By Loretta Fulton

Cole Jodon was 17 when Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s book, The Cost of Discipleship, was recommended to him at a pastoral conference. It was the first theology book he ever read.

He didn’t know then that he was on his way to becoming a Bonhoeffer scholar. Jodon will share his scholarship at the Abilene Association of Congregations meeting on Jan. 28 at First Christian Church, 5125 Antilley Road. Title of his talk will be “Engaging with Bonhoeffer on Church Unity and Discipleship Today.” The meeting begins at 11:45 a.m. with lunch. The public is invited. A $3 donation is suggested for lunch. 

Cole Jodon

Jodon, who grew up in Houston, is priest-in-charge of Good Shepherd Episcopal Church in San Angelo. Although Jodon said that reading Bonhoeffer’s book didn’t influence his path to ordained ministry, it did impact his life.

“I loved Bonhoeffer’s commitment to single-mindedly following after Christ,” he said. “After that, I read his Ethics. His concepts of discipleship and responsibility captivated me.”

Jodon earned a bachelor’s degree in religion from Baylor University, followed by a master’s degree in theology and a doctorate in divinity from the University of Aberdeen in Scotland. He also holds a Diploma of Anglican Studies from the Episcopal Seminary of the Southwest in Austin. 

In addition to his formal studies, he has never stopped being captivated and influenced by the life and writings of  Dietrich Bonhoeffer.

“When I started graduate studies,” Jodon said, “I knew he was the thinker I wanted to explore more deeply.”

Loretta Fulton is creator and editor of Spirit of Abilene