ARLINGTON, VA [OCA] Representatives of the Orthodox Church in America were among the participants representing 37 member faith traditions at the Church World Service [CWS] Annual Members’ Meeting here April 16-17, 2015.
Representing the OCA were Arlene Kallaur, OCA Representative to CWS, and guests Archpriest John Vitko, member of the Metropolitan Council, Chancellor of the Diocese of Washington, and Rector of Saint Luke Church, McLean, VA, and Donna Karabin, who chairs the OCA Department of Christian Service and Humanitarian Aid. Also participating from the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America [GOARCH] were Nicholas Anton, GOARCH Coordinator of UN Programs; Protopresbyter Michael Kontogiorgis, GOARCH Assistant Chancellor and CWS Board Member; and John Paterakis, GOARCH Representative to CWS.
CWS is active in over 30 countries, where it specifically works to alleviate hunger and poverty. It often collaborates with the ACT Alliance that includes International Orthodox Christian Charities [IOCC] and other humanitarian agencies.
At present, CWS’s Immigration and Resettlement Program is focusing on the plight of Syrian refugees, who number over three million in surrounding countries. Faith communities in the US are invited to serve as refugee co-sponsors for those settled in the US. Information on this and CWS’s other programs is available at www.cwsglobal.org.
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