SCOBA: The Urge to Merge

One of these days, it is said, at least eight of the diverse American churches with ties to the ancient patriarchs of Constantinople, Antioch, Alexandria and Jerusalem – but do not accept the authority of the Pope – will form one single Orthodox Christian church.

The biggest obstacles are resistance to the idea by “old land” patriarchs who fear a loss of prestige, income and turf – and fears by some Orthodox bishops, and laity, that a merger might weaken their ethnic identity and links with the past.

Metropolitan Philip, primate of the Antiochian church, reminded like-minded bishops of their goal. “Our dream for a united Orthodoxy in America,” he said, “will never fade away.”

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