Scripture Untangled

Season 14: Episode 8 | Fr. John Boutros: From Pediatric Surgery to Priesthood

You can also watch on YouTube, listen to and/or subscribe/follow Scripture Untangled on: Apple, Spotify and iHeartRadio.

Explore more Scripture Untangled episodes.

In this episode, John and Andrew discuss:

• Fr. John Boutros’ journey from pediatric surgeon to priest and why he came to see every opportunity in his life as a gift from God.
• The ancient Christian tradition of the Coptic Church.
• The assumption that God works slowly, and whether the real issue may be that sometimes our expectations are too focused on immediacy.
• The Christian conviction that every human being bears God’s image and therefore deserves to be treated with profound dignity and love.
• How Christian life requires an ongoing, authentic encounter with Christ and a continual pursuit of holiness.

Fr. John Boutros

Fr. John Boutros is a priest of a young downtown church in Toronto, Canada, St. Moses & St. Katherine Coptic Orthodox Church. Fr. John met the girl of his dreams, Mary, and was married in 2011, and is now daddy to Anastasia, Zoë and Élise. Ordained in July 2012, he was previously a paediatric surgeon. Now, Fr. John serves a wide variety of urban dwellers, students, and young professionals. Fr. John is equally passionate for the marginalized, the poor, and those who have no one. Being in a community of disciples of Jesus, steeped in ancient faith and Orthodoxy, rooted in Coptic heritage, we live to incarnate God’s love in a metropolitan setting.

Rev. Dr. Andrew Stirling was the Senior Minister of Timothy Eaton Memorial United Church in Toronto, one of Canada’s largest United Church congregations and was responsible for leadership and administration at Timothy Eaton from 1998 until his more recent retirement. Overseeing staff, providing visionary leadership, acting as the public representative of over 1,500 members and managing a dynamic and ever-evolving ministry to the city of Toronto and beyond.

He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Politics and Law from the University of Cape Town, South Africa, a Master of Divinity from the Atlantic School of Theology in Halifax, Nova Scotia and a Doctor of Ministry in preaching from Acadia Divinity College, Wolfville, Nova Scotia. In 2008, Wycliffe College, Toronto, recognized his contribution to preaching with an honorary Doctor of Divinity.

Rev. Dr. Andrew Stirling is now the Ambassador for the Canadian Bible Society building relationships with churches, academic institutions and individuals across Canada.