“We’re ‘mission minded’ here at St. Vladimir’s,” says Archpriest Chad Hatfield, seminary president, “and that becomes most evident during each annual “Missions Weekend” held on our campus.
“This year, visiting speakers Metropolitan Ambrosios of the Orthodox Metropolis of Korea and Nathan Hoppe of Albania presented riveting accounts about their respective mission fields,” he noted.
“Additionally, SVS Press has just launched its Orthodoxy & Missions series, with the newly released title Into All the World: An Orthodox Theology of Mission, by Fr. Edward Rommen,” he continued, “and, as series editor, I look forward to several exciting volumes to follow.” (Order the book here.)
Missions Weekend was sponsored by a student-led interest group at St. Vladimir’s, the “St. Innocent Society,” under the umbrella of the Student Council. The president of the society is 3rd-year Seminarian Dn. Christopher Moore, and Fr. Chad is the faculty sponsor. Both are experienced as missionaries: Dn. Christopher and his wife Jennifer were formerly missionaries in Mongolia, and Fr. Chad and his family served as missionaries in South Africa during the period of apartheid. Missions Weekend is also made possible by the Missions Institute of Orthodox Christianity at Hellenic College Holy Cross; Fr. Chad serves on the Board of that institute.
"Missions Weekend 2017 went extremely well!,” remarked Dn. Christopher. “It was a joy reconnecting with His Eminence Metropolitan Ambrosios, whom my family had spent time with and learned from while living in Seoul for three weeks, back in January 2015.
“His Eminence's lecture on mission was fascinating,” he said, “and it highlighted a mission methodology contained in 16 articles drawn from the life and writings of St John Chrysostom, thus providing patristic foundations for our continued Orthodox missionary call. (Listen to the podcast in the “Voices from St. Vladimir’s” series of Ancient Faith Ministries.)
“Moreover, Nathan Hoppe, a friend and fellow OCMC missionary,” he explained, “helped us get practical with the missionary call that Metropolitan Ambrosios put forward by asking: ‘What next? How are we individually and communally going to properly respond to the inherent call that all Christians receive from Christ at their baptism to "Go forth and make disciples of all nations”?’”
“The combination of lectures gave us food for reflection and action,” he concluded, “and I think the St. Innocent Society will have much to dialogue about in response to these talks, so I thank our esteemed and experienced lecturers and all others who made Missions Weekend 2017 a success!"
Read about upcoming activities planned by the St. Innocent Society
