Coming Home: Why Protestant Clergy Are Becoming Orthodox

Book Overview

Eighteen former Protestant leaders tell about their journey of "Coming Home" to the Orthodox Christian Faith.The 18 stories include: Antony Hughes (Oral Roberts University) Gregory Rogers (Church of Christ) Nicholas Sorensen (Concordia Seminary)Daniel Matheson (United Church of Canada) Thomas Renfree (Western Conservative Baptist Seminary) Frank Milanese (Campus Crusade for Christ) Andrew Harmon (United Methodist Church) Paul Waisanen (Trinity...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0962271322
• ISBN13: 9780962271328
• Release Date: May 2006
• Publisher: Ancient Faith Publishing
• Length: 162 Pages
• Weight: 0.48 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 5.5" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

The Path Home

Coming Home is a simple yet interesting collection of stories about formerly Protestant Clergy who converted to the Eastern Orthodox Church. Each brief story of the individual's journey to Orthodoxy is unique, yet they all have the same theme; each wanted more from their Christian worship and faith, and found their home in Orthodoxy. The stories are unpretentious, never preachy, very human, and a joy to read, which is in part due to Peter Gillquist's great job of editing.

In response the to the man from Eagle River Alaska

I sympathize with you for the hurt caused by any clergy of the church. Alas, even though the Eastern Orthodox church gaurantees true worship, and true doctrine, it does not gaurantee perfect clergy. Anyone reading the review please do not judge the clergy of the Orthodox church as a whole, based on the actions of some in particular. There will always be sin, greed, legalism, and lack of care in this world. Sadly, this will even be seen in the body of Christ. Granted, people/clergy will act like a jerks, over glorify the priesthood, and abuse their leadership roles. A quote from John Chrysostom says "The road to hell will be lined with the skulls of bishops." As we know from the Bible, leaders will be judged more harshly for their actions. Please, do not dare to say that clergy from the Orthodox church will not lead you closer to God. Not only is that speaking rashly, but it is denying the grace that God has given these men for performing their specific roles. I know many clergy that have sacrficed everything in their lives to help others grow closer to God. I am truly sorry to hear how these men have treated another human being, created in the image of God. Let us pray for our clergy, that have "come home". For they are human too, and subject to greed and struggles with sin. Let us pray, not judge, and not dismiss the claims of the one, true apostolic church. The battle is spiritual, and precisely what the devil wants us to do is leave the truth, or have divisions among us. I pray that you and I, everyone, will trust the Lord, seek Him first, and not allow the actions of men to destroy our relationship with Him. God Bless!!

Not What I Expected

For those searching to learn more about the Orthodox Faith, I do recommend the book. However, I was expecting it to be more along the lines of why not how. Just know that the book is not about the beliefs and practices of the Orthodox, but about how the writers of the stories came in to contact with the Church and their journeys to join it.

The far west has forgotten its roots.

An excellent collection of the accounts of a number of clergy converts who have returned to the Holy Mother Church. A good beginning point for people to learn about the history of the Apostolic Church. In the far West it is ironic that we accept the Bible that emerged from the Apostolic Church yet reject that church itself. (All of the Ecumenical Counsels that formed the Church and the Bible were held in Constantinople and environs, not Rome.) A very good read for anyone remotely interested in "re-entering the fold" or just understanding a bit better the history of the Church which is still a driving force in Greece, Romania, Bulgaria, Russia, Ukraine, Serbia, Ethiopia, Albania.

Another excellent text from Father Peter Gillquest!

This book was essential to my conversion to Orthodoxy. The title of the book says it all, and in the book, there are various stories from different protestant clergy who converted to Orthodoxy from all different backgrounds - Evangelicals, Baptists, Methodists, Presbyterians, Episcopals - name the protestant group, and there are enthusiastic converts to Orthodoxy. The ferver found in many protestant denominations will eventually lead the true seeker to the Eastern Orthodox Church, and even though most people in the US still don't know what the 'Orthodox Church' is, those who study Holy Scripture and the history of Christiandom can come to no other conclusion. Father Peter Gilquest and others whose stories he shares are good food for thought.