The Rev. Joel McEachen (SVOTS ’68) has been elected president of the 172 member Retired Clergy Association (RCA) of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America (GOA). The election took place at the biennial general meeting of the RCA held in conjunction with the 2012 Clergy–Laity Congress in Phoenix, AZ, in July, and Fr. Joel will take office effective September 1st. Father Joel joined the RCA board in 2008, and most recently has served as its treasurer and co-editor of the monthly newsletter, The EPISTLE.
He attended St. Vladimir's Seminary from 1965–1968, having been received into the Orthodox Christian faith at St. Anthony's Church, Bergenfield, NJ. During his seminary days, he was appointed youth director at St. Demetrios Church, Astoria, NY, and subsequently held the same position at St. Nicholas Church, Flushing, NY. After marriage to Sandra Reshetar, and graduation from St. Vladimir's with an M.Div. in 1968, he left for a year of study at the University of Thessalonica. Upon his return, he was ordained deacon by Bishop Timothy of Rodostolon at St. Andrew's Church, Chicago, IL, and priest by Archbishop Iakovos at St. Nicholas Church, Flushing, NY, September 27, 1970, where he served as assistant pastor until October 1973. He then was appointed pastor of Holy Trinity Church, Ansonia, CT, until his retirement in 2009.
His colorful and active life has included service in the U.S. Naval Reserve, work as an IBM systems programmer, and extensive involvement in The Boy Scouts of America, which he dovetailed with youth work in parishes, and programs for the GOA and the Standing Conference of Orthodox Bishops (SCOBA), during his priestly ministry. Read Fr. Joel's full bio here.
We congratulate our esteemed alumnus on his new ministry!
Read more Alumni News here.
