The Washington Post and Forbes magazine ran news items on the “gay” baptisms that have triggered so much anger in the greater Orthodox world. In addition, the story was posted on the website for ABC News. This incident easily eclipses any other controversy involving Archbishop Elpidophoros and that is saying a good deal about how bad this is.
Archbishop Elpidophoros appears to have acted unilaterally. This is in contrast to Metropolitan Antonios of Glyfada who upon learning that the “parents” of the children that had been baptized were both men stated that he would have asked for the holy synod of the Church of Greece to convene in order to rule on the matter before proceeding with the baptisms. It is beyond doubt that the Archbishop misled Metropolitan Antonios.
So far the aforementioned news reports have reported what has happened and have made no commentary on the matter. It would not be surprising if the secular media began making judgements against the Orthodox Church as it is very clear the media is very supportive of the LGBT agenda. On the one hand, the Orthodox Church could take the opportunity to be in the spotlight in order to proclaim the truth of the gospel and to teach America why LGBT is sinful.
On the other hand, the Orthodox Church could become a target of never ending hostility and hatred like the Roman Catholics and Evangelicals have. Whatever the case, this entire affair has been horribly mishandled. The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese has been plagued by scandals for many years and is clearly not up to the task of preaching the gospel to Americans.
Archbishop Elpidophoros has not only brought the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese and the Ecumenical Patriarchate further disgrace, he has dragged the Church of Greece into this mess. Not a single word of apology or explanation from Archbishop Elpidophoros to Metropolitan Antonios of Glyfada or the holy synod of the Church of Greece.
In addition, there are the two children who received holy baptism. None of this is their fault. It is most lamentable that their baptisms are going to be associated with the nefarious actions of both the Archbishop and the “family” and other adults involved in this matter.
Regarding the adults involved in this matter. They deserve a certain degree of sympathy for the humiliation they may feel, but not for the choices they have made. It is clear these people are unchurched otherwise how could any of them have gone on social media to celebrate a Greek Orthodox “gay baptism”? Archbishop Elpidophoros is to blame for all hurt feelings and embarrassment in this matter and should have made it clear the Orthodox Church does not permit same sex marriages. The issue of the surrogate mother is further evidence of the Archbishop’s failure to provide moral and spiritual guidance.
The first step in cleaning up this mess is to depose Archbishop Elpidophoros. The opportunity is at hand for the Ecumenical Patriarch to be a spiritual leader by removing the Archbishop and to clarify for good measure before the whole world what the Orthodox Church actually teaches. The Ecumenical Patriarch must clean house.
There is still Ukraine and the schism, but for now all Orthodox Churches are watching to see what Patriarch Bartholomew and the holy synod of Constantinople are going to do in the aftermath of the scandalous behavior of Archbishop Elpidophoros.