Metropolitan Council recommends Paul Bodnar as OCA secretary
At their meeting at the Chancery here June 12-13, 2007, members of the Metropolitan Council of the Orthodox Church in America recommended the appointment of Mr. Paul Bodnar for the position of OCA secretary.
Mr. Bodnar’s name will be forwarded to the Holy Synod of Bishops for confirmation.
Born in Edmonton, AB, Canada to the daughter of a Ukrainian Orthodox priest, the Rev. Peter Melnychuk, Mr. Bodnar’s family was well rooted in the Church. He was an active member of youth groups, choirs, and church boards throughout his life. He served as cantor at Saint John Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral and Saint Anthony Church, Edmonton.
Mr. Bodnar holds two degrees from the University of Alberta and taught school for seven years before pursuing a career in business and operating a successful real estate company. He also co-founded Metanoia Ministries, an Orthodox Christian company dedicated to growing the Orthodox Church in Western Canada.
He also served as executive director of Saint John’s Institute, an Orthodox college residence on the campus of the University of Alberta, where he oversaw massive renovations to the facility, generated increased revenues, and initiated a missions program, organized a new Orthodox Christian Fellowship, reopened the chapel for regular services, and hosted the first four Canadian Orthodox Christian Conferences on Missions and Evangelism.
Mr. Bodnar leaves his current position of executive director at Saint Nicholas Ranch and Retreat Center, Dunlap, CA, in assuming his new position. At the ranch, he oversaw the upgrading of the facility, initiated Orthodox programming, and developed new systems and controls that helped stabilize its operations.
Mr. Bodnar and his wife, Wendy, are the parents of three daughters, Monica, Anastasia and Sarah, two of whom are married. They have one granddaughter, Callia. His brother, the Very Rev. Peter Bodnar, is rector of the Protection of the Virgin Mary Church, Merrilville, IN, while his brother Joseph is head cantor at Saint Anthony Church, Edmonton.
Mr. Bodnar has traveled extensively and visited Orthodox churches in Japan, Greece, Cyprus, Ukraine, the United Kingdom, and across North America.
He is very excited to join the management team at Syosset as secretary of the Church.