On October 22–24, 2015, the North American Orthodox-Catholic Theological Consultation gathered at the St. Spyridon Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Worcester, MA, at the precise location where the dialogue began 50 years ago, in 1965. In addition to its ongoing work, the Consultation held a public event at Assumption College at which Monsignor Paul McPartlan of the Catholic University of America, and Dr. Paul Meyendorff, The Father Alexander Schmemann Professor of Liturgical Theology, delivered lectures on the progress of the international and North American dialogues between the Orthodox and Catholic Churches.
The Consultation was founded under the auspices of the Committee on Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, and the Standing Conference of the Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the Americas (SCOBA), which was later replaced by the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the United States of America.
Over the years, St. Vladimir's has been well-represented on the North American Consultation. Protopresbyters Alexander Schmemann and John Meyendorff, and Fr. Paul Schneirla, attended the first meeting in 1965. In subsequent years, participants included Professors Sergius Verhovskoy, Veselin Kesich, and John Barnet, as well as Archbishop Peter (L'Huillier), a former adjunct professor of Canon Law. Current members include Visiting Professor Bishop Alexander (Golitzin), retired Dean the Very Rev. Dr. John Erickson, and Dr. Paul Meyendorff.
