The Independent Catholic Christian Church is a very small jurisdiction, but I'm very happy that we are now offering three services weekly, with an additional service each month (see here for a listing). Of course, St. Mary of Grace parish offers Mass each Sunday at 6. Each Monday night at 10:30 EST, the Traditional Liturgy Apostolate offers Vespers and Compline by the innovative method of conference call. Wednesdays, we offer Vespers and Eucharist here at the chapel in my home, as a joint effort of the parish, the AIHM order, and the cathedral chapter. And on the first Friday of each month, the Heart of Jesus Healing Ministry offers a healing Mass.
Through the liturgy of the Eucharist and the Divine Office, we are drawn by Christ into the hidden life of the Trinity, and I am pleased that we are able to offer people these regular opportunities to be so drawn into the divine life.
ICCC Priest Accused of Heresy!
Fr. Chris Tessone is completely orthodox in his adherence to the creeds and ICCC doctrine. He offers insightful commentary at his blog, Even the Devils Believe, and he has recently started the Traditional Liturgy Apostolate of the ICCC, with seminarian Michael Shirk, to provide opportunities for traditional liturgical prayer, including Vespers and Compline from the Monastic rite each Monday. So why is he being accused of heresy, and by whom?
The above committee feel that he has committed a grave offense against both faith and morals by his recent post "Friday Cat Blogging: Canine Edition", defiling the holy and sacred Cat Blogging tradition by the inclusion of profane dogs. This committee is currently deliberating about the penalties they will demand -- my suspicion is that Allie will demand the skinning alive of the dog in question (given her constant fears that I, the phone, random pieces of dust, etc. might skin HER alive), whereas Charles will demand that Fr. Chris feed him cat treats (Charles' solution to most situations -- my putting clean laundry in the sock drawer while he is sleeping there, my leaving for work, Tuesday, etc.).
The above committee feel that he has committed a grave offense against both faith and morals by his recent post "Friday Cat Blogging: Canine Edition", defiling the holy and sacred Cat Blogging tradition by the inclusion of profane dogs. This committee is currently deliberating about the penalties they will demand -- my suspicion is that Allie will demand the skinning alive of the dog in question (given her constant fears that I, the phone, random pieces of dust, etc. might skin HER alive), whereas Charles will demand that Fr. Chris feed him cat treats (Charles' solution to most situations -- my putting clean laundry in the sock drawer while he is sleeping there, my leaving for work, Tuesday, etc.).
Servant Leadership
Jesus exemplified servant leadership, the name being coined from this statement, “…whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant” (Matthew 20:26, Today’s New International Version). Lussier and Achua define it as “leadership that transcends self-interest to serve the needs of others, by helping them grow professionally and personally” (Lussier & Achua, 2007, p. 515). The lack of self-interest distinguishes it from transformational leadership (Winston & Patterson, 2005, p. 26).In challenging the process, enabling others to act or encouraging the heart, the only way to be sure of acting as a servant leader is to be in close communion with God, asking ourselves, “Whose approval are we seeking?” This morning in reading 1 Thessalonians 2, I was struck by these few words “approved by God” (1 Thessalonians 2:4, New Revised Standard Version). Paul’s focus was “pleas[ing] God who tests our hearts” (4b) (Gauvin, 2008).
It must flow from relationship with God because our hearts are not trustworthy (Jeremiah 17:9). Paul struggled (see Romans 7:21-25), as do we. Our only assurance is reliance on God’s grace, not our own efforts. Martin Luther often said we are simultaneously saints and sinners. In Table Talk, he said:
The Holy Scriptures, especially
References
Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the
Holy Bible (2005). Today’s New International Version.
Gauvin,
from http://claimedgatheredandsent.blogspot.com/2008/04/kix-politics
-approval.html.
Lussier, R. N., & Achua, C. F. (2007). Leadership Theory, Application, Skill
Development (3rd ed.).
Luther, M. (2004). Table Talk [Electronic version].
Classics Ethereal Library.
Winston, B. E., & Patterson, K. (2005). An Integrative Definition of Leadership.
Working paper. Regent University School of Leadership Studies.
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