Dear Fellow Preachers:

Glory to Jesus Christ!

As you may have noticed, we have removed the Forum.

As you know, the purpose of such a forum is to help fellow preachers get to where they want to be. However, it was not what our readers and writers needed at this time.

Stay tuned, and check back often.

Fr. James Coles is the writer of one of the most enjoyable, thought-provoking, and whimsical Orthodox blogs in the blogosphere – Scholé. His success is belied by his unassuming approach to writing, blogging, the priesthood, and life in general. His writing style reflects his voice, manner and approach to life and faith. We asked him to share with us what has made his work so successful as a blogger, and in light of our 30 (40) Days of Blogging exercise to inspire other pastors to begin blogging, he has graciously obliged us.

No one, except maybe my wife, is laughing more than me that I am being asked by Preachers Institute (www.preachersinstitute.com) to blog about why I blog! I would have never thought that I would become a “blogger.” In seminary my wife had to fiercely and radically edit all my papers. Writing seemed to be a skill I would never have. But, I have always enjoyed creative writing and the creative crafting of sermons and talks. Blogging, it turns out, is just a good fit. Read more

30 (40) Days of Blogging

Here at the Preachers Institute, we are intensely interested in helping pastors, preachers and evangelists prepare themselves for the art of preaching. Many Orthodox preachers, priests, deacons, teachers and evangelists have entertained the idea of starting a blog – something which would be of immense interest and help to their flocks – but are concerned about being able to consistently produce material day after day. This exercise also has some excellent benefits for sermon preparation as well!

Therefore, beginning November 15^th, we will be starting 30 (40) days of blogging!

If you have thought about starting a blog (but feared there was no way you could do it consistently), or if your parishioners have suggested you should start one, this is for you. Read more

The Art of Speaking Workshop

by Fr. John A. Peck

Having returned from the “Art of Speaking” Workshop, I find myself happily surprised.

In the two decades I’ve been listening to Orthodox homilies, in many parishes in many states, I’m quite confident in saying that (in my experience) most Orthodox preaching is generally poor.  By most I mean a good 90%, and by poor I mean it’s just plain weak. I’m sorry to say it, but this is my experience, and my opinion, of course, and you are free to disagree, but by and large this is because homiletic training for clergy is abysmal. The lack of care, thought and preparation in most sermons which I have heard (and some I have myself delivered – ouch) betrays a poor priestly formation. This is best remedied in three ways: Read more

St. John Maximovitch on the Priesthood

“Holiness is not simply righteousness, for which the righteous merit the enjoyment of blessedness in the Kingdom of God, but rather such a height of righteousness that men are filled with the grace of God to the extent that it flows from them upon those who associate with them. Great is their blessedness; it proceeds from personal experience of the Glory of God. Being filled also with love for men, which proceeds from love of God, they are responsive to men’s needs, and upon their supplication they appear also as intercessors and defenders for them before God.”

Our father among the saints John Maximovitch, Archbishop of Shanghai and San Francisco (1896-1966), was a diocesan bishop of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia who served widely from China to France to the United States. He was a wonderworking hierarch, exhibiting the best qualities of his pastoral and apostolic office.

Here are some excerpts from statements made by St. John regarding his own priesthood and the sacerdotal office in general. Read more