wfn.org | Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America holds Chicago Meeting

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                    GREEK ORTHODOX ARCHDIOCESE OF AMERICA
    8-10 East 79th St. New York, NY 10021  Tel: (212) 570-3530 Fax: (212)
                                  774-0215
         Web: http://www.goarch.org Email: communications@goarch.org

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release:
Contact: Nikki Stephanopoulos
May 14, 2002

                 ARCHDIOCESAN COUNCIL GATHERS MAY 10 IN CHICAGO
                            FOR SEMI-ANNUAL MEETING

New  York,  NY ? The Archdiocesan Council of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese
of  America  met  for its semi-annual meeting on May 10 at the Palmer House
Hilton in downtown Chicago.

In  his  opening  remarks  following  a  service  of  prayer,  His Eminence
Archbishop  Demetrios,  Primate  of  the  Greek Orthodox Church in America,
spoke  about  several  recent  events in the life of the Archdiocese, among
them  the  visit  of  His  All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew in
March,  the  ordination of three auxiliary Bishops in February, and his own
official  visit to Greece in January with a significant representation from
the  Archdiocese.   His  Eminence  also offered plans for expanding several
areas  of ministry of the Church in America, including the establishment of
a  center  for family care that would provide resources for family ministry
at the parish and diocesan levels.

During  the  course of the full-day meeting, a number of reports were given
by  the  departments,  organizations,  and institutions of the Archdiocese.
This  included  an  extensive financial report that noted the progress made
over  the  past  few  years  and  presented  the challenges that need to be
addressed  to  provide  the  Archdiocese  and  the Dioceses with the proper
staffing  and resources.  An update was also given on the plans for a major
development  program  for  the  Archdiocese.   A  report  was  given on the
preparations  for  the  36th Biennial Clergy Laity Congress, with attention
given  to  the  schedule  of events, the educational program, and finances.
Highlights   of   departmental   and  institutional  reports  included  the
following:  anticipated incoming classes at Hellenic College and Holy Cross
School  of  Theology  matching last year's record enrollment; new resources
and  training programs offered by the Department of Youth and Young Adults;
plans  for  Greek Education workshops at the Clergy Laity Congress; and the
many  on-going  programs  of the Department of Religious Education that are
providing  resources  for  clergy  and teachers.  Council members were also
shown   a  segment  of  the  new  quarterly  video  news  magazine  of  the
Archdiocese,   Illuminations,  which  is  being  funded  by  a  grant  from
Leadership  100  and  will  be  distributed  to  all of the parishes of the
Archdiocese.

In  update  was  also  given  on the proposed Charter and the status of the
process since the Archdiocesan Council meeting in the fall of 2001.  It was
reported  that  following  that  meeting in New York copies of the proposed
Charter  and  an  annotated  list  of major points of concern raised by the
Council  were distributed to all the parishes of the Archdiocese.  To date,
185  parishes have responded, the majority of the responses concurring with
the  points  addressed by the Council.  After the update on the Charter was
given, remarks were offered by members of the Council affirming the process
and  showing  support  for  its continuation and completion.  It was stated
that  a  report  on the Charter and the responses from the parishes will be
given at the upcoming Clergy Laity Congress.

The next meeting of the Archdiocesan Council, following the established
practice, is scheduled the day before the beginning of the 36th Biennial
Clergy Laity Congress which will be held in Los Angeles June 30 ? July 5.
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