Tag Archives: gender

Africa’s New Deaconess: What’s the Bother?

by Brian Patrick Mitchell Posted on May 8, 2024

Maybe you’ve heard the old Bolshevik saying, “The worse things get, the better things are.” It makes sense for revolutionaries intent on overthrowing the existing order: The worse things get, the more dissatisfied people will be with things as they … Continue reading →

Posted in Church | Tagged , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Of Subtitles and Menstruation

by Brian Patrick Mitchell Posted on February 10, 2024

Keen customers have noticed that The Disappearing Deaconess appears with different subtitles on different online vendors (Amazon, Alibris, etc.). Is it the same book? It is, except for the subtitle. Some vendors are slow in updating changes in their listings, … Continue reading →

Posted in Church | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

A very enjoyable talk with Jay Dyer

by Brian Patrick Mitchell Posted on February 9, 2024

Well worth listening to. We also talk about the deep roots of grievance-based, anarchical thinking in Western civilization and about my 2006 book Eight Ways to Run the Country. Trigger warning: Both very old and very new thinking here.

Posted in Church, Life, State | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Were Deaconesses Really Apostolic?

by Brian Patrick Mitchell Posted on February 7, 2024

Those pushing deaconesses on the Orthodox Church rely heavily on the argument that since deaconesses were apostolic there is nothing wrong with them. But there are good reasons for believing deaconesses were not apostolic, and also good reasons for making … Continue reading →

Posted in Church | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

The Good and the Bad of Ancient Faith’s Deaconess Documentary

by Brian Patrick Mitchell Posted on January 31, 2024

Ancient Faith’s long and long-awaited audio documentary on deaconesses aired last night to the relief of some and the dismay of others. Overall, it turned out better than I expected, with its hosts, Fr. Thomas Soroka and Ancient Faith’s founder … Continue reading →

Posted in Church | Tagged , , , , , | 8 Comments

The Mein Kampf of Orthodox Feminism

by Brian Patrick Mitchell Posted on January 29, 2024

While in prison for his part in the 1923 Munich “beer hall putsch,” Adolf Hitler wrote a book setting forth his vision of Germany, past, present, and future. Ever since then people have pointed to his book, Mein Kampf (“My … Continue reading →

Posted in Church | Tagged , , , , , | 7 Comments

Talking Deaconesses with Fr. Peter Heers

by Brian Patrick Mitchell Posted on January 24, 2024

Six years since Fr. Peter Heers and I collaborated in drafting the 2018 Public Statement on Orthodox Deaconesses signed by over 50 other clerics and scholars, we meet again online to talk over the current push for deaconesses, in advance … Continue reading →

Posted in Church | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Talking Gender with Dissident Mama

by Brian Patrick Mitchell Posted on December 5, 2023

Shortly after my talk with Fr. Thomas Soroka on Ancient Faith Radio, I had the great pleasure of also talking about gender issues with Rebecca Dillingham for her blog, Dissident Mama. I mentioned our talk and linked to the podcast … Continue reading →

Posted in Church, Life | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Talking Points on Deaconesses

by Brian Patrick Mitchell Posted on December 4, 2023

The argument over deaconesses in the Orthodox Church tends to center around past history and present needs, but the history of deaconesses is obscure, easily distorted, and not always relevant. After all, history is not tradition; it only becomes tradition … Continue reading →

Posted in Church | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment