r/OrthodoxChristianity Reddit yesterday

AOCC begins reconciliation process with GOARCH, seeking information

I saw a Facebook post from Father Don Purdam, press secretary of the American Orthodox Catholic Church, announcing that the AOCC has submitted documentation to the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America to formally begin a process of reconciliation, unity, and communion. Father Purdam expresses gratitude to Father Samuel Davis for his efforts in helping this process move forward, and asks for prayers for both churches as they pursue this endeavor.

I had not heard of the AOCC before this, but the news seems significant. Does anyone have information about this reconciliation?

Main points

AOCC has submitted documentation to GOARCH to begin reconciliation
Father Samuel Davis is credited with helping the process
Request for prayers for both churches
Author unfamiliar with AOCC and seeks more information
Question about the nature and status of this reconciliation

14 opinions in the discussion 10 participants, 9 replies to each other The opinion with the most support They are a wild fringe group with interesting practices. It'll be interesting to see what happens and what it really means, because it would be less "reconcilnig" and more of them have to repent of their errors. Read the discussion

19 comments at the source Original on Reddit

Discussion · 14

Opinions are anonymous retellings of real comments from the original discussion. The same colour marks the same participant.

opinion#3180 1 likes at the source
They are a wild fringe group with interesting practices. It'll be interesting to see what happens and what it really means, because it would be less "reconcilnig" and more of them have to repent of their errors.
- opinion#3185 1 likes at the source
  Repenting and becoming fully Orthodox is what I assume reconciliation means, but...that notice is coming from the AOCC side. There doesn't seem to be anything from GOARCH or anyone on this. This will be interesting to follow.
  - opinion#3190 1 likes at the source
    
    > There doesn't seem to be anything from GOARCH or anyone on this GOARCH can play thing close to the vest, even after they occur, such as reception of Catholic clergy. Can be some wisdom in not trumpeting things. Or that they haven't gotten around to updating public-facing info. <Starts searching GOARCH website.>
    
    opinion#3193 1 likes at the source
    
    I would also presume they're still hammering out details, though presumably they've come to enough of an understanding that they can announce they've done this much. Though this is also just saying they've submitted documents to begin a process.
opinion#3181 1 likes at the source
I'm an inquirer. My opinion is Purdam is dangerous to new believers, inquirers, or anyone not familiar with real "orthodox" Orthodoxy. He's really popular on social media and leads people to believe he is a face of genuine Orthodoxy, which he's not. I believe this is his attempt at giving his group legitimacy by trying to associate with a legitimate group and use words like reconciliation instead of the fact he and his followers need to be catechized into the real church.
- opinion#3186 1 likes at the source
  
  As an inquirer you're very insightful. I fully agree because earlier this year there were talks between the two groups and the AOCC was demanding their priests and bishops retain their ranks in the church. I hope this is not something they were able to get done because you're right it's very dangerous.
opinion#3182 1 likes at the source

Also, here is Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick's thesis on the group. https://www.orthodoxhistory.org/2026/06/24/what-is-the-american-orthodox-catholic-church/ And a video on them.
opinion#3183 1 likes at the source
The Union of Orthodox Journalists reports on document submission. The article has an interesting phrase that makes it sound like the GOARCH bishops are unanimously pursuing this union, whereas it's the AOCC's bishops who are eager... "In July, the AOCC synod issued a statement affirming that discussions with GOARCH were continuing with the unanimous support of its bishops." Whose bishops? The Greeks are very, very deliberate about such things. If the breach can be healed, and the OCA agrees (because AOCC originally came out of the Metropolia; I'd think that would be needed, but who am I?), then this can be a good thing. It sounds like reception of AOCC bishops as bishops and other clergy as clergy might already be a stumbling-block. In a recent reception of a clergyman from the Melkite Catholic Church (one of the later splits from Orthodoxy), the priest was accepted, but not immediately given a parish (there is a need), but has had a period of acculturation into Orthodoxy. We can pray for a good outcome.
- opinion#3187 1 likes at the source
  
  If there's one thing GOARCH will never, ever do, it's ask the OCA's opinion about anything
- opinion#3188 1 likes at the source
  Who needs reconciliation when we can take people fleeing a jurisdiction and create vicariates for them to rule over while suing their old jurisdiction and further strain inter jurisdiction relations?
  - opinion#3191 1 likes at the source
    
    Who would ever do such a thing? /s
- opinion#3189 1 likes at the source
  Why would the OCA need to give permission? These bishops and priests have never been under the OCA so they don't require a canonical release. The organization may claim the title of AOCC, but it's not even a natural and direct successor to that schism. I can't fathom why the OCA would have a say merely because this group claims to be related to another group that nearly a century ago split from the OCA.
  - opinion#3192 1 likes at the source
    
    They won't. Even if they were still had continuity with the original group, the Ecumenical Patriarchate would claim they have the sole right to accept any group they choose. This isn't the first time.
opinion#3184 1 likes at the source

It's been talked about for a while that there were discussions between the two, and I belive they released something this summer officially acknowledging the ongoing talks. I am not going to count my chickens until it's official, or at least until GOARCH provides clarity regarding the status of "discussions." I would be very surprised to see them make the concessions needed to be brought into GOARCH.