Should I Join the OCA or the AA?

I have been receiving questions from folks (Episcopalians & others, here & abroad) about possible conversions to Orthodoxy. Glory to God for all things! That being said, you can’t get there from here. By that I mean, forget the Internet and get thee to church. An Orthodox Church.

Several have asked, “Should I join the OCA or the Antiochian Archdiocese?” Good question. I was a recently ordained Episcopal priest when I wrote the same handwritten note to the OCA Metropolitan and the AA Metropolitan. After the introduction, it said something like: “I’m about the burst. I have to become Orthodox. I also believe there’s a need for an English speaking Orthodox mission here in the Asheville area. What should I do?”

The Antiochians replied in 4 days. I’ve yet to hear from the OCA. However, OCA clergy were most helpful in our establishing that Mission … Archimandrite Damian of Ascension Monastery [then OCA], Fr Peter Smith [then] of Holy Apostles & [then] Deacon Thomas Moore, Fr John Townsend [then] of St Mary of Egypt (OCA), Fr David Tillman up in Ohio, [then] Subdeacon Michael Bock, [then] Reader Mark Mancuso and many others. It was a cooperative era. It was a time of great excitement. We all worked together. I have a picture from a bishop’s visit to our store front mission back in 1995 which includes a host of clergy and future clergy (OCA, AA, ROCOR, JP). But at that moment, that night, we were all working together. I even have a picture of a visit from [the then AA] Fr Seraphim Stephens and his Subdeacon Onouphry Keith. [Fr Onouphry is now the ROCOR priest of the mission I started.] I hope to soon write a piece titled, “Back When Orthodoxy Was Fun”.

With an outro like that, one seeking Orthodoxy might be discouraged. Don’t be. Your experience will be different. And, all in all, it is always glorious. Faithfulness, obedience, perseverance, and repentance bears good fruit. Regardless of the hurdles, your sins, the attacks of the enemy … If you are seeking Salvation, the True Faith, the Church … it is here.

Come and see.