Meet

Published by St. Catherine’s Vision, January 3, 2005

Women Theologians Meet to Discuss 2005 North American Retreat

St. Catherine’s Vision is a group of Orthodox theologically educated women whose initiative is blessed by the Standing Conference of Orthodox Bishops of America (SCOBA). The Planning Committee of St. Catherine’s Vision met recently for an Assessment and Evaluation Retreat in order to review progress made on two projects.

The first project of this initiative is to plan a retreat for women graduates of Orthodox theological schools. This will take place November 10-13, 2005 at Antiochian Village in Ligonier, PA and will be the first of its kind in the living memory of the Church. The Planning Committee evaluated the progress of the initiative so far and studied responses offered to the Planning Committee through surveys sent to women graduates of St. Vladimir’s Theological Seminary and Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology. As a result of this effort a theme was identified for the November 2005 Retreat.

The Retreat’s theme is taken from Ephesians: “ . . . to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for the building up of the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; so that we may be no longer children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the cunning of men, by their craftiness in deceitful wiles. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by every joint with which it is supplied, when each part is working properly, makes bodily growth and upbuilds itself in love” (Eph. 4: 12-16).

The second task reviewed the progress of a book that is being co-authored by Planning Committee members who have pursued Orthodox theological studies. The book will examine, theologically and spiritually, the lives of various women saints for Christians today.

These two projects mark the first phase of an initiative that seeks to explore more deeply and support the numerous ways women may serve in the life of the Orthodox Church today.

For more information about the work of St. Catherine’s Vision or to inquire about volunteering to assist this initiative or to contribute a tax-deductible donation, interested persons may email the Planning Committee at: orthodoxwomen@netscape.net.



Volume 7 Number 5 - Tuesday, February 1st, 2005	A Publication of the ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN LAITY