Convert to Orthodoxy has ambition to be a priest

Dorothea · Sep 10, 2011

I'm catching up on my google alerts that are all having to do with Orthodoxy, and I thought this story was really sweet. This man has a such a beautiful heart.

Convert to Orthodoxy has ambition to be a priest
Man set to be a Methodist pastor chooses Orthodoxy

By Charles G. Anderson Sr. Special to the Reporter-News
Posted July 28, 2011 at 10:30 p.m.

Bernard Johnson, 35, came to Abilene in 2005 to attend McMurry University and become a United Methodist Church minister.

By the time Johnson finished in December 2007, he had fulfilled all requirements for a bachelor of arts degree with a major in ministry. However, his life took a dramatic turn this year, and he was converted to Orthodoxy and joined St. Luke's Orthodox Church in Abilene.

"I was looking for something to challenge my faith and help me grow spiritually," Johnson said, explaining the change in religions.

Go to link to finish reading.
Convert to Orthodoxy has ambition to be a priest » Abilene Reporter-News

*just my own opinion to add that I think the writer of the article used the wrong word when saying "change in religions," lol. It's more change in Christian faiths.

ArmyMatt · Sep 10, 2011

thanks for posting!

applejack23 · Sep 11, 2011

He should live in the faith for at least 10 years before even trying to be a priest. If you move a fish from cold to hot water too quickly you can easily kill it

Bryne · Sep 11, 2011

Dorothea said:
*just my own opinion to add that I think the writer of the article used the wrong word when saying "change in religions," lol. It's more change in Christian faiths.

I was thinking the same thing.

ikonographics · Sep 12, 2011

applejack23 said:
He should live in the faith for at least 10 years before even trying to be a priest. If you move a fish from cold to hot water too quickly you can easily kill it

QFT

Ortho_Cat · Sep 12, 2011

applejack23 said:
He should live in the faith for at least 10 years before even trying to be a priest. If you move a fish from cold to hot water too quickly you can easily kill it

That's up to one's bishop.

MariaRegina · Sep 12, 2011

I am impressed and will pray for him as he discerns his vocation.

applejack23 · Sep 12, 2011

Ortho_Cat said:
That's up to one's bishop.

I am just going off of my experience. To me going to a different sect of a religion no different than switching religions.

Example:

Calvinism,Evangelical Christianity and Sunni Islam are similar
Catholicism and Orthodox Christianity is similar in essence to Pure Land Buddhism and Baha'i

Liberal Anglicanism and Wicca are similar in essence.

Pentecostal Christianity and Sufism share a lot of similarities

just some quick examples from my own studies.

Anyways going from a Christian sect to a different one can be a bigger change than going from Pure land Buddhism to Orthodoxy.

My own opinion anyways.

applejack23 · Sep 12, 2011

Ortho_Cat said:
That's up to one's bishop.

I would also like to mention that Bishops are just as prone to error as laymen.

Dylan Michael · Sep 12, 2011

Cool. We have a seminarian who was a former UM seminarian.

Catherineanne · Sep 12, 2011

applejack23 said:
Liberal Anglicanism and Wicca are similar in essence.

Twaddle.

Otherwise, nice story.

ikonographics · Sep 12, 2011

Ortho_Cat said:
That's up to one's bishop.

I have seen the harm caused when bishops ignore the Church Canons frobidding the ordinations of neophytes/new converts.

Ortho_Cat · Sep 12, 2011

either way, it's not our call.

applejack23 · Sep 12, 2011

Catherineanne said:
Twaddle.

Otherwise, nice story.

I would like to add that I am not basing my comparisons solely on dogma but also the halo effect that causes people with similar memes to congregate.

My Anglican experience is from a Church of England WCM that I befriended for a while. And a liberal ECUSA church I attended for a little while.

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