Some might enjoy the story of a Wheaton Collage Baptist Pastor who was the pastor of Moody Bible Inst. President.
This is his story-

Wilbur David Ellsworth
http://ancientfaith.com/specials/interviews/P10/

“Lecture Title: Why the Word of God?
This series is an exercise in Spiritual Theology and seeks to demonstrate the relational nature of Christian discipleship as portrayed in John’s Gospel. Since John’s Gospel has always been counter-cultural, as interpreted by such reformers as Augustine, Luther, and Kierkegaard, its rebuttal of classical and gnostic cultures continues to challenge us today as we face post-modernism’s question of ‘doing theology’ the traditional way.”

The initial criticism of Frank Schaeffer was centred around the perception that he carried “evangelical” methodology into Orthodoxy - what the current situation is, I don’t know.

And regarding those definitions: I could identify myself as evangelical ONLY if considered in the original Lutheran use of that term. Otherwise, I’m none of those…

Hey, did I use post-evangelical in a wrong way? For me Evangelicalism was the system of church 1970’s - 2000 that I did so much ministry in, and so much of it I wanted to jettison. 15 years of youth ministry causes one to be a bit more missionally minded. You’re dealing with kids from all sorts of crazy backgrounds, and it feels normal. “Big Church” was plastic people, sacred buildings, expensive cantatas and musicals that were about 20 years behind culture, and so on.

Thank you again,
Mort

Many Orthodox parishes are indeed very ethnic and often they aren’t very concerned about “evangelism” because many of them are only concerned with working and sending money back to their native country where there is often great persecution of Christians or otherwise poor living conditions. The parish exists just as an extension of the ethnic community and sometimes they don’t even understand why someone would want to convert to Orthodoxy if they’re not Greek or Russian or Lebanese, etc.

Concerning Markides: He was raised Orthodox on the island of Cyprus but later in life left the church. As an academic, he became interested in Eastern religions and related topics and eventually rediscovered Orthodox spirituality through his study. Thus his various books. However, Markides doesn’t represent Orthodox thinking in that he thinks that all religions lead to God. That’s why in his view it’s offensive for one person to tell another that they’re wrong (whether Muslim, Buddhist, whatever). But that’s most certainly not how the Orthodox view it - most will tell you pretty clearly that they’re the one true church.

Also, it’s foolish to assume that “evangelism” will look the same in Orthodoxy as it does in the West. In the Orthodox church, evangelism is modeled on monasticism and ascesis. I believe it was St. Seraphim who said that if one acquires the spirit of peace, then a thousand souls around us will be saved. In other words, Orthodoxy is fundamentally centered on living the Christian life (ascesis) and growing in Christian virtue and in mediating God’s peace others will be drawn to Christ. A rather different view than trying to convince people to accept a series of propositions or to scare them into conversion by threatening them will hell or by appealing to their baser desires by modeling the church and Christian life on culture at large. I think there’s a lot that can be learned from Orthodoxy on this point.

Finally, I’ve been to lots of different Orthodox churches of different stripes and have never felt unwelcome, so my hunch is that the journalist’s story is the exception rather than the rule.

Also, you’re as critical as anyone of convert-apologists. So why would you of all people not understand someone’s frustration with such a person?

I recently listened to some mp3 talks given at an Orthodox conference at the Holy Cross Antiochian Orthodox Church in Linthicum, Maryland.

One was the testimony of journalist Terry Mattingly. From his account, he had to shoulder his way into orthodoxy with the nearest parish trying hard to keep him out. He said he would call for service times and they would not tell him. And when he went, he was regarded with suspicion and aloofness.
Orthodoxy seems more ethnic and xenophobic than I imagined. Mattingly said they are suspicious of non- Greeks (Russians, - whatever the flavor of orthodoxy.)And they are not wild about enthusiastic protestant converts.

Another speaker was Kyriacos C. Markides, author of Mountain of Silence. During Q&A he was asked about orthodox evangelism. And he seemed truly offended by the idea that the orthodox should try to get someone to become orthodox, or even Christian for that matter. He said it was arrogant to tell a Buddhist or Muslim they were wrong. Apparently, if you are born Orthodox, that’s fine. Otherwise, don’t bother applying.

I am sure that some will protest these characterizations, but that’s what I heard being communicated.

After reading the interview, I actually have more respect for Francis and Franky. I have seen this kind of weirdness in evangelicals and the glossy-eyed cover up that goes with it and I’m glad that Franky talks frankly about it. Only when we confess our sins to each other can we be healed. That is one ancient church practice that would surely do us some good.