On March 31, 2008, the Faculty Council of St Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary, meeting at the Seminary, issued the following statement:

To the Orthodox Faithful in America

We, the faculty of St Vladimir's Seminary, have been troubled by the problems that have plagued the Orthodox Church in America over recent years. Until now we have not spoken out, hoping that the regular ecclesial structures of the Church would be able to restore peace and stability. The continued suffering of our Church, however, and now the plight of the Alaskan faithful, our brothers and sisters in Christ, have both alarmed us and deeply pained us, to the point where we feel compelled to speak. We stand with the priests, deacons, and faithful who have courageously spoken out about their untenable situation.

To the Beloved Hierarchs of the Orthodox Church in America

Although we are all accountable to one another before God, the high vocation of oversight pertains in a unique way to you, the bishops. Our sincere hope is that you will not neglect the gift granted to you, the calling to preserve the body and lead the faithful, listening attentively to the needs and concerns of the whole people of God — clergy and laity alike — in the spirit of love and gentleness. We implore you to be diligent in these matters, since, as the Apostle teaches, you will thereby save both yourself and your flock.

Our Fervent Hope

Conciliarity, unity, and transparency — the vision of the first pastors of the Orthodox Church in America — have apparently been abandoned. The Alaskan situation is more than simply the most recent manifestation of this tragedy. When one member suffers, the whole body suffers, and so the whole Church is in pain when an entire diocese is afflicted. We stand at a seismic moment: the future of the Orthodox Church in America is at risk.

We strive to live as faithful, responsible Christians under the leadership of our bishops, who will answer to God the Father for the Church entrusted to them. We therefore pray that the Holy Synod of the Orthodox Church in America live up to their high calling as imitators of Christ and pastors of their flock. With the whole Church, we are prayerfully and anxiously awaiting a righteous resolution to these matters.