So, I went home a couple weekends ago to see my new nephew, Josef (yes, with an “f” and not a “ph”). He was cute, of course.
An added bonus – I got to see my four year old niece, Ella, in her first dance recital. Let me just say, well, it was the most interesting performance I saw that night.
If you want to see her in all her glory, click here or here. She is the one on the far right (if it does not become obvious).

I think I’m slowly coming to some conclusions about who and what I am with reference to my priestly vocation and this unwieldy thing called “Anglicanism.”
I’ve never been an “Institutional Man.” Go figure. Why in the world am I then in a hierarchical institution to which I have vowed conformity and obedience? Good question! I can only answer that by saying that through discernment and the affirmation of “the people” – together with my sense that each step along the way that God was leading and two bishops’ approved – here I am.
I have come to the point that when asked what I am, I say, “I am an Anglican priest in the Episcopal Church in the U.S.A.” I say am an “Anglican priest” rather than an “Episcopal priest” because I have come into the Catholic notion of the Church. Our Church is Catholic (though reformed and not under the authority of the Bishop of Rome – which I do understand is problematic for other parts of the Church Catholic) and if we profess to believe that we, as Anglicans and as Episcopalians, are really part of the “One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church,” then I must believe that my priesthood is more than with a denominational institution known as The Episcopal Church. This is one reason why I was so anxious and insistent that I was ordained a priest before the last General Convention (2006) – if the Convention made decisions that resulted in The Episcopal Church USA no longer being part of the Anglican Communion, then I wanted it to be known that I was ordained priest while still part of something Catholic, still part of the Anglican expression of the “One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church,” still part of the Anglican Communion.
I specify “The Episcopal Church in the USA” rather than “The Episcopal Church” (promulgated since the last General Convention because some people believe to specify ‘USA’ is to be arrogant and noninclusive to those Episcopalians under our jurisdiction that are part of other geopolitical nation-states). I do this because while we have jurisdictions in places outside the geographical boundaries of the United States and its territories, there is not a single Episcopal Church within the Anglican Communion.
In this country, we are the expression of Anglicanism (an Episcopal Church) within the geopolitical boundaries of the USA. In our missionary work in other parts of the world, we should be striving to build indigenous churches with their own identity – “The Episcopal Church in Ecuador” or in Taiwan, for example. We support them in their efforts, but shouldn’t think that we should keep them under this “American Church.” That is paternalistic. There is a sense of self-loathing coming from those who insist that this Episcopal Church USA needs to take on a different identity other than “Anglo” or “American” as a heritage and cultural-ethos because there are people who are currently part of us from other cultures and countries that we are helping to become self-sufficient and independent that are not Anglo or American. We don’t have to deny who we are or what we have been in order to help build the Church in other cultures and countries, unless of course we hate ourselves. Some do, and it is sad. To truly celebrate diversity and to truly appreciate other cultures, we must first understand and appreciate our own. If we hate our own, we cannot honestly understand or appreciate what other cultures have to offer us.
The Episcopal Church USA is not an “international Church” akin to the international nature of the Anglican Communion. IMHO, this is profoundly disrespectful, in ways only Americans can be, to those “Episcopal Church” jurisdictions in other parts of the world, like the Episcopal Church of Scotland. We are not “The” only Episcopal Church within the Anglican Communion, and to drop the “in the USA” implies that perhaps we are. It also implies that we are alone – better than, superior to, those other Episcopal Churches of the world, either separate now or seeking eventual, rightful independence from our jurisdiction. Take that, rabid political correctness!
I also believe it is a sin to continually divide the Church organic because of our particular dogmatic demands that the Church give way to every whim devised by our very limited and prideful notions of what Jesus means when he calls the Church to be, something. Perhaps the 2,000+ Tradition really does have something to say to our very limited and parochial-zeitgeist. Like my previous post mentions from the author Sarah Cunningham, “This kind of unexpected idolatry—the obsession with living in despair over what is wrong with the institutionalized church—creeps up on you (like most shifty little idols do). … Criticism becomes what we end up worshiping.”
I am an Anglican priest that has vowed to obey my bishop, that is a bishop in The Episcopal Church in the USA, part of the Anglican Communion, institutions within the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church.
All that being said, I’m really tired of the Idolatry that has resulted from the inter-perspectival fights between liberals and conservatives, The Episcopal Church USA hierarchy and rebellious priests, parishes, and bishops – both here and abroad – and my part in it all. I want and need to stop. (Although, I think I’ve worked for moderation and continued communion between us all rather than trying to force a particular theological or ideological perspective that results in schism!)
“Anglican” is an ethos or heritage as much as it is an institution. The institutions may crumble under the weight of our hubris, selfishness, and fear, but the “Anglican Way” will hopefully remain. I want it to, I will work for its survival even if the institution does not survive, and I will remain an Anglican priest.
That’s what I’m think right now, anyway.

One of the problems that I’ve realized after being engrossed in all the political and theological battles of this Church since 2003 (for my whole priestly formation and ministry, regrettably) is that I now have knee-jerk reactions against both sides – liberals and conservatives, reasserters and reappraisers, low-church and high-church, Evangelical and Catholic – how many other dichotomies can I mention?
I can say the same thing about the Culture Wars.
I’ve tried to take the middle ground and understand the perspectives of the various sides. I truly believe it is incumbent upon me to be able to argue my “opponents” points at least as well as they can. Funny what stays with me from my high school debate class. I’ve argued for a middle way on various blogs, though inadequately I realize.
I’ve recognize that these “wars” are corruptive and addictive, but to completely disengage is to allow the extremists to win and to see the Church destroyed, our political system destroyed, all because one group will not rest until their perspective is imposed upon us all. Tyranny, I say!
There is a great quote from C.S. Lewis:

“Of all tyrannies a tyranny exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It may be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron’s cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience …. To be ‘cured’ against one’s will and cured of states which we may not regard as disease is to be put on a level with those who have not yet reached the age of reason … You start being ‘kind’ to people before you have considered their rights, and then force upon them supposed kindnesses which they in fact had a right to refuse, and finally kindnesses which no one but you will recognize as kindnesses and which the recipient will feel as abominable cruelties.”

Michael W. Lehky, a friend of mine from high school has died. Pray for the repose of his soul and for his family. Mike was a good guy – honestly so. There are too few of them.
His obit:
Michael W. Lehky
03/25/2008
MASON — Michael W. Lehky, 45, beloved husband of Julie (Zeck) Lehky; dear son of William and Shirley Lehky; and son-in-law of Thomas and Sharon Zeck; devoted father of Elizabeth D., Christopher M. and Allison M. Lehky; brother of Daniel Lehky, Julie Strittmather and Dawn Clark, also survived by many nieces and nephews. A resident of Mason, he passed away March 23, 2008. Michael grew up in Vermilion, and graduated from Vermilion High School. He was a 1984 graduate of Case Western Reserve with a degree in mechanical engineering. He was a big sports enthusiast, loved the Cleveland Browns, avid golfer and Tiger Woods supporter. He coached his kids in many sports and was involved in numerous mission trips with his church.
His professional career led him to senior vice president of manufacturing at Quebecor World Printing were he spent the last 14 years.Great husband, great father, great son, great friend.
Memorial service at Montgomery Community Church, 11251 Montgomery Road, Montogomery, Wednesday, March 26, at 1p.m. Memorial service at United Church of Christ Congregational, 990 State St., Vermilion, on Saturday, March 29, at 11 a.m.
Memorials may be sent to MCC, c/o Mission Fund or CHCA Scholarship Fund, 11525 Snider Road, Montgomery, OH 45249.
Mueller Parker Funeral Home serving the family. For more information or to send a condolence visit www.muellerparker.com.

I’m tellin’ ya, Holy Week wears me out. It takes up every bit of me. It is particularly so when the Daily Offices are maintained along with our own services and then the common services of the four Episcopal Churches within a 20 minute walk of each other. All good, but wearing. The places, the smells, the sounds, the people, the remembering. It is now over, it was glorious, lots of people – new and old, and “real life” begins, again. (After a bit of rest, that is!)
It is quite difficult trying to discern this culture, this time, these people, and what it takes to make the reality of the faith – and not just faith as faith or faith in faith, but faith wrapped up in relationship with a personal and apparent God – what it takes to make the faith present in a way that resonates. Honestly, what is the essence of life within the swarm of God and maintenance of life and neighbor and all that life presents to us? What goes on in the minds and emotions of those walking by on crowded streets, sitting next to me in trains speeding through dark tunnels from place to place, people wrapped up in books and iPods and video-games in lives that have little or no time to stop, listen, and consider? What goes on in their minds? What does it take?
In every culture and at every time – in every generation – we have to wrestle with and deal with the question Jesus presents: “Who do you say that I am?” This process of answering that significant questions will be different within each generation, I suppose. What do we say when the quest is no longer for answers to great questions, but the expression or assertion of self – one’s own thoughts, feelings, ideas as if the “amateur” is the same as the “expert.”
There are those within the Church universal who are determined to take Christianity into a “Brave New World,” there are those who wish to take Christianity back to the supposed “glory days” of the 1950’s. Then, there are those who wish to be engage in a corrective of the excesses of the Baby-Boomer “60’s” generation “reforms.” That generation was determined to take the Church out of out-dated traditions and remake it in their own image. What did we get, instead?
“The only alternative to tradition is bad tradition.” – Jaroslav Pelican
(From an interview with the late Jaroslav Pelican by Krista Tippett on “Speaking of Faith,” March 22, 2008)

Wow, we are having a real storm in Brooklyn – almost like a good sideways-rain thunderstorm I liked in Ohio. Rain is pelting the windows. Wind is shaking the windows. This is kind of fun!
The old group Lone Justice (Maria McKee) on their album “Shelter” had a great song about “terrible” and then “gentle” Georgia storms. I miss good thunderstorms!

I spent my formative years attending the Amherst Foursquare Church. It pains me to type the word, “Amherst” because they were the arch-rivals of my hometown, Vermilion, idyllically situated on the shores of Lake Erie.
Anyway, the Foursquare Church is a Pentecostal denomination of a few million started by the early-century revivalist Aimee Semple-McPherson (who was a fascinating individual and figure). I never knew what all the fuss was over women’s ordination! My experience in the church was good and bad and I’m glad I grew up there.
So, one of the tenants of belief held by the Foursquare Church that I have come to appreciate is this:

Moderation
We believe a Christians’ moderation should be obvious to others and that relationship with Jesus should never lead people into extremes of fanaticism; their lives should model that of Christ in uprightness, balance, humility, and self-sacrifice (Colossians 3:12, 13; Philippians 4:5).

It seems a bit ironic that Aimee penned this tenant, because, well, I suppose it was a tenant she hoped to live into because her life seemed not quite moderate. Moderation in all things – lives model after that of Christ consisting of balance, humility, and self-sacrifice. This is a good word.