1. Where do you see Orthodox leaders reaching levels 4 and 5 in contemporary Orthodoxy, particularly in North America? Think of this as a moment for praising the good. [TE:] Of those I know personally and have experience with, I see Bps. Matthias (Midwest) and Michael (NY/NJ) working at a 3-4 level. Both are loving and firm. Both take seriously the care of their priests and parishes in their Dioceses. Both are humble and pious. Bp. Tikhon (PA) is a loving and caring Bishop. He is a deeply prayerful monk. He is concerned with not hurting people’s feelings and being non-confrontational, thus had paralyzed himself in leadership. He is seriously administratively challenged; often not returning telephone calls, nor responding to emails and/or letters. However, to his credit, he is trying to rectify those shortcomings and is having moderate success.

I see various priests at levels 3-4. Fr. David Mahaffey, (St. Nicholas O. C., Bethlehem, PA and Dean of the Philadelphia Deanery) is one. Fr. Nicholas Solak (Holy Trinity O. C., Stroudsburg, PA) and Fr. Stephen Vernak (Christ the Savior, Harrisburg, PA) and Fr. Timothy E Hojnicki (Holy Apostles Mission, Mechanicsburg, PA) ,are others. All are well loved, caring, intelligent and deeply committed to the furtherance of the Holy Church. Fr. Andrew Damick (St. Paul’s Antiochian Church, Emmaus, PA) is a wonderful priest.

Why are these priests ‘successful’? Because 1) they are prayerful, 2) they are humble, 3) they hold to the firm standards of the Church not just for themselves but for their parishioners too; therefore people trust them. They take that trust seriously.

These leaders expect their parishioners to be friendly to visitors and loving to each other. They work to create a family atmosphere – a place where people feel at peace and trust that the worship of God will be in Truth with no phoney baloney.

2) Where do you see Orthodox leaders stuck at level 1? [TE:] I see this at a mission parish I am visiting where I live. The priest is very nice and pulls no punches in his sermons, which I have appreciated. He keeps to the Truth. However, he does nothing to promote the mission nor to ‘get out there’ so to speak and let people know the church is there. He serves Liturgy and nothing more; no Vespers or additional services. Accurate information about the church is difficult to find.

3) What is the way forward for us to see more of our leaders, clergy and lay, making it to levels 3 and 4? That is, what can these leaders do (or stop doing) to escape level 1?

Fr. Basil, it is difficult to move forward when those who are at level 1 don’t realize they are there! Or if they do, they are satisfied with mediocrity. I have been reminded over the last few days that one can lead the horse to water but that’s about it. The person must ‘want’ to improve their leadership skills. Only then will they seek out ways of improvement through reading books on leadership, seeking those who are leaders to pick their brains or to be mentored.

My husband’s Ph.D. is in Leadership and Organizational Behavior. His dissertation was on “Effective Pastoral Leadership.” Our bookshelves are full of books on and about leadership. There is information out there for those who want to be educated, to do so.

A good leader will put a couple of dissenters on his team to keep his enemy close. He will listen to their criticisms in order to ascertain if they are accurate and in order to learn and change if necessary. A good leader will stand for what is right and allow consequences to happen to those who do not. A good leader will think ahead a long time before he speaks, and never out of anger. He will look into the future as best he can in order to anticipate where problems will come so they can be averted. He will have few friends, if any, and will always remember he walks on shifting sand. The leadership mantle is never taken off no matter how far from home they may be because they may just run into a constituent!

It is a life of sacrifice.

Thank you for letting me share my thoughts.

Sadly, when I became Orthodox, the parish into which I had been received got an “arranged marriage” with a new priest within weeks of my reception. That new priest demonstrated exactly the problem you cite as reasons for why clergy get stuck at level 1. It was a crucible experience for us. By the end of that first year, probably over 75 percent of the original parish members had fled the parish for the sake of their salvation, all very troubled and wounded by the experience–many having been ‘invited” to leave since they couldn’t toe the line demanded by the new priest.

For leaders to move out of lower levels to higher really requires a lot of grace and prayer. As you have so eloquently stated, it requires the willingness to sacrifice one’s own reputation and image in preference for that of those whom one serves. Christ has called us to come and die with HIm. There is no other way.

I also can say, sadly that I could cite examples of clergymen, both priests and hierarchs, who are stuck at the first level – but I will not name names. I will however suggest that I invariably see the quality in all of these men of being concerned with their own reputation and their own honor – making sure that they got whatever was due to them. How could they change? By sacrificing his own “reputation” and “honor” and instead taking the same of care and concern with the honor and reputation of others – both peers and flock. In doing this, personal humility comes as a natural result and love grows from this care.

People will follow a leader who pours himself out for his people. If we, as clergy, sacrifice ourselves for our flock, for our brethren and for our Church, then we will begin to exhibit the Gospel truth, “Greater love hath no man than this, that he lay down his life for his brother”. That kind of love, will enable us to become leaders.

I am reiterating your questions, with my thoughts immediately following.

1. Where do you see Orthodox leaders reaching levels 4 and 5 in contemporary Orthodoxy, particularly in North America? Think of this as a moment for praising the good. Me: I know a lot of good parish priests (esp. in the OCA, of which I am a member) but I would like to focus on our hierarchs: Bp. Benjamin (DOW)a 3 or 4 based on what I know personally, inc. his high level of commitment to his diocese, Diocese of Alaska (locum tenens) and our OCA, + very approachable. Bp. Michael (NY NJ), a 4 based on my observations, positive report from a sr. priest (while bp. was visiting), and my personal encounter. He is very approachable and loving. Bp. Tikhon (NE PA)I’ve met on several occasions – a godly, loving pastor, but I don’t know his leadership style. I know too little re our other hierarchs to give any rating.

2. Where do you see Orthodox leaders stuck at level 1? Cite examples, but be constructive. Me: His Beatitude, Metropolitan Jonah is stuck on level 1. His speech in Santa Fe is a recent example, telling his brother bishops they need to watch each other’s back and face. He wants to be obeyed because he is the Metropolitan, and his office does deserve respect and honor, but our church is conciliar. What is he doing to make his flock love and respect him, outside of a very few (Fr. Fester, “Team Jonah,” etc.)? How does he show his love for his flock? Does he listen to his senior clergy?

3. What is the way forward for us to see more of our leaders, clergy and lay, making it to levels 3 and 4? That is, what can these leaders do (or stop doing) to escape level 1? Me: Leaders stuck at level one need to listen to other people, change their advisors; be open to those around them; welcome dialogue and advice; pray for and cultivate love for those you encounter.

4. What role does trust play in advancing through the levels? What about goodwill? Me: Trust plays a huge role! We’ve heard numerous times that there are issues of trust between Metropolitan Jonah and his brother bishops. As a member of the laity, I feel our Metropolitan has broken trust with me/with his flock several times: first in not making a clean break with the disgraced Kondratick (RSK) administration, i.e. allowing the defrocked priest RSK to continue in paid parish ministry, promoting Fr. Joseph Fester (Kondratick’s right hand man) to positions of power and authority (first in Dallas, now to DC), by his recent erratic behavior (on and off a “leave of absence,” etc.), and, if the reports are true, blessing the negative, divisive and untruthful blog OCATRUTH. He could begin to restore trust regarding these issues by: removing RSK from paid ministry of any kind in any OCA parish, assigning Fr. Fester to “regular” parish ministry (although there are other issues being looked at as a result of JF’s recent behavior and actions), requesting that OCATRUTH close down and publishing his remarks/letter to them on the OCA website. He could build trust and goodwill by being more with his flock, not just at St. Nicholas Cathedral in DC (or with any Russian bishop and/or visiting hierarch, etc.), being approachable as well as approaching when he is with his flock. These actions would build goodwill, as well.

I pray for our Holy Synod.