Fr. Burton was born and grew up in Central Texas.  He graduated from Waco High and attended Texas A&M.  He received his BS in Physics with minors in Math and English in 1963.  While working as an  engineer in the aerospace industry, John taught and attended graduate school at Baylor University.  He earned an MS in Mathematics and focused his career on teaching in a community college while consulting in the rocket propellant industry.

        John and his wife, Gloria, have four children, scattered from Texas to Michigan, and nine -- or ten or twelve -- grandchildren.  Gloria is an LMSW.  They live in The Old Residence at Hillspeak.  John also serves as SPEAK's assistant manager.  He also maintains the web pages for TAD.

        While was raised in the Methodist Church, John rediscovered his faith after graduating from college and joined a Baptist church.  In 1970, he became an Episcopalian and while practicing ministry in several denominational and non-denominational churches over the years, maintained membership in the Episcopal church, serving on the vestry and as acolyte, lay reader, and LEM.

        Immediately prior to coming to The Anglican Digest in January 2001, John was Minister of Pastoral Care at Greater New Light Missionary Baptist Church in Waco, Texas.  He was also a staff chaplain at Hillcrest Baptist Medical Center in Waco and attended Truett Theological Seminary.  On Dec. 10, 2006, John was ordained to the diaconate as a transitional deacon by the Rt. Rev. Larry Maze at St. James and to the Sacred Order of Priests by the Rt. Rev. Larry Benfield on Aug. 12, 2007.

Contact Fr. Burton by e-mail at speak@speakinc.org