January, 2023
Volos, Greece

• OTSA annual meeting conference program (PDF)
• Draft annual meeting minutes (PDF)

The OTSA Annual Meeting of 2022-23 was exceptional in content and quality, and was a memorable and unique experience for OTSA members. Held in Volos, Greece, in order to capitalize on and participate in the extraordinary gathering of Orthodox scholars for the quadrennial IOTA mega conference, the OTSA meeting packed into one day a remarkable array of excellent papers. Our theme this year was that of “Mission,” coinciding with the theme of the IOTA conference.

We gathered on Tuesday, January 10 at the Volos Theological Academy for a full day OTSA papers, and also for the OTSA annual business meeting at the end of day. While all presentations were in person at Volos, we welcomed several members as attendees through remote participation. We are grateful to the Volos Theological Academy, its director Pantelis Kalaitzidis, and particularly our liaison with the Academy, Costis Drygianakis, for their generosity and assistance. At the conclusion of the meeting, the majority of attendees were able to gather back in Volos at a local restaurant for great food, drink and fellowship. 

After opening in prayer, we examined the theme of Mission from several directions. Our first focus was on Liturgy and Mission, with presentations on the importance of the participation of the people, the laos, in the Liturgy and of the homily as a form of liturgical art. This session concluded with a study on the historical context of the most ancient anti-Jewish hymns of the Church, and sparked a discussion that resonated into our business meeting at the end of day, with a call to have OTSA establish a study group to address the liturgical reform of anti-Semitic hymns.  We continued with a session on the growing mission field to the “nones and dones” in the Church and how to reach out in creative and compassionate ways. In the afternoon we segued to a session on academic and ecclesial freedom, thinking through ways to overcome fractious division and promote healthy communication, and to become more inclusive of the marginalized. This moved into a session addressing three particularly challenging areas fraught with dissension: sex, race, and phyletism, and offered insights from within Orthodox tradition and theology for reconciliation and growth. Our final session explored a wide range of issues, from a study of how the physical space of worship (in the Temple/Church) has historically brought the community of the faithful together in unity and diversity, to the study of panentheism, to consideration of the dialogue between Orthodox and American Evangelicals.

OTSA Annual Business Meeting Highlights

Our annual business meeting followed immediately upon the conclusion of the very rich offering of presentations at our Annual Meeting. We began with our President reviewing the major initiatives undertaken by OTSA in 2022, including our collaboration with and assistance to IOTA for their quadrennial conference in Volos; our work for the OTSA meeting, our assistance to the Assembly of Bishops in reviewing the white paper on the Reception of Converts from a Canonical Perspective (drafted by a team led by OTSA member, Fr. Patrick Viscuso); the progress of the mixed marriages working group led by Fr. Anthony Roeber; and organizational changes, in particular the addition of an assistant Treasurer and proposals for amendments to our Bylaws and mission statement. The Secretary and Treasurer also offered their reports. Of note at the meeting:

a.     Revision of Bylaws: Based on our review with the Assembly of Bishops, the officers had proposed some clarifications to our Mission Statement. The membership voted to amend the Mission Statement as proposed with some small adjustments. In addition, the membership agreed to add the position of Assistant Treasurer (to the already existing positions of Treasurer and Associate Treasurer) and to clarify the responsibilities and tenure of the Immediate Past President.  The statement of purpose now reads (in its entirety): 

ARTICLE II. PURPOSE  SECTION 1. 

The Orthodox Theological Society in America, organized in 1966 under the auspices and with the blessing of the Standing Conference of Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the Americas, exists to:

• promote the study and development of Orthodox theology
• coordinate the work of Orthodox theologians in North America, bringing Orthodox scholars from all jurisdictions together for dialogue and to promote the collaboration of the Orthodox churches in North America 
• cultivate scholarship, fellowship, spiritual life, and cooperation in honest, open, and collegial discourse among those engaged in advanced study, teaching, research, and writing in the range of theological subjects and related disciplines (e.g., religious studies, biblical studies, the arts, the sciences, history, law, philosophy, literary studies, and bioethics)
• serve as a resource for the Assembly of Bishops and the Church
• engage non-Orthodox theologians interested in Orthodox theology. 

b.     Increase in membership dues: Because of increased costs, and in order to meet our operating expenses, the members voted to increase our membership dues so that annual regular membership is now $50, and membership for seniors and students is $25.

c.      Working group on reform of liturgical texts: the members agreed to ask the officers to work toward establishing a working group to study reform of anti-Semitic liturgical texts

d.     We welcomed these new members: 

• Rachel Contos (Associate membership, pre-ABD) is pursuing a PhD in Theology at Fordham University, with a concentration in theological ethics.
• Fr. Sergius Halvorsen (Full membership): Fr. Sergius (Jeffrey T.) Halverson, PhD, is Assistant Professor of Homiletics and Rhetoric and Director for the DMin program at St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary. 
• Joel Houston (Full membership), PhD, is Associate Professor of Theology at Briercrest College and Seminary. His recent work includes publications on the Eastern Christian writers Evagrius and Gregory of Nyssa, as well as the prominent Protestant figures John Wesley and George Whitefield. 
• Nadieszda Kizenko (Full membership), PhD, is Professor of History at the University of Albany. Her focus includes imperial and modern Russia, and her most recent book publication examines the history of confession in Imperial Russia.
• Menios Papadimitriou (Associate membership, Pre-ABD) is pursuing a PhD in Theology at Fordham University, with a focus on the modern history of Christianity and the Orthodox Christian experiences in the Americas.

OTSA sponsored the following Sessions at IOTA:

• 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