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Graphic Designer
- Recruiter
- WR Group Limited
- Location
- Torquay, Devon
- Salary
- Posted
- 13 Jun 2017
- Expires
- 11 Jul 2017
- Ref
- Sector
- Information Technology
- Contract Type
- Permanent
- Hours
- Full Time
Graphic Designer
Torquay, Devon
Are you interested in joining a fast-growing web design company based in the South West, yet working with clients nationwide?
The Company
Our client is an expanding website design and development company based in the South-West. Their large studios are based in the center of Torquay, parking and train stations are within easy reach.
An exciting opportunity has now arisen for a Graphic Designer to join them.
The Rewards
- Salary of £18,000 - £20,000 DOE
- Great personal development opportunities
- Training and up-skilling opportunities
- Regular staff socials
The Role
This exciting role is to create websites that are both visually appealing and user friendly for companies of all sizes across a diverse range of industries.
Working closely with Web Developers and Designers who form a vibrant sociable team, as a Graphic Designer, your role will involve taking part in regular creative meetings and sharing ideas, with a view to continual development.
This is an amazing opportunity where full, inhouse training will be provided.
About You
To be considered for the role of Graphic Designer, you'll need
- A formal design education
- Some industry experience within a design studio
- Excellent Adobe Creative Suite skills, specifically Photoshop and Illustrator
- Strong layout and production skills
- A creative mindset with attention to detail
- Great communication skills
- The ability to work in a team environment
- A portfolio for review
Knowledge of CSS would be advantageous.
Our client is interested in hearing from candidates who have held the role of Graphic Designer, Web Designer, Digital Graphic Designer, Creative Designer, Artworker, Designer, or Digital Designer.
Webrecruit and our clients are equal opportunities employers, value diversity and are strongly committed to providing equal employment opportunities for all employees and all applicants for employment. Equal opportunities are the only acceptable way to conduct business and we believe that the more inclusive our environments are, the better our work will be.
So, if you are an eager and enthusiastic Graphic Designer, please apply via the button shown. This vacancy is being advertised by Webrecruit. The services advertised by Webrecruit are those of an Employment Agency.


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IngridEM on Mon, 07 Jan 2013 09:13:47
I've have a bit of a special issue with report builder, I need to make two tablix act as one, meaning that they both have the same amount of rows, and for example row number one in tablix one should be the same height as row number one in tablix two.
The result should be that no matter which one has the most text, the other one should reflect that so that they look as they are just two columns in the same tablix, adjusting to each other.
I have made a javascript to do this, but I don't know if it is even possible to hook it up to the correct event and add this to the ReportViewerPage.
I have also tried to make vb code to compare the length of text in each field and adjust accodingly.
Is there anyone else that have had a similar issue with this? Any other ideas?
By the way, we are using SharePoint Lists, and Report Builder 3.0
Arun Gangumalla on Mon, 07 Jan 2013 13:48:56
AS per the details all you need is a design with 2 tablix controls similar in each and every cell, please correct me if am wrong in understanding.
if it is the case, then try designing the first tablix(A) with all fields etc in place and then copy this tablix and paste on the report body with which you'll be able to get another tablix control(B) with same length,cell size etc similar to the first table.
then include the second tablix(B) just beside the first tablix(A).
Hope this will help you in getting required design. Let me know if any issues while creating, thank you...
krootz on Mon, 07 Jan 2013 17:16:19
With the assumption that both tablix will have the same number of rows everytime, make your row height in tablix 1 the same as in tablix 2 and set all the column textbox properties for both Tablix1 and Tablix 2 Cangrow=False and the row height you set will not change.
Charlie Liao on Tue, 08 Jan 2013 03:08:01
Hi Ingridem,
From you description, you need to make two tablix act as one, if in this case, why not display the data just in one matrix. If the data from the same dataset, we can just display them in one matrix, if the data from different dataset we can use LOOKUP function to display them in one matrix.
SQL Server Reporting Services 2008 R2 came up with Lookup Functions which plays a very handy role in getting the things done in a very simple way. As their name suggests, they are just lookups helping us to retrieve values from a dataset that has name/value
pairs and that is not bound to the data region. However, requirement to use lookup function is there has a similar field between the two datasets. In you scenario, the two datasets has no relationship between each other, so I am afraid your requirement cannot
be achieved in Reporting Services currently. For more information about lookup function, please see:
Hope this helps.
Charlie Liao
SueNeilson on Thu, 25 Apr 2013 09:51:52
Can you help me with this scenario? I have used the lookup function in a simple table, but I can't see how to get it to work in a matrix, where the lookup is on both row and column data. We are reporting against a service desk system and reporting stats primarily against calls that have been resolved across a 3 month period. But we want to include the number of calls opened in those same periods, by class. The matrix currently works fine with rows of class and columns of resolve month, but when I try to lookup against the summary of calls opened by class and month, I get #Error. I can't see how to do this. Tried to concatenate the class+resolve month, to compare with the lookup dataset values of class + log month but the expression does not recognise the second field in the 'destination expression' that I am trying to concatenate. There must be something I am missing .....

subset: commoncrawl


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About Us
Our Photos
Research & Projects
Liberty Missions
Favorite Links
You are welcome to the family website of Dr. & Mrs. Isaac O. Ajayi. It is our pleasure that you're visiting our website. We have no doubt that you are going to enjoy yourself as you browse through. Have a nice time.
2012-07-19 10:31:44 *BABY of the house (Sharon Ayomikun Korede Aanuoluwapo) in PIX
*Born October 7, 2011
*We bless God...
All have sinned.
You are a sinner.
Wages of Sin is death
It Pays To Serve Jesus!
The *Lord's answer v18 Then the *Lord will be careful for his land. He will be kind to his people. v19 He will answer them and he will say, 'I am giving you new *wine and food and oil. You will have enough to fill you up.
I will never again let people in other countries laugh about you. v20 I will send the army from the north far from you. I will push it into empty land where nothing grows. I will make the front of it go into the sea on the east. And I will make the back of it go into the sea on the west. I will make its smell rise up high because it has done great things.' v21 Be not afraid, land in Israel.
Be very happy. Be sure that the *Lord has done great things. v22 Do not be afraid, wild animals. The fields are becoming green. Fruit is growing on the trees. The *fig tree and the *vine are giving much fruit. v23 Be happy, people in *Zion! *Rejoice in the *Lord your God. He has given you just enough autumn rain. He has given you the winter rain, and the summer rain, as before. v24 He will fill your stores with seeds to make bread.
And he will fill your jars with new *wine and oil. v25 'I will give you back the years that the *locusts have eaten. I will give you all that the great *locust and the young *locust, and other *locusts and their groups have eaten. All that my great army has eaten I will give you. v26 You will have plenty to eat. You will be full. You will *praise the name of the *Lord your God. He has done great things for you. My people will never again be ashamed. v27 Then you will know that I am in Israel. You will know that I am your God. And you will know that there is no other God. My people will never again be ashamed.'
Getting RichQuick From My Site!
It is the BLESSING of God that maketh RICHES without adding sorrows to it!


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lending requirements Archives
Managing Cash Flow And Increasing Cash Balance
August 10, 2011 by in Columnist Spotlight | Finance
The phrase "Cash is King" has never been more true in business than it is today. Unfortunately, while many companies are finding themselves short on cash, lending requirements have become extremely stringent. Moreover, increasing sales don't always equal increased cash flow ― especially if the sales are credit sales. Managing cash flow effectively requires close… Read More →


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10.06.2013 | Vishal Gupta
The Manipal Hospital, Vishakhapatnam is an ideal hospital o the place. It was specially designed and built up for woman and child care health centre. The hospital is positioned at Jagdamba Junction, Visakhapatnam. It was started in the year 2007. The hospital is providing best aid and facilities to the expecting mother and new- born babies all round the clock. This hospital is mingled with various contemporary medical facilities and conventional warmth with first-rate medical support for people. The whole ambience and management of the hospital is pleasing and soothing for the patients. You can found the hospital well managed and hygienic too. Departments of Manipal Hospital Vishakhapatnam include Gynecology & Obstetrics, Pediatrics, Pediatric Surgery and Neonatology. All the departments of the hospital are well maintained and administrated through highly qualified and professional doctors. You can experience comfort and conveniences in the campus of Manipal Hospital of Vishakhapatnam. Round 100 beds are incorporated in the hospital with the facility of 3 operation theatres and 3 Intensive Care Units. A large and advanced diagnostic lab and more than 45 consultants are the important features of Manipal Hospital, Visakhapatnam.
Manipal Hospital Visakhapatnam Official Website: http://www.manipalhospitals.com/
Manipal Hospital Visakhapatnam Contact Number: 0891-2854444,2854049,2854000,2555577
Manipal Hospital Visakhapatnam Contact Details:
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Fax Number : 2555588
Email : email@example.com


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At The California Endowment, we focus on creating healthier schools, neighborhoods and communities and on raising public awareness that health happens where we live, learn, work and play through our statewide Health Happens Here campaign. That is why we recognize that healthy schools start with giving our students the tools and training they need to achieve success in the classroom so they are fully prepared for future careers.
We also know that California's economy in the 21st century is directly linked to the fields of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). Therefore, we support efforts that encourage our young women and men to study STEM and that inspire them to pursue careers in these important fields.
A new video featuring students from Manual Arts High School in South Los Angeles, called "I Am A Scientist", is aiming to motivate young people's interest in STEM education (watch below). The film's goal is to help students see science and other STEM courses as a pathway to success, rather than a roadblock that stands in the way of graduation day. STEM related business and industry are especially interested in students of color and want to encourage those from challenging socioeconomic backgrounds.
"I Am A Scientist" features real students talking about what they have learned from STEM courses and sharing personal stories of how they became interested in science and how it improves the lives around them. The film highlights how STEM learning opens the door to a wide range of exciting job opportunities, building healthier, and more successful communities. We know that when students hear their peers discuss why they enjoy exploring science or math and how exciting learning can be, that it will spark them to excel in STEM courses and school.
The "I Am A Scientist" video was launched this week during the first annual California STEM Symposium in Sacramento. This event featured speakers such as Sugata Mitra who helped share the message that knowledge is everywhere and learning is for everyone. In the 1990s, Mitra fostered "Hole in the Wall" projects in the poorest parts of Delhi, India that inspired young people's ingenuity with the very scarcest of available resources. We hope that "I am a Scientist" conveys the same sense that anything is possible to every student in California.
I am excited to see more young people take part in building not only their future careers, but building healthier schools and communities. By investing in the future of our youth, we're investing in a better tomorrow for all of us. Health doesn't just happen in a doctor's office, it happens in our neighborhoods and in our schools, one STEM course at a time!
Click here to read press release.
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In Memoriam: Len Aube
Robert K. Ross, M.D.Apr 10, 2015
[Chronicle of Philanthropy] Indiana's Lessons for Philanthropy: Timing and Agility Matter
Robert K. Ross, M.D.Apr 07, 2015
Should we ban the purchase of junk drinks and junk food with food stamps?
Jeff OkeyApr 06, 2015
1000 N. Alameda StreetLos Angeles, CA 90012(800) 449-4149(213) 928-8800


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The nights are getting cooler, the days shorter, and soon the leaves will begin to turn. Kids are back in school, Labor Day has passed us by, and the long hot summer is soon to be just a memory. This time of year is seen as sad by some, but to me it just means that basketball season is nearing us again, and once again my anticipation is beginning to build.Basketball is so many things to each of us. Obviously, everyone who plays this game on a regular basis at their core does so because they love the game so much, and this is an effort to communicate that to complete strangers and friends alike. When you think about it, what other game can unite so many, and touch the lives of all the people who have the love of the game so deep within them. From reading all the posts from all of you scattered all over the world since I've joined this board, I see the passion and spirit that we all have for not just our favorite teams, but for the game itself. I guess I'm in a sappy mood, but I thought it might be nice to hear from some of you about why you all were brought to the game, and what is so special about it that so many of us spend so much time thinking about it and making it such a part of our lives.
For the Love of the Game
To me, basketball is a passion from deep inside me. It comes from being a son, a player, a native Hoosier, a teammate, a friend, a fan, an observer, a coach, a counselor, and a writer. For me, it started from traveling on the road to high school games far away just to see a great game. It came from hearing stories from older family members about how they played and how they loved the game. It came from seeing how relationships were made over the course of a season, it came from the bond that only teammates can share, and the lovely experience of people bonding together to pursue one common goal. It comes from the knowledge that together, ordinary people can achieve extraordinary things. Basketball to me means family, and community, and togetherness, and loyalty, and the pursuit of a common goal with people you grow to care about....
I love basketball. I love the squeaky sounds of tennis shoes against a newly waxed hardwood floor. I love the silence and echoes of walking in to an empty gym. I love the sunlight coming thru the windows of some older cathedrals of basketball, glistening against the fresh paint of a newly painted floor. With that new paint comes new hope.
I love the rhythm of a basketball bouncing, and I love the sound of a perfect shot rippling thru the net. I love the roar of a sellout crowd at a crucial moment. I love the music, I love the bands, I love the spirit and electricity that fills an arena before a huge game. I love it when the bleachers are cramped, and it's too hot, and you see the others there, just like you, passionately sick with the same love of the game so many of us inherited. I love the smell of the popcorn, the smell of the fear and excitement of the anticipation of 2 teams getting ready to explode with every bit of energy and passion they can muster, all to obtain just one shining moment for their town, their school, their franchise, and themselves.
I love the sound of a coaches' whistle on a fall day, and the sound of a referees whistle on a winter night. I love the sounds of a crowd yelling at an official, the sound of a pep band playing during a time out, the sound of an organ playing during a crucial run. I love a one on one move, a 2 man screen/roll, a 3on2 fast break, and a crisp 5 man offensive set play. I love the individual battles within the game....a guard dribbling up against pressure, a player going up strong over a defender trying to block his shot, a rebounder trying to block out a bigger and stronger man.
I love the strategy of a game. I love the debates and the discussions it creates, and the controversies. I love the competition and heated hated rivals. Is there anything better than beating a team you hate, especially if you weren't expected to? I love home games and road games, night games and afternoon games. I love the coaches and their personalities, I love the hype of the media, I love the anticipation and buildup of a big game. I love scouting a team or a player on a dark cold night in some lonely town, just in case 3 months from now you may play them.
I love the palpable united feeling it creates among people and cities. I love walking downtown and seeing flags flying high with team colors, seeing store windows painted, seeing old friends coming back for games from years ago. I love seeing a big city with hugely different parts get united behind one common theme and goal....I love seeing complete strangers with vastly different backgrounds sitting in a bar discussing the latest game or move their team made. I love the feeling of hope and uplifted spirits that a winning team can provide.......there can never be a price tag placed on that type value of watching how people just WALK differently when their team is winning, or how the air seems cleaner or the sun seems brighter.
Basketball is a rural game. It's a lonely country kid shooting baskets as the sun goes down on a dirt spot, making shot after shot after shot....playing out the scene in his mind on what he hopes to do years from that moment. It is families gathering around from all over to watch their relatives play, and reliving their own moments from another era, and wishing they could go back. It's a game where this poor rural kid can escape his poverty, and love in a world of his own where the only things that exist are him and the goal.
Basketball is a suburban game. Its neighborhood kids meeting in someone's driveway to pick teams and play all day. It's new shoes, and summer camps, and playing horse with your friends. It's beating your Dad for the first time in one on one, and not knowing for sure whether he let you or not. It can be how identities are born, and friends are made, and disputes are settled. It's a way to learn about others, and to learn about yourself.....just how hard will you work to get better? How much can you push yourself? How much does it matter to you to be the very best you can be? It's a game that can unite a neighborhood, frame a childhood, and can be played simply in any schoolyard or driveway.
Basketball is a city game. It's played in the roughest of neighborhoods, it's played in the streets, it's played for pride and for honor. It's played passionately and for a purpose, and can be a source of pride and honor. It's played everywhere, in every city, every neighborhood, every country.
Basketball is the ultimate team game......a team must function as a single unit, like a symphony orchestra with each musician given a specific chorus to play to make the overall opera sound exquisite. Often it fails, but when a team meets this goal it plays the ultimate songs...the songs and sounds of winning. Everyone must be able to do everything in basketball....no pinch hitters or relief pitchers, no offense and defense subs, no goalies, no anything.
Basketball is for the rich and poor, black and white, boys and girls, and young and old. It discriminates against no one.....everyone with enough passion can find their way into it. It's truly the best sport ever invented by man, just like "Shooter" said in "Hoosiers". Basketball means second chances for long past glory, it means the underdog always has a chance, it means that no one has ever lost, but they just run out of time.
It's overcoming adversity, it's always believing in the fundamentals, it's playing hard even though you are outsized, it's doing things the right way because that's the way you are supposed to love your life. It's never giving up until the horn blows, it's always having hope while the ball is in the air......basketball is numbers and stats and wins and losses and ultimate joy and terrible sorrow...........................and it's the rebirth of everything each fall to start it all over again, where everyone is undefeated and your past is wiped away. It's fair and unfair, cruel and kind, simple and complicated, fascinating and numbingly repetitive.
Basketball is quiet times in solitude and self- reflection. It is exciting pep talks and speeches, and rowdy chanting fans. It's working to get better by yourself at 6:30 in the morning, and eating pizza with your teammates at 12:30 in the morning. It's a maddening set of contradictions and questions and planning and work that for every team but one ends each season with crushing disappointment.......yet every time that happens I, like all others, find myself missing the game again, and longing for October's chilling winds and browning falling leaves to be here again.
November is yet to come again, but it's close.....the cool breeze coming thru my window tells me so, and the sounds of an echoing pickup game from down the road are ringing in my ears.....basketball is almost here again, and we can soon start this up once more, where the feelings within myself are like Pat Riley says...."There are but 2 things, winning and misery."
My love for basketball I know I inherited from my Dad, and my hometown, and my relationships with all the people whom have entered my life that love the game as I do....and as aggravated as I get with the teams I pledged my allegiance to, I can't wait for them to come back and gear up to let me try again.
I ask all of you the following: What do you love about the game of basketball, and what made you that way? And have you thought about the people in your life who brought you into the game, and who put the love of the game into you? Tell the rest of us how you became a basketball fan, and why you still are today.......November is almost upon us after all, and we won't have time to talk like this when it gets here…….for then basketball season will have finally arrived!!
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Wednesday, October 29. 2008
Dr. Solodow's Reflection
Your comments on the culture, budget, or the process, are welcome.
Posted by Mark at 06:35 | Comments (31)
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Dr Solodow,
With respect to your many years as a planner, I have no doubt that your expertise have helped many a business run more effectively. But with respect to your view of the role of bishops in the "new culture" of the OCA your episcopal representation simply "misses the mark" in the true sense of the phrase.
Are you saying that in the OCA "new culture" that a bishop expressing his thoughts and having the ultimate responsibility for the life of his diocese is "pulling rank" if he does not agree with clergy and laity? Certainly this model may have worked for the SIC but that does not translate to the life of the Church.
I will agree that it is always best to build consensus, to have open input, to try never to make a stand just for the sake of confrontation, or "pulling rank" as a show of power, but there will be times and there are times when the bishop or the priest, MUST stand firm and do what he believes is best for the salvation of a person in particular or his flock in general. And, that decision whether by a priest, bishop or the Synod may not be popular, but bishops are not called to be popular in the worldly sense, but defending the Gospel of Christ, which will not be popular as our Lord reminds us, "If the hated me, they will hate you also."
I am sure you would agree that being unpopular at times, and for a Christian, even being hated, is one of the prices paid, especially by one who leads.
I certainly hope that the impression you leave in your reflection is not one that in the "new culture" you propose that bishops are simply liturgical window dressing leaving the "business" decisions of the church to the likes of Metropolitan Councils. I certainly hope not because if that is the conclusion then there is only one word for the your "new culture" -
In closing, thank you for your stewardship on the SIC and the MC.
(Editor's note: In your hurry to cry "heresy", I think you missed the point of the last three years. No one here, on the MC, on the SIC, or in the parishes and pews is challenging the Bishop's authority to defend the Gospel. The challenge for all of us is how to question the Bishop when he is defending his own bad behaviour, not the Gospel?
You seem to argue the Bishop cannot be questioned, or held responsible, ever. And I would suggest that is one reason we ended up where we did . A second reason is that members of the former administration, like you, encouraged them in that thinking. If we are to move forward, and not just move on, we need to move forward beyond 19th century attitudes of anti-clericialism and 20th century attitudes of hyper-clericialism. Why not try conciliarity, which was recommended by one of our own local saints, since it hasn't been done before?)
#1 Anonymous on 2008-10-29 07:30
Amen, Dr. Solodow. Changing the culture is paramount, and you provide some good examples of what that looks like. For such culture change to take root in the OCA, it needs to be constantly iterated from the very top. That's why our choice for metropolitan and bishops for the open sees are so critical.
The corporation I work for is headed by a woman of vision. Her oft repeated criteria for organizational behavior and decision making are "brave, imaginitive, and decent." These criteria are employed and actively discussed throughout the organization. It's the culture, it empowers everyone, and it works. If a secular organization can live out such goals, surely the OCA can with the right leadership.
#2 James P. on 2008-10-29 07:53
Congratulations to Dr. Solodow's reflection. Accountablility, in the minutes according to Parliamentary Procedure, is necessary in any org. whether religious or civil. Thorough minutes not watered down, or as the sec, wishes to account them. are an absolute must to have transparency. Accurate minutes were encountered and challenged by Fr. Swaiko and a secretay of a parish of Nepa in the late sixties, when the minutes were challenged, The minutes were in a bound book , kept according to parliamentary procedure and he challenged them. So for 40 years, keeping of accurate records meant nothing to his reign. , as you can see the results of what you now have.
#3 annonymous on 2008-10-29 08:07
Decisions were made by majority vote, with the bishop voting only to break a tie.
In my work consulting with nonprofit organizations, a nonprofit executive noted that while the state Board of this international conservation organization had no fiduciary (official) rights, they were treated as if they did. This was done because this organization understood that they had no right to expect anything from these volunteers, especially when it came to their financial contributions.
This is an important aspect for us to remember when discussing the role of Synod, bishop, clergy and laity. While the ecclesiology of the Orthodox Church are clearly episcopal and leave little real power or authority to the lower clergy and laity, our bishops must remember what sort of a world we and they live in.
It is very easy to turn the awe-some responsibility of a diocesan or metropolitan Orthodox bishop into an awe-demanding right with no reference to pastoral care. In a secular society where no one is required or forced to give for the support of the Church, where no one will be shunned by family for apostasy, where religion is not an inalienable part of culture, where other jurisdictions are available, and where it is so easy to lose one's soul, leave the Orthodox Church, Christianity or faith of any kind at all... a bishop has to be a shepherd and pastor; he must be a light to us, a holy, humble and devout man himself, a healer of souls with a bedside manner to match. This is more important to the internal and external evangelism required of an Orthodox Christian bishop than it is to jealously guard the prerogatives and right to whim of a bishop that was, in past times, required to be strong enough to represent the State of which he was an employee (Russia from Peter I to 1917); to keep the Emperor on his side of the 'symphonic' divide (Byzantium) or to protect and rule one's millet within an religiously unfriendly state (Ottoman Empire). In North America, at least, there is respect and support cannot be assumed; a congregation cannot be assumed. A shepherd is not a shepherd without sheep, and even sheep will wander from a shepherd who ignores them.
So, while this comment by Dr. Solodow points toward the right goal - conciliarity - we must be careful to maintain the canonical, episcopal structure of our Church. While the laity must remember its place in the Orthodox Church and not demand rights that are normally and usually reserved for the bishops, our bishops must also remember that the shepherd paradigm must take precedence over that of despot. The laity and lower clergy do not have canonical rights, but they must be treated as if they do so as to bring them along, to bring them to understanding, to lead and have followers.
While Americans will ask a million questions up front, once you have won them they will wholeheartedly follow, they will sacrifice, the will co-struggle with you - but they won't just take orders; Americans will "not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God" (I John 4:1).
What is required is an organization-wide agreement on where we are going and on the leaders consistent modeling and rewarding of the behaviors necessary to get us there.
As the Russian proverb goes: 'The fish rots from the head'. The reverse is true, as well. In Christ, we are re-fashioned and re-created from the Head. So, too, must we be refashioned from our ecclesial heads, our bishops.
In my work interviewing heads of Human Resources and Human Capital Management, those that were succesful in changing the cultures of corporations and organizations of all sizes, shapes and purposes are in agreement on what is required: consistent modeling from the top with consistent rewarding and enforcing of values from the top down. That is, if the most successful salesman refuses to behave according the values of an organization (e.g., he isn't a team player; he screams and yells at subordinates), he faces a series of opportunities that increase pressure on him to conform: he is informed of the problem, he is trained, he is coached, his bonus is cut, he is not given a raise, he is not promoted, he is demoted, he is fired. The same goes for the CEO and the Board, the same goes for the lowest middle manager. No one is too big too fail, or too little to be rewarded.
In the OCA, required managerial, administrative and pastoral behaviors and values must be clearly enunciated. Those that meet them must be rewarded; those that do no meet them must face increasing pressure to change - a call to repentance and growth. While we must all forgive, we must forgive only those that repent, and repentance with forgiveness is not the same as assessing a persons capability to hold a role - even a role in Holy Orders or as a member of the Holy Synod. This accountability must be shown first by the Holy Synod, collectively, and by each bishop, individually. The Holy Synod must not protect its own members like a gang protects its members. Bishops must call each other to account and hold themselves to a higher standard; bishops must not be afraid to resign to a monastery or to return to parish ministry if they are found incapable of the diocesan episcopacy. If this is done transparently, for rational reasons and according to public standards, then trust will be built between clergy and episcopacy. Consistency is a necessary component of trust, and trust is necessary for love and care, a secure faith in a relationship - and such faith in our bishops is as necessary as the faith of a child in their father, both of which is how we come to understand the reliability and faith of God Himself. Actions speak louder than words; actions speak louder than ceremony. How can we proclaim the Christ of the Holy Gifts when we refuse to proclaim the Christ in our neighbor, when we hear of or see the arbitrary, thoughtless mistreatment of priests and laity by bishops, people that sacrifice for the Church? If the Holy Synod refuses to self-govern, the laity will have no choice but to assume that the bishops do not believe what they say they believe; the laity will likely cease giving of their time, talent and treasure; many will likely just fade away, join other jurisdictions, other faiths or simply drop out of 'organized religion' for 'spirituality', agnosticism or atheism. Truly, the role of bishop is serious and dangerous - a great weight and responsibility, one lower clergy and laity do not carry and will not be called to account for; the bishop needs his people to call him back when he has lost sight of his essential role in the Church: icon of Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, Who is both a 'despotic' Pantocrator that must be obeyed as well as a 'kenotic' Suffering Servant co-suffering with us and bearing us up.
We must remember that the principle of conciliarity is not each bishop, each priest, each parish or diocese gets to do what they want and everyone else has to respect it. Conciliarity is, instead, a self-limiting principle whereby I refrain from actions that will offend other Christians, which will commit me to a unilateral course of action not shared by other Orthodox churches. It is very easy to turn Fr. Schmemann's "meaningful storm" surrounding the granting of autocephaly to the OCA into an excuse for a unilateralism tending towards Reformation, for offense, for becoming proud know-it-alls based on our own, local understanding of what Orthodoxy 'really is' and what the Divine Liturgy is 'really' for, 'really' was, etc. This tendency is a lay, lower clergy and academic/seminary form of the despotism from above that is being called into question. If we wish for a role in the Church greater than 'pay, pray and obey' then we too must restrain ourselves from calling for such unilateral, un-conciliar, idiosyncratic positions as married bishops, intercommunion with Copts/Ethiopians/Eritreans, audible priestly prayers, abridged or expanded liturgical services, etc. There is a difference between repentance and Reformation; many a good idea in Church history was tainted and delayed due to those that started calling for repentance and renewal, but ended as Reformers or schismatics (e.g., Living Church).
Nothing new here. The "culture" issues are the hierarchs acting as "rulers over the people" and not reflecting Christ and "serving the people." Who wooda thunk that Metropolitans would abuse their office? Who wooda thunk the Chancellor would turn into a common thief? Who wooda thunk that lies and cover-ups would become the norm rather than truth + transparency? WHY? Because the Metropolitan Council and SOB's didn't do their jobs. There were no checks and balances. When those in power have the full trust of everyone, they can take advantage of their situation. And HOW did this happen? By putting the hierarchs on pedestals and those in the central church admin and letting them rule without checks and balances. WE CREATED THE CULTURE BY OUR OWN ATTITUDES TOWARD THE LEADERS OF THE CHURCH. They are men and they are FALLIBLE!
We must remember the old Russian saying (they knew something about human nature) that Ronald Reagan used:
#5 Anonymous on 2008-10-29 10:16
Dr Solodow,
There is no one standard way to "take minutes." A group can decide what type of minutes work best for their organization. If minutes are to reflect approved actions, then the process of how they got to the decision is not as important. If a group wants minutes to be a record of the process of the decision-making then they should be agreed upon as such and be minuted accordingly.
To say that the minutes of the past in the OCA were an attempt to distort decisions is a rather biased point of view. The minute takers focused on what decision was made so that the minutes could then be used as a action plan for implementation and not a civics lesson on group dynamics.
There is nothing stopping the MC from moving from one system of minute taking to another. Better yet, use a tape recorder and create a transcript. Then everyone can know exactly who said what and why. Now that is transparency!
(editor's note: "To say that the minutes of the past in the OCA were an attempt to distort decisions is a rather biased point of view" is not accurate. In fact, Minutes were created in such a way to cover-up dissent in the past. I was there in 1999 and experienced it myself. As did others.)
#6 Anonymous on 2008-10-29 10:28
I am sorry but your recollection of that MC meeting in 1999 was not a deliberate attempt to cover up objections. The objections were noted. They simply did not carry the day. And, to reiterate, the minutes were, and apparently continue to be a record of actions taken. They have not been in the past a record of every statement pro and con on an issue.
However, having said that, I believe that the only way that the actions of a meeting, in this case MC, are to be open to anyone's interpretation is to have a transcript. That way the only thing open to debate is the inflection of the voice.
(Editor's note: Nice attempt to re-write the past, but you are wrong, and I have the official minutes to prove it. The official minutes report a statement from the MC was approved unanimously. It was not.
And as all can now see, the old culture still has its defenders, and power, if not the respect it once had....)
#7 Anonymous on 2008-10-29 12:04
I believe several of the above posts missed the point. The point is that the culture of the OCA was to demand cash and expect it. It wasn't to respect Bishops and now disrespect them.
The new concept is to develop a plan involving everyone and blessed by the Bishops (this is the critical part that maintains the churches hierarchical order) and based on that plan to develop a budget. I've been saying this ever since the 50 dollar thing happened with DoM.
What's missed by the great reflection is that there isn't time to develop a strategic plan. Just isn't time. Given that there isn't time, it should be important to maintain the status quo for the time and develop new budgets based upon this new idea. What is the status quo? Its more of the same type of spending but for the Kondratick excess.
For the AAC to suggest a strategic plan and adjust the financing at this time would be nothing short of irresponsible.
I ask for people to reflect on the wise words and adjust for the certain problems with timing.
And to fast track the strategic planning so that the decisions of the AAC allow for adjustments to the plan as soon as the 2010 budget, but not the 2009 budget.
..my thoughts
#8 Daniel E. Fall on 2008-10-29 12:14
We have more of a conciliar church already than most Orthodox Churches in the world. We have implemented many aspects of the vision of Archbishop St Tikhon in many ways already. So to say we have not tried conciliarity or given it a chance is not accurate.
And to say that the former administration promoted the idea that bishops should not be questioned is simply not true. Bishops were questioned all the time, and they didn't like it much. Kondratick did get in their faces and did challenge them. To the degree they should have challenged him more is a topic open and still being written. Bishops were routinely questioned and admonished.
Fr Alexander Schmemann certainly challenged the bishops of his day. One only need read his diary.
If there was one person who changed the "culture" of the Holy Synod it was the late Archbishop Peter who distorted the vision of the Synod into thinking and acting that the grace of conciliarity rested only within the Holy Synod and not amongst the rest of the "clergy and lay rabble."
And I don't really think I have said that we should simply "move on" from things. I guess I am more concerned as to what we are "moving towards" and to that, I will continue to speak up.
(Editor's note: LOL, Father, LOL, that you would suggest Fr. Schmemann's private diary thoughts as an expression of the existence of conciliarity! I will agree though, that Archbishop Peter's lent credence to the hyper-clericalism we suffered from. Our task, which I think we can both agree on, is that moving forward, rather than just on, requires finding a new balance that gives weight to both episcopal and conciliar authority. We have no popes, although many think we do, and no protestants, although many suspect their brethren of such, so there is no reason we have to re-fight their fruitless battles. Orthodoxy has always been the middle way. Let us walk those little used paths again....)
#9 Anonymous on 2008-10-29 12:29
"What is required is an organization-wide agreement on where we are going and on the leaders consistent modeling and rewarding of the behaviors necessary to get us there."
In a nutshell. Well put.
How any of the commenters can take this to be anti-hierarchy is beyond me.
This particular quote is not, but the idea that a bishop merely casts a tie-breaking vote when lower clergy and laity can't agree is. Issues surrounding the codification of lay and lower clergy rights over or alongside of episcopal rights and responsibilities is dangerous. The bishops can't of their own accord undermine traditional Orthodox theology and practice - this is anti-conciliar. Our Holy Synod can't unilaterally among the local churches, for instance, decide that married bishops are ok, that female clergy are ok, that we allow all Copts to the chalice no questions asked, that bishops only cast tie breaking votes while the lower clergy and laity run everything otherwise. Being an autocephalous church is not carte blanche to reimagine Orthodoxy as we and our seminary professors see fit apart from the historical guidance of the Holy Spirit and the practice and consent of the other local churches - to do so would be anti-conciliar.
I heartily applaud the discussion, however, and fully expect that some will overstep, others understep, and still others step right off the path. We are searching for a solution and for agreement, all while remaining Orthodox in word, deed, thought and canon. This is difficult stuff and we all come to it with differing levels of understanding, differing assumptions and levels of sophistication - with emotions, passions and self-preservation all mixed in. God help us.
I agree with both statements of Mat. Donna Farley: Dr. Solodow's Reflection is, "in a nutshell, well put," and the Reflection is certainly not anti-hierarchy. In fact, if the various "Anonymouses" would read what was said carefully, they will discover that Dr. Solodow did say, "The SIC itself was an example of how the new culture, *which respects and balances hierarchy and conciliarity*, can work." (emphasis added). This, again, is part of the old (Soviet-style) culture that the Reflection addresses: misquoting, half-quoting, and mutating the message to deflect to an erroneous accusation (in this case, anti-hierarchy or anti-clericalism). Mark Stokoe, in his parenthetical editorialisms, said it well, "we need to move forward beyond 19th century attitudes of anti-clericalism and 20th century attitudes of hyper-clericalism."
A subtle but essential key to understanding where we should be, conciliarity, is shown in St Paul's Epistle to the Galatians. In chapter 3, verse 28, he says, "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male and female. For, you are all one in Christ Jesus." Paul uses "nor" to compare things that are opposites, that is, opposed to each other (Jew and Greek [that is, Gentile], slave and free). However, for comparing "males" to "females," he uses the conjunction "and". This shows that, contrary to what the fallen world proclaims, male versus female or male opposing female is not in our nature. Maybe we should start realizing that when it comes to clergy and laity, hmmm? As Mark said, and as I've said previously, anti-clericalism and hyper-clericalism are just two sides of the same mutated coin of ecclesiology that the old "culture" promotes. As Dr. Solodow states, the new "culture" is one that combines hierarchy with conciliarity, clergy and laity as two complementary aspects of life in the Church. This is what is being proposed by so many in the Church today, and let us pray that God grants it to us, so that we may work together for His glory and Kingdom!
#12 David Barrett on 2008-10-29 14:36
For the most part, bravo until the end. Certainly, as always, an intelligent and articulate argument from a very traditional prospective.
I would not equate advocacy of any your illustrations at the end of your post as heresy or schism. To label calls for intelligent change or reform as anti-conciliar is unfair, although questioning a unilateral or clearly non-Canonical action is not.
While I don't totally accept your definition of the powers of the Episcopate, I applaud your eloquent description of how those powers should be exercised. I hope someone is listening. One thing is for sure, the consequences are as you describe, if they are not.
#13 Kenneth R. Tobin on 2008-10-29 18:08
While we are discussing reassement of the culture of the OCA, it will be well to ask, does the OCA want to be ONLY American, or does it desire to become North America, and include Canada (surprise, surprise! we are a sovereign and independent nation) and Mexico. If so, the structuring of everything from the name used in daily affairs, and the name of these Council meetings needs to be changed to All North America Council. If the OCA wishes to be only American, then perhaps Canada and Mexico should look elsewhere for a home?
What is required is an organization-wide agreement on where we are going and on the leaders consistent modeling and rewarding of the behaviors necessary to get us there.
While certain worldly functions of the Church "corporation" may be adaptable to handle the business functions of the Church, the basic structure of the Church is hierarchical and must remain so for the Church to be The Church. The OCA's problems of the past 40 years have not so much been the structure and statutes as it was the behavior of the men you elected and/or tolerated to pastor the Church, raising a hue and cry only when the abuses became millions of dollars. The acquiescence of the majority of the Church to poor pastorship set the standard that resulted in poor pastorship. Long before the money issue was raised, selected hierarchs of the OCA caused wide and deep spiritual suffering, but only those who suffered ever raised their voices, only to be trampled down by indifference or opposition from their Brothers and Sisters in Christ. Episcopal neglect became a virtue, as it keep the bishop out of the parish's "business".
Yes, the OCA needs to define the administrative roles and missions of the national Church and the Dioceses for the current Church, and, hopefully, a larger and more robust Church in the future. For now, the OCA is too small, it's dioceses far too small, to decentralize many of the functions centralized at the National level. Our diocese has the same churched population as the OCA and does not attempt the kinds of functions some have suggested to be delegated, let's say, to the Diocese of the West with it's 2,000 to 3,000 members and a land area four or five times greater than the entire country where I live.
It seems, at times, as if there are some who think a whole new approach to Church polity is in order, while others think the answer is to blindly mimic the Russian Church, as they fuzzily perceive it. Probably, the structure and procedures you officially had were suitable. That you failed to enforce those standards regularly and routinely is more likely the root cause of the crisis you have faced. Why not live the life of the Church as your current statutes and the Canons require, to the letter, and see what happens? Where do you get the notion that rules and traditions that have never been observed and enforced are the problem? There really were no rules or standards, for all intents and purposes. A standard not enforced ceases to be a standard.
I would suggest you do some soul searching and ask what contribution non-compliant behavior made to the mess you now suffer. For those who couldn't care less about the pastoral and administrative qualities of your diocesean bishop, or the one next door, as they had no impact on you, I suggest you consider that your acceptance of no standards created a culture of no standards. For those who only wanted their bishop to be around for your parish's patronal feast, to fatten the collection and banquet dinner ticket sales, consider if you got what you wanted, a ceremonial ornament associated with greed.
To requote the opening words: What is required is an organization-wide agreement on where we are going and on the leaders consistent modeling and rewarding of the behaviors necessary to get us there. Might I suggest that the OCA had statutes, Canons and traditions from the outset. All too many of you (myself included while I was living there) simply agreed not reward those exhibiting the required behaviors, and, up until now, not discipline those whose behaviors were counter to the standards and best interests of the Church.
You are on a good path for a new beginning. You are starting to demand better hierarchs that will live according to the local statutes and the centuries old standards the Church has established. Before you toss out all your local standards, statutes and structures, which to date have been untested as a result of everyone's laxity, low expectations and indifference, give your hierarchs, clergy and laity the challenge to live up to the standards already in place and see how that works. You might be pleasantly surprised.
#15 Ovseas Observer on 2008-10-30 07:39
Could it be that there was an error in the minutes that you objected or many others did also. And could it be that when the next meeting takes place that the minutes are not approved until corrected?
Let it be duly noted that, you, as an MC member better make sure that the minutes reflect your recollection of the meeting. Minutes, taken by the human hand are always open to defect because the memory is also defect.
BTW, who was taking the minutes back at that 1999 meeting?
(Editor's note: There was no error or memory defect. And trust me, the person taking notes did not overlook my vote. I have a way of making sure I am heard. That being said, I was not allowed to attend the subsequent meeting and was thus not able to correct the Minutes. But that was another problem, which has been discussed, resolved, forgiveness sought and joyfully given. And finally, I don't remember who took the minutes at that meeting nine years ago. Sorry.)
#16 Anonymous on 2008-10-30 08:30
Your Eminence,
It is time for Canada to have its own Church. It is time for Canada to stand on its own and unite with other Orthodox Churches in Canada. As the GOA set the Greek Church in Canada go, so too the OCA. Canadians are different than Americans and as soon as Mexico is able to stand on its own feet, it too should go its own way.
The USA has enough cultural diversity within its borders to be concerned with. Let Canada deal with her own unique issues in spreading the Gospel.
I think this should be part of any future planning for the OCA.
And, speaking of a strategic plan, the rewriting of the OCA Statute should be the blueprint for the strategic plan. Rewrite the Statue and the strategic plan will be clear.
(Editor's note: That would be to answer the question before it is even asked. That was the usual style of the former regime(s), though, and I guess continues to be so. Little changes unless we continue the fight for change. )
#17 Anonymous on 2008-10-30 08:38
I wonder if the desire for a specifically Canadian church stems more from a Wilsonian desire for political self-determination mixed with the seemingly ever present phyletism in Orthodoxy than it does with a real need - pastorally or ecclesiologically - for a solo Canadian church. Sure Canadians are different, but so are New Englanders when compared with Midwesterners or Texans. I would say that the commonalities between us all faw outweigh the differences.
For the record, I don't necessarily think we need a specifically American church either. Not that I don't think it would be a good idea, it's just that the canons don't require such 'self-determination'. The most important thing for us to focus on is episcopal unity ('one city, one bishop') in North America and all traditionally non-Orthodox lands from western Europe to Australia and the Far East. The canons require this. (The only other issue is a committment to Church as Church, rather than Church as defender and representative of cultures past and present, i.e., Church as Mission. Autocephaly and autonomy are not the only ways to achieve this goal.)
Another way to get at the perceived need for a more Canadian or local pastoral flavor is for the Holy Synod to consider a dramatic increase in the number of bishops. Why not have a bishop far more involved in weekly, local parish work? Why not make each current deanery into a diocese with its own bishop who is also the pastor of a parish? Costs would be cut, the bishop would be more involved locally, and one doesn't need to find monastic candidates with far more than pastoral ability - which is why, presumably, we have already put them in charge of a parish. All of Canada wouldn't then have to look to a single, far off hierarch; her faithful could look to the largest parish in the region for their chief shepherd. Bishops could then return to being shepherds instead of managers of shepherds (or the manager of the manager of shepherds).
Concerning "audible priestly prayers," please note that certain places in the OCA are not alone in so doing. The Holy Synods of both the Church of Greece and the Church of Serbia are moving (admittedly, not without opposition) to restore the practice across the board, especially with regard to the Anaphora. Returning to the ancient usage may not happen with all the local Churches in lockstep with each other, but that does not invalidate it, all the more so since the "silent" Anaphora was condemned some 1500 years ago as an intolerable innovation.
By the same token, however, your point is well taken about flat-out refusing to be stampeded by any form of absolutism and/or elitism, including that of academe. Our Latin friends discovered that going that route at the hands of the "Bologna school" led to the deconstruction, discontinuity, and woeful dumbing-down of the venerable Roman Rite and its cognates (Ambrosian, Mozarabic, etc.), in turn necessitating an on-going and painful "reform of the reform." And we've got enough on our plates already, without that particular agony.
Fr. Philip
#19 Igumen Philip (Speranza) on 2008-10-30 14:45
Dear Vladiko Lazar,
Your point is very important to consider. In the course of the history of the Church, those of us in the New World of North and South America have a shared and unique experience of Orthodox Christianity.
Although some of us come to the Western Hemisphere from traditional Orthodox Christian countries, many of us are born into the Faith here, or are converts to the Faith. Among the Faithful here in the West, many deeply desire to share the joys and blessings of Orthodox Christianity through our missionary calling.
God has blessed us with the opportunity to be free of past ethnic and governmental associations to reach out to those that are truly seeking the Way, the Truth, and the Life in the New World. We will all be judged by how we seize this opportunity.
Your brother in Christ,
Marc Trolinger
#20 Marc Trolinger on 2008-10-30 14:57
You asked the good Dr. "Are you saying that in the OCA 'new culture' that a bishop expressing his thoughts and having the ultimate responsibility for the life of his diocese is 'pulling rank' if he does not agree with clergy and laity?"
If you have to ask if that is what he was saying, then you didn't read the reflection very carefully, since that was so NOT what he wrote.
Good grief! You ascribe to the writer an broadly extrapolated meaning concerning his words describing a very specific matter, and then denounce him -- for YOUR OWN interpretation -- with a cry of "heresy." What up wit dat?
You might do well also to note that this "heretical" approach proved to have worked out in a collegial, brotherly/sisterly way, bringing about as well the beginnings of a workable solution and that for the greater part brought the MC and SOB together, acting with in one mind, even after some emotional discourse. Hardly the fruit of heresy.
#21 Anonymous on 2008-10-30 15:34
As we work to change the climate and culture of the OCA, we should remember that conciliarity and consensus are not the same thing. Conciliarity means accomplishing things through the use of councils which might use cooperation, compromise or coercion to achieve their goals. Conciliar in not the same as conciliation, though a council might use conciliation to bring about closure, but then again it could use coercion to bring closure but not consensus. Consensus is achieved using particular methods in which the opinions and positions of all community members are given serious consideration, and then a long and hard process of coming to a mutual agreement is engaged. Consensus building goes hand in hand with community building and is concerned with relationship as well as with results. Conciliar decisions can be brought about by a simple majority vote and the losers are out of luck and might even quit the community. Consensus works to maintain the community and is concerned about even the peripheral people. The OCA is conciliar (ANAC, MC, Synod, Diocesan Assemblies and Councils, parish councils and meetings). Whether we are willing to invest enough time and energy into developing a common vision and to admit our weaknesses and need for each other and have a willingness to care for one another - that will determine whether we work for and achieve consensus. And even hierarchical organizations can use consensus and conciliarity to achieve their goals. Having hierarchy does not mean there can be no conciliarity or consensus. It means however that the hierarchs must be committed to consensus building - they must be more concerned with their flocks then with themselves.
#22 Fr. Ted Bobosh on 2008-10-30 18:49
You don't remember who took the minutes yet you have total recall of other events nine years ago? Ok. I will take your word for it!
#23 Anonymous on 2008-10-30 19:39
Agreed, Father, regarding us having enough on our plates already.
I tend to think it most prudent, spiritually, that the least of the autocephalous churches (and one not recognized as such by most of the others) not take it upon herself to lead the way and take upon itself the mantle of teacher. We should not be teaching Athos and Jerusalem, Moscow and Constantinople on the proper way to serve the Divine Services, but taking a deferential attitude especially since they are not all under Communism or pastoring undeveloped nations anymore.
It seems as if we should also take into account a conciliarity that goes back in time, too. While 'early' practice may have been against inaudible priestly prayers (well, spoken aloud, just not proclaimed) it became common, universal practice a long, long time ago. The argument for audible priestly prayers would therefore be an argument against any other practice that has developed in the meantime (e.g., Proskomidia and Holy Week practices in their current forms).
It isn't that these issues can't be resolved, it's just that the little OCA shouldn't think that being autocephalous means we can do whatever we want as long as we have some serious sounding reason regardless of history, the assumed guidance and blessing of the Holy Spirit on the practice over time, the practices of the rest of Orthodoxy today and the fact that the OCA isn't truly 'autocephalous' but merely a self-governing jurisdiction among many jurisdictions in North America. If the OCA is seen as innovationist and proud vis a vis traditional practices, then preservation of traditional religiosity became an additional driver in keeping the Orthodox in North America separate - i.e., while a Serb may want to see unity in NA, he does not want to give up Serbian traditions in favor of an academic, 'Americanized' Orthodoxy that has been created rather than received.
Here's where we part company. Moscow may not be under the thumb of Communism anymore, but it still shows plenty of signs of being under the thumb of other "isms" such as Putinism. Those Orthodox Churches operating in Islamic cultures also have plenty of pressure from the secular and other authorities.
But in a way, that is beside the point. Our little, so-called unrecognized, OCA functions in a society where it is completely free of and protected constitutionally from the state, as do the other jurisdictions. That freedom is the God-given right of every human being on the planet, though rarely enjoyed or exercised by most of humanity. That puts us, through no special merit of our own other than a natural aversion to a slave mentality, in a superior position to our other brethren not so blessed. While it doesn't give us "carte blanche," it does give us the right to move forward on our own without cow-towing to every potentate in the East on every little article of religious polity and practice.
So please, cease and desist from figuratively referring everything to Rome!
#25 Kenneth R. Tobin on 2008-10-31 12:13
The hand doesn't go off on its own simply because it is more agile than the liver. I am not deferring everything to Rome, but having been a Protestant (perhaps you have too) I am wary of deferring everything to 'our' seminary (the one 'I' and 'mine' agree with), 'our' leaders, 'my' priest, 'my' spiritual father. This is the kind of proto-factionalism St. Paul warns about. We are to bear with the weaker brother, not go off on our own so as to show him a better way. We are not infallible, and our political and social freedom can easily morph into a slavery to our own passions, addiction to our own whims, and infatuation with our own opinions.
This isn't to say that you have fallen into this trap or that any particular position is an example of such a failure. I am also no arguing that 'audible priestly prayers' are wrong. I am arguing that we must bear with the weaker brethren when we think we are right and always remember that we are not in a position within the Orthodox world where we should presume preeminence. We are known for many good things, but we are not known for many better things, too. If our monasteries were overflowing and vibrant, if we properly balanced evangelism to 'ethnic Orthodox' as well as to Americans, if we were energized in supporting missions around the world, if we had kept our purity, if our Orthodoxy was unquestioned, if we were 'fathers to ourselves and mothers to others' when it came to the canons and fasting and preparing for Communion, if, if, if, then, perhaps we could hold ourselves up as lights to the rest of the Orthodox world. But, to push oneself forward into such a position is spiritually dangerous, as dangerous as grasping after ordination and the episcopacy as if it were something other than an obedience and podvig requiring humility. We must remember the parable of the banquet and not take the first seat; we must wait to be called to the first seat after taking the least.
Such deference is not kow-towing, it is simply honor and respect. It is also not adopting liturgical and academic fads without their being 'tested' and 'tried' over time, i.e., much of the liturgical reasoning and historical proof behind more 'modern' practices have been undermined and overturned in the intervening years, but the 'renewed', 'resurrected' practices they produced persist. If they are true and worthy and blessed of God, then such practices will be renewed and resurrected. Perhaps such activities in Greece and Serbia will continue and be 'accepted' by the people of God, the Church Universal (cf. the response of the Eastern Patriarchs to Vatican I); to do otherwise risks the dangers of prelest and pride similar to that which led to the Great Schism, the Old Believers Schism, the Protestant Reformation and the creation of the Living Church.
Well, your right about one thing, we both come from Protestant backgrounds, though as a former Anglican (Episcopal Church in the USA) of Anglo-Catholic persuasions, I considered myself more a reformed Catholic with nascent Orthodox inclinations.
#27 Kenneth R. Tobin on 2008-10-31 15:32
Governance does not always a strategy make. The Statute, by its very nature, should not fully determine what course the church takes. However, its fair that the Statute and the strategy need to be aligned.
Using a bizarre example, you couldn't suggest we were going to grow the church by 10% a year or 70 parishes and then only allow 10 priests a year to be ordained under the Statute. I realize this is a bizarre example, but the point should be clear. The rules the church uses must support the strategy and the strategy must fall within the rules, but the strategy doesn't define the full set of rules. A strategy to grow the church and the statutory requirement that audits be done by a third party on all church acounts are somewhat mutually exclusive, although that could be argued in the context of what happened here.
Hope I haven't offended you. I can be a nit, but I think its an important point.
#28 Daniel E. Fall on 2008-10-31 16:18
As usual Fr. Bobosh, your comments are always intelligent and insightful. In particular, your concluding line pretty well sums it up. When the majority of our hierarchs humble themselves and come down off their pedestals, we might actually witness some healing and reconciliation. Official pronouncements are a poor substitute for genuine acts of humility and care for the flock.
#29 Rich Kendall on 2008-11-01 12:58
One must agree that the present "culture" is severely deficient. In fact, one must not undermine the ACTUAL authority of the hierarchs, but rather encourage them to start exercising it. We have priests in the OCA who have created literal "cults of the personality." Patriarch Alexei has responded to such perversions and put a stop to it in Russia, but no-one in North America has done the same. It is up to the hierarch in whose diocese this occurs to stop it immediately, and educate the laity away from such things. The laity are not the puppets or possession of the parish priest. We have priests who are forbidding their parishioners to even visit another Orthodox Church without a "special dispensation" from the cult leader-priest. Such priests also "forbid" any parishioner from going to confession to another priest. This has the appearance of the priest attempting to cover up for some misdeed or untoward behaviour on his own part. We have clergy insisting that a parisioner must have a "canonical release" in order to change parishes. Dealing with such perversions of the faith and of the priest/parishioner relationship is one aspect fo the lawful authority of the bishops that is not being exercised. Our hierarchs are simply not paying enough attention to the spiritual welfare and education of the "royal priesthood," the laity of the Church. We ought not to be undermining that lawful authority, but encouraging the hierarchs to begin fulfilling it. They could even just reprint and endorse Patriarch Alexei's pastoral statements about it.
Remember that lawful authority can come from God, but power comes from the devil. That is why Christ, on the mount of temptation thrice rejected power but then exercised His lawful authority over the powers of the earth, from disease to the weather.
In Christ, Vladiko Lazar
I couldn't agree with you more! Why hasn't this issue been brought forward more often and more critically? It is just as the Archbishop describes--a gross perversion.
A large segment of the OCA has fallen prey to the "slave mentality syndrome" and this is one of the principal reasons for our current distress. Of course, your parish priest and diocesan bishop are entitled to deference and respect, so long as they return that respect by treating you as an intelligent human being--or in Orthodox terms an icon of Christ. When they start acting as cult leaders or marionettes, they should be confronted and challenged to return to the path of our Lord--not the ways of Satan.
The laity are not dumb sheep to be controlled by priestly overseers and their even more "exalted" overlords. This model was never anything but a carbon copy of Hell's governance, that often mirrored the secular environment in which the Church operated. As so many on this site have said, it should be dead and buried, along with the mentality which allowed it to hold sway for so long.
Archbishop Lazar is to be commended and praised for speaking the truth with regard to this issue. The bigger question, for me at least, is why this bishop is not part of our Synod?
#31 Kenneth R. Tobin on 2008-11-02 11:30
The author does not allow comments to this entry


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News Focused on the Wood Market
Hard maple is abundant as sales go soft
Written by Tod Riggio Monday, 18 April 2011 00:00
The market for hard maple hasn't shown much improvement, which is good news for buyers.
Ipê is known as a good teak alternative
Monday, 14 March 2011 00:00
During the last decade, ipê has become well-known as a South and Central American wood used primarily for outdoor applications, particularly decking. Many consider it a decking material second to none. On some occasions, it is also used for indoor flooring.
Walnut sales knock cherry off the top
Monday, 14 March 2011 00:00
For a number of years now, cherry has absolutely ruled the domestic wood market. Demand has been strong and retail prices have exceeded $6/bf for nearly 10 years. However, things have changed during the last year or two and walnut has emerged as the current wood of choice. Wholesale and retail dealers can't pinpoint the reason why, but in this economy they are simply happy that something is selling well.
Eastern red cedar sales increase for some
Monday, 14 February 2011 00:00
Woodshop News last wrote about Eastern red cedar in June 2003, more than seven years ago. When calling back some of the contacts for that story, mainly mills, it was discovered that several have closed. Conversely, several mills and dealers have actually seen their businesses grow. It does appear that for some wood dealers who focus on specific species, the last several years have become a matter of survival of the fittest.
Northern red oak goes south quickly
Sunday, 13 February 2011 00:00
It's no secret that wood prices are based on supply and demand. And during the last several years, there probably isn't a better example of that principle than red oak.
Page 16 of 29


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Edible Wasatch Fall Issue Released
Edible Wasatch is a locally and independently owned member of Edible Communities Inc. Their mission is to inspire readers to explore the regional food system and support local producers, restaurants and related businesses by voting with their forks. In the magazine and on the website, you will find stories about the hard work and delicious payoffs that growers, chefs and food artisans contribute to our community. As awareness grows about how urgently we need to rethink our relationships to food, more and more people are seeking out good food and finding new ways to engage every day. Edible Wasatch invites you to join us in celebrating their efforts.
Previous editions can be found at: http://www.ediblewasatch.com/online-editions


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The third-worst defensive team in the AFL hosts the team that has kicked 41 goals in the past two weeks.
That's the crux of the challenge facing the Western Bulldogs when they play Adelaide on Sunday at Etihad Stadium.
After losing their first three games, the Crows have put their season back on track with a scoring avalanche against St Kilda and Greater Western Sydney.
The Bulldogs also had the third-highest number of points kicked against them last season.
"Defence is a strong focus for us so, to this stage of the season, we haven't quite got that right," says Bulldogs forward Tom Campbell.
"For a couple of weeks, we've gone away from our brand and, to be a good team, we have to find that consistently.
"Defence is going to be really important for us this week."
Even though Campbell's No.1 job as a tall forward is to take big marks and kick goals, team defence has become one of the keys to AFL success.
Campbell's lack of competitiveness cost him a spell in the VFL and the Bulldogs have recalled him for the Adelaide match.
"The way we're taught to play is to be really strong and fierce in the contest and I probably didn't bring that in round one," he said.
"I've had a clear picture in my mind of what I've had to do to get back into the team."
Campbell, who has played 14 senior games, kicked four goals against the Crows during his strong finish to last season.
He returns to a side that has had a week of soul-searching, following last weekend's 28-point loss to Carlton.
"Some weeks have a bit more pepper in them than others," said coach Brendan McCartney.
Campbell said the players were left in no doubt about what was expected of them.
"The review was pretty strong and guys were certainly told pretty clearly what they had to do to help this side play good football," he said.
Tory Dickson also returns for the Bulldogs, who dropped Mitch Wallis and Tom Williams.
Veteran defender Dale Morris did not recover in time from the leg injury he suffered a fortnight ago.
The Crows recalled Mitch Grigg after Richard Douglas was suspended.


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That petrol emotion
Bad pun of course, but with fuel prices at an all-time high, the economy of certain classics is coming into question on the fleet. Certainly I am finding myself commuting in the Mini more than the Land-Rover lately as the mpg figure is double that of the SIIA.
I even recently read a feature that suggested towing your Land-Rover behind something more economical in order to save fuel costs on the way to a show! That's not really our style however, so I wonder if anyone else has taken steps to improve the economy of their classic - if so, what did you do and more importantly, did it work?
LPG conversions, removing the engine fan and fitting a Kenlowe are two considerations...
As you know Mr P, I have blithely ignored the issue of fuel prices for the past four years in using the Interceptor an unhealthy amount. But now, for the first time, it is really starting to bite at 7mpg on the commute and 110 miles from a 16-gallon tank (that's 73 litres, work that out at £1.40 a litre!). So, sadly, yes the fuel price alone is now so crippling that it does effect my commuting car choice, but i consider myself very fortunate that all it means is that I have to choose instead either 14mpg (in town) Triumph (blame the sprint metering unit), 20mph Lotus Elite or 25mph Lotus Elan. The others are certainly benefitting from the extra use.
If anyone wants to demonstrate the wonders of an LPG conversion on my Interceptor (free of charge, of course, all in the name of research), they are very welcome.
LPG is one possibility on the Land-Rover, but with it being an 88", space is at a premium without having to find room for a large LPG tank!
Of course, a 200TDI conversion mades the most sense for me, but I don't think I could stand opening the bonnet if that lovely original petrol engine went.
Guys.Talking about fuel, I am currently experiencing problems with modern fuel,soon as my car gets caught in traffic the old girl breaks down and will start until the engine is cool.I know Ethanol has now been introduced to help reduce CO2 emissions.Is anyone experiencing similar problems and if so come up with a solution .I would like to hear from fellow classic car owners.
The only problem I have is with fuel going off if it isn't used and sits in the car for a few weeks or more.
I now regularly end up draining the old car of fuel and putting that into the modern car and putting fresh fuel in.
Fuel vaporisation is always an issue with classics, get around it by either fitting a return line so the fuel is always circulating to avoid hot spots, or fit an electric pump.
Cheers, Eddie
The answer for those of us silly enough to own V8 powered classics is to spend far more time on a bicycle - classic bicycles are as much (if not more) fun than cars in (ahem) countries with good weather.
Regardless, the 25l/100km "economy" of a proper U.S. four wheel drive (sorry, 9mpg) does get a little much sometimes - although my vehicle was improved somewhat by replacing the original Motorcraft carburettor with a modern Edelbrock 4130. Fuel vaporisation in hot weather, the suggestions about fitting return lines are excellent (although most cars that were US market bound usually had them anyway). Other tricks like phenolic spacers between the carbs and inlet manifold are also pretty effective.
I'd be genuinely surprised if a Kenlowe electric fan really was more efficient than the viscous coupled fans, especially when you want the fan to actually pull air through the radiator and not just have a shiny black plastic toy under your bonnet.
Thanks Drubie.I have tried all these methods over the last 3 months and still no joy,I hear the EU want to introduce 9.2% Ethonol so when this
happens all classics will be stationary.
What sort of car is it jagnut12? I'm gonna guess a 12 cylinder jaguar :-) They used to be notorious in Australia for overheating problems, when I was a kid we snuck up on a fellow traveller at a caravan park in mid summer as he tended to his XJ V12 and were astonished we couldn't see the ground through the engine bay, and gobsmacked by the tiny radiator. We used to take bets in summer during the late 1970s that the car broken down holding up traffic in Summer was a new Jag with fuming owner standing next to it, steam boiling from the radiator cap. Beautiful as they are...
I'm not sure the the ethanol based fuel is any worse at evaporating / vapor lock as the ordinary unleaded stuff. It's demonstrably worse for fuel economy here though - and there have been warnings that the local brew is incompatible with some of the older fuel components made of steel. It's a completely stupid idea.


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Ventura Christmas 2013 Cruise: Ventura Cruise Review by bumblejack
Overall Member Rating
Ventura Christmas 2013 Cruise
Destination: Southern Caribbean
Embarkation: Barbados
We were on E deck with a restricted cabin view. Our cabin was comfortable and kept clean by Dennis, our steward. Our overall impression of the Ventura was good, offering excellent entertainment and the entertainment team did their utmost to ensure everyone enjoyed themselves. One of the best nights was the pantomime, it was a great laugh and even the staff enjoyed doing it.
Overall the restaurant staff were very friendly and the food quality and menu choices were excellent. Only one little criticism was that the waiters should all be trained in the same way to ensure that the female orders are taken before the male orders and that the food should be served from the side rather than across More people. We enjoyed freedom dining as it gave us greater flexibility.
We did feel that the price of the professional photographs at £9.95 were rather expensive and unfortunately some of the ones we liked were slightly blurred and not worth the money. We also were happy with the prices of drinks on board and the offer of soda packages and would have welcomed a draft beer package! and it was good to see everything priced in pounds.
We returned from Bonaire to Barbados in one day instead of two due to a medical emergency and we do hope that the person involved makes a speedy recovery.
We thoroughly enjoyed the combination of ports we visited and since we have returned we have already made a booking for December 2014 on Ventura for the same dates so this proves it was a good holiday and we look forward to meeting up with people from this cruise.
Overall a great atmosphere on board for Christmas and New Year with a very Great British sail away from
We are both nearing our 60s and were amazed that people have complained about the younger generation being loud and drunk. We feel this comment was not fully justifiable as we only came across a couple of younger drunk people late on New Year's Eve. Considering this was a Christmas cruise we felt the young people should allowed to enojoy themselves and they caused us any problems. Less
Published 01/16/14
Cabin review:
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