A Community Forum Sponsored by the Orthodox Christian Laity
The Assembly of Bishops and the Future of Orthodoxy in America
Guest Speakers: His Eminence Archbishop Nathaniel
Spiritual Leader of the Romanian Orthodox Episcopate of America
His Eminence Metropolitan Nikitas, Director of Patriarch Athenagoras Institute
Eric Namee, a member of the Secretariat of the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops and serves as a consultant to numerous Orthodox Christian projects and organizations.
Program Moderator: Susan Haikalis, President of OCL
Saturday, November 2: 9 am – Noon
Holy Trinity Serbian Orthodox Church 1700 School Street, Moraga, California
Although the majority of Orthodox Christians in America support the idea of unity, few of us are aware of the work of the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of North and Central America which was established in 2009/10. Among its several goals is to explore the organization of the Church in North and Central America in accordance with the ecclesiological and the canonical tradition of the Orthodox Church. The forum will provide us with an opportunity to learn more about what is taking place, to share our own opinions about the ideas of unity and what we as laypersons, “the people of God,” might do to move the process along. The forum is open to all interested persons and will focus on the following:
- The history of the movement for jurisdictional unity in American and how the the Assembly of Bishops has come about as the vehicle for moving this concept forward to reality.
- How the Assembly is organized and what planning is currently taking place in its various committees and subgroups.
- What are the aspirations of the hierarchs, lay leaders and the laity in conjunction with the work of the Assembly?
- What is the vision of our church leadership for the future of the Orthodox Church in America?
Directions to Holy Trinity: East on Highway 24 to Walnut Creek, off at the Orinda Exit and follow signs for Moraga which leads you to Moraga Way. Follow Moraga Way for about 3 miles and turn right on School Street. Continental Breakfast will be served beginning at 8:30 am. If you are able to join us, please respond by Friday, October 24 to Susan Haikalis at 925-705-7520 or by email to susanhaikalis@yahoo.com. Conference Hotel: The Walnut Creek Marriott, 1355 N Main Street, Walnut Creek, California. Room rate for the Conference is $119 plus tax. $5 per day and overnight for valet parking. For reservations, call 925-934-2000 or 800-828-5613 and mention the Orthodox Christian Laity. Please note: All reservations received after the cut-off date will be accepted on a space available basis. If the group rate is not available, attendees will be given the current rate at the time the reservation is made. Walnut Creek is approximately 20 miles east of Oakland/San Francisco on Highway 24. Closest airport is in Oakland with service from throughout the US on Southwest Airlines. BART service is available from both the Oakland and San Francisco airports to Walnut Creek.