An Authentic Life 1.1 for pdf - Universalist Radha-Krishnaism

The interview went smoothly. We discussed
my call to ministry, my relationships with A.C. Bhaktivedanta
Swami and Lalita Prasad Thakur, how
Swamiji appeared to me in dream, how I experienced
Jesus accepting me on the beach in Hilo when I
prayed to him, and many other things.
One of them said, “With your background, you
should study with the Jesuits. We don’t have much to
offer in terms of spirituality.”
They accepted in care, and I began a three year
process leading to ordination. A member of the committee,
a pastor in Boise, Idaho, served as my advisor.
There was intense scrutiny by my local church, the
committee, and the seminary to ascertain fitness for
ministry before they would ordain me or anyone else.
I think this is good practice.
Geraldine and I attended an introductory
seminar for people considering seminary at Pacific
School of Religion (PSR), a UCC related seminary on a
hill in Berkeley overlooking the bay. The pastor of the
local Disciples of Christ church said, “Don’t enter the
ministry unless you have no other choice.” His reasoning
was that it is so hard you will not last unless
you’re totally committed.
Barbara Brown Zikmund was dean, and she
held high academic standards. My B.A. was unaccredited,
and while she wouldn’t come right out and
say it, that’s why they wouldn’t accept me.
We also visited San Francisco Theological
Seminary (SFTS), a Presbyterian Church (USA) seminary
across the bay in San Anselmo. It’s a beautiful
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