From Icons to Video - What Father Jerry Taught Me
What a week! It started Monday with an interview of sorts with Father Jerry at a Greek Orthodox Church, a man of dignified appearance, in black robe and grayish beard. Given the growing interest in Orthodox practices, I wanted to expose the seminary class I teach to another world of worship. To enter and experience the procession from outer to inner narthex, to the nave, from which we gain a glimpse of the sanctuary, where only the priest is allowed. What impresses you is the intentionality in his church. From the design of the architecture, to the smells, the art, the ritual—nothing is done apart from purpose and reverence.
Move forward a couple of days, and now I am in San Diego, at a pastor’s conference. It’s a mix of evangelical leaders, emergent types, and a sprinkling of mainliners. The music is bold, contemporary; the speakers passionate, the comedians entertaining. I’m back at home now—this is the world I have basically been a part of, one more random, spontaneous, and casual. Blue jeans are in place of black robes, video in place of icons, contemporary songs in place of chants. Our dialogue centers on shaping culture, being relevant, reaching the next generation, understanding the postmodern shift. We mix in a bit of ancient monasticism to give it all a transcendent, mysterious (perhaps legitimate) feel.
It’s two very different worlds. And while I am not inclined towards Greek Orthodoxy, particularly its views regarding the atonement and ecclesiology and Eucharist, there’s something of it we are surely missing. One of my seminary students caught it. We were debriefing as a class, and she remarked, “I was impressed with a ministry more about being than doing”. One does not picture Father Jerry, cell phone on belt, lap top in hand, palm in the other, racing from one meeting to the next. He exposes a bit of my thinness I think. Mine is a world of intense sermon preparation, teaming with worship leader to make sure the worship is responsive, that services have a certain edginess to them—all in a world on the move.
Father Jerry will give some attention to the homily. His main focus will be on the liturgy, the service of the bread and wine. He will have little concern for relevance, for edge, for originality in the sermon, or for fashion. As he told me, his main purpose is to invite people into God’s presence, and step out of the way. This is how people find God in his church. And I think to myself—this is how I want people to find God in my church.
