This is a question/conversation that comes up fairly regularly with seminarians and priests. I strongly believe that in most American parishes it is NOT enough to just serve well and that one of the things we are called to do as "fathers" is lead. Yes, we need to strengthen our own life in … [Read more...]
Self-Discipline, Camaraderie, and the Demon of Noonday
Even in the West, where we have built up huge walls to keep it out (and bread and circuses to keep us busy when the siege is strong and infiltrations are many), pain makes its way into our lives. Pain may not be the right word; I'm not talking about the sudden "oops I stubbed my toe" sensation, but … [Read more...]
A Paean to the Reliable Naysayer
Many of the personalities that populate our parishes seem to come out of central casting: the community historian, the pious worshiper, the issue advocate, the reliable worker ... the list goes on and on. When priests seek advice from other preists about how to best lead, manage, and serve them, … [Read more...]
Episode #11; Evangelism is the Answer (with Bill Marianes)
Bill Marianes (of Stewardship Calling) was giving a talk at the Ukrainian Orthodox League Convention; being the incredibly generous soul he is, he agreed to sit down for an interview to talk about how to energize and organize our parishes to the glory of God and the spreading of the Good News. The … [Read more...]
A Few Thoughts on Narcissism in the Priesthood
One of the most popular (and useful) GGWB articles of all time is "Signs in a Congregation That a Leader Has Covert Narcissistic Personality Disorder" If you look at the comments to that article, you will see indicators of something that researchers have confirmed: 1) the proportion of pathological … [Read more...]
Search the Scriptures (AFR): On Corrupt Clergy
One of the podcasts I used to listen to religiously (pardon the pun) was Presvetera Dr. Jeannie Constantinou's "Search the Scriptures" on Ancient Faith Radio. Presvetera Jeannie is an accomplished academic biblical scholar with a great love for God, the Church, Scriptures, and Patristic … [Read more...]
Six Things Growing Churches Do That Others Don’t
by Travis Stephens I saw this article and knew it applied universally. Take note and take action! Ninety percent of the churches in the United States today are stagnant or declining. Dying churches are closing their doors at the rate of ten per day. Even church members who have been … [Read more...]
