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 No Place Like Home February 22, 2006
9 out of 11 found this review helpful
Perhaps the most interesting development in the growing movement towards historic Christianity is the decision of many Protestant clergy to cross not just ecclesial boundaries but also cultural ones by joining Eastern Orthodoxy. Leaving successful ministries for small parish missions, they have rejected well-established Western traditions (i.e., Catholicism, Anglicanism) for (in their view) the most authentic expression of the ancient Church.
Coming Home, edited by prominent convert Peter Gillquist, is a compilation of conversion stories by former Protestant clergy who found in Orthodoxy an answer to their quest for the Church of the Apostles. The authors are sincere, the stories at times moving, the sacrifices great, and one can feel genuinely happy for these pilgrims in their discovery of historic Christianity. However, even though their stories are pleasant reading and it is easy to be sympathetic to their plight in the confusion of modern Protestantism, the reader is repeatedly left with the feeling something has been left out. The stories seem to jump over important issues and stop abruptly.
The biggest problem is there are just too many stories. By having close to twenty conversions covered, Gillquist limits each to roughly ten pages apiece. The development needed to explain their former Christian tradition and why they were led to Orthodoxy as the truest expression of the Christian Faith simply cannot be condensed into such a short amount of space. If they fully develop the issues in their move to Orthodoxy, they shortchange their earlier experience and the conversions all sound the same - losing the individuality fostered by a better understanding of where they had been before. If they fully develop their earlier experience, they are left with "Oh yeah, and then I read the Church Fathers and realized I should be Orthodox." Either way, the reader is shortchanged through no fault of the writers. Interestingly, this is born out by the fact that the most satisfying accounts are those of former Anglicans who already are immersed in liturgy and Church history and so have far less to explain.
It is interesting to compare the results of this book to Surprised by Truth, a similarly motivated book of Catholic conversions edited by Patrick Madrid. By limiting it to fewer stories, Madrid allowed a fuller development of the issues leading to their conversion missing here. Coming Home is by no means a terrible book and it is at times interesting reading, but the end result is far less than it could have been.
Inspiring, but very light on theology March 17, 2005
9 out of 10 found this review helpful
Fifteen years ago AGAIN Magazine, the quarterly publication of the Antiochian Evangelical Orthodox Mission, did a special issue on the growing trend of American Protestant clergy becoming Orthodox. COMING HOME, edited by Peter Guillquist (himself a convert), is a collection of some of these testimonials.
The collection is a mixed bag, of course. Some essays, like that of Thomas Renfree offer theological arguments, but most, such as Frank Milanese's essay, are just personal testimonials light on argumentation. That of Daniel Matheson, a convert from the United Church of Canada, is downright incoherent. And unfortunately, the majority (all?) of these converts are to the Antiochian Church, which was then a popular destination for former evangelicals, and so there's no perspectives on coming into the Orthodox Church of America as many are doing today. Happily, however, nearly every writer here is charitable towards the brothers and sisters in Protestantism which he has left behind, and many are grateful for the valuable experiences of Protestant seminaries.
This book will probably persuade no one to join the Orthodox Church, but rather serves as waybread for those making the transition and uncertain of their future. Pastors worried about losing their jobs and income for the sake of their faith will be especially cheered up by these priests who seem to have ended up well enough. I think ANGLICAN-ORTHODOX PILGRIMAGE, a similar book of the same period also published by Conciliar Press, has a better collection of writings, and is worth reading even for those who aren't moving from the Episcopal Church.
 The Path Home September 21, 2004
6 out of 8 found this review helpful
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.
 Talk about damning with faint praise... March 15, 2002
5 out of 47 found this review helpful
One of the reviewers stated of the Orthodox Church: "...the church that is still a driving force in Greece, Romania, Bulgaria, Russia, Ukraine, Serbia, Ethiopia and Albania." That reminds me of what the old Canadian humorist Stephen Leacock said about the classics professor who claimed Thucydides was responsible for "everything I am today." Said Leacock--"this is a serious charge, indeed."
 In response the to the man from Eagle River Alaska July 10, 2001
28 out of 31 found this review helpful
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!!
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