This post was originally published on this site

From June 30- July 1, 2016 the Synod of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia (ROCOR) gathered for its regular meeting in San Francisco, CA under the presidency of His Eminence Metropolitan Hilarion, First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad. The hierarchs were assembled in San Francisco on the occasion of the celebrations marking the 50th anniversary since the repose of Holy Hierarch John (Maximovich) of Shanghai and San Francisco.

On June 30, the Synod of Bishops heard the report of Dr. Vitaly Permiakov, Instructor of Dogmatic and Liturgical Theology at HTOS and a member of the Curriculum Committee, concerning the Statutes of Holy Trinity Orthodox Seminary presented to the Synod for approval.  The new internal Statutes were prepared by the Curriculum Committee of the Seminary under the chairmanship of the Rector, Archimandrite Luke (Murianka), and describe the working structure of the Seminary’s offices, as well as introduce a few of the new, improved policies and procedures.  Following the presentation, Dr. Permiakov answered questions from the members of the Synod, and reported on the progress with the accreditation of the Master of Divinity program at Holy Trinity Seminary. 

Having heard the report, the Synod of Bishops resolved to approve the proposed Statutes of Holy Trinity Orthodox Seminary, and to send the Ukase concerning this matter to Archimandrite Luke.  Pursuant to the petition of the Seminary Rector and following the provisions of the Statutes, the Synod also resolved to appoint the Very Most Rev. Archbishop Gabriel (Chemodakov) of Montreal and Canada as a member of the Board of Trustees of the Seminary, representing the Synod of Bishops on the Board.

His Eminence Gabriel, Archbishop of Montreal and Canada is a graduate of Holy Trinity Orthodox Seminary (’84) and a former member of the brotherhood of Holy Trinity Monastery.  From 1984 to 1988 he was a member of the Seminary faculty, having taught courses in Church history and Russian culture. He was elected to the see of Montreal and Canada in 2008, and elevated to the rank of Archbishop in 2011.

As a member of the Board of Trustees, Vladyka Gabriel joins other, currently serving members, which include the Very Rev. Archimandrite Luke (Murianka) as Rector and President of the Board, the Very Rev. Hegumen Theophylact (Clapper-Dewell), the Rev. Hieromonk Cyprian (Alexandrou), the Very Rev. Archpriest Stefan Pavlenko, President of HTOS Alumni Association, Mr. Alexis Lukianov, and Mr. George A. Williams.

For the full report on the meeting of the Synod of Bishops on June 30-July 1, 2016, see: http://www.synod.com/synod/eng2016/20160705_ensfsynodmeeting.html.