own expense, to celebrate Sunday liturgy with us because we were without a priest. For this reason alone, most in my parish have some fondness for him. Bishop Gerald has yet to make a visit.

This is also true with the ACROD faithful. They expect their bishops to rub shouders with them and enjoy a good dish of holubki with an occasional touch of slivovica!

Memory Eternal to Vladika Nicholas! Let's pray that continues!