More on Melnyk [alleged druid ECUSA priest]

Ecumenical Insanity ^ | 11/02/2004 | Athanasius

[sionnsar]

Count on the Web Elves at CaNN to go straight to the heart of the matter. They wrote to the Rev. Bill Melnyk and asked some fair and pointed questions:

(1) Why were all the many personal websites connected with you and your wife removed post-haste after it was discovered that you both were rather interested in druidism? This move raises more questions than it prevents.

(2) If there is nothing to hide on these websites, and all is a matter of misperception, when will these websites (including the 500+ re-named or half-dozen removed postings on the message-board at http://www.druidry.org/) be restored so people can draw their own conclusions? Did you request these measures be taken on Druidry.org? Why the use of "OakWyse/ Druis/ Thrum/ Bran"?

(3) What is White Spring, in Glastonbury? Were funds in fact channelled through St. James' Parish discretionary funds to purchase this property?

(4) You describe yourself as a Druid and a Christian-- can you elaborate? If some forms of druidry include actual devotion to powers/ principles/ spirits/ gods other than the God and Father of Our Lord Jesus Christ, how do you reconcile this with the absolute claims of Christianity, and your ordination vows?

(5) How widespread is the new-age/ neo-pagan interest amongst ECUSA parishes and clergy in your experience? Do you know of other 'clergy-druids'?

(6) Do you understand why this issue could be offensive to traditionally-minded Anglicans, including those in Africa, where authentic forms of paganism are a present and problematic reality?

Father Melnyk's response is interesting, if largely uninformative:

Many, many thanks for asking. You are the only person with enough journalistic integrity to do so!

You asked: "(3) What is White Spring, in Glastonbury? Were funds in fact channeled through St. James' Parish discretionary funds to purchase this property?"

The White Spring in Glastonbury is across the street from the Chalice Well Gardens, run by a Christian charitable trust called the Chalice Well Trust. They were hoping to acquire the White Spring to add to the Gardens, joining the spring that rises at Chalice Well, the traditional site where Joseph of Arimathea is said to have hidden the Holy Grail, the Chalice from the Last Supper, when he came to Glastonbury. Glastonbury (specifically, Glastonbury Abbey) is the traditional site of the first Christian Church in Britain. Because it is also the center of the Arthurian tales, it appeals to a broad cross section of Britons. There are several websites regarding "White Spring" that are in no way connected with me, or the Chalice Well Trust.

So the site in question is indeed a Christian site, though open to interfaith use. Use of a discretionary fund to contribute to a charitable trust would have been completely proper.

However, the purchase was not made, no funds were ever received, nor were any disbursed. This has been confirmed by independent audit.

If you say so, Father. But a check at the Web site of Chalice Well, Glastonbury reveals a lot more that's Druid than Christian. Check the bookstore, for instance, whose stock is mostly of the "sacred circles" and "energy patterning" and "Celtic shamanism" variety.

The blogs that have printed allegations otherwise now know those allegations are false, and are actionable for libel. This is, of course, one of the problems with printing things before checking them out.

I am sure you will understand that the blogs have, by their tone and intent, made the rest of your questions so fraught with controversy that I am loathe to answer them on the web for fear of those answers being used unfairly. Simply put, you are not trustworthy in my eyes because you do not have a record or reputation for fairness, objectivity, and impartiality. However, if you are near Downingtown, PA, and would like to visit and have a cup of coffee, I’d be glad to have an expansive and friendly conversation for the record.

You'd think he'd rather have his words unfiltered, and offer as much detail as he'd like. Instead, he makes a phony offer of an interview, knowing Binky is in no position to take him up on it.

One question regarding #6: What is the position of conservative Anglicans in the US regarding polygamy and female circumcision tolerated and practiced within some of the Anglican provinces in Africa?

And when in doubt, change the subject to something irrelevant. Polygamy is a matter of morals, not theology, and has been allowed only when in place before conversion. Divorce of "extra" wives has not been mandated out of concern for the fate of the women involved. Female circumcision has been condemned by African Anglican leadership, and is more commonly practiced by Muslims in any event.

But of course the most interesting thing about this reply is the complete refusal–either to CaNN or to inquiries on Virtuosity–of Rev. Melnyk to say anything at all about what he believes, and whether it's compatible with his vows as an Episcopal priest. But then again, given the rather overwhelming number of writings of his already on the Net, maybe he thinks he's already made what he believes clear.

[sionnsar]

Didn't really want to post any more about this subject, but I found this commentary/exchange interesting.

[sionnsar]

Traditional Anglican ping, continued in memory of its founder Arlin Adams.

FReepmail me if you want on or off this list.

Resource for Traditional Anglicans: http://trad-anglican.faithweb.com