Midwest Diocese concludes assembly

PALATINE, IL [OCA Communications] — His Eminence, Archbishop Job of Chicago presided at the annual assembly of the Diocese of the Midwest here October 10-12, 2006.

Nearly 130 clergy and lay delegates and observers participated in the gathering.

In addition to the usual reports from diocesan deaneries and departments, a presentation on the diocese’s new parish health program was given by Mr. Joseph Kormos. The program will develop programs aimed at parish revitalization and the ongoing establishment of missions. Mr. Rob Koncel, diocesan treasurer, reported that the diocesan council had approved a $250,000.00 loan to cover extensive repairs on the diocesan center in Chicago. Major changes in the area of diocesan communications, especially with regard to the expansion of the diocesan web site [www.midwestdiocese.org] and the diocesan publication, “The Vigil,” were also reported.

After extensive discussion on the current situation in the Orthodox Church in America and consideration of a number of resolutions, the delegates overwhelmingly passed the following resolution.

“We acknowledge that the current financial scandal and leadership crisis within the OCA is intolerable to the faithful members of this diocese. It is the mind of the Diocesan Assembly of the Diocese of the Midwest, meeting in Palatine, Illinois, this 11th day of October 2006, that we have no confidence in the manner in which the administration in Syosset, New York, has handled this crisis and scandal.

“We call upon the Metropolitan, the Synod of Bishops, and the Metropolitan Council of the OCA to adhere to the Statutes of the OCA in their entirety including accepting the competencies of all bodies within the OCA.

“In an effort to provide administrative accountability and fiscal transparency, the recommendations of the auditors for full financial disclosure and generally accepted accounting principles need to be fully implemented [e.g., quarterly budgetary reporting].

“If by the Spring Session of the Synod of Bishops, March, 2007, any aspects of the Statutes are being violated, the Diocese of the Midwest will begin putting its assessment in escrow.”

A comprehensive account of the assembly, including detailed official minutes and a complete set of assembly reports, may be found on the diocesan web site at www.midwestdiocese.org.