A Slow Positive Change or Hypocrisy?

A Slow Positive Change or Hypocrisy?

July 15, 2023

Christ Healing on the Sabbath

A major announcement was made at the end of June 2023 by Hellenic College/Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology (HCHC), the higher education institution of the Greek Orthodox Church of America.[1]  Reverend Dr. John Chryssavgis was chosen to head the Huffington Ecumenical Institute at HCHC. The mission of the schools “is the formation and the education of the person within the life of an Orthodox Christian community… it educates men preparing for the holy priesthood…as well as men and women for leadership roles within the Church.”[2] The vision of the schools is “to be the intellectual, education and spiritual formation center of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, stimulating, developing, and sustaining ordained and lay vocations for service to Church and society, based on faith.”[3]

It is quite laudable that the major educational institution of the Greek Orthodox Church wants to engage in ecumenical studies which has as its mission “to foster dialogue between the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic and Episcopal Churches through programs, events, and other channels.[4] For far too long much of the Orthodox Church has been content to exist in its ethnic and isolated conclaves, instead of consistently opening wide its doors to let all of humanity witness the beauty and truth of the Orthodox Church. The Church has also been quite reluctant, except at the highest scholarly levels, to engage fully with other Christian communities. Personally, I welcome this grand endeavor and entrusting it to someone so renowned as Father Chryssavgis. What puzzles me is the acceptance of the source of the money grant which created this new institution, Michael Huffington.

Michael Huffington has had quite an impressive career in politics, the arts as well as business, “earning his first million dollars by the time he was 29”[5] and a former US representative from California. Mr. Huffington was brought up as a Presbyterian and later joined the Episcopal Church. Michael Huffington married Arianna Stassinopoulos, the Greek American author and businesswoman, in 1986 and subsequently, he converted to Orthodoxy and joined the Greek Orthodox Church.

In 1998, Michael revealed that he is bisexual and made several substantial donations to LGBT causes including establishing a fellowship for LGBT students at Stanford University. Notably, he was one of the signatories to an amicus curiae brief in support of same-sex marriage that was submitted to the Supreme Court in 2013.  He was an executive producer of the documentary movie “For the Bible Tells Me So” which is quite critical of the standard Christian, and to be sure, Orthodox view, of homosexuality. He has produced other LGBT-themed movies including the acclaimed Geography Club and Bi the Way.[6]

To be certain, I do not know Michael Huffington personally. He appears to be quite a sincere man who has put his money where his heart, and beliefs reside, contributing to and creating endeavors that have changed lives for the positive, including his recent substantial donation ($2.5 million) to the Greek Orthodox Church to create the Ecumenical Institute at Hellenic College/Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology. My question is to His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros and the leadership of the Greek Orthodox Church. Do you find it at all hypocritical to accept such a considerable donation from someone who has publicly announced his bisexuality and widely promotes LGBT causes?  Or is this acceptance of such a sizeable donation from an “activist member” of the LGBT community, a slow, but positive step forward by the Greek Orthodox Church to soften its stance towards LGBT individuals, similar to the baptisms the Archbishop celebrated for the children of a gay couple in 2022[7]? As an Orthodox Christian, who happens to be gay and in a same-sex marriage, I sincerely hope that this is indeed a slow positive step in the right direction, and not simply two cases of “money can buy you anything”, including the mysteries of Christ in the Church.[8]

 

[1] https://www.hchc.edu/rev-dr-john-chryssavgis-to-head-huffington-ecumenical-institute-at-hchc/

[2] https://www.hchc.edu/why-hchc/#mission-vision-values

[3] https://www.hchc.edu/why-hchc/#mission-vision-values

[4] https://www.hchc.edu/rev-dr-john-chryssavgis-to-head-huffington-ecumenical-institute-at-hchc/

[5] https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2004-apr-20-et-abcarian20-story.html

 

[6] Information on Michael Huffington is taken from the following source as well as the references listed at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Huffington

[7] The baptisms were widely reported in the Greek, US, and world news. https://religionnews.com/2022/07/19/greek-church-protests-baptism-for-celebrity-same-sex-parents/

[8] The position of the Greek Orthodox Church on LGBT individuals is well documented. One such statement: Homosexuals “need help and love to encourage and assist them to change their lives to bring them back into proper balance.” https://www.thyateira.org.uk/chapel/articles/the-challenge-of-contemporary-homosexual-culture-to-the-orthodox-church/

 

This Post Has 4 Comments

  1. Gregory Kenneth

    All have sinned and fell short of the glory of God. Something I think all of us should remember. What seems to be the issue with we Orthodox is we think of the person as being a sin and not actions or behaviour. As a gay male, I too sometimes have problems of separating a person from a sin. I am not saying that any intimacies are sinful. I think it’s not my “job” to decide what is sinful and what isn’t or if a person has committed a sin. I am also Orthodox, currently active in a non-canonical jurisdiction in the Philippines. That others are in conversation with leaders of the Church to examine the issue is a very hopeful situation. May all receive great blessing from the Holy and undivided Trinity.

  2. Fr Jerry Hall

    I am encouraged by Fr John Chryssavgis’ presence at the seminary. He’s a brilliant scholar and a compassionate man. The commitment to spend more time teaching about engagements with those with different perspectives is positive and Fr John is the right person. I am also encouraged by Archbishop Elpidophoros and his willingness to encourage both this endeavor and to embrace the support of Mr Huffington. Hopefully this will all lead to forming future leaders with a broader and more open perspective for the future of the Church.

    1. andre

      Thank you, Father for your comment and your support. Hopefully is the correct word. As people of the Gospel, we must be a people of hope. I ask for your blessing.
      Andriy

  3. Paula

    It could be that they still think that homosexuality is wrong but the person is always welcome to come and address “ their sins” So taking their money is not an issue. I don’t agree with the stance they take that homosexuality is against God. It’s quite cruel but some not all “ know not what they do”. How to forgive them for their sins? Let us pray ceaselessly for all of us who are hurt by this horror and for the sinners who commit it- please Holy Spirit may I be an instrument of your peace and keep standing up for what I know is right, to the best of my ability, with your firm, loving and gentle wisdom guiding my words, actions and thoughts- Thank you Holy Spirit, Jesus and Father God- May the Grace and willingness of our Blessed Mother Mary fill our lives each day – Amen

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