The past few days, Antiochian Orthodox priests from around the country gathered for a clergy symposium. As with most symposia, the point is not the lectures, but the opportunity to meet new folks and renew old acquaintances. Just for fun, we gathered some of the Antiochian priests and deacons who were formerly Lutherans, to take a picture. Here they are, including your humble scribe--proof positive that the waters of the Orontes are swimmable--indeed, healing. Some were formerly ELCA, others formerly LCMS. But all alike have found their home in the Church.
7 comments:
Oh, so the Orthodox Church didn't just get some of the Lutheran's best and brightest...they got some of the more handsome ones as well! ;)
Seriously, thanks for the photo. Hope the symposium was a good one! Is it OK for you to identify these men or is that ill advised?
Handsome isn't the first word that occurs to me when I see a photo of your humble scribe; the other guys, yes.
I would identify them all, if I could remember everyone's names. Perhaps Fr. John Fenton can help here, if/when he reads this post...
I recognize 4 (including you, Fr. Gregory)--pray God, someday I'll be able to join in such a photo!
Hey, I recognize you and Fr John Fenton. I've never met Fr John, and I doubt he would remember our email correspondence when we were both Lutherans, and I was trying to get some liturgical resources. Maybe one day I will finish my education and join the ranks (something that Fr John Matusiak recommended as a "maybe someday").
Glory to God!
I know most of them.
L to R: Archpriest Peter Pier, Archpriest Nicholas R.A. Sorensen, [not sure], Archpriest Boniface H. Black, Fr. Gregory Hogg, Fr. Gregory Kevin Long, Dcn. Gregory Roeber, and Fr. John Fenton.
Thank you, Father Andrew. I was wondering if one might be Dcn Gregory Roeber. His presentation at the Orthodox Lutheran Colloquium just blew me away (even though I only listened to the audio presentations on AFR). If I weren't already Orthodox--between his presentation and the presentation on the Trinity I would have been clamoring to "sign me up!" ;)
All glory to God for this group of courageous men.
To complete the list, the remaining priest (3rd from Left) is Fr. Ignatius Valentine.
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