Pastoral Leadership & Contact Info

Orthodox Pastoral Life

It goes without saying, perhaps, that our Lord Jesus Christ is the Head of the Church, and the Good Shepherd (or "pastor") of His Flock, the People of God. The New Testament also give Jesus the title of Bishop, or episkopos. However, our Lord appointed holy Apostles to establish the church by the power of the Holy Spirit. And those Apostles appointed pastors -- "overseers" (bishops) and "presbyters" (priests) -- to be the local pastors of the churches. These pastors are to manifest the pastoral care of our Lord.

His Grace, Bishop BENJAMIN

Our Bishop

The Bishop, who oversees the life of the local church, is the first-pastor of every community in his area. The bishop's area of pastoral care is called a diocese, and the local individual congregation is called the parish. Every local pastor, or priest, works under the bishop's archpastoral ministry, along with the other appointed clergy.

The Archpastor of our Diocese is His Grace, Bishop Benjamin, Bishop of San Francisco & the West. On March 20, 2007, the Holy Synod (of Bishops) of The Orthodox Church in America assembled and elected His Grace, Bishop Benjamin as our new diocesan bishop. As of October 2, 2007, Bishop Benjamin is officially enthroned as the first-pastor of this spiritual flock. As is our custom in the Orthodox churches, we say to His Grace: Eis polla eti, despota! ("May God grant you Many Years, Master!")

Our former bishop -- His Grace, the Right Reverend TIKHON -- retired in November, 2006. We are so grateful for Bishop TIKHON's 19 years of pastoral care of the Diocese of the West, and pray God "eis polla eti, Despota" (may God grant His Grace "many years")!

The Diocese of the West Website Information: http://dowoca.org

The Orthodox Church in America Website: www.oca.org.

Our Pastor:

The Rev. Fr. David Thatcher
Orthodox Presbyter (Priest) Rector

Office Telephone: 209-384-0673

Mailing Address: P. O. Box 3704
Merced, CA 95344-3704

Email: MagdaleneRector (at) a o l (dot) c o m

The pastor of an Orthodox Christian congregation is usually a Presbyter, or Priest. In our tradition, the main pastor of a parish is called a Rector. He is the spiritual father of our eucharistic community, manifesting the ministry of our Lord Jesus Christ here.

Our Rector is the Rev. Fr. David Thatcher. Fr. David came to this mission parish on Christmas Eve, 1997, having been ordained first Deacon, and then Priest, at St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary, in Crestwood, New York, that same year.

Fr. David is a married priest; his wife Karen, together with his four children, are vital parts of his ministry and this parish. Fr. David and Matushka Karen were received into Orthodox Christianity in 1990, having roots in conservative evangelical Protestantism.

Fr. David is a graduate of Biola University (B.A., 1980) and Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary (M.Div., 1987), both outstanding Evangelical institutions of higher education. In addition, Fr. David has completed the St. Stephen's Course in Orthodox Theology, and has done graduate theological studies at the University of the Notre Dame and St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary (Crestwood, NY).