December 2022 Member Newsletter

Posted on by OTSA Administrator

12 December 2022
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Dear Fathers and Friends,

Greetings to you in this blessed season of Advent.

In about a month, approximately 400 Orthodox theologians and scholars will gather in Volos for the Quadrennial IOTA conference and the annual OTSA conference, with both conferences exploring the theme of the Mission of the Church. We want to bring to your attention these important points:

  • The Opening Ceremony and Keynote Address/Florovsky Lecture given by Metropolitan Ambrosios (Zographos) of Korea, will occur on Wednesday, Jan 11, 18:00 – 20:00 (Greek time). The plan is to livestream this address. We will forward viewing information as soon as it becomes available.
  • OTSA is sponsoring the following Sessions at IOTA – Please note the time and locations of these sessions, and come and support your fellow OTSA members:
    • Thursday, Jan 12 (11:30–13:00, Park Hotel, Jason Hall)
      Session 88: Orthodoxy and Mission in North America:  Promise, Struggles, Tensions
      Speakers: V. Rev. Dr. Peter Baktis, Rev. Marc Dunaway, Alexei Krindatch
    • Thursday, Jan 12 (15:00–17:00, Evangelical Church, Main Hall)
      Session 87: Roundtable Discussion–Orthodox Mission in North America
      Panelists:  Rev. Bohdan Hladio, Dr. Joel Houston, Fr. Luke Veronis, V. Rev. Dr. Peter Batkis
    • Thursday, Jan 12 (15:00–17:00, Forum Center, Centaurus Hall)
      Session 38: Co-laborers Session (The short OTSA introduction is scheduled for the third slot)
    • Thursday, Jan 12 (17:30–19:00, Park Hotel, Jason Hall)
      Session 86: Roundtable Discussion–OTSA: A Model for other Regional Orthodox Theological Associations
      Panelists: Dr. Teva Regule, V. Rev. Dr. Anton Vrame, Dr. Gayle Woloschak
    • Saturday, Jan 14 (18:00–19:30, Park Hotel, Jason Hall)
      Session 94: Academic and Ecclesial Freedom: When to Speak the Truth in Love
      Speakers:  Dr. Jim Skedros, Dr. Sergius Halvorsen, Menios Papadimitriou
  • Logistics for IOTA:
    • Registration: If you are going to IOTA and have yet to register, do so here: https://iota-web.org/2023-conference-registration/
    • Bus Transfers from Athens:  DEADLINE to reserve your seat –> Friday, December 16.  Fill out the form linked here: https://iota-web.org/volos-2023-airport-bus-transfers/
    • Hotel: The OTSA Hotel (Kypseli) is sold out.  For other hotel accommodations, see: https://iota-web.org/volos-2023-housing/
    • OTSA Meeting: We encourage you to take advantage of this extraordinary opportunity and come to BOTH meetings. Important details to note:
      • Virtual registration: Members who cannot join us in Volos may attend virtually, registering via the link: https://www.otsamerica.net/2023-annual-meeting/—>Deadline– Friday, December 30
        Registration is free for those current in their dues.  The Zoom link will be sent to all remote registrations as soon as it is received from the Volos team.  (We anticipate that the link will be available by the first week of January).
    • OTSA Business Meeting:  The Business meeting will occur at the Volos Academy at the end of day on Jan. 10. Among other agenda items, the Officers of OTSA have proposed small changes to the OTSA Mission Statement and Bylaws.  We have sent these proposed changes to all members.  (See email of 12/10/2022.)  Please review and send comments to OTSA Secretary, Helen Theodoropoulos:  secretary@otsamerica.org, helen60067@yahoo.com by December 30, 2022.
    • New: Jan 10 Dinner: The officers of OTSA are organizing ano-hostdinner at a restaurant in Volos for the evening of January 10 (after the conclusion of the OTSA meeting) for members (and guests) who have arrived for the conference by that time.  At present, the cost is approximately 20 Euros.  Come and enjoy the company of your OTSA colleagues.  If interested, contact OTSA Secretary, Helen Theodoropoulos: secretary@otsamerica.org, helen60067@yahoo.com by December 30, 2022.
    • The OTSA meeting schedule will be posted to the website by the end of the week.
  • Information about Dues:
    • Dues run from January through January. This year, your 2022 dues are effective through the OTSA/IOTA meeting, until Jan. 16. Dues for 2023 will start Jan. 17. Please be sure to become current in your 2022 dues. Dues can be paid here: https://www.otsamerica.net/pay-dues/
    • In the past, dues have been sufficient to cover our operating expenses. This is no longer the case, due to our increased costs (including new insurances, and web and meeting expenses). Therefore, the executive board has proposed to increase dues to $40 for full members and $25 for student/retiree members as of 2023.  However, you can pay your 2023 dues NOW at the 2022 rate. (button for 2023 dues is also at https://www.otsamerica.net/pay-dues/)
  • Opportunity for Library resources: Over the past sixty years, John Klancko has collected a unique archive/library focused on the Eastern Christian Churches and the Bible of some 100,000 items in need of a proper home. The collection encompasses records, cassettes, CDs, DVDs, books, periodicals, pamphlets, photographs, postcards, and correspondence, along with many artifacts, begins in 1666, and contains items in over a dozen languages. There are three main areas of concentration: Biblical studies; Liturgy and the sacraments; and the various Eastern Christian churches. For further information, contact sub-deacon John Klancko at rjklancko@gmail.com.
  • In Memoriam: With sadness but a sure hope in the Resurrection, we share with you the passing of our member, Richard Schneider (1938-2022), who fell asleep in the Lord on November 11, 2022. A beloved professor known for his dedication and support of his students, Professor Schneider enjoyed a long teaching career, including two decades spent at Saint Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary as Professor of Hermeneutics and Liturgical Art. In addition, he taught for many years at York University in Toronto, as well as other Universities, and established the Programme in Orthodox Theology at Trinity College, University of Toronto, where he taught until spring 2022. Devoted to the cause of Christian unity, Professor Schneider was also one of the most influential and active leaders in the ecumenical scene, advocating for the practice of consensus decision-making. He served for decades on the Canadian Council of Churches, representing the OCA, and was its first Orthodox president from 2003 to 2006. Professor Richard Schneider is survived by his wife, Lisa, and seven children.
    Dr. Peter Bouteneff has eulogized him in a thoughtful reflection: https://www.instituteofsacredarts.com/reflections/2022/11/15/in-memoriam-richard-schneider

With best wishes for a Blessed Feast of the Nativity and Peace in Christ,

Respectfully submitted,
Teva Regule, PhD, OTSA President
Helen Creticos Theodoropoulos, PhD, OTSA Secretary