Fr Tryphon, the abbot of the All-Merciful Saviour Monastery on Vashon Island, WA, has an insightful post on pettiness and the harm it does to both the priest and the evangelical witness of the Church (see here). Though not using the terms, his essay emphasizes the importance of sound human and spiritual formation for clergy and the harm that results when neglected. Let me first summarize Abbot Tryphon’s essay and then offer a few words on formation. As I’ve said before, I think that American Orthodoxy has neglected the formation of the clergy in favor of an often first-rate and academic theological education. While such an education is essential, it isn’t sufficient as Fr Tryphon’s reflections makes clear.
Pettiness, Fr Tryphon writes, is “that sickness of the heart that can lead some clergy to constantly be on the lookout for anyone who might offend them.” He continues by observing that in the grip of pettiness, the priest or anyone else for that matter) stands “Ready at a moments notice, … to confront” those who offend them. To the petty individual, the world is populated with enemies, with individuals who can’t, and won’t, see their true value.
Looking more deeply into the psychology and self-imagine of the petty person, Abbot Tryphon sees a person with “low self esteem” trying to build himself up by “look[ing] down upon, … others who [the perceive as being of a] lower in status. Seeking to bolster his own “low self esteem” at the expense of others, he develops the habit of “berat[ing] others … lash[ing] out at anyone he considers beneath him. Whether they be a waitress, gardener, store clerk, or a parishioner.” Any and everyone becomes fair “game for these petty clergy” since “they are unwilling to see anyone as their equal.”
Father goes on to counsel priest “to be on guard, lest we become petty, and give fodder to those who would dismiss the Church as a medieval institution not worthy of the twenty-first century.” The fact of the matter is that the world “will always ignore the good and exaggerate the bad in Christianity.” This is simply the life situation within which we find ourselves as Christians. It is normal for the world to dismiss us.
What is abnormal, or what should be abnormal, is petty Christians.
When pettiness enters the life of the Church, and unimportant, non-essential things become the focus of we clergy, the damage done can be enormous. As Orthodox clergy, we must put aside all pettiness, and concentrate on the love of God, and the things of faith that are truly important. We must be open and accessible to all with whom we come in contact, that we may be vehicles for God’s grace.
While there ought to be “no room for pomposity or snobbery” Christians, and especially clergy, are always tempted to try and make room for them. But all Christians, and especially clergy “must be open, warm, and engaging, so the love of Christ is not concealed. If we are to be true ambassadors of Christ, we must not be like the pharisees, and think of ourselves as above others, and worthy of special treatment. Rather, we must imitate our Lord Jesus Christ, Who came as a humble servant, and be willing to modestly serve others.” In other words, priests by our actions, our personalities and characters should be bridges to Christ not obstacles.
And this is not simply because this is our moral obligation as clergy though it is. No, we must be bridges and not obstacles because a failure to be so is both a pastoral failure and an act of self-betrayal since the “priesthood is not a job, but a vocation” it is who I am and not simply what I do. While we all of us have our bad days, a priest who consistently fails to be a bridge for others to Christ or whose character is marked by habitual pettiness is no better than the adulterous husband.
We need to keep in mind, as Fr Abbot says, that “the demons despise” the priesthood and whatever “insecurity a priest has… the demons, … will … exploit … attacking him at his weakest point.” Such an “attack upon a deacon, priest or bishop, is a direct attack on the Body of Christ, the Church.” And precisely because these attacks will come, it is “essential that we clergy be on guard for the enemy’s assault, that in knowing our weak points, we not be found vulnerable.” Such preparation is the work of sound, human formation and it is a work that we neglect to our own harm and to the detriment of the evangelical witness of the Church.
For anyone with even a modicum of theological or historical knowledge and just a bit of salesmanship, “selling” the Orthodox understanding of the Gospel is easy enough especially in America where people often change religions with the same thoughtfulness with which they change their socks. In a competitive religious marketplace, making a sale to a customer eager to buy is easy.
What is hard, and essential, is not convincing others that they are wrong or that we are right but introducing them to Christ within the context of the life of the Church. This work, “is far too important, and we must not be found standing in the way, blocking the narrow path that leads to Christ.”
Success in this work requires not simply theologically well-educated clergy and beautiful liturgical services BUT sound human and spiritual formation for clergy and the laity.
It is also, unfortunately the case, that we have neglected such formation in favor of other concerns.
In Christ,
+Fr Gregory
