Saturday, May 10, 2025

A Humble Worker in the Vineyard of Our Lord – in the Church and in the World

Prince-Bishop Radislav (Rutherford) I of
Rome-Ruthenia addresses the campus at
the University of Minnesota Crookston.

M. Derosiers

ROME-RUTHENIA 10 May 2025 (NRom)

In a modest lecture hall at the University of Minnesota Crookston, students convened for lessons in business and behavioral science. Yet, unbeknownst to many, a man with soft eyes and crisp delivery, their professor held a distinguished role beyond academia: Supreme Pontiff of the United Roman-Ruthenian Church.

H.A.H. Prince-Bishop Radislav I of Rome-Ruthenia, Roman-Ruthenian Pope, also known in academia as Prof. Rutherford Johnson, taught courses in economics, finance, statistics, and sustainability at the University of Minnesota Crookston for almost a decade. Affectionately known by many students and colleagues as "Dr. Rutherford," he was well-respected for his dedication to students and helpful nature. Indeed, he always saw teaching as part of his mission of service to others. And now he continues his educational mission in online classrooms around the world where he can reach countless people who would not otherwise be able to study and improve their lives. It is a life-changing mission that he carries out in addition to the responsibilities of running a world-wide Orthodox and Old Catholic church of ancient origins.

The Roman-Ruthenian Pope, (Dr. Rutherford, as he was affectionately known),
engages with students at the University of Minnesota Crookston
on questions of economics, culture, and ethics. 

At Minnesota, and now online, he often appeared not in his white habit, but in suit and tie — part of his Church’s own tradition — blending academic rigor with moral insight. Students describe his classes as “rigorous,” “introspective,” and “life-changing.” Yet the syllabus is standard, as you might find at any secular institution: economic principles, market structures, behavioral models, risk assessment, sustainable business practices. It is only when the professor speaks of the 'why' beneath the 'what' that glimpses of the pontiff begin to surface.

His teaching seamlessly integrated discussions on profit with profound inquiries into justice, human dignity, and the purpose of work, prompting students to reflect deeply on the ethical dimensions of economics. It’s never preachy, and indeed students have commented on his remarkable tolerance for others to express their beliefs in class without fear. Yet, his lectures make students think about what they're actually building with their lives.
 The Roman-Ruthenian Pope at University of Minnesota Crookston
commencement, with Douglas A. Huebsch (University Board of Regents),
Dr. Mary Holz-Clause (Chancellor), and Dr. John Hoffman
(Vice Chancellor of UMC, later President of Bemidji State University).

And how did this happen? Always serving with the humility of his office, he applied like any other scholar. He holds a PhD in Applied (Agricultural) Economics (with a behavioral science focus) from the University of Kentucky, an M.S. in Economics and a B.S. with Honors in Applied Physics from Georgia Institute of Technology, and an A.L.M. in Sustainability from Harvard University Extension School. He even had graduate medical studies that formed part of the foundation for his later behavioral science track in economics. And through his time in academia, he was made a Fellow of the famed Royal Geographical Society in London, a Fellow of the University of Minnesota's Institute on the Environment, and received the ACBSP's Teaching Excellence Award. All, however, not for his own glory, but that of God.
Prince-Bishop Radislav in the habit of his
office of service to others, continuing a mission
of spiritual leadership rooted in Apostolic tradition..

For the Prince-Bishop himself, the move to teach as a clergyman was driven by necessity and conviction. “It is the duty of the shepherd,” he said, “to be among the sheep — not only in their moments of prayer, but in their studies, struggles, and questions about the world.”

While some may view the combination of ecclesiastical leadership and academic instruction as unconventional in modern secular universities, others see it as a revival of the historical tradition where clergy were integral to scholarly pursuits. One could even say it is a return to apostolic simplicity. Of course, clergy in the halls of academia is not strange, for the Church established the university system as we know it, and clerics on campus once was a common sight. Even Harvard started as a training ground for protestant clergy.
Prince-Bishop Radislav with Hon. Tom Vilsack, Secretary of Agriculture
of the United States at a special event on campus at the
University of Minnesota Crookston highlighting the pontiff's
continued service in global policy, education, and sustainability.

And in the United Roman-Ruthenian Church, they follow the ancient model of the apostles. Rather than necessarily living in a specified location, bishops go where they are called by mission. This applies to the Prince-Bishop as well. And, the presence of the Roman-Ruthenian Pope in academia evokes the image of St. Paul engaging with scholars in Athens, bridging faith and reason to illuminate eternal truths in contemporary settings.

Though he never hides his office, he rarely mentions it during class. Yet, students are aware. Some have followed him outside of class into deeper reflection; others are simply impressed by his intellectual clarity and moral steadiness. As the pontiff himself says, “Even in red shoes, the Gospel compels us to kneel beside the brokenhearted.” For his students, he remains a mentor. For the faithful he shepherds around the world, a pontiff. And for all, a living reminder that faith and reason are never truly separate.

Further Reading: 

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