Orthodox Inter-Seminary Movement
Encyclopedia
Originally founded in the 1960s, the Orthodox Inter-Seminary Movement (OISM) seeks to foster prayer, fellowship, and cooperation among seminarians of the Orthodox Church from across the North American continent. During OISM retreats, seminarians gather together and participate in a simple program which incorporates prayer, reflection, and discussion among the future leaders of the Church.
After OISM had been dormant for a number of years, in the Fall of 2003 Fr. Michael Dahulich (dean of St. Tikhon's and also a former member of OISM) invited a number of schools to St. Tikhon's in an effort to revive the organization. At this fall retreat, students met in prayer and fellowship. They also participated in a lecture by Fr. Daniel Kovalak which emphasized the importance of missiology in the Church. At a meeting which concluded the festivities, representatives from the various schools formed an interim board with the goal of re-establishing the organization.
In the Spring semester of 2004, a general assembly was convened at St. Vladimir's Seminary in Crestwood, New York. At this general assembly, in addition to St. Vladimir's Seminary, there were representatives present from St. Herman's Seminary of Kodiak, Alaska; Holy Cross Seminary/Hellenic College of Brookline, Massachusetts; Holy Trinity Seminary of Jordanville, New York; and St. Tikhon's Seminary of South Canaan, Pennsylvania. During the course of the weekend a constitution was adopted and an executive board was formed.
The executive board is composed of a president—elected at the general assembly—and two representatives from each voting member school. The current president is Brent Holliday of Holy Cross Seminary.
After OISM had been dormant for a number of years, in the Fall of 2003 Fr. Michael Dahulich (dean of St. Tikhon's and also a former member of OISM) invited a number of schools to St. Tikhon's in an effort to revive the organization. At this fall retreat, students met in prayer and fellowship. They also participated in a lecture by Fr. Daniel Kovalak which emphasized the importance of missiology in the Church. At a meeting which concluded the festivities, representatives from the various schools formed an interim board with the goal of re-establishing the organization.
In the Spring semester of 2004, a general assembly was convened at St. Vladimir's Seminary in Crestwood, New York. At this general assembly, in addition to St. Vladimir's Seminary, there were representatives present from St. Herman's Seminary of Kodiak, Alaska; Holy Cross Seminary/Hellenic College of Brookline, Massachusetts; Holy Trinity Seminary of Jordanville, New York; and St. Tikhon's Seminary of South Canaan, Pennsylvania. During the course of the weekend a constitution was adopted and an executive board was formed.
The executive board is composed of a president—elected at the general assembly—and two representatives from each voting member school. The current president is Brent Holliday of Holy Cross Seminary.
Participating Schools
- Christ the Saviour SeminaryChrist the Saviour SeminaryChrist the Saviour Seminary is the seminary for the American Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Diocese , a self-governing diocese within the jurisdiction of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. It is located in Johnstown, Pennsylvania.-History:...
(ACRODAmerican Carpatho-Russian Orthodox DioceseThe American Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Diocese or American Carpatho-Ruthenian Orthodox Diocese is a diocese of the Ecumenical Patriarchate with 78 parishes in the United States and Canada. It was led by the late Metropolitan Nicholas Smisko of Amissos...
) - Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology (Brookline, Massachusetts) (GOAGreek Orthodox Archdiocese of AmericaThe Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, headquartered in New York City, is an eparchy of the Church of Constantinople. Its current primate is Archbishop Demetrios of America.-About the Archdiocese:...
) - Holy Trinity Orthodox Seminary (Jordanville, New York) (ROCORRussian Orthodox Church Outside RussiaThe Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia , also called the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad, ROCA, or ROCOR) is a semi-autonomous part of the Russian Orthodox Church....
) - St. Andrew's College (Winnipeg, Manitoba) (UOCCUkrainian Orthodox Church of CanadaThe Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada is an Eastern Orthodox Church in Canada, primarily serving Ukrainian Canadians. Its former name was the Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church of Canada ...
) - St. Herman's Orthodox Theological Seminary (Kodiak, Alaska) (OCAOrthodox Church in AmericaThe Orthodox Church in America is an autocephalous Eastern Orthodox church in North America. Its primate is Metropolitan Jonah , who was elected on November 12, 2008, and was formally installed on December 28, 2008...
) - St. Sophia Ukrainian Orthodox Theological Seminary (South Bound Brook, New Jersey) (UOCUSA)
- St. Tikhon's Orthodox Theological Seminary (South Canaan, Pennsylvania) (OCAOrthodox Church in AmericaThe Orthodox Church in America is an autocephalous Eastern Orthodox church in North America. Its primate is Metropolitan Jonah , who was elected on November 12, 2008, and was formally installed on December 28, 2008...
) - St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary (Crestwood, New York) (OCAOrthodox Church in AmericaThe Orthodox Church in America is an autocephalous Eastern Orthodox church in North America. Its primate is Metropolitan Jonah , who was elected on November 12, 2008, and was formally installed on December 28, 2008...
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