Article contributed by The Very Rev. Dr Chad Hatfield
At the 16th All-American Council (AAC) of the OCA meeting in Seattle, WA in 2011, a resolution calling for each parish or mission to contribute 1% of their annual budget to a seminary of their choice was brought forth. This resolution passed without any contrary votes.
Despite the lack of opposition at the AAC, very few parishes or missions became seminary supporters through the 1% resolution. At best, our seminary had around thirty parish supporters at the peak of participation. It should be noted that after hearing of the resolution, some non-OCA parishes decided to dedicate 1% of their resources and become seminary benefactors, as well.
The very first 1% seminary supporter was the small OCA Mission of St Tikhon in Chattanooga, TN. I recently had the great blessing of returning to St Tikhon’s after 10 years to conduct a pre-Lenten retreat, and it has grown substantially. Their former treasurer told me that for eight years she cut the 1% check no matter how small it was in some lean times. She beamed and said, “The Lord has blessed us for being faithful”. Indeed, and now they support a parishioner of their own as he journeys through the M.Div. program at St Vladimir’s Seminary.
Mission of St Tikhon parish members 10 years ago
Mission of St Tikhon parish members in February 2024
Their priest, Fr Seth Earl (M.Div. ‘17), shared that he and his wife took advantage of our tuition-free initiative and were able to graduate debt-free. This is only possible because parishes, missions, and individuals know that seminarians are no longer supported by gifts from the Tsar’s purse! We are able to fulfill our mission and return the newly ordained to the mission field debt-free because you did your part.
This Great Lent, please remember to support our seminaries. Remember to do what the retired treasurer told me in Chattanooga and cut the check no matter how small.
