I think the Reverend would agree with you about lending himself and others to distractions from the subject matter. Obviously he leads the way.
However he often has his senior moments where he tries on alternating ideas to bring the subject matter within his domain so that he can keep the attention on himself and his opinions in the conversation going.
In that, he contradicts himself from time to time.

It tends to prove a point regarding his changing ideas about God and anything attached to his paths or spiritual endeavors, (which is always subject to his changing beliefs rather than anything of permanence or real understanding).

I was addicted to the Hokey Pokey, but then I turned myself around!!