(1) that the Hebrew scriptures, the New Testament, Christian tradition, and contemporary life experiences are the sources of my beliefs.
(2) in the Apostles, Nicene, and Athanasian creeds produced by the early Councils of the undivided Church.
(3) in one, loving, personal God in whom there are three divine persons: Father/Mother, Son, and Holy Spirit.
(4) that Jesus the Christ (Son of God) is the Messiah.
(5) that Jesus Christ died for all of humankind, rose from the dead, and will come again.
(6) that if we trust in Jesus Christ, our life will change.
(7) in one holy, catholic, and apostolic church made up of all Christian believers. This does not imply that there should be only ONE church. On the contrary, if the Church is the People of God then it will reflect the diversity of humankind, therefore, diversity and multiplication of churches should be expected.
(8) in working for the unity of the church, the Body of Christ by being welcoming, inclusive, diverse, and autonomous.
(9) in obeying the Great Commandments to love God and to love our neighbors.
(10) in obeying the Great Commission to preach the Good News to all.
As a Catholic Christian, I believe
(1) that, through apostolic succession, the Holy Spirit empowers clergy for ministry. The laity is also empowered by the Holy Spirit for ministry. The difference is that clerical ministry is the means whereby apostolic succession is handed down through time.
(2) that, through the Holy Spirit, the sacraments give the grace they signify.
(3) that Jesus Christ is present in the sacrament of the Eucharist, in the breaking of the bread, in Holy Communion.
These are my beliefs. I do not require you to believe them.
MY BIOGRAPHY:
My name is Jerry Brohl. I was born in Trenton, MI on April 26, 1943.
My mother was a homemaker who occasionally worked part-time jobs. My father worked in a men's clothing store in Wyandotte which was owned by some of his brothers.
I am the middle child of five with two older sisters and two younger brothers. Our youngest brother died after only seven months of life.
Our home life was very ordinary but happy. We were all, including my mother & father, cradle Vatican Roman Catholics. Parish life was a big part of our home life. We were committed and devoted to our faith and religion. Prayers before meals, rosary on our knees in our living room during May & October, membership in the Holy Name Society and Ladies Altar Guild, altar boy, lector, minister of the Eucharist, catechist, etc. If a layperson could do it, I did it with the exceptions of ushering or singing in a choir.
I am a spouse to Jo Ann (1984-present), two previous marriages which ended in divorce and annulment, father to adult children Jerry III/Michael/Jennie/Sarah/and Roy and, if pets count, add Indy(dog), Punkin(cat), Maggie (cat), and Baxter (bad cat). We all, except our (human) children, live in the house where I was raised.
I have been a licensed emergency medical technician since 1985 and an EMS instructor since 1995. I currently teach EMS students at a local community college. Jo Ann and I also have a home business providing CPR, First Aid, AED, and OSHA courses to clients in business and industry.
Attended parochial schools through high school (14 months in high school seminary), some Vatican Roman Catholic colleges and universities. Completed the Permanent Diaconate program for the Archdiocese of Detroit, MI in 1971 but was too young to be ordained. Received a licentiate in Sacred Theology (STL) from Sanctus Theological Institute in Mesa, AZ in 2002. This degree was granted on the basis of my diaconate studies. Got an Associate degree in General Studies from a local community college in 2003.
I’ve held almost every position available to a layperson in the Roman church except choir member and usher. I was a catechist for 21 yrs., Director of Religious Education for 13 yrs., and member of an experimental Vatican Roman Catholic community (floating parish) for 7 yrs. (1968-75).
I fell away from the Vatican's Roman Church in 1980 and became unchurched.. I remained in that state until Feb. of 2002 when a very close life-long friend noticed my discontent and advised me to seek a church home. I got on the internet and eventually discovered the United Catholic Church which has Old Catholic roots and traditions.
I was received warmly by Most Rev. Dr. Robert M. Bowman and was invited to be ordained to the transitional diaconate the summer of 2002. The following year, I was ordained to the priesthood.
My former ministry was to reach out to former Vatican Roman Catholics who want a church home. It has been estimated that 60,000,000 Roman Catholics are unchurched or in transition outside of the Vatican's Roman church. The independent Catholic movement has been closeted for more than 140 yrs. in the U.S. Few Vatican Roman Catholics are aware that this alternative is open to them. Currently, I feel that our church should be a place for ALL persons of faith to find shelter from denominationalism or spiritual isolation.
I became a professed Franciscan in 2006.
Additionally, I was active in the local ministers’ association from 2002-2008 and shared with them many activities of an ecumenical (inter-denominational) nature.
Pray for me.
Father Jerry Brohl, COSF
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