wfn.org | ARCHDIOCESAN COUNCIL CONVENED IN ATLANTA

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

GREEK ORTHODOX ARCHDIOCESE OF AMERICA

8-10 East 79th St. New York, NY 10075-0106 * Tel: 
(212) 570-3530 Fax: (212) 774-0237
www.goarch.org    - Email: communications@goarch.org

> Contact: PRESS OFFICE
> Stavros Papagermanos
> pressoffice@goarch.org

> ARCHDIOCESAN COUNCIL CONVENED IN ATLANTA

NEW YORK ? The Archdiocesan Council of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of 
America convened for its regular spring meeting May 6-7 in Atlanta, under the 
chairmanship of Archbishop Demetrios of America. The two-day meeting of the 
Council took place in the Atlanta Marriott Marquis Hotel, where the 40th 
Clergy-Laity Congress is scheduled to convene July 4-8 of this year.
The members of the Council heard a total of 12 reports on the National 
Ministries of the Archdiocese presented by the various council committees.

The Archdiocesan Council confirmed a continuously improving state of the 
Archdiocese finances demonstrated by a growing trend in revenues, a steady 
decrease in operating expenses and outstanding obligations. The Members had the 
opportunity to measure the progress and offer insights and advice on new 
initiatives and developments.
In his opening remarks, Archbishop Demetrios first thanked all the members for 
their participation and hard work and conveyed the Patriarchal blessing and 
greeting of His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew to the members of 
the Council and all the faithful of the Church in America.

Archbishop Demetrios spoke of two important upcoming events, first the Assembly 
of Orthodox Canonical Bishops in North and Central America under his 
chairmanship as the Exarch of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, which will convene 
in New York May 26-28 and second the 40th Clergy-Laity Congress. He urged the 
Archdiocesan Council members to encourage and assist the parishes of the 
Archdiocese to participate in the Clergy-Laity Congress in greater numbers than 
before. He said that all parishes of the Archdiocese should participate. The 
invitation as offered in the Gospel of John by Philip to Nathanael ?Come and 
See,? (John 1:46) which is the theme of this year?s Congress, is a continuation 
of the theme of the last Congress
?Gather My People to my Home? and is an invitation to which our parishes should 
respond first. The Archbishop using St. Paul?s advice urged everyone to ?make 
the most of their time,? be vigilant and alert because as St. Paul says
?the days are evil? and require an energetic and positive attitude.
Mr. Michael Jaharis, the vice-president of the Archdiocesan Council, shared his 
thoughts and observations on the progress of the Archdiocese and reiterated the 
need for one hundred percent participation in the upcoming Congress. At a later 
point Mr. Jaharis spoke on the efforts of strengthening the Youth, supporting 
the Archdiocese youth camps and his particular conviction on this matter as 
demonstrated by the activities of ?Faith: An Endowment for Orthodoxy and 
Hellenism.?

The following reports were presented and discussed: Communications, Center for 
Family Care, Outreach to Intermarried, Technology, Administration, Youth, 
Camping Ministries and Ionian Village, Finance, Stewardship, Outreach and 
Evangelism, Greek Education, and Religious Education.

Dr. Anthony Limberakis presented an update on the work of the Order of St. 
Andrew, Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. Finally Metropolitan Nicholas 
of Detroit made an appeal for support to the special fund established by the 
Metropolis of Detroit to help the victims of the recent Nashville floods.

In his closing remarks to the members, Archbishop Demetrios stressed the 
importance and value he places in the programs to strengthen the Youth of the 
Archdiocese. He also said that in the present universal circumstances we have 
an increased responsibility to keep and protect and share our faith and our 
universal Hellenic heritage.

> == 30 ==