Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas everyone. I launched this site on Christmas Eve 2023 as I was home sick. I longed to be at church with so many others praying but was unable to join them. I created this site to reflect on the Independent Sacramental Movement (ISM). Religion has always been an important part of my life. Big questions arise. How can all this be? What is the purpose of my existence? Does suffering have any meaning?

Religion has tried to provide people with a framework to interpret their own experiences. The Independent Sacramental Movement has a role to play in this interpretative role. For instance, more conservative factions in the movement provide a wholistic framework. In a world torn apart from postmodern relativism, conservative ISM movements provide certainty. While for others, the narrow interpretative schema of conservative churches prompted them to flee for alternative communities allowing them to freely explore other possibilities.

The ISM movement is extremely diverse and that is what makes it so fascinating to me. I tend to be more on the conservative side which is often ignored in the ISM literature. I hope this website accomplishes a balance where both liberal and conservative voices can dialogue with one another. Perhaps this is naive and wishful thinking. Despite what different sides might think, they both share some underlying assumptions.

I want to provide a comprehensive collection of churches and institutions involved in the ISM movement. Please send me information about communities that you are aware of in the Forum section of the website. Thank you for your assistance in making this website better.

I am including a blog on this website to reflect on my own reflections on the movement. I am sure you will disagree with me, but disagreements can propel us to a greater understanding of the truth. Ultimately, my hope is to be a better disciple of Jesus. God is greater than I am, and I certainly do not have the fullness of truth. I fell in love with the Oriental Orthodox and Oriental Catholic expressions of the faith because the hymns provide much theological content in a way that draws the listener in. God invites us to a deeper relationship, but we must be open and humble ourselves to allow God to speak to us, confront us, challenge us, shape us, mold us, and conform us to the image of Jesus.

May God bless and keep us. Merry Christmas!