Issue 7

Harmony & Discord

The scriptures and our liturgical prayers are forever extolling the importance of unity and harmony. “For the union of all, let us pray to the Lord,” we hear in every litany. The psalmist writes of “how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity,” and St. Paul urged the church in Rome to “Live in harmony with one another.” Likewise, the Proverbs describe “a man who sows discord among brothers” as one of the seven things the Lord considers an “abomination.” 

And yet, we all know from experience that conflict is a routine, not to say elemental, part of church life. Even in the best of circumstances, our fellow parishioners’ personalities sometimes grate on us. Parish councils inevitably clash over building projects and other questions of money. And if we’ve been around long enough, we’ve seen priests and bishops get caught up in scandals: perhaps embezzling funds, or carrying on extramarital affairs, or even committing abuse or helping to cover it up. 

Moreover, in this moment, it’s safe to say that we’re not living in the best of circumstances. The Orthodox world, both in the US and worldwide, seems more divided than it’s been at any other time in recent history.

This issue will explore the intersection and tension between harmony and discord in our own spiritual lives and in the life of the church.