Source: Orthodox Church in America
SYOSSET, NY [OCA] The fall session of the Metropolitan Council of the Orthodox Church in America opened with the celebration of the Divine Liturgy at Saint Sergius of Radonezh Chapel at the OCA Chancery here on Tuesday, September 25, 2012.
His Grace, Bishop Michael of New York and New Jersey, Administrator of the OCA, will chair the meeting. Members of the Holy Synod of Bishops will also be in attendance.
On Monday, September 24, Finance Committee and Post Council Committee members met. Archpriest Theodore Boback (Dean of Military Chaplains) and Archpriest Joseph Gallick (assistant Dean of Military Chaplains) of the Office of Military and VA Chaplaincies also met with Bishop Michael.
Bishop Michael will formally open Tuesday’s session with remarks and an in depth discussion on recent events. Archpriest John Jillions will deliver his report, and a discussion on the ongoing work of the Sexual Misconduct Policy Advisory Committee will be held. In the afternoon, Protodeacon Peter Danilchick will lead a discussion on the past and ongoing operation of the Metropolitan Council and consider ways of improving functionality and effectiveness, while a discussion on legal issues will ensue during the evening session.
Wednesday’s agenda opens with the report of Archpriest Eric G. Tosi,Secretary, which will include a comprehensive overview of the 17th All-American Council, slated to convene in Parma, OH November 13, 2012. Ms. Melanie Ringa, Treasurer, will present her report, as will the internal auditors. The Finance Committee also will present the 2013 budget for consideration. Reports will also be given by various Metropolitan Council committees—Crisis Management, Ethics, Charity, Council Development, Human Resources, Internal Governance, and others.
On Thursday, September 27, Archpriest Leonid Kishkovsky will offer a report on external affairs and Priest Gleb McFatter will report on behalf of the Pension Board. Alexei Krindatch also will offer a presentation on his recent statistical study on Orthodoxy in America in general and the OCA in particular. Recommendations for the 2013 Church planting grants will be considered, while the Reorganization Task Force will meet to discuss ways to better assign levels of responsibility of the Church’s work to the various administrative levels of the Church.
Minutes, reports and updates of the meeting will be posted on the OCA web site as they become available.