The Good Samaritan

Posted on by Fr. Peter
Yesterday was one of those rare occasions where I did not have to preach. One of the many challenges of pastoral ministry, for me anyway, is preaching. Orthodox Christians are not known for their ability to preach, some are trying to change that. I only had one class in seminary on preparing the sermon so that will show the level of importance placed on the sermon in the seminary academic structure.
With that said I thought I would leave some comments on the Gospel passage that was read at the Liturgy yesterday. The passage was taken from the Gospel of St. Luke chapter 10 and verses 25-37 the Parable of the Good Samaritan. We all know the story so I will not bore you with a recitation of that story.
The point of this story, as is the point of the entirety of the Gospel is love of Neighbor. I have written before that we will not be judged on how many services we attend or how well we chant but on how we treated our neighbor. All of the people in the story, including the priest walked by the injured man and did not stop to help. Some looked and moved on quickly, some looked and changed the side of the street, and others did not look at all. Does this sound familiar? How many times, I have done this myself, have we seen someone in need and we just walk quickly by?
Jesus tells us in Matthews Gospel chapter 25 and verse 40, “Inasmuch as you did it to the least of these My brethren, you did it to me.” He had just concluded a conversation about the hungry, the sick, and those in prison and the “righteous” asked Him when did we see you hungry, sick, or in prison and this was His response.
As an Orthodox Christian I believe that all of humanity has been created in the image and likeness of God. Humanity is, in a very real sense, and Icon of Christ! When we look into the eyes of our neighbor we are looking into the eyes of Christ so when we walk past that person in need we are walking past Christ!
The Samaritan in the story showed the very love of Christ that we need to show to our neighbor. The bandages, oil, and wine that the Samaritan used to help the person in need are indeed images of the Sacramental life, the garment of baptism that removes the wounds of sin, the oil of Chrismation that gives us new life in the Holy Spirit, the communion of the divine blood that leads to eternal life. He placed the man on his own animal, a representation of Christ bearing our sins in His own body and the inn that he took the man to reveals the Church in which the care of Christ is received. How can we turn our backs on that?
Love of neighbor is not easy but then neither is the Christian life. Christian life is not just going to Church on Sunday it is caring and loving, your neighbor and those who are least.
A few years back, Metropolitan Jonah of the OCA asked in a talk where are the Orthodox Hospitals, the Orthodox Homeless shelters, the Orthodox Soup Kitchens? Yes there exists on a small scale but need to exist in a much larger and visible way. We need to be the hands of Christ and bring the bandages, oil, and wine to the world that needs us. If we do not do that then I submit the faith of the Orthodox is a dead and useless faith for as St. James tells us, “Faith without works is a dead faith!”

Uncles

Posted on by Fr. Peter
I have been blessed in my life with some great uncles. Uncles are the guys that teach you stuff that others might not teach you. My Uncle Ron, who passed away this year, for example taught me how to swear! Where else would I learn that? Cousins teach you stuff as well like how to tie your shoes.
I have uncles that have had some great jobs. One owned his own bar, how cool is that? One was a pilot on the Panama Canal, one worked for IBM back when no one knew what IBM was and two of my uncle owned their own businesses and had some really cool construction stuff!
This week one more of my uncles passed away. Uncle Dick was soon to be 85 years old and was a really funny guy. They lived far away from us in Colorado, as well as other places so I really did not know him that well. Two years ago we had a family reunion in Tennessee and Uncle Dick was there. The years had made him a little different but he was still funny. One thing with people when they get older they get to say whatever they want whenever they want! Oh how I long for those days. One day I drove Uncle Dick to Nashville, we were going on a lunch cruise, and I think my sides still hurt from laughing. I am so glad I got to spend a few days with him then. I found out that uncle Dick served in the Navy and Marines during both World War II and Korea he was also a Massachusetts State Trooper. He died on Veterans Day, a fitting tribute I think to his service to our country.
So get to know your uncles, have them teach you stuff, you see since we are not your parents we can teach you really cool stuff and get away with it and like grandparents, we can let you eat whatever you want!
I have posted a picture along with this essay that has my six uncles and my dad, from my mother’s side of the family. I am not sure when this picture was taken or where but you can see that they all liked to be together. My uncle Dick is the one on the left in the plaid shirt. My uncle Jim, the one who owned his own bar, is the one in front with the big grin! By the way, my dad is the one way on the back grinning from ear to ear.
So to Uncle Jim (who I never knew), Charlie Phil, Dick, Herb, Jimmy, and Uncle Ron (my dad’s brother) thanks for all life’s lessons that you taught me but most especially thanks for posing for that picture you guys were crazy! (I have realy cool aunts as well!)

Joe Paterno and the Rape of a Child

Posted on by Fr. Peter
I will admit I am a latecomer to this news. I heard it on the radio when it first broke but it really did not register in my mind until I really started to listen. Let me state right up front that I believe the greatest crime anyone can commit is a crime against a child and second to that is the cover up of that crime. And let us be honest we are talking about rape here rape of a child!
I don’t care who you are, priest, bishop, Pope, coach, or man on the street, if you hear about or see any form of child abuse you have a moral obligation to do whatever you need to do to stop it and make sure it never happens again. I am sure that some who read these words will disagree with me and tell me I have no right to speak out on this because I am a priest. Well all I can say is you are entitled to your opinion.
As I understand the case, Mr. Paterno was told of suspected child abuse by one of his Asst. Coaches, he told his boss and then left it there. His boss obviously did nothing or we would not be at this point in the story. This has gone on for some time and I hear there are 8 cases of suspected abuse. Mr. Paterno, the Asst. Coach, and the President of the University have all been dismissed, but the horse is out of the barn.
For me, the most disturbing thing is that the students rose up and protested not the inability of the administration to act to protect the “least” of these, but they rose up to protest the dismissal of the longtime coach. Yes he was much beloved, and yes he won many games and championships, but he did not do all he could to protect the children and in my mind that wipes away anything that he might have done! I also heard interviews with fans of the football team and they made statements like, “we need a win today so we can put this behind us.” I bet the victims would like to put this behind them as well! How about we show a little humanity! I think the team should not have played today, not as a punishment, but as a show of caring and humanity.
I also cannot help but think about the parallels between this and clergy abuse. Many commentators have been drawing these conclusions all week, some in the church think this is unfair, but it is what it is. The same thing happened in both situations, although the University Administration did not move the coach after they heard about the suspected abuse they just did nothing. In my way of thinking those who did nothing are just as guilty, morally speaking, as those who actually victimized the children.
Adults have a responsibility to protect children and I have a hard time with adults who not only rape children or abuse them but adults who do nothing about it. It scandalizes me to think that people knew about this, as clergy did, and chose, made a conscious choice, to not do anything about it. That is reprehensible and I hope they all seek forgiveness for their actions and their inactions.
I pray for all those involved but especially the children who had their innocence stolen from them in a most violent way. They will never be the same and will face a lifetime of problems, they were raped by this coach and then the system raped them, and now they will be raped again as more details come out about this. My only hope is that their names are never released. There is no reason for us to know who they are.
If you suspect child abuse at any level, you have an obligation to attempt to stop it and report it. Just imagine if this was your child!

Mission Conference

Posted on by Fr. Peter
The Missions Institute of Orthodox Christianity and Hellenic College/Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology are sponsoring a Missions Conference on “Orthodox Theological Schools and Their Role in the Global Missionary Movement.” Metropolitan John (Pelushi) of Korca, Albania will offer the keynote address on “Orthodox Missions and the Resurrection of the Church of Albania” at 7:00pm Thursday, Nov 17.
The conference continues on Friday, November 18, 2011 from 9:30 AM until 4:00 PM. Rev. Dr. Michael Oleksa, the former dean of St. Herman’s Seminary, noted author and a priest serving native Alaskan villages for the past 40 years will open the day speaking on St. Vladimir Seminary Graduates in Missions. Fr. Luke A. Veronis, Director of the Missions Institute, will present on the Historical Connection of Holy Cross Graduates in Missions.
Rev. Dr. Themi Adamopoulo, an Australian-Greek priest who was a former Rock and Roll musician, whose band played with the Rolling Stones back in the 1960s, will give a talk entitled From Atheist Rocker to Faith to Serving the Poor in Sierra Leone. He has been serving in Sierra Leone and other parts of Africa for the past 20 years.
Fr. Martin Ritsi, the executive director for the Orthodox Christian Mission Center (OCMC), will offer a presentation on his journey from Holy Cross to a decade of service in Kenya and Albania. Currently, to today, where he is serving at the OCMC.
The conference will conclude with a panel discussion including all the guest speakers discussing how our Orthodox seminaries in the United States can better prepare people to serve in the mission field, and how we can better support the efforts to proclaim the Gospel throughout the world.
The Missions Institute, which is sponsoring this conference, has brought these speakers to the HC/HC campus as a part of its annual Missions Week. Each speaker will be present on campus from Nov 14-18, preaching each evening in the school chapel, speaking in classes throughout the week, and concluding with the Missions Conference. The Missions Institute has also arranged for Metropolitan John to offer his keynote address at St. Tikhon’s Orthodox Seminary in South Canaan, PA on Nov. 14, while Fr. Themi Adamopoulo will share his story at St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Seminary in Yonkers, NY on Nov 19.
All the talks of the Missions Conference will be held in the Maliotis Cultural Center at Hellenic College Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology. The keynote address will be preceded by a wine and cheese reception. This conference is a part of the ongoing celebrating of Holy Cross’ 75th anniversary. The general public is invited to attend any talk or the entire conference. For more information please go to www.MissionsInstitute.org.

The Gospel: Nourishment in the Wilderness

Posted on by Fr. Peter
The Gospel was the daily bread of the desert solitaries.  At the beginning of their monastic journey, as we see in the case of St. Antony the Great, the word of the Gospel was there to encourage them in their resolution to leave all things in order to follow Christ.  When assailed by doubts and temptations, the solitaries again and again made recourse to the Gospel to be enlightened and fortified by its teachings.  Thus they prepared themselves for the battle.  In the Gospel they found their refuge against the enemy and the strength to fight him.  This is why Abba Macarius counseled the disciple to go and find in the Gospel the beat weapon against the enemy.

For desert solitaries, the Gospel was not just a book; it was the presence of Jesus Christ in the mystery of the Gospel.  He alone was the source of their faith and the daily food of their lives.  They held fast to his presence in the Gospel, touching in this mystery the hem of his garment as did the woman who suffered from hemorrhages (Mt 9:20-22), knowing that “if I only touch his cloak, I will be made well.”

For the monks and nuns of the desert, the Lord Jesus was truly alive in the mystery of the Gospel.  The Gospel proclaims the truth, for He said, “I am the truth.”  The Gospel teaches the way to live, for He said, “I am the way.”  The Gospel enlightens all those sitting in darkness, for He said, “I am the light of the world.”  The solitaries held fast to the treasure of the Gospel; for without it, their solitude could not be endured.  They knew the journey to be hard, they know themselves to be poor, weak, and deprived, but they also knew they were not alone, for they were accompanied by He who said, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Mt 28:20)

Br. Victor-Antoine d’Avila-Latourrette
Blessings of the Daily

Scripture Readings ~ 24th Sunday after Pentecost

Posted on by Fr. Peter
Matins Gospel
The Reading is from John 21:1-14
At that time, Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias; and he revealed himself in this way. Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples were together. Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We will go with you.” They went out and got into the boat; but that night they caught nothing. Just as day was breaking, Jesus stood on the beach; but the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to them, “Children, have you any fish?” They answered him, “No.” He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in, for the quantity of fish. The disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his clothes, for he was stripped for work, and sprang into the sea. But the other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, but about a hundred yards off.
When they got out on land, they saw a charcoal fire there, with fish lying on it, and bread. Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish that you have just caught.” So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, a hundred and fifty-three of them; and although there were so many, the net was not torn. Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” Now none of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and so with the fish. This was now the third time that Jesus was revealed to the disciples after he was raised from the dead.

Epistle Reading
The Reading is from St. Paul’s Letter to the Galatians 2:16-20

BRETHREN, you know that a man is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ, and not by works of the law, because by works of the law shall no one be justified. But if, in our endeavor to be justified in Christ, we ourselves were found to be sinners, is Christ then an agent of sin? Certainly not! But if I build up again those things which I tore down, then I prove myself a transgressor. For I through the law died to the law, that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me; and the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Gospel Reading
The Reading is from Luke 8:41-56

At that time, there came to Jesus a man named Jairus, who was a ruler of the synagogue; and falling at Jesus’ feet he besought him to come to his house, for he had an only daughter, about twelve years of age, and she was dying. As he went, the people pressed round him. And a woman who had had a flow of blood for twelve years and had spent all her living upon physicians and could not be healed by anyone, came up behind him, and touched the fringe of his garment; and immediately her flow of blood ceased. And Jesus said, “Who was it that touched me?” When all denied it, Peter said, “Master, the multitudes surround you and press upon you!” But Jesus said, “Some one touched me; for I perceive that power has gone forth from me.” And when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling, and falling down before him declared in the presence of all the people why she had touched him, and how she had been immediately healed. And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace.” While he was still speaking, a man from the ruler’s house came and said, “Your daughter is dead; do not trouble the Teacher any more.” But Jesus on hearing this answered him, “Do not fear; only believe, and she shall be well.” And when he came to the house, he permitted no one to enter with him, except Peter and John and James, and the father and mother of the child. And all were weeping and bewailing her; but he said, “Do not weep; for she is not dead but sleeping.” And they laughed at him, knowing that she was dead. But taking her by the hand he called, saying, “Child, arise.” And her spirit returned, and she got up at once; and he directed that something should be given her to eat. And her parents were amazed; but he charged them to tell no one what had happened.

2012 OCMC Orthodox Mission Team Opportunities Now Available!

Posted on by Fr. Peter
In 2011, over 135 Orthodox Christians shared their faith through loving service as part of an OCMC Orthodox Mission Team. They witnessed baptisms, healed the sick, strengthened the church, and brought smiles to the faces of children. They answered the call to make disciples of all nations. Is 2012 your time to share in this journey of faith?
OCMC is pleased to announce 2012 Orthodox Mission Team opportunities. Next year, team members will have the opportunity to share the Orthodox Christian faith by offering evangelism, catechism, healthcare, construction, and youth ministry in 9 countries around the world (including a first-time team to Mongolia). 2012 Mission Team dates and opportunities include:

Kenya – Teaching (3/2/2012)
Share the Gospel and teach the Orthodox Faith in Lodwar.

Uganda – Healthcare (6/2/2012)
Offer health services to the people in the Jinja region of eastern Uganda.

Mongolia – Teaching (6/5/2012)
Proclaim the Gospel and share the Orthodox Faith with Mongolian catechumens as part of a historic first Team to Ulaanbaatar.

Guatemala – Youth Work (7/5/2012)
Offer a youth camp program, “Tren de Chocolate,” for the children at the Hogar Rafael Ayau Orphanage in Guatemala City.

Moldova – Youth Work (7/10/2012)
Participate in a youth camp outside the city of Orhei.

Romania – Youth Work (7/19/2012)
Participate in a youth camp outside the city of Cluj. Families with children are welcome.

Tanzania – Teaching (7/22/2012)
Teach the Orthodox Faith and experience the culture and zeal of Orthodoxy in Tanzania, by being a part of a teaching team in Mwanza.

Korea, South – Youth Work (7/25/2012)
Teach English at Orthodox youth camps in Chuncheon and Pusan.

Alaska – Youth Work (8/11/2012)
Travel to Kodiak Island and participate in a youth camp program in Old Harbor, Alaska. Families with children are welcome.

Alaska – Youth Work (8/11/2012)
Travel to Kodiak Island and participate in a youth camp program in historic Ouzinkie, Alaska. Families with children are welcome.

Moldova – Teaching (9/11/2012)
Teach and inspire Orthodox Church leaders in Orhei, Moldova and strategize on ways to bring the youth back to the Church.

Tanzania – Healthcare (10/1/2012)
Be part of a holistic outreach of the Orthodox Church of Tanzania, by offering health care to those who have limited access to medical care.

Tanzania – Teaching (12/5/2012)
Teach the Orthodox Faith and experience the culture and zeal of Orthodoxy in Tanzania, by being a part of a teaching team in Bukoba.

Please prayerfully consider your participation on an Orthodox mission team in 2012. Visit www.ocmc.org, or contact OCMC Teams Director Andew Lekos by phone at 1-866-463-6784 ext. 140 or by e-mail at teams@ocmc.org for more information or to apply.

Snowtober

Posted on by Fr. Peter
The Monastery Chicken Coop
I have been offline since Saturday due to the very large snowstorm that hit New England over the weekend. We are used to snow here in the North East but not in October!
I was honored to be in attendance at the Church consecration of St. Dimitru Romanian Orthodox Parish in Connecticut on Saturday and drove home in the midst of the storm. I can tell you that I have never prayed harder than I did that day. A trip that should take less than an hour and a half took more than four hours! It was not fun. Thanks to all of you who prayed for our journey.
When I returned here to Southbridge, most of the Town was without power but the Church and rectory had power thanks be to God. But the cable and the internet was out so I guess we made out okay in the midst of the storm. We did not have Church on Sunday as many of the roads in Town were blocked by fallen trees and power lines. I always struggle with the decision to cancel church but I feel that the safety of those who would try to attend in of the utmost.
Yesterday, about 1:00 pm, we lost power here at the Rectory. The power did come back on just before 8:00 pm and we were lucky here many people in the area were without power for many days and no power means no heat for many people. So in the grand scheme of things we made out just fine.
It is interesting how life changes when there is no power. Life becomes very simple and very complicated at the same time. I had just finished re-watching the mini-series John Adams and I felt like the people that were depicted in the series. Life was not easy for them but dare I say, they were better equipped for it them we are. I have no other heat source other than the electric heat here at the rectory. No fire place or woodstove, just many blankets!
I love to read, but that was a challenge as well as the sun went down. Being a Church we have plenty of candles and there was something prayerful as I stood in the candle lite room and read the vespers service. It reminds me that we do indeed need to get back to a much simpler life.
Please continue to pray for those who will be trying to get their lives back to normal. The weather is warming and lights are coming back on. Thanks to all those who worked so hard to get things back to normal as soon as possible.

God Gave Us Dominion

Posted on by Fr. Peter
Yesterday, before Liturgy at the nursing home, one of the folks who works there asked if I was planning a farm here at the monastery. I clearly outlined our plans to try and reduce the amount of food we buy in the market, and to produce more of our own food to become more self-sufficient. This lead to a short discussion about raising animals for food and the end result.
She asked if I was going to raise animals and then slaughter them for food. My answer was simply, “That’s the plan.” I often get this question and it no longer surprises me. One of the folks here at church said he could never eat anything that he saw walking around the yard. I too used to think this way and it shows just how far we have come from the source of our food.  Most of us like to think that our food comes on those little Styrofoam plates at the market,  it simply drops out of the sky that way, right?
I believe that as Orthodox we have a Gospel mandate to live a simple life but also to care for the earth and the fruits that she produces. We pray in the Liturgy for an abundance of the fruits of the earth. We also pray for temperate seasons and for gentle showers to fall upon the earth. We have been given dominion but that dominion requires us to care for what we have been given.
In the second chapter of the Book of Genesis we read that God created the animals out of the ground and that humanity named them. God gave humanity the responsibility to name the animals of the earth but also to care for them. If we decide that we will raise animals then we have to take on the responsibility to care for them. If we are not willing to do that then I submit we should not take animals into our homes.
There is an entire spirituality of food that I will try and summarize here if I can and this is how I ended my discussion at the nursing home. We raise an animal for food by caring for it. Giving it a safe clean place to live, and feed it with the best feed we can. We raise that animal in the most humane way we can. We also process that animal the most humane way we can. In the end, that animal that we cared for will now care for us by providing the food that we need to live. That animal lived so that we might live. Not unlike what Jesus did for us, He lived so that we might live!
God did, in fact, give us dominion over the earth and all that it contains, but with that dominion comes a great responsibility not to abuse that creation.

Social Media Guidelines for Clergy

Posted on by Fr. Peter
I do not usually comment on things that happen in other jurisdictions in the Orthodox Church, but I felt compelled to comment on the new “Guidelines for Clergy Use of Online Social Networking” released by the Orthodox Church in America on Friday.
First some general observations. This obviously was written by someone who does not see the value of this type of communication tool or someone who does not like it. (There are several people that could have been consulted before this was written:  Fr. John Peck and Bishop Savas of the GOA are just 2 that come to mind.)  The Church needs to speak with the voice of the current generation if we ever hope to reach them. Right now the present generation is using Social Media as a way to communicate. Jesus used the media of the day, standing on a hill speaking to large groups of people, I have no doubt in my mind that Jesus would use Social Media if He were to come today.
With that said I take exception with several of the points;
“Individual personal profiles of clergy are to be used to interact with real friends, family and peers. Clergy should not submit “friend” requests to parishioners and others to whom they minister. The disparity of power may not give the other person the ability to decline such request.”
In the 21st century we need to communicate with people the way they communicate. My parishioners for example live in 3 states and trying to communicate with them all is impossible. Social media is one of the fastest ways to communicate. Not to “friend” your parishioners seem a little ridiculous since we communicate with them face to face so why not on the Social Media. Again the person crafting these guidelines has little or no understanding of the Social Media. When the telephone was invented I wonder if there were guidelines for its use as well. Only call family not parishioners because of the power you have they may not be able to not answer the phone!
“Clergy are strongly advised not to accept “friend” requests from people with whom they have no prior relationship. “Friends” on social networking sites should be limited to people you have met before in person.”
This goes against Evangelism! So I should only speak to parishioners? What about the great commission? “Go into all the world, but only speak to people who come to your Church” I have more than 2k friends on Facebook 99% of whom I have never meet before. I have made some lasting friendships on Facebook and have helped people with prayer and guidance that I never would have been able to help. Who knows the fruit of these relationships? Does this replace face to face communication? No. But again we are using the communication medium of the day. If there church is not present is society who will her message be heard?
“When a clergy assignment at a parish or other ministry setting ends, the cleric should remove parishioners as “friends” or contacts in all forms of digital communications.”
I can see the point behind this but consider the impact of removing from your friends list people that you have established a relationship with over the years. When one leaves a parish assignment does one cut off all communication with his former parishioners? How many times has a priest returned to his former parish for a funeral, wedding, or a baptism? Yes they have a new spiritual father but you remain their friend!
“Clergy should refrain from making political statements, joining political groups, or “becoming fans” of particular political candidates or political causes on social network sites”
This is an ongoing struggle for many of us in the ranks of the clergy. I do not make political statements from the pulpit that is not the place for it. Do I preach what my church teaches? Yes. But I would never mention a candidate’s name or say you should vote for this person or that person. However, I am still a citizen of the United States of America and just because I am ordained I did not surrender my right to free speech. When I speak on Facebook or my blog I am speaking as an individual not as the Church and I make that disclaimer. Again, we need to instruct our flock and what better way to do that than by speaking in the social arena. Yes this is a thin line here but as an adult I believe I can think for myself.
I do agree with most of the guidelines for working with the youth. We do need to be careful when interacting with youth and young adults in any arena not just the Social Media. Again use your brain and be sensible. I realize that much of this is a reaction to law suits and what not but in the end I am a minster of the Gospel and must minister to people. I need to use common sense but I still have to minster.
My belief is that these guidelines were written by someone who does not understand the value of Social Media to the Church. They were approved by bishops who themselves, do not use the Social Media. There are many priests who use Social Media and as far as I know were never consulted on these Guidelines. I am not a priest in the OCA, but I am very visible on Facebook and twitter and there are several more who could have been consulted.
The Church needs to be active and seen in the public square. Facebook and Twitter are the new public square. Communicating in this area is necessary, as necessary as the Sunday sermon in fact I would say more important as we stand to reach far more people! I call on the Synod of the OCA to reconsider these guidelines and ask those of us that actually use Social Media for some suggestions and guidelines.
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