Volume 6 Number 19 - Tuesday, May 11th, 2004

A Publication of the ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN LAITY

 


Home

 

Orthodox News

• Last Week's Edition

• Archives

• Search Engine

 

Submissions

Policy

Send


Email us



Support Us!

Donations

Nonprofit Ministries

The Orthodox Christian Laity

OCN Website

• The Video -  "A New Era Begins"

 

 

The Orthodox Christian News Service

 


Published by Orthodox Christian Laity, May 9, 2004

Chicago Forum Calls for Charter Discussion at

 Clergy-Laity Congress

More than 140 Greek Orthodox laypersons from Illinois, Iowa and Wisconsin attended an informational meeting sponsored by the Orthodox Christian Laity in Chicago, May 2.   Presentations were made by George Karcazes, Evan Chriss, Andrew Kartalis and OCL President Peter Haikalis on the legal action filed in New York Supreme Court related to the amendment of the 1977 Charter and concerns regarding the governance of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese.  Dr. Angelo Creticos chaired the meeting, and Peter Marudas acted as Moderator.

Following the presentations there was discussion regarding charter related issues.  A number of individuals expressed concern that the Archdiocese by moving away from the autonomy that it enjoyed in its original 1922 Charter and falling increasingly under the control of the Ecumenical Patriarchate is doing a great disservice to the faithful.  The prevailing view of the participants was that this shift does not bode well for the future of the Church in America. 

At the conclusion of the meeting those assembled adopted two resolutions – the first asking that the amendment of the 1977 Charter be placed on the agenda of the 2004 Clergy-Laity Congress and the second one asking that the Uniform Parish Regulatons be amended to explicitly affirm that all members of Greek Orthodox parishes are also members of their dioceses, the Archdiocese and of the Church of Christ as a whole..

OCL has sponsored similar regional meetings in Florida and Arizona exploring charter issues and questions of church governance.  George Matsoukas, OCL Executive Director, invites individuals or groups interested in sponsoring regional or local programs to contact him at 877-585-0245.
 

 

Home Archives Search Submissions Support Us

 
 



This Online Newsletter is partially funded by a grant from the Virginia H Farah Foundation

Orthodox News, PO BOX 6954
WEST PALM BEACH FL  33405-6954
USA

Phone:  (517) 522-3656
Fax:  (517) 522-5907