In a full ten–day schedule, The Very Rev. Dr. Chad Hatfield traveled throughout Southern California accompanied by Associate Director of Advancement Tim Nieuwsma. The Chancellor/CEO served at Vespers, offered a Sunday homily, spoke at a symposium, lectured at a conference, and held a series of strategic meetings with current and potential Seminary partners. "In the several days we spent reconnecting with long–time significant supporters of St. Vladimir's and building new bridges, we were able to share key details from the newly approved Strategic Plan," explained Fr. Chad. "Our many friends on the West Coast are important to us."
To launch his trip, Fr. Chad joined the clergy and faithful at St. Anthony the Great Antiochian Orthodox Church in San Diego for a Divine Liturgy in their newly completed temple. Warmly welcomed by the parishioners and The Rev. John Reimann and Khouria Christina Reimann (an SVOTS alumna), Fr. Chad served at a Saturday Vespers, offered the Sunday homily, and later gave a presentation during coffee hour.
The SVOTS delegation then drove to Pasadena where they met with several leaders at Fuller Theological Seminary. Fuller is one the world's largest institutions of its kind, with over 4,000 students studying on seven campuses and in distance learning programs. In fruitful discussions with Mary Hubbard Given, vice president of Alumni/ae and Church Relations, Dr. Scott W. Sunquist, dean of the School of Intercultural Studies and Professor of World Christianity, and Dr. Cecil M. Robeck, Jr., professor of Church History and Ecumenics and director of the David J. DuPlessis Center for Christian Spirituality, Fr. Chad identified several areas of common interest. "Fuller has been a premier school in the area of missiology," noted the SVOTS chancellor/CEO, "and with our neophyte program in missions, they gave helpful counsel and advice, and expressed a willingness to work with us in the future."
In another visit to an institution of higher learning, Fr. Chad and Mr. Nieuwsma joined C.S. Lewis Oxford scholar The Rev. Dr. Andrew Cuneo (SVOTS '10) for a tour of St. Katherine's College in San Diego. Father Andrew teaches English Language and Literature at the newly established Orthodox undergraduate institution, and is also the rector of St. Katherine of Alexandria Mission in Cardiff–by–the–Sea. Father Chad also learned more about St. Katherine's College when he and Mr. Nieuwsma met with two of the founders of the school, Drs. Frank and Julie Papatheofanis.
Wrapping up his California trip, Fr. Chad offered presentations at two conferences: the Liberty Fund colloquim titled "Liberty, Society & the Economy in Modern Eastern
Orthodox & Roman Catholic Thought" held in La Jolla near San Diego, and "Prayer in the Church Fathers," the first symposium of the Sts. Cyril & Athanasius of Alexandria Institute for Orthodox Studies, hosted by St. Andrew Orthodox Church in Riverside.
"I found the Liberty Fund Conference to be enlightening in the area of missiology, and gleaned several key ideas which will be useful for our discussion in our upcoming Conference on Poverty," he said.
In the symposium at St. Andrew, "Prayer in the Church Fathers," Fr. Chad joined His Eminence the Most Reverend Metropolitan Kallistos (Ware) of Diokleia and other presenters. In his Sunday afternoon lecture, "Praying with the Psalms: The Fathers, and Christians Today," Fr. Chad spoke on praying in silence with the Psalter.
Father noted the success of the Symposium, which gathered nearly 500 attendees in Northern and Southern California during several February sessions. "Once again it highlighted for me the desire among the laity for theological conferences and content," he reflected. "In that same vein, it was also delightful to hear Metropolitan Kallistos talk about the enormous impact that SVS Press has had on global Orthodoxy, particularly through the wide distribution of the books in our Popular Patristics Series."
