Sixth Town Hall meeting to take place July 12 at St. Vladimir’s Seminary
On Saturday, July 12, St Vladimir’s Seminary will host an Orthodox Church in America (OCA) Town Hall meeting, from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. in the Metropolitan Philip Auditorium of the John G. Rangos Family Foundation Building. The meeting is open to members of the OCA especially those within regional proximity to the seminary.
Seminary Chancellor, The V. Rev. Chad Hatfield, noted that the Town Hall would be the sixth held thus far, in various geographical locations throughout the United States and Canada, and is part of St Vladimir’s effort to participate actively in the preparation for the 15th All-American Council of the OCA, a body of clergy and laity slated to convene in Pittsburgh, PA in November 2008.
Recommended by Preconciliar Commission and approved the Holy Synod of Bishops in April 2008, the Town Hall forums are meant to allow OCA administrators and hierarchy to hear the voices of laity and clergy regarding the administrative and financial urgencies brought to light during the past three years. In its recommendation, the Preconciliar Commission stated such meetings would be “essential to fostering a working atmosphere at the Council.”
The campus meeting will be facilitated by The V. Rev. Alexander Garklavs, OCA Chancellor, and chaired by His Grace, Bishop Nikon of Boston, New England, and the Albanian Archdiocese, who also chairs the Preconciliar Commission. Also in attendance from the OCA Chancery will be The Rev. Michael Tassos, Treasurer, The V. Rev. Eric Tosi, Secretary, and The V. Rev. Andrew Jarmus, Director of Ministries and Communications.
Designed to elicit the thoughts and feelings of concerned church members, the format of the Town Hall will revolve around three key questions posed to participants by the church administration: How has the crisis in the OCA affected you personally? What do you think would be the best-case scenario for resolving the problems besetting the OCA? How will the upcoming All-American Council be best able to address your concerns?
Fr Jarmus said the format “provides the opportunity for clergy and laity to express their feelings and opinions concerning the difficulties of the recent years in the OCA, and their feelings and thoughts on how to resolve it.”
For directions to the Town Hall, please visit the seminary website: http://www.svots.edu/Travel-Directions/, and for further information contact .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).