Metropolis of Detroit
  • Home
  • About
    • Our Faith
    • Metropolis of Detroit
    • Metropolitan
    • Clergy
    • Parishes
    • Council
    • Staff
  • Ministries
    • Archons
    • Friends
    • Philoptochos
    • Outreach & Evangelism
    • Youth & Young Adults
    • Other Organizations >
      • Culture
      • Endowments
      • Music
      • Philanthropy
      • Shrines
  • Resources
    • Bookstore
    • Live Streams
    • Digital Chant Stand
    • Feasts
    • Prayers
    • Articles
    • Learn More
    • Downloads
  • News
    • All News
    • Metropolis News
    • Photo Gallery
    • Newsletter
    • Subscribe
  • Donate
  • Contact
  • Clergy-Laity 2023
  • Home
  • About
    • Our Faith
    • Metropolis of Detroit
    • Metropolitan
    • Clergy
    • Parishes
    • Council
    • Staff
  • Ministries
    • Archons
    • Friends
    • Philoptochos
    • Outreach & Evangelism
    • Youth & Young Adults
    • Other Organizations >
      • Culture
      • Endowments
      • Music
      • Philanthropy
      • Shrines
  • Resources
    • Bookstore
    • Live Streams
    • Digital Chant Stand
    • Feasts
    • Prayers
    • Articles
    • Learn More
    • Downloads
  • News
    • All News
    • Metropolis News
    • Photo Gallery
    • Newsletter
    • Subscribe
  • Donate
  • Contact
  • Clergy-Laity 2023

BERENDS, FR. JAMES

 
Picture
Being a part of the Metropolis of Detroit is a homecoming of sorts for Fr. Jim. He was born in (East) Grand Rapids, Michigan just days before Christmas of 1956, the son of a Baptist minister. Within a year of being born, the Detroit Lions would win their last NFL Championship. At the age of six, his family moved to Battle Creek (the site of Sts. Constantine & Helen Chapel was once home to Calvary Baptist Church, formerly pastored by his father). He graduated "laudi how cum" from Wheaton College (outside of Chicago) with a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science in 1979.

​From 1981 to 1985 he attended Dallas Theological Seminary taking a Masters in Biblical Studies. After graduation, he taught at King's Christian School in Cherry Hill, New Jersey. He proposed to the beautiful art teacher. She accepted and they were married on June 26, 1987.
 
He has served as an Executive Director of Campus Life in Elmira, New York and as a Regional Manager for Texas Special Olympics in Dallas, Texas. While in Dallas, their two daughters were born, Caitlin in 1998 and Melanie the following year. Around this time, Fr. Jim was involved in the ordination process of the Episcopal Church. His reading interests and circumstances exposed him to Orthodoxy. Those interests include T. S. Eliot, C. S. Lewis, the New York Times, and Russian History.
 
He attended Holy Cross in Brookline from 2001 to 2004, graduating with an M.Div. His last year, he served as a Deacon at Sts. Constantine & Helen in Andover, Massachusetts. His ordination to the Priesthood was a first for Holy Trinity in Orlando, Florida, where he served from 2004 to 2006. He was the first full-time priest at Sts. Raphael, Nicholas & Irene in Gumming, Georgia from 2006 to 2010. From 2010 to 2012, he was assigned to St. Barbara in Durham, North Carolina; from December 2012 to May 2015 he was assigned to Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church in Memphis, Tennessee. Starting June 1, 2015 Fr. James became the Proistamenos of the Holy Trinity Parish in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
 
He has had the further privilege of serving on the Hellenic College/Holy Cross Alumni Board from 2008 to 2012, the Archdiocesan Stewardship Commission from 2007 to 2011 and as Metropolis of Atlanta co-chair of the St. John Chrysostom Oratorical Festival from 2006 to 2011.

    Clergy

    All
    Fr. Abell
    Fr. Bahlatzis
    Fr. Ballas
    Fr. Berends
    Fr. Bistolarides
    Fr. Boukis
    Fr. Buffenbarger
    Fr. Cassis
    Fr. Christakis
    Fr. Christensen
    Fr. Cook Anthony
    Fr. Cook Timothy
    Fr. Cowles
    Fr. Dalamangas
    Fr. Dorozenski
    Fr. Emroll
    Fr. Fekaris
    Fr. George
    Fr. Gingrich
    Fr. Gousios
    Fr. Hohnholt
    Fr. Hountalas
    Fr. Karamanos
    Fr. Kotsis
    Fr. Kyritses
    Fr. Legakis
    Fr. Lionas
    Fr. Maggos
    Fr. Mammis
    Fr. Manias
    Fr. Manos
    Fr. Marcantoni
    Fr. Marcus
    Fr. Martin
    Fr. McClish
    Fr. Michalos
    Fr. Morris
    Fr. Pappas
    Fr. Pathenos
    Fr. Patitsas
    Fr. Petrutiu
    Fr. Pliakas
    Fr. Radulescu
    Fr. Redmon
    Fr. Rossiter
    Fr. Rousakis
    Fr. Russell
    Fr. Rusu
    Fr. Sakellariou
    Fr. Scott
    Fr. Sicoe
    Fr. Sietsema
    Fr. Smith
    Fr. Spiro
    Fr. Stathiakos
    Fr. Streza
    Fr. Tasikas
    Fr. Theoharis
    Fr. Thomas
    Fr. Turner
    Fr. Tzetzis
    Fr. Vallas
    Fr. Vaporis
    Fr. Varlamos
    Fr. Verdaris
    Fr. Vieron
    Fr. Walsh
    Fr. Xydas
    Fr. Yacalis
    Fr. Yanulis

Home
About
News
Ministries
Resources
Donate
​
Contact

Calendar
Philoptochos
Youth
Photos
Videos
Live Broadcasts
Podcasts

Metropolis of Detroit
2560 Crooks Road
Troy, MI 48084
Phone: (248) 823-2400
Fax: (248) 823-2401
​Hours: Monday-Friday, 9:00a-5:00p


Donate