But considering the previous article regarding “toxic parishes,” and the tsunami of blogs dedicated to the chaos that is Orthodoxy in America, I must confess to laughing out loud at the concluding statement,”The wolf is standing close to the flock. We need leaders who are courageous who are not afraid to place themselves between the wolf and the flock.” Holy cow, Fr. Peter-Micheal! If I read the Fathers correctly, not only is the fox in the flock, but apparently has taught Sunday School, been on the Parish Council, and delivered a sermon or two. Certainly the “threats” from without are serious, but “everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand” (Mt. 7:26) and “every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand.” (Mt. 12:25)

We currently appear to have a “buffet” of leadership, as much or as little as you wish; jurisdiction by jurisdiction, diocese by diocese, and sadly, most often, parish by parish. And I strongly suspect that, given the opportunity, laypersons would vote to keep it on a parish level. Courage, according to St. John Climacus, is faith in God driven by humility, and who but the hierarchs should create leadership worthy of following: “Gird your sword upon your side, O mighty one; clothe yourself with splendor and majesty. In your majesty ride forth victoriously in behalf of truth, humility and righteousness; let your right hand display awesome deeds.” (Ps. 45:3-4) (said at the Vesting) Until such a time as there is leadership to follow with one’s heart, fox run rampant, from within and without.