The Orthodox Faithful's Responsibility: When Speaking Up Becomes Necessary

By Special Contributor

“I would never in my life have done this or risen against a bishop, NEVER, if the situation weren’t this bad. I still fear how I will explain this to God when the time comes, but someone had to do it…”

These words, shared recently by a devoted member of our Orthodox community, capture the profound spiritual struggle many faithful experience when confronting serious governance concerns within our beloved Church. It is a sentiment that deserves thoughtful reflection as our parish navigates challenging circumstances.

The Orthodox Tension: Obedience and Stewardship

Orthodox Christianity has always valued hierarchical authority. We kiss the hand of our priest, stand when the bishop enters, and honor the apostolic succession that flows through our hierarchs. This respect is fundamental to our tradition and rightly so.

Yet alongside this principle of obedience stands another equally important Orthodox value: faithful stewardship. As St. Basil the Great wrote, "The bread in your cupboard belongs to the hungry; the coat unused in your closet belongs to the one who needs it." This applies not just to material goods but to our spiritual inheritance as well.

When these two principles—obedience to authority and responsible stewardship—appear to conflict, the Orthodox faithful face a profound spiritual dilemma.

Guidance from Church Tradition

Our Orthodox tradition offers wisdom for such difficult moments:

St. John Chrysostom, known for speaking truth to power even when it cost him his position and eventually his life, wrote: "Let nothing be done without the bishop, yet God is above the bishop." This reminds us that while we honor episcopal authority, our ultimate allegiance is to God and His Church.

The Council of Jerusalem (Acts 15) demonstrates that even apostles were accountable to the community of faith. When disputes arose, they were resolved not by individual authority alone but through council, testimony, and discernment.

St. Maximus the Confessor refused to accept the Monothelite heresy even when it was promoted by patriarchs and emperors. He famously said, "Even if the whole universe holds communion with the [heretical] patriarch, I will not communicate with him." St. Maximus suffered exile and mutilation for this stance, yet was later vindicated as a defender of Orthodoxy.

These examples teach us that respectful yet firm adherence to truth when fundamental matters are at stake has always been part of our Orthodox heritage.

The Weight of Sacred Responsibility

Speaking up about serious concerns within the Church is never to be undertaken lightly. Those who feel called to this difficult path should:

1. Exhaust all proper channels first, following established protocols for addressing concerns

2. Seek counsel from spiritual elders and those with wisdom

3. Examine their motivations carefully, ensuring they are acting out of love for the Church, not personal grievance

4. Remain respectful in all communications, honoring the office even when questioning specific actions

5. Stay rooted in prayer and fasting, recognizing that spiritual warfare accompanies such challenges

As one Church Father noted, "Reproach offered in humility and truth is not opposition but love."

Protecting Sacred Heritage and Resources

When concerns involve the stewardship of Church resources—particularly sacred spaces like monasteries and cemeteries where our ancestors rest—the responsibility becomes even weightier.

St. John of Kronstadt wrote, "The temple and all that is in it is a treasury belonging not to man but to God." When such treasuries face threat through financial mismanagement or neglect of legal obligations, silence can become a form of complicity.

Our Serbian Orthodox tradition particularly understands this sacred duty. For centuries, our ancestors preserved our faith and cultural heritage through Ottoman occupation, communist persecution, and countless challenges. They did so not through blind obedience to any temporal authority, but through steadfast commitment to the authentic Orthodox faith and its proper expression.

Speaking Truth in Love

The Apostle Paul instructs us to "speak the truth in love" (Ephesians 4:15). This balance is critical. Speaking without love becomes harsh criticism; remaining silent when love demands speech becomes cowardice.

When faithful Orthodox Christians respectfully raise documented concerns after exhausting proper channels, they are not being rebellious. Rather, they are fulfilling their baptismal responsibility as members of Christ's Body, participating in the conciliar nature of the Church that has distinguished Orthodoxy throughout its history.

Toward Healing and Renewal

The ultimate purpose of addressing serious concerns is never division but healing and renewal. As the Psalmist writes, "Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!" (Psalm 133:1).

When governance issues are properly addressed according to Orthodox principles and procedures, the result should be:

• Restoration of proper order and transparency

• Renewed trust in leadership

• Protection of sacred resources for future generations

• Stronger adherence to canonical norms

• Unity based on truth rather than silent acquiescence

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A Prayer for Discernment

As we navigate these challenging waters, let us pray for wisdom and discernment. May God grant our hierarchs the humility to listen, our faithful the courage to speak truth respectfully when necessary, and our entire community the love to work toward healing.

In the words of the Divine Liturgy, we pray "For the peace of the whole world, for the stability of the holy churches of God, and for the unity of all, let us pray to the Lord."

This reflection is offered not as a definitive statement but as a contribution to ongoing dialogue within our community. It draws from Orthodox tradition while acknowledging the complexity of applying these principles in specific contexts.