☦️ Eastern Christian Formation and Adaptation
Focus on what matters today and develop the skills to adapt in the future.
Relevant theological formation is contextually appropriate, both in terms of theology and practice, while also being shaped by the Holy Tradition passed down through the centuries by the Orthodox Church.
Holy Tradition of the Church
For nearly 2,000 years, the Body of Christ has been learning what it looks like to faithfully follow Christ on the path to Theosis (union with God). We have learned from Christ, the Apostles, the Holy Fathers and Mothers (Patristic Tradition), the Saints, the Ecumenical Councils, and the ongoing liturgical and spiritual life of the Church. We have seen great sanctity manifested in the name of following Christ, as well as great failings. This Holy Tradition provides a wealth of wisdom for us today. Relevant theological formation invites us to consider the Soteriological Story of the Gospel—the story of God uniting humanity to Himself through Christ—in light of what we discern the Holy Spirit is illuminating today.
Contextually Appropriate
Too often, academic institutions engage with the wisdom of the Holy Tradition primarily through one cultural or contextual lens. In practice, this means students may study models of ministry or theological approaches that are not contextually appropriate to the Orthodox phronema (mindset) or the specific needs of their local parish, mission, or community. For example, we might study structures of organization rooted in post-Reformation Western thought, even when working in Orthodox communities that leverage a conciliar, synodal, and episcopal structure rooted in the Patristic era.
Relevant theological formation needs to be contextually appropriate. That means you will work with your mentor team to identify and engage in learning experiences that take account of the culture, context, and calling you are in or interested in. In doing so, you will not only be better prepared to flourish in your current context and vocation but also develop the skills necessary to study and thrive in any future context and vocation while remaining faithful to the Orthodox deposit of faith.
Theologically Grounded
As a participant in this formation, you have the opportunity to craft an entire educational journey that helps you better understand the Orthodox faith and how it informs your daily life, spiritual journey, and vocation. The formation guides you deeply into the Liturgical, Mystical, and Dogmatic life of the Orthodox Church, allowing you to align your learning with the teachings of the Church Fathers. More importantly, it allows you to better understand the foundational theology and spiritual disciplines of those in your context. Relevant theological formation must be Theologically Grounded because that helps you understand more deeply what it means to participate in and proclaim the Incarnational Gospel in your context, always seeking to promote the unity of the faith and the bond of peace.
Globally and Historically Aware
One of the best ways to grow in your knowledge of what it looks like to engage in contextually appropriate and theologically grounded formation is to interact with faithful Orthodox Christians and even non-Orthodox who look, think, and act differently than you. Doing so helps you better understand who you are in Christ and why you believe what you do, grounding your perspective in the Ecumenical nature of the Orthodox Church. You are a better leader in a North American parish if you interact with the wisdom of a spiritual elder from Mount Athos, or a theological scholar from the Greek or Slavic traditions. Relevant theological formation is better when it is Globally and Historically Aware because it is through interaction with the global Body of Christ and the historic witness of the Saints that we become attentive to what the Holy Spirit is doing in our lives and in the life of the entire Church.
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