wfn.org | Elenie K. Huszagh Installed as NCC President 2002 - 2003

[Worldwide Faith News <wfn@wfn.org>]

Contact: NCC News, 212-870-2227
E-Mail: news@ncccusa.org; Web: www.ncccusa.org
NCC11/16/01 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

ELENIE K. HUSZAGH IS INSTALLED AS NCC PRESIDENT FOR 2002-2003

November 15, 2001, OAKLAND, Calif. -- Elenie K. Huszagh of Nehalem, Ore., 
an attorney and a prominent lay member of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of 
America, was installed Nov. 15 as 21st president of the National Council of 
Churches.

She is the first Orthodox woman and the first Orthodox lay person to hold 
that office.  The installation took place at a special service of vespers 
(evening prayer) at Oakland's Greek Orthodox Cathedral of the Ascension, 
with some 600 in attendance.

Among the Greek Orthodox dignitaries from around the country who attended 
the service was Archbishop Demetrios, the spiritual leader of the United 
States' two million Greek Orthodox.  He came from New York to participate 
in the service.

Before delivering the sermon, the Archbishop remarked that the "majestic 
service in this venerable church" marks "the changing of the guard at the 
National Council of Churches as for the first time a lay person from our 
Orthodox Church becomes the president."  He pointed to Ms. Huszagh's high 
qualifications, in particular her "constant, indefatigable way of working 
and offering.  She's always eager to assist."

The brief installation ceremony featured the passing of a cross and chain 
from the outgoing president to the incoming one.  Ambassador Andrew Young 
of Atlanta, Ga., the NCC's president in 2000-2001, placed the cross and 
chain around Ms. Huszagh's neck at the moment of the "declaration of 
installation."

"Elenie, you bring your training in law, your love as a mother and wife, 
and the history, heritage and wisdom that comes from this glorious and 
magnificent Greek Orthodox tradition," said the Rev. Young, a United Church 
of Christ minister.

Also installed at the ceremony was the NCC's new president-elect, Bishop 
Thomas Hoyt of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church, a resident of 
Shreveport, La. The Rev. Dr. Hoyt will serve as NCC president in 2004-05, 
but as president-elect is already a Council officer.

The installation ceremony incorporated the reading of a message of 
"congratulations and fraternal greetings" from His All Holiness Bartholomew 
the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople. The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese 
of America falls under the jurisdiction of the Patriarchate.

Music was provided by the Oakland Bay Area Choir under the direction of Dr. 
Tikey Zes and by Ms. Anna Marakis Counelis, organist. Participants in the 
choir came from 11 area parishes.

Following the service, those assembled moved into a festive reception and 
banquet featuring Greek music and food.   Among special guests bringing 
greetings were the Roman Catholic Archbishop of San Francisco, who noted 
the National Council of Churches' "historic role in ecumenical dialogue, 
common witness and action for justice" and the challenge of interreligious 
dialogue  "as key for the peace of nations."

In her remarks at the banquet, Ms. Huszagh noted that "in all of recorded 
history and most likely before, people have divided themselves into an 'us' 
and a 'them.'"

It starts early, she said.  The first "us" is "our family," and "them" is 
everyone else.  Nations also divide themselves into "us" and "them," 
usually considering "us" and "them" bad.  Within nations, people of other 
races, religions and ethnicities also get defined as "them."

"The National Council of Churches has never seen the world this way," Mrs. 
Huszagh said.  "Our contribution has been to say that we are all created in 
the image of God."

She continued, "Anyone of us can become a 'them' for any reason at any 
time,"  recalling particularly the detention of Japanese Americans during 
World War II.  "On September 11, a new 'them' entered our life.  But these 
are shadowy figures, all over the world ... "

Ms. Huszagh urged her listeners to reject making Muslims the new "them," 
saying, "No religion, including Islam, supports terror or killing.  We 
Americans must not demonize them to justify whatever actions we might 
take.  We must act to provide a more secure and peaceful life for all."

-end-