Seminary deans, administrators issue appeal to parishes
In a letter dated October 18, 2013, the deans and administrators of the Orthodox Church in America’s three seminaries invite the faithful of all parishes to embrace fully a resolution passed at the 2011 All-American Council calling for a consistent approach to the schools’ financial support.
“This year, the three seminaries of the Orthodox Church in America celebrate important anniversaries—75 years of service for St. Vladimir’s and St. Tikhon’s Seminaries, and 40 years for St. Herman’s Seminary,” the letter begins. “As the deans and administrators of these schools, we send both the assurance of our prayers and our sincere thanks for the support that you and your parishes have given over the years to our seminaries as they prepare to serve the Orthodox Church. Theological seminaries are essential for serving our existing parish communities, but also to prepare chaplains with specialized ministries and those who will plant new missions in North America.”
“We need your help to do this,” the letter concludes. “As many of our communities are preparing budgets for 2014 we would like to urge parishes to dedicate at least 1% of their budgets to the support of our seminaries. As you may recall, the 16th All-American Council, meeting in Belleview, Washington in November 2011, passed a resolution that encouraged OCA parishes and missions to support the seminary of its choice through a sacrificial gift of 1% minimum of its annual operating budget. A number of parishes have already taken this step. Won’t you consider joining them?”
Signing the letter were His Grace, Bishop Michael, Rector of Saint Tikhon’s Seminary; Archimandrite David, Bishop-elect of Sitka and the Diocese of Alaska and Administrator of Saint Herman’s Seminary; Archpriest John Behr, Dean of Saint Vladimir’s Seminary; Archpriest Steven Voytovich, Dean of Saint Tikhon’s Seminary; Archpriest John Dunlop, Dean of Saint Herman’s Seminary; and Archpriest Chad Hatfield, Chancellor/CEO of Saint Vladimir’s Seminary.
Gifts to the seminaries may be sent to any one or to all three at the following addresses. Please indicate that your gift is in response to the 1% appeal.
St. Herman Seminary
414 Mission Road
Kodiak, AK 99615
St. Tikhon’s Seminary
PO Box 130
South Canaan, PA 18459
St. Vladimir’s Seminary
575 Scarsdale Road
Crestwood, NY 10707
A PDF of the letter may be accessed at and downloaded here.