31 August 2022
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Dear Fathers and Friends,
As we round the corner to the end of summer and celebrate the Ecclesiastical New Year, we especially look forward to our upcoming meeting in Volos, Greece, (Jan. 10, 2023), and our sponsored sessions within the IOTA meeting that follows (Jan. 11–15). We hope you will be able to join us for both meetings.
- OTSA Sessions within IOTA: The OTSA sponsored sessions at the IOTA meeting in Volos, Jan. 11-15, 2023 are now filled. We thank those who have offered to share their ideas, have submitted their proposals, and are preparing papers for presentation. The OTSA sponsored sessions are:
- Academic and Ecclesiastical Freedom–When to Speak the Truth in Love
- Mission to and in North America
- Orthodoxy in North America—Its Promise and Struggles/Tensions
- A Panel Presenting the history and work of OTSA as a model for other Orthodox associations
- OTSA Meeting: The deadline for Paper Proposals for the OTSA Meeting (Volos, Jan. 10, 2023) is September 15. In addition, we still have a few travel grants of $500.00 for members whose proposals are accepted and who request assistance. The theme of the conference is mission, although papers on other topics are acceptable. Please submit your paper proposal of 250 words and a CV toHelen Theodoropoulos, at secretary@otsamerica.org or helen60076@yahoo.com.
- Details for OTSA/IOTA Meetings are forthcoming:
- We are working on coordinating transportation and accommodations for members and will provide details and registration as soon as possible.
- The two meetings will have separate registrations, and details for each will be on the respective websites (and we will provide the links in our newsletter to you as soon as the information is available).
- The OTSA meeting will be held on Jan 10; please plan to arrive in Athens by Jan. 9; we are arranging bus transportation from Athens to Volos. We are working to secure a good hotel at reasonable cost. The OTSA meeting, itself, will take place at the Volos Academy for Theological Studies, while the IOTA meeting will take place in various hotel locations within relatively close proximity to downtown.
- Dues:
- Following through on the recommendation of our financial consultant, our Treasurer, Fr. Nicholas Ferencz, has sent invoices/ receipts to all members, and we are very appreciative of his hard work in accomplishing this.
- Please reply, pay dues, update contact information for our database and for the proposed OTSA directory on our web page, if necessary.
- Please let us know if you did not receive an individual receipt/invoice.
- Paypal – we now have non-profit status and can accept international transactions (Note: our Canadian members).
- Dues can be paid here: https://www.otsamerica.net/pay-dues/
- Mixed Marriages Working Group: Fr Anthony Roeber has assembled a stellar committee to study the challenges of mixed marriages in the United States. At present, they are working on narrowing the focus of their study.
- In Memoriam: With sadness but with hope in the resurrection, we share with you news of the falling asleep of our esteemed colleague and member, Dr. George S. Bebis. Born in Crete in 1926, he came to the United States and received his education at Hellenic College, Holy Cross, and later at Harvard University. He became the Professor of Patristics at Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology in 1962, introduced the study of and love for the Church Fathers to generations of students for over four decades, authored many books and articles, participated in many conferences, and served the Church in representative capacities at various theological consultations. May his memory be eternal.
Respectfully submitted,
Teva Regule, PhD, OTSA President
Helen Creticos Theodoropoulos, PhD, OTSA Secretary