Chad Hatfield

Fr. Chad Hatfield (born December 15, 1953) is an Eastern Orthodox Archpriest. He is currently the President of St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Seminary, where he teaches Missiology and Evangelism courses. He is also the editor of the Orthodox Christian Profiles Series, published by St. Vladimir’s Seminary Press.

Biography

Fr. Chad Hatfield was ordained to the diaconate (January 5, 1994) and the priesthood (January 6, 1994) by Bishop Basil of Wichita (Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America). Between 2002 and 2007 he served with great distinction as the Dean of St. Herman Seminary in Alaska. On November 18, 2006 he was elected as Chancellor of St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Seminary and began his term on September 8, 2007.[1] After serving a decade as Chancellor, on May 25, 2016, The Very Rev. Dr. Chad was appointed as Chief Executive Officer by the Board of Trustees of St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Seminary.[2]After a few months, on November 30, 2016 Fr Chad was appointed as President of St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Seminary. By unanimous vote, the SVS Board of Trustees gave Fr Chad a five-year appointment beginning July 1st, 2019.

He is marrited to Matushka Thekla. She is the Coordinator for the St. Juliana Society. An iconographer and graphic designer, she is currently finishing her certification as a botanical illustrator. They have one child and three grandchildren.

Education

1975 - B.A., Southwestern College
1978 - M.Div., Nashotah House
1988 - S.T.M., Nashotah House. Thesis: “Baptism, Chrismation, Eucharist: Christian Initiation, A Recovery of the Primitive Pattern”.
2001 - D.Min., Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. Thesis: “An Examination of the Pastoral Rites for Ministry to the Sick as Found in the Orthodox Christian Euchologia”.
2015 - Certificate in Fund Raising Management from Indiana University School of Philanthropy, 2015

Pastoral experience

1978-1993 – 16 years of ministry in the Episcopal Church as parish priest, school chaplain, missionary in South Africa and as cathedral dean
1994-2002 – Founding Pastor of All Saints Orthodox Church, Salina, Kansas
1999-2002 – Priest-in-charge, St. Mary Magdalene Orthodox Mission, Manhattan, Kansas

Publications

Although Fr Chad’s activity focuses on administrative work, he is also editor of the Orthodox Christian Profiles and the Mission and Evangelism Series, and author of several publications.

Selected publications include:

From Masks to Icons – Center for Ethics and Religion, University of Notre Dame, 2004
Seminarians and Substance Abuse Training – National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse, Columbia University, 2005
Models for American Orthodox Missiology, Orthodox Education Day, SVS, 2007
Banquet Keynote – Dedication of the new OCMC Center, FL, 2009
Speaker at “Europe & the Judeo-Christian Tradition”, Vienna, Austria, 2010
Bishop Grafton & St. Tikhon, Fellowship of Ss. Alban & Sergius Celebration of the 20th Anniversary of the Glorification of St. Tikhon, Nashotah House
Speaker, National Religious Freedom Conference, Washington, D.C., 2012
Guest Lecturer in Missiology, Kiev Academy, Ukraine, 2013
Anglican/Orthodox Dialogue, Annual Kuhner, Reformed Episcopal Seminary, Blue Bell, Pa, 2014
Orthodoxy & The Seventh Ecumenical Council, Anglo-Catholic Congress, Fort Worth, TX, 2015
Marriage & Theosis, World Congress of Families, Salt Lake City, UT, November 2015
Legacy of St. Vladimir’s Seminary, 1000th Anniversary Celebration of the Repose of St. Vladimir, Moscow, Russia, 2015
Lessons from Contemporary Orthodox Missiology, Romanian Youth Worker Symposium, Fordham University, 16 April 2016
Marriage as a Pathway to Theosis, "Walk Through the Door of Holiness: An Ecumenical Conference Exploring Christian Character within Post-Christian Culture,” Greenwich, NY