Source: Orthodox Christian Laity
About OCL
Orthodox Christian Laity (OCL) is an independent, national, Pan-Orthodox, 501(c)3 non-profit, educational association, incorporated in the State of Illinois on March 17, 1988, to advance the renewal of the Orthodox Christian Church in the United States by advocating that the laity remain part of the conciliar governance process which provides balance to the hierarchy and clergy, all working together in governance, spiritual and other matters to ensure accountability and transparency in the affairs of the Church. OCL is committed to the establishment of an administratively and canonically unified, self-governing Orthodox Church in the United States.
Roula Karcazes and George Matsoukas
Annual Meeting and Conference
The Board of Directors of OCL held the organization’s 37th annual business meeting and conference on October 18-19, 2024, at St. George Romanian Orthodox Cathedral, Southfield, Michigan. Board members and Advisors met on October 18 to discuss the focus of OCL’s efforts in 2025.
OCL Board Members and Advisors at the Annual Meeting
OCL organized a conference on October 19 on Inter Parish Associations (IPA) and Dialogue Across Orthodox Jurisdictions featuring Reverend Father Nicholas Anton, Director of Operations of the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the USA, as keynote speaker. Fr. Anton introduced Spyridoula Fotinis, Director of the Assembly’s IPA program who joined the conference via ZOOM, and presented a slide presentation highlighting the scope, purpose and progress of the project to date. The conference participants then had an opportunity to ask questions of a panel that included Fr. Anton, Ms. Fotinis and Their Eminences, Metropolitan Nicholas of Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Detroit and Archbishop Nathaniel of The Romanian Orthodox Episcopate of America.
Fr. Nicholas Anton
Fr. Anton and Spyridoula Fotinis
Archbishop Nathaniel, Fr. Nicholas Anton, Metropolitan Nicholas
Fr. Dimitrie Vincent asking a question of the panel.
Metropolitan Nicholas responding to questions.
Subdeacon Adam Murphy, Director of FOCUS Detroit, presented a slide presentation and answered questions about his work with people in the inner city of Detroit.
Subdeacon Adam Murphy
Following lunch, OCL President William Souvall read a letter of appreciation to Archbishop Nathaniel for his 24 years of active service on OCL’s Board of Advisors and presented him with a donation to the Episcopate’s Archbishop’s Charity Endowment Fund. Following a short video highlighting the Archbishop’s participation in OCL’s events, Reverend Father Nicholas Greanias, also a long-time Advisory Board member, sang an original musical tribute to the Archbishop to the delight of all the participants.
William Souvall with Archbishop Nathaniel
Fr. Nicholas Greanias singing with Archbishop Nathaniel
The participants then gathered for a round-table discussion on several topics: What successful examples of cross-ethnic collaboration exist within our Church? What are some practical steps to integrate parishioners from different backgrounds? What theological foundations support the pursuit of unity? How do we celebrate cultural diversity while maintaining Orthodox unity? How do personal biases hinder parish unity, and how can they be addressed?
Bill Souvall, Fr. Nick Anton, Fr. Radu Ciui, Fr. George Cautis and Archbishop Nathaniel
Participants Louise Gibb, Mary Stanesa, Fr Dimitrie Vincent and Fr. Radu Ciui
Some participants in the round-table discussion (Fr George Cautis, Dorothy Aldea, George Matsoukas, Irene Triforos and Mary Stanesa
The conference concluded with Great Vespers celebrated by Fr. George Cautis, parish priest of St. George Cathedral, and Fr. Nicholas Anton, with heavenly responses by the Orthodox Choir of Detroit under the direction of Matushka Victoria Kopistiansky.
The Orthodox Choir of Detroit
The OCL Board expresses heartfelt gratitude to St. George Cathedral (Parish Priest Fr. George Cautis, Parish Council President George Teodorescu, and Cultural Center Manager Mark Kalugar and parishioners) for hosting the meeting and conference and providing such warm hospitality.
St. George Romanian Orthodox Cathedral
Click here to view OCL’s 37th Annual Conference 2024 – Videos
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Photos courtesy of Bill Caras, OCL Vice President. Thank you, Bill!
1 Comment
OCL has advocated for the creation of the Assembly of Bishops since 1997. OCL made a generous donation to assist in planning the first gathering of the Assembly after it was created in 2008. Its first meeting was held in NYC. OCL is enthusiastic about the development of Inter Parish Associations (IPAs) developing throughout the nation. The laity of different jurisdictions have been working together before the bishops of different jurisdictions met together in this land. The highpoint of working together was the young adult movements of the 1950’s culminating in the gathering of 13,000 young adults in Pittsburgh on Labor Day Weekend 1963 at the Mellon Center. This event was sponsored by the Council of Eastern Orthodox Youth Leaders of the Americas (C.E.O.Y.L.A.). Most of the approved ministries of the Assembly of Bishops were started by laypersons, and when they were viable, the Assembly blessed them.
Inter Parish Associations are a way to assist local parishes of different jurisdictions in the same geographic areas to work together, share resources and strengthen outreach and ministries to the local community. It is a program that helps build grassroots unity at a local level. Get your local parishes involved in this unity effort.