Jeffrey John Article
When I was at Greenbelt I had the privilege of hearing Jeffrey John speak. The amazing thing was that he spoke on a scripture - John 6 - that I had just preached within the last month before hearing him. Yet his talk was fresh and vibrant and full of new insights. That is the mark of a great biblical scholar, someone who loves God's Words.
Here is a great article...a little 'Jeffrey John' primer...where he shares a story that spoke to me, being the loser loved by God that I am. It is called The mark of a chosen person. It also spoke to Bob Carlton, from whom I got the link.
Why was it amazing? Did you not expect one of the best theologians and biblical scholars of our generation to offer something new - or had the popular image of the gay priest got in the way?
I am not in any sense trying to be judgemental - I am just intrigued as to how people react to meeting the real JJ. The tradgey of the Reading experience is that some people meet the reputation rather than the man of God. I am delighted that Greenbelt has enabled so many people to have experienced the real person, as I am sure the good people of St Albans Diocese are now begining to do.
Posted by: Tom Allen | October 05, 2004 at 09:18 AM
Tom: Thanks for your question. Being a clueless American and not an Anglican I didn't even know who he was until about 30 minutes before his presentation. If you read what I wrote, I was amazed because I had just preached on that text. Here in the States we have a tendency to live in an echo chamber, offering the same analysis over and over again. Preachers preach the words of Bill Hybels or John Ortberg. Emerging posers preach the words of Doug Pagitt or Tim Keel.
That fact that he is gay was not an issue for me. Is it for you? I didn't mention it because I really wanted people to find him for who he is - a brilliant biblical scholar who touched my heart once in Greenbelt and then again with that article.
Posted by: will | October 05, 2004 at 09:40 AM
Absolutely not - I was brought up in the same tradition of the Church of England (Anglo-catholic) as JJ which for 30 or so years has been as ease with the fact that God creates some people gay and that they make the most wonderful priests who love in the same way as other human beings and flourish when they have the God-given opportunity to share that love with another human being.
I think that your reply as a "clueless American" is an absolutely wonderful example of meeting the person rather than the stereotype. I hope you will be happy for me to use it in other contexts.
Posted by: Tom Allen | October 05, 2004 at 09:53 AM
Tom: While I am confident that I am not the first person to use the phrase "clueless American" you are welcome to it.
Posted by: will | October 05, 2004 at 10:06 AM
Found this post while looking for further information on Jeffrey John for a book I am writing, and read his wonderful sermon at your recommendation. Although I am very much an Anglican and knew a lot about John from the press, I hadn't read any of his own words: now I feel like I know the man much better, and admire him even more. Thank you.
Posted by: beth | October 22, 2004 at 10:25 PM