St Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary, in its official educational capacity, is an institution of higher learning at the graduate-professional school level; it awards academic degrees and prepares its students for professional church-related activity. St Vladimir’s, however, is neither narrowly vocational nor only academic. As its name suggests, above all it is an Orthodox theological seminary. All aspects of its life are molded by two factors: an Orthodox understanding of theology, and a vocation for training pastors and leaders of the Church, both ordained and lay. In fulfilling its mission, the seminary faithfully adheres to Orthodox Christian tradition while presenting the Faith as a living truth for all ages. As well, the seminary remains committed to unity and diversity through its pan-Orthodox orientation.

MISSION STATEMENT

St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary serves Christ, his Church, and the world through Orthodox Christian theological education, research, and scholarship, and the promotion of inter-Orthodox cooperation.

In this way, the Seminary prepares students for ministry as bishops, priests, deacons, lay leaders, and scholars so that they may build up Orthodox communities, foster Church growth through mission and evangelism, teach the Orthodox faith, and care for those in need.

VISION STATEMENT

With God’s help and with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, the Seminary aspires to be the premier center of Orthodox Christian scholarship and pastoral education and to operate as an exemplary Orthodox Christian institution.

VALUES STATEMENT

In every aspect of its life and work, the Seminary is guided by the following principles:

• To believe in the gospel of Jesus Christ, and to adhere to his commandments, as expressed in the life and teachings of the Orthodox Christian Church;
• To acknowledge our responsibility to communicate Orthodox Christianity to the world and to invite all to partake of the fullness of the faith;
• To take a holistic approach to theological education and spiritual formation—integrating study, work, worship, and personal discipline;
• To manifest Orthodox Christian love, service, worship, and learning in the life of the Seminary community;
• To teach the critical appropriation of the Orthodox tradition in order to proclaim the unchanging gospel today;
• To be committed to Orthodox unity in North America and inter-Orthodox cooperation at all levels of Church life;
• To be open, transparent, and responsible stewards of the resources entrusted to us;
• To undertake our work together through a process of intentional consultation, shared governance, and consensus-building;
• To encourage every member of the Seminary community to be a full and active participant in the Seminary’s mission;
• To expect all members of the Seminary community to hold the highest standards of professional ethics and personal integrity;
• To aspire to excellence through continuous and ongoing improvement;
• To be committed to fairness, respect, and hospitality for all members of the Seminary community.

As sinful human beings, we acknowledge that we will inevitably fall short of these high ideals. As Christians, we will constantly seek forgiveness for our mistakes and do our best to correct them.

Adherence to Tradition

The seminary is faithful in its adherence to the tradition of Orthodox Christianity, and it seeks faithfully to communicate that tradition to future generations and to form them in it. But faithfulness to tradition does not just mean repetition of verities inherited from the past. Rather, it requires critical appropriation of the content of the Christian faith and then its formulation and explication in a contemporary context, in the light of the problems faced by contemporary humanity. This was the task faced by the Fathers of the early Church, who recognized the need to express Christian truth in the language and categories of their time. This is also the task facing St Vladimir’s Seminary: to present Orthodox Christianity as a living truth for all ages, our own included, not just for an ever-more-remote past.

This understanding of tradition has important implications for how the seminary attempts to accomplish its mission. From its very establishment in 1938, the seminary has upheld a two-fold mandate from the leaders of the Orthodox Church:
1) To provide future Orthodox clergy in this country with a theological education according to national standards and expectations; and
2) To promote study and research in Orthodox theology, history, and culture.
St Vladimir's Seminary, named after the great saint who led Kievan Rus' to Orthodox Christianity in the 10th century, was founded with the vocation of mission in and for America, as its founders deeply felt the need to enter into the mainstream of American life and American theological education. The seminary was intended to be specifically a graduate school of theology distinct from a narrowly vocational pastoral training school. Throughout its history both supporters and detractors have called attention to St Vladimir’s scholarly reputation and to its American character. With no apology, these qualities have allowed the seminary to stand both as a proponent of Orthodox Christianity in North America and as a source of constructive criticism for other church institutions.

Commitment to Unity

St Vladimir’s Seminary has long had a pan-Orthodox orientation and has served as a major forum for inter-Orthodox cooperation. This has been reflected not only in its remarkably diverse student body but also in its faculty, staff, and board of trustees. The seminary is convinced that maintaining this rich diversity is vital for the fulfillment of its mission. Inter-Orthodox cooperation and unity are essential not just for the seminary’s well-being but for the well-being of the Orthodox Church itself. The seminary here recalls the words of Fr Georges Florovsky soon after he became dean in 1949,: “A contemporary Orthodox theologian cannot retire into a narrow cell of some local tradition, because Orthodoxy … is not a local tradition but basically an ecumenical one.”

St Vladimir’s commitment to unity will be strengthened in the new curriculum in the following ways:

• The new curriculum features a new course—required for all students—on “Orthodox Christian Identity Today,” which examines the history and experience of all Orthodox Christians in North America.
• It takes full account of each jurisdiction’s requirements for the education of its students in a manner that not only is equitable for all students, by standardizing the curriculum and the amount of time allotted for specialized instruction, but also serves to enrich the educational experience of all students.
• The curriculum takes advantage of the unique opportunities provided by the setting of St Vladimir’s Seminary in the New York metropolitan area: outstanding pastors and church leaders from all jurisdictions bring their wealth of experience to the education of our students, from their own jurisdictions and from others. By their role within the seminary as adjunct faculty they play a vital role in the education of all students.