fire at a www site entitled theantiochian.com, a site apparently designed to counter what it sees in the content of ocanews.org regarding the decision of the Holy Synod of Antioch changing the status of our Diocesan Bishops to auxiliaries.

Like many www sites, including at times http://www.ocanews.org, it has its share of venom and name calling. That’s probably the worst thing about having an internet “discussion”, the anonymity that allows people to take pot shots at each other. Please note, though, that no one is truly anonymous on the www. If I had the time and inclination, and I do not, I could track the address of every person who visits me here and so, by the way, can every site on the www from the ones selling books to those selling flesh. Be careful where you visit because somebody knows even if you’re all alone with your computer at 3 in the morning. Anyway, the new site is revelatory in that it exposes the cultural gap that’s adding fuel to this fire.

On one side of the gap are people who essentially saying “Metropolitan PHILIP is a great man who has done much for us and so he is be respected with loyalty for all that he has accomplished.” On the other are people who say “We have canons and rules in the Church which are binding on us all.” As I stand back and look I see these strains emerging and wonder if there is a way out. The first seems to be very “old country” for lack of a better term, people living as Christians in a hostile sea and a culture where strong leaders are expected as essential to the survival of the group. The second is very American, the sense of no person being above the law and decisions being made in compliance not with personality but with larger principles.

This is, I think, reflective of what has been happening in the Church throughout history. At times the very fabric of the Church has been shaped by individuals of great charisma, in the best sense of the word, and holiness, people who’s personal attributes have affected the larger group. We still have, for example, the Paschal Homily of St. John Chrysostom as the single required sermon of Pascha (Easter) centuries after his death. Yet at times there has also been the appeal to consensus and the rule of Tradition. No one person made up the Creed and then forced it on everyone else and there have been times when the people themselves have risen up and said “No!” to their Bishops when they perceived the decision was outside of the Tradition.

These two interwoven strains have always been a part of the Church and will probably never go away. In the current situation these strains, the appeal to a person and charisma and the appeal to the larger canon and tradition, are active, present, and “in play” in all of this. Perhaps knowing this will help us find our way home.

One can hope, anyways.

Hangin in Branson with the original remaining members of Bill Haley and the Comets rock and roll group and the original rock and roll bassist. Cool.

that former Green Bay Packer quarterback Bret Favre is meeting with the head coach of the Minnesota Vikings about possibility signing with the team. Pathetic.

to see “The Original Comets” yesterday at the Andy Williams Theatre in Branson.

Before his death in 1981 Bill Haley (Rock around the Clock) included many musicians among his “Comets” but the three who appear in Branson were the members of the version that recorded such hits as “Crazy Man Crazy” and, of course, “Rock around the Clock” in the early 50’s. Now in their 70’s and 80’s the three surviving members do six shows a week and still bring the house down.

Virtually all the shows in Branson are well done (Please avoid, though, the “Hank and Patsy” show at the Owen Theatre it’s so bad its surreal) but it was just great to see some rock legends playing their hearts out even in their Social Security years. The drummer, Dick Richards, is 85 and played a ten minute drum solo and was in top rockabilly form for the whole show. It gives a little bit of hope to this nearly 50 bassist.

And yes, I did get the autographs and beyond that I now have an 8 x 10 picture of myself with Marshall Lytle, the original bassist of “Bill Haley and the Comets”. What a treat to have my picture taken with the very first rock and roll bassist of all time still going strong at 75! When I get the USB cord for my camera I’ll post the shots.

from the NY Times, of all places, on science and religion and the meanings of things.

Branson, Missouri, today to begin a bit of vacation. The drive was uneventful, the land is largely flat or rolling and the “hills” don’t really begin until just south of Springfield, Missouri. We’ll have things to do but I look forward to this time as an opportunity to rest and regroup.

Yes, I brought a bass. No, I’m not planning on auditioning for any shows.

regarding my calls for civility as people are engaged in on line discusssions of the decision of the Holy Synod of Antioch changing all Diocesan Bishops to Auxiliaries. I don’t mind, it’s what happens when you step out in public on any issue. You’re guaranteed to be misinterpreted, mostly innocently, occasionally deliberately. We often only see our piece of the puzzle.

But there is some context to my efforts to promote a calm dialogue on this and the largest part of it comes from my past. I grew up the Evangelical world and was a Baptist Pastor before becoming Orthodox and while there were some very good things there were hard times as well. There’s a reason there’s hundred of Baptist groups out there and it has to do with the propensity of congregationally ruled churches to fight. The Baptist reputation for conflict and schism is part stereotype but also a whole lot of fact. A handful of determined malcontents can make life a living hell for an Evangelical Pastor. I know it, been there, done that, and its part of the reason I walked away.

There are people out there in churches who just plain enjoy a good fight. It makes them feel good. It gives them power. It makes up for whatever is lacking in them and somehow gives them the “jolt” that grace apparently couldn’t. They leave bitterness and resentment in their wake and use the church as the playground for their personal demons. And I’ve learned many hard lessons from them, lessons I don’t want to repeat in my life as an Orthodox Christian.

It’s inevitable that we in the Orthodox Church are going to disagree. It’s been that way since day one and probably will be until that final Day. That in and of itself is not a problem. We are one Body comprised on many members and that means different perspectives. For the most part these disagreements are minor and good things can even come from the interaction they provoke. But much depends on the spirit of those who are engaging each other.

Things can get heated but they should always stay Christian. Points can be debated but if the only purpose is to put another notch on our gun then even winning is meaningless. Yes, we do have to confront each other but what good is it if our directness is lacking mercy? We should be drawn into conflict only because it is a painful necessity and not because we lust after the blood of those we oppose. I’ve seen the dark side, people who play conflict in the Church like some kind of game and relish inflicting wounds as a mark of their own power. It kills parishes, it destroys communities, it creates wounds that sometimes never heal. It drives good people out of ministry and cripples those who remain.

I have my opinions on what is happening and I hope enough humility to learn more if I need to. But one opinion is just front and center. I dearly love my Orthodox Faith, it took me decades to find and I treasure it even as I’m not always its most shining example. It would break my heart to see the issues we really do have to face be used by Satan to rip us apart not based on truth versus error but on emotions, passions, and unkind things directed at those with whom we disagree, things said not for any good reason but rather because putting someone else down somehow feeds a dark need.

As I’ve said before I’ve been there, done that, and experienced enough to hate the whole possibility of revisiting it again; enough to be willing to stick my nose out there and say “never again”. If people read any more into it then that they’re misinterpreting my intent and I regret that but what can I do?

was music night again, three hours at the SOS Club putting tunes together on the fly. It’s an experience both frightening and enlightening. Frightening because you’re up on stage and people are calling out tunes that we, about a dozen of us, play on the fly. Enlightening because the best kind of ear training is to do it over and over again, learning the art of finding notes and chords simply by what you hear.

A lot of it, as well, has to do with the temperament of the group. Some jams can be rough, full of hard core musicians with matching personalities each trying to top the other with no mercy shown to anyone who struggles. Thank goodness we’re not that kind of group. Even if you plunk around a bit you’re still welcome to drop in. Yes, there are some very good musicians hanging out at SOS but the attitude is laid back and that allows people to get up to speed.

I just like the feeling. Playing music is a great joy. Playing it with others is better.

on the various sources of information regarding the process of coming to terms with the recent decision of the Holy Synod of Antioch changing all Diocesan Bishops to Auxiliaries. Unfortunately there are only bits and pieces of information trickling out so it looks like we’ll all have to sit tight and wait.

All the more reason to keep them all in prayer.