What do you think of the American Orthodox church?
Since there is no such thing, I can't really offer any thoughts. But I do think the goal of an autocephalous American Orthodox Church is something toward which we should all strive. From all accounts, we came close in 1994 with the meeting of all American bishops in Ligonier, PA, but when the Mother Churches caught wind they tightened the leashes. The Orthodox Church in America, in a document issued at its All-American Council, singled out the Ecumenical Patriarchate as an obstacle to Orthodoxy unity in the Americas, and I am in full agreement. Antioch, as well as other churches, have been at least tacitly supportive of the idea, but not Constantinople. The EP clings stubbornly to the idea that it, and it alone, has proper ecclesial jurisdiction over all churches "in the barbarian lands."
Its a nice goal, but I wouldn't hold my breath...
