Metropolitan Herman participates in SCOBA meeting
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| Participating in the November 15, 2005 SCOBA meeting were [from left] His Eminence, Metropolitan Joseph of the Bulgarian Patriarchal Church; His Eminence, Metropolitan Nicholas, American Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Diocese; His Eminence, Metropolitan Constantine, Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA; His Eminence, Archbishop Demetrios, Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America; His Beatitude, Metropolitan Herman, Orthodox Church in America; His Eminence, Archbishop Nicolae of the Romanian Patriarchal Church; and His Grace, Bishop Antoun, Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America. |
SOUTH BOUND BROOK, NJ [OCA Communications] — His Beatitude, Metropolitan Herman was one of several hierarchs who participated in the fall session of the Standing Conference of Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the Americas [SCOBA], hosted by His Eminence, Metropolitan Constantine at the Consistory of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA here November 15, 2005.
His Eminence, Archbishop Demetrios of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, chaired the meeting, at which the hierarchs approved the establishment of the Orthodox Christian Prison Ministry [OCPM] as the newest of SCOBA’s growing number of agencies. OCPM will initiate is program in 2006 with the appointment of a board and election of officers.
In an extensive report, Mr. Dean Triantafilou, executive director of International Orthodox Christian Charities [IOCC], highlighted IOCC’s response to the hurricane Katrina and hurricane Rita disasters. He noted that IOCC provided over $4 million in assistance. The humanitarian agency continues its long-term development projects on the West Bank and Gaza and in Lebanon, Ethiopia, Romania, Serbia and elsewhere. IOCC continues to offer significant aid in Asia to meet the ongoing needs of tsunami victims and to earthquake victims in Pakistan.
The hierarchs approved the agenda for the October 2006 conference of all canonical Orthodox Bishops belonging to SCOBA’s nine jurisdictions. The Study and Planning Commission was asked to select persons to prepare papers on a variety of topics to be discussed at the four day conference, slated to be held in Chicago.
On behalf of the Orthodox Christian Fellowship [OCF], the Rev. Mark Leondis reported that OCF chapters exist on over 200 college and university campuses across North America. The Rev. Christopher Metropoulos, executive director of the Orthodox Christian Network [OCN], reported on efforts to expand its radio ministry. The hierarchs reaffirmed their support for the “Share The Light Sunday” observance in all Orthodox parishes on January 15, 2006. The Very Rev. Paul Kucynda, executive director of the Orthodox Christian Education Commission [OCEC], reported on the agency’s publishing and teacher training efforts.
The hierarchs also approved the convocation of a clergy seminar on Christian/Muslim Relations. Slated to be held in the Dallas area in early 2006, the seminar also will be offered in other regions to assist clergy in dealing with concerns resulting from the rapid growth of Islam in the US.
Other participating hierarchs included His Eminence, Archbishop Nicolae of the Romanian Orthodox Archdiocese; His Eminence, Metropolitan Nicholas of the Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Diocese; His Eminence, Metropolitan Joseph of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church; His Grace, Bishop Antoun of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America, who represetned His Eminence, Metropolitan Philip; His Eminence, Archbishop Antony of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA; and His Grace, Bishop Dimitrios of Xanthos, SCOBA general secretary. Members of the SCOBA Study and Planning Commission were also present.
Click here for pictures of the SCOBA meeting.