I am taken aback to see the lukewarm response coming from the Orthodox Church so far related to the above land mark verdict. It must have been an opportunity to tell the world that we are the body of Christ and we are Christians too!
Let me give my balanced evaluation of the Orthodox faction so far for effecting course corrections if they are serious and genuine.
H H Catholicose was very spiritually guided so far in his utterances in welcoming all to the Malankara Church.
The news media message coming from some senior bishops like Mathews Saverious asking all to return to Mother Church is notoriously malicious. His American media utterances and the Kolenchery speech were all in poor taste to promote unity.
The Advisory panel set up is full of either unsuitable or initiated people to the context and concept of conflict resolutions.
Its members may be eminent ones in their own right. But its chairman is said to be known for his belligerent attitude towards the erstwhile patriarch faction and even has been a crusader of orthodoxy in everything. He is unacceptable to many even among the proactive Orthodox Church believers. All its members could have stayed in the background to deliberate the pros and cons of the course of events. Out of this list surely, elected officials of the Church like Synod Secretary, Priest Trustee and Lay Trustee and Association Secretary must have formed a core group chaired by HG Dr Thomas Athanasius and professionals who are known for conflict resolution work in many areas like Prof Dr MP Mathai, Fr Dr KM George, Fr Dr Johns Konat and any other internationally known experts must have been in this advisory panel if the purpose is to deliver the goods. Better make Prof Mathai as its member secretary.
Here it appears that the very team headed by bishop Saverious may preside over the still birth of any such unity in the wake of the apex court verdict and the resultant process of reconciliation.
If we are serious let us reconstitute the advisory panel ASAP.
Even the opinion as appeared in the Manorama News paper of 15th July reportedly attributed to the Synod Secretary Dr Yuhannoon Diascores that issues of faith and order may be taken up in the forum of Oriental Orthodox Churches gives an impression that there is considerable differences between the Jacobite and Orthodox factions! Do we have any such differences honourable bishop?
Please do make responsible statements to the media or the faithful believers so that your credibility is not eroded.
Dr KM George
President and CEO
Sustainable Development Forum
Email Melmana@gmail.com
15th July, 2017.