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10/27/2004: "Priest and priestess"
The readers of the Rev. Kendall Harmon's blog Titusonenine have been hard at work, and have established that the "Rev." Glyn Ruppe-Melnyk did not plagiarize the neopagan "Women's Eucharist" from the Druid site Tuathe de Brighid and the author "Glispa." That's because she is the Druid author. Here's the connection, courtesy of "Nicholas":
Okay I’m convinced now. I did find the link via the husband. This link identifies the druid "Oakwyse" as being Bill Melnyk. This one identifies Bill Melnyk and Glyn Ruppe-Melnyk as a couple. This one links the two again and gives Melnyk’s email address as being oakwyse at aol dot com. And several links such as this one link Oakwyse and Glispa.
The two of whom have also co-authored this:
Wiccan Lunar Ritual (excerpts)
Honoring the Lady
[Gong] In the Face of the Moon we honor Our Lady, who was of old called among humankind Isis, Artemis, Astarte, Aphrodite, Diana, Mary, and by many other Names.
She stands in the Center of the Circle, with head bowed and arms across her chest.
For the Full Moon, robes are removed at this point and replaced at the conclusion of the prayers.
Prayers are offered for the appropriate Lunar phase.
Both sit in silent meditation for a time. A Bell is rung once to end the silence.
Other Working may be done as neede, One note is sounded on the Bell.
New Moon Ritual
Death and New Life
Invocation of the Goddess
[Priest] Dark is the night, new is the Moon,
Quiet as death, dark as the tomb;
Grandmother, Lady, come to us soon,
Warm as life, secure as the womb.
Behold the Lady of Darkness:
Mother, Grandmother, old yet ever young.
Receiving the Blessing of the Goddess
[Priestess] Old and eternal, young as the Spring,
Waning and waxing, new life I bring;
Round is my turning - Full unto New,
Blessing of rebirth I offer to you.
First Quarter Moon Ritual
Nursing
[P] Mother Goddess, silver bowl,
From your Moon-breast, rich and strong,
Pour upon our thirsty souls
The milk of life for which we long.
Behold our Mother, the Waxing Moon:
She who feeds us from her own breast.
[PS] Draw near, Beloved, safely led,
Stay close upon thy Mother’s breast;
From silver bowl you shall be fed,
And suckled there shall you be blessed.
You get the point. Titusonenine reader "Perpetua" asked the author of the "Women's Eucharist" about it, and here's a quote:
"This is not a liturgy of the Episcopal Church. It is a pastoral rite, not intended for Sunday worship or parish liturgy, and as such has neither been submitted to any official sanctioning body in the Episcopal Church nor to my knowledge been used outside small groups studying spirituality."
And here's a link to Bill Melnyk, with a bit about his quest:
On the web as "OakWyse" since 1994, he is the Organizer of RavenOak Grove. OakWyse is a Druid Grade member of OBOD, and an Anglican Priest. He is committed to the exploration of the Common Ground upon which rest ancient Druidry and English Christian Spirituality.
Finally, (genuine) Anglican priest David Roseberry has spoken to the head of Women's Ministries. He describes their less-than-cordial conversation here.
