OCF Leaders and HCHC Students Discuss Pathways to Orthodox Unity

OCF leaders and HCHC students gathered for a roundtable discussion aimed at fostering unity between Eastern and Oriental Orthodox Christians. The event took place at the Maliotis Cultural Center in Brookline, Massachusetts, as part of a multi-day conference hosted by the Huffington Ecumenical Institute at Hellenic College Holy Cross (HCHC). The conference, titled “Eastern and Oriental Orthodox Churches: Moving the Dialogue Forward,” brought together national Orthodox Christian Fellowship (OCF) leaders and students from HCHC.

National OCF Director of Ministries, Christina Andresen, Assistant Director of Ministries, Peter Mansour, and Atlanta-area Campus Missionary, Jacob Sparks, participated in the discussion alongside HCHC students Ethan Wayne Buchson, a seminarian, Sophia White, a graduate student of theology, and Kyrillos Nashed, an undergraduate. Dr. Peter Bouteneff, Associate Dean for Institutional Mission and Engagement and Kulik Professor of Sacred Arts at St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary, served as the moderator.

Dr. Bouteneff opened the discussion by highlighting the “thirst for dialogue wherever Eastern Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox Christians live and struggle side by side.” He noted that the shared diaspora experience presents unique opportunities for unity across various aspects of church life, particularly among youth and young adults. The roundtable’s student speakers emphasized the potential for such dialogue, while also acknowledging the challenges that remain.

Many opportunities—both realized and unrealized—were discussed by the student participants. While HCHC offers a supportive environment for personal bridge-building, the institution has significant room for growth in fostering deeper engagement with Oriental Orthodox traditions. Suggestions included recruiting more students from Oriental Orthodox backgrounds, offering courses on Oriental Orthodox history, languages, and liturgical traditions taught by Oriental Orthodox faculty, and organizing more events to enhance mutual understanding between the two traditions.

OCF leaders, who minister to Eastern and Oriental Orthodox students nationwide, expressed a mix of hope and frustration. The current campus ministry landscape is inconsistent, with some OCF chapters comprising a nearly equal mix of Eastern and Oriental Orthodox students, while others collaborate to varying degrees with parallel ministries serving Oriental Orthodox students. “We’re hitting the ceiling of what can be done on the ground,” Mansour remarked, underscoring the need for greater institutional support and coordination.

The discussion reflected a shared commitment to advancing unity through dialogue, education, and mutual respect. As the Orthodox Churches continue to navigate complex relationships, the efforts of young leaders and institutions like HCHC offer a hopeful glimpse into the potential for reconciliation and collaboration. Proverbs 18:17 reminds us that justice is the foundation of peace, and such efforts reflect a desire to build bridges rather than walls.

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