Category Archives: My Personal Blog

Important Conversation

This week I was privileged to participate in the production of Ancient Faith Radio entitled “Two Natures: Examining Chalcedon and Communion.” Though I am a New Testament scholar, and this is not my specialty, I was delighted to participate in the conversation throughout. I consider this a key topic today, both for the sake ofContinue reading “Important Conversation”

A blast from the past!

I have just retrieved from you-tube a series of four short talks, entitled The Trinity Today: God’s Mystery Unveiled For Us, recorded in Fredericton, New Brunswick, in 2004, by the Anglican Prayerbook Society. Though Anglican at the time (I became Orthodox about 5 years later), I think all creedal Christians, including Orthodox, will find these congenial.Continue reading “A blast from the past!”

Icons and Incarnation: You Can’t Have One Without the Other

Some of you are old enough, like me, to remember the Campbell’s soup advertisement, Soup and Sandwich—you can’t have one without the other.  Of course, it was based upon “Love and Marriage,” a Frank Sinatra hit from the 50s, which reflects a time when general Christian morals still were making their mark on our society. Continue reading “Icons and Incarnation: You Can’t Have One Without the Other”

New Article on the New Creation in Scripture and Tradition

Friends may be interested in reading this article which appears in the St Andrews online Encyclopaedia of Theology. In it I speak of the New Creation in terms of what is “good,” what is “new,” and what is “beautiful,” and try to find a way through the debate between anticipating the resurrection and the conceptContinue reading “New Article on the New Creation in Scripture and Tradition”

Peacock Party and Book Launch

Anyone within kicking distance of Pittsburgh is invited to a book launch for my recent children’s book Down the Valley, a novel of faith, family, and fantasy designed for children ages 8 through 15 and their parents. The party will include “visiting” the saints who are featured in this novel, hearing a little about theirContinue reading “Peacock Party and Book Launch”

Debrief on the Deaconess Discussion

My thoughts from last night: Initially, I was appalled at the nasty popcorn (and insult!)-throwing that was going as we waited for the start of the session on Women Deacons/Deaconesses, by those who were sure that AF had the agenda of advocating for the role. The nasty ad-hominem and inaccurate remarks were at times intolerable.Continue reading “Debrief on the Deaconess Discussion”

The Orthodox Deaconess: Examining the Call for Restoration

Premiering January 30th John Maddex and Fr. Tom Soroka take a deep dive into this topic with The Orthodox Deaconess: Examining the Call for Restoration. The story of the Orthodox Deaconess is largely unknown today. When did they exist, and what was their function? In recent decades, there has been a call for the restorationContinue reading “The Orthodox Deaconess: Examining the Call for Restoration”