DRAFT MINUTES PENDING APPROVAL

Transcription

1 DRAFT MINUTES PENDING APPROVAL Assembly of the Diocese of New York and New Jersey Right Reverend MICHAEL Bishop of New York Orthodox Church in America Saints Peter and Paul Orthodox Church, Endicott, New York November 11, 2014 Opening Prayer The Assembly opened, following the celebration of the Divine Liturgy and a meal, with the singing of O Heavenly King at 12:55 PM EST. His Grace, Bishop Michael, made opening remarks welcoming the delegates and observers. He thanked the parish of SS. Peter and Paul Church for hosting the Assembly. Appointments His Grace then made the following appointments: Vice Chairs (one from the clergy, one from the laity): Archpriest Joseph Lickwar (SS. Peter and Paul Church, Jersey City, NJ); Mr. Scott Anderson (SS. Peter and Paul Church, Syracuse, NY) Secretariat (one from the clergy and two from the laity): Fr. David Cowan (Holy Trinity Church, Yonkers, NY); Archdeacon Michael Suvak (Holy Virgin Protection Cathedral, New York, NY); Mr. James Kornafel (SS. Peter and Paul Church, South River, NJ) Credentials Monitor: Archpriest Stephen Evanina (Holy Assumption Church, Clifton, NJ) Tellers: Fr. Igor Kseniuk (St. John the Baptist Church, Passaic, NJ); Fr. Leonid Schmidt (St. Gregory Palamas Church, Glen Gardner, NJ); Aksenti Savastinuk (SS. Peter and Paul Church, Jersey City, NJ) Address of Diocesan Hierarch His Grace gave his opening address. It may be viewed or heard online at Report of the Credentials Monitor 1 Bishop 46 Clergy Delegates 23 Lay Delegates 5 Observers 2 Guest Speakers Total Attendance: 77 Old Business Approval of Minutes, 2013 Diocesan Assembly Father Joseph Lickwar entertained a motion to approve the Minutes from the 2013 Diocesan Assembly. The motion was made by Archpriest Ken James Stavrevsky (St. John the Baptist 1

2 Church, Rochester, NY) and seconded by Mrs. Janet VanDuyn (St. John the Baptist Church, Rochester, NY, Diocesan Lay Representative to the Metropolitan Council). The motion passed. Report of the Treasurer Matushka Mary Breton Father Lickwar asked Treasurer Matushka Mary Breton to entertain questions concerning the Treasurer s Report, which had been distributed to participants in advance. There were no questions. Matushka Breton reiterated her comments from prior Assemblies, that every year, each parish needs to send its annual financial reports to the Diocesan Chancery together with its Annual Meeting minutes and its request for the Bishop s blessing of its Parish Council membership. Father Lickwar entertained a motion to accept the report of the Treasurer. A motion to accept the Treasurer s Report was made by Archpriest Alexey Karlgut (SS. Peter and Paul Church, Endicott, NY) and seconded by Archpriest Sophrony Royer (SS. Peter and Paul Church, Bayonne, NJ). The motion passed. Report of the Diocesan Auditors Igumen Joseph (Hoffman), David Maliniak and William Rentz Father Hoffman reported that the Auditors Committee had audited the books and found everything in order. He asked if there were questions from the Assembly; there were none. A motion to accept the Auditors Report was made by Archpriest David Vernak (Christ the Saviour Church, Paramus, NJ) and seconded by Archpriest John Chupeck (SS. Peter and Paul Church, Syracuse, NY). The motion passed. Presentation and Approval of 2015 Budget Father Lickwar turned over the chairmanship of the Assembly to Lay Vice-Chair Scott Anderson. Mr. Anderson moved to the Approval of the 2015 Budget. The Proposed 2015 Budget had been made available on the Diocesan website and its online link sent to participants for advance review, along with the link to the Year-To-Date financials from January-August Matushka Breton asked if there were any questions. Archpriest David Vernak asked whether the annual Diocesan Assessment would be increased for 2015; the response was No. Mr. Anderson entertained a motion to approve the 2015 Budget. The motion was made by Fr. Alexey Karlgut and seconded by Fr. Daniel Skvir. The motion passed. First Invited Presentation Saint Andrew s Camp Priest John Malcom, Camp Director, St. Andrew s Camp Father John Malcom, a priest of the ROCOR Diocese of Eastern America who is a veteran of military service and former worker with troubled youth, spoke and presented slides on Saint Andrew s Camp, the annual four-week summer camp program for children in Jewell, NY. He answered questions from the floor and emphasized the need for scholarship support and guest speakers to strengthen the camp s offerings. New Business Reports from the Chancellor and Deans Questions were sought on the Chancellor s and Deans Reports, which had been distributed beforehand. No questions were posed. Father Lickwar added to his written report the comment that 2

3 a Diocesan celebration of the Fifth Anniversary of Bishop Michael s consecration to the Episcopacy will be held Saturday, May 9, Details will be disseminated as they are confirmed. Report from Representatives to the Metropolitan Council The written Report of the Representatives to the Metropolitan Council had been distributed previously. Mr. Anderson entertained questions for Diocesan Representatives to the Metropolitan Council, Fr. John Shimchick and Janet VanDuyn. None were posed. Reports of Diocesan Officers The Chairpersons of the following Diocesan Departments, having previously submitted their reports, made themselves available to field any questions, with the exceptions of Priest John Diamantis (Chair, Department of College Ministry) and Matushka Andrea Diamantis (Chair, Department of Religious Education), who were absent due to illness. Bishop Michael offered to answer questions on their behalf. Office of Communications Archpriest Ken James Stavrevsky Diocesan Publications / Jacob s Well Archpriest John Shimchick Commission on Liturgical Music Archpriest Daniel Skvir, Matushka Doreen Bartholomew and Ms. Carol Wetmore o Father Royer noted that, in the wake of the cancellation of the planned Game of Tones event, it would be helpful if organizers of parish events were better informed of other Diocesan and parish events that might present schedule conflicts. Commission on Mission and Evangelism Archpriest Jonathan Ivanoff o Archpriest John Shimchick (Church of the Holy Cross, Medford, NJ) asked whether the Commission could issue periodic updates following up on evangelism-themed events in the Diocese. Father Ivanoff emphasized his willingness to visit parishes to help them implement the parish health strategies outlined in the online and written materials he provides. o Priest Jason Vansuch (St. George Church, Buffalo, NY) noted that he uses Fr. Ivanoff s strategies in his parish, to their benefit. Missions Archpriest Alexey Karlgut Department of Youth Ministry Priest Jason Vansuch and Priest James Worthington Department of College Ministry (Priest John Diamantis absent; Bishop Michael invited questions) Department of Religious Education (Matushka Andrea Diamantis absent; Bishop Michael invited questions) Questions for the Bishop Bishop Michael, noting that the Assembly was running ahead of schedule, entertained questions from the floor. Fr. Shimchick thanked His Grace for his remarks at the recent Orthodox Christian Laity (OCL) Open Forum held at St. Vladimir s Seminary and asked if the Bishop would comment to the Assembly on the outcome of the most recent Assembly of Bishops meeting, held in September 2014 in Dallas, Texas. Bishop Michael responded: o The Assembly discussed proposed plans to divide the U.S. into numerous dioceses or metropolias, with a governing Synod of U.S. bishops. The notion of organizing an autonomous U.S. church under one of the Patriarchates was also discussed, not a 3

4 favorable option for the OCA which wishes to retain its autocephaly and would only give it up for a greater American autocephaly. o Ultimately, because of some of the U.S. jurisdictions desire to remain under their Mother Churches, an agreement was settled on instead to spend the next decade working together, without any territorial changes, on common initiatives on which all the jurisdictions could collaborate; e.g., an annual shared Liturgy at a stadium in a different city every year; a common pension plan; increased buying power in a common health insurance plan. o Father Ivanoff commented on his ongoing conversations and meetings shared with other OCA priests with Pentecostal Convergence Movement clergy, who are interested in liturgical and sacramental life. The Convergence clergy, Fr. Ivanoff noted, see the OCA as the only body who would readily accept them because no ethnic barrier exists. o Father Royer asked the Bishop whether the OCA hierarchy will have a seat at the meeting to plan the agenda for the anticipated Great and Holy Council of Bishop Michael responded that they will not. As the other Churches see it, the OCA s participation is through the Assembly of Bishops. o Bishop Michael remarked that a priority for him is expressing to women and girls that they have a role in the Church that the Church cares for them and needs them in many ways. He will emphasize this at the upcoming Diocesan Girls Retreat. Appointments by the Bishop Bishop Michael announced that Archpriest Ken James Stavrevsky has offered his resignation as Secretary of the Diocesan Council for health reasons. His Grace regrets the loss to the Diocesan Council but has accepted Fr. Stavrevsky s resignation. On consultation with the Chancellor, the Deans, and the Diocesan Council, Bishop Michael submitted Archpriest Peter Olsen (St. Basil s Church, Watervliet, NY) as Secretary of the Diocesan Council, to serve the remainder of the term vacated by Fr. Stavrevsky, until elections are held again. The Bishop entertained a motion to accept the appointment by acclamation. Archpriest Joseph Woodill (St. Nicholas Church, Whitestone, NY; Member, Diocesan Council) made the motion; Matushka Breton seconded. The motion passed. Bishop Michael stated that Fr. Lickwar wishes to begin to lessen his duties as Diocesan Chancellor, with a view toward eventual retirement from that office. The Bishop announced the appointment of Fr. David Cowan as Vice-Chancellor of the Diocese, effective immediately. His Grace asked if there were any objections to this appointment; there were none. Second Invited Presentation Evangelizing Outside the Boat Priest John Parker, Chair, OCA Department of Evangelization Father John shared numerous strategies for enhancing the welcoming qualities of our parishes, and cultivating leadership among our laypeople. He responded to questions and announced the upcoming debut of a website devoted specifically to evangelization under the auspices of his department. 4

5 Closing Remarks from the Bishop Bishop Michael thanked his Chancellor and Deans. He thanked Matushka Mary Breton for her work as Diocesan Treasurer and Mrs. Stephanie Burk (Holy Resurrection Church, Wayne, NJ) who assists with Diocesan bookkeeping. His Grace thanked Fr. Ken James Stavrevsky, Communications Director for the Diocese, for disseminating diocesan news, maintaining the Diocesan website in a manner without parallel in the OCA, and for creating the annual Year In Review video recap, shown earlier in the day. The Bishop thanked the Chairs of the Diocesan Commissions and Departments and all of the Diocesan priests, all of them with unique gifts. He commended all the organizations which serve within the parishes. He thanked his Subdeacons and drivers, Mark Federoff and Nilus Klingel, and driver Bill Bolinsky. He thanked Fr. David Cowan (Holy Trinity Church, Yonkers, NY), his personal secretary and newly appointed Vice-Chancellor. Memory Eternal Bishop Michael intoned and all sang Memory Eternal for Priest John Bohush, who reposed in the Lord since the last Diocesan Assembly. Adjournment Father Skvir made a motion to adjourn the Assembly. Father Stephen Evanina seconded the motion. The motion passed. The 2014 Diocesan Assembly was adjourned with the singing of It Is Truly Meet, at 4:15 P.M. Respectfully submitted, Fr. David Cowan, Clergy Secretary 5