|
|
Published
by the Greek Orthodox
Archdiocese of America, August 18, 2004
A
Successful and Blessed 37th Clergy-Laity Congress
opens Creative Perspectives for the New
Ecclesiastical Year
Protocol 69/04
New York, August 18, 2004
To the Most Reverend Hierarchs, the Reverend
Priests and Deacons, the Monks and Nuns, the
Presidents and Members of the Parish Councils of
the Greek Orthodox Communities, the Day,
Afternoon, and Church Schools, the Philoptochos
Sisterhoods, the Youth, the Hellenic
Organizations, the members of our Parishes and the
entire Greek Orthodox Family in America
My Beloved Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
It is with great joy and thanksgiving to God that
I greet you following the successful and edifying
convening of the 37th Biennial Clergy-Laity
Congress, National Philoptochos Convention, and
National Young Adult League of our Holy
Archdiocese of America. Over 2000 delegates and
participants gathered July 25-30 in New York City
for worship, fellowship, training, and meetings
that were focused on strengthening and advancing
the sacred ministry of each of our parishes and of
the entire Church in America.
This was a historic Congress for our Archdiocese
due to the remarkable level of participation, the
recognition and support of the progress made by
our national ministries, and the high level of
discussions and decisions made by this essential
administrative body of clergy and laity. First, we
had an increased participation of parishes,
compared to previous gatherings, made possible by
an effort that provided financial assistance to
many of our smaller communities. In addition,
attendance of the more than 70 workshops and
educational sessions reached 2500, affirming the
need and commitment of our faithful to growing
parishes of faith and love that offer genuine and
effective ministry. Reports from these sessions as
well as complete information concerning the
decisions made at this Congress will be available
in the September issue of the Orthodox Observer.
Second, this Congress gave us the opportunity to
review the objectives and the accomplishments of
the national ministries of our Church. As
presented in the departmental, program, and
institutional reports, remarkable progress has
been made over the last few years in the extent
and quality of every aspect of our work. More
assistance and additional resources are now
available in our Archdiocese, and our quality of
leadership in these vital ministry areas will
ensure that this level of offering will continue.
Third, this Congress advanced the administrative
uniformity and strength of our Archdiocese by
revising and approving the regulations that will
guide the work of our parishes. This was a
monumental task for our Archdiocesan Council and
for the Clergy-Laity Congress that was
accomplished in an open and thorough manner,
focused on the growth and progress of the Church
in America. Our deliberations and decisions
acknowledged that these issues are important, and
our conduct and progress affirmed that such
matters belong exclusively to the administrative
and spiritual purview of the Church, not to courts
of law. It is indicative that the very courts of
law, by the recent decision of the New York State
Supreme Court to dismiss the lawsuit against the
Church, recognized this reality and re-enforced
the fact that the courts should not intervene in
the manner in which the Church is governed.
All of these achievements of our 37th Biennial
Clergy-Laity Congress are truly a recognition of
our unity in mission and witness as the Greek
Orthodox Archdiocese of America and to our
commitment as Orthodox Christians to further the
work of the kingdom of God. Both unity and
commitment are critical for what God has called us
to do at this time and in this country of America.
As we approach the beginning of a new
ecclesiastical year on September 1 and as we build
on the accomplishments and blessings of this
Congress, we must be united and committed to a
strong and continuous mission that will focus on
three objectives: a) the increasing and enhancing
of educational opportunities and training in the
faith for children, young people, and adults, b)
the sustained effort to reach the unchurched and
to bring people back to the Church and to Christ,
and c) the offering of substantive assistance for
the well-being of families, which are the real and
vital elements of growing communities.
As presented at the Congress, we will facilitate
this work by providing more resources for outreach
and education and through an intense, yearlong
emphasis on the Family, the most fundamental
element of strong communities. Within our
parishes, our conscientious care for the Family
should constitute a permanent activity. Our goal
should be to make our families “Churches at home,”
“kat’oikon ekklesia” (Romans 16:5). Here is a
principle for our sustained renewal and growth.
Making our families “Churches at home” requires
that we give added attention to the spiritual,
emotional, and physical needs of married couples,
children, single-parent families and senior
adults. Moreover, we will continue to make strong
efforts to minister effectively to intermarried
couples who constitute a significant part of our
faithful.
I call upon each of you to commit to building
communities of faith and love through your
participation in the worship and ministry of your
parish. It is in the local parish, the community
of believers, that true, enduring, and life-giving
ministry is offered to all in need of truth and
salvation. In turn, we promise the continuous
efforts of our Archdiocesan ministries in
accomplishing these objectives.
May the blessings of our Lord Jesus Christ be upon
each of you as He leads us as one family, one
body, one Church, one people, united in faith and
love, laboring together in serving the people and
in honoring our God and Savior.
With paternal love in Christ,
+DEMETRIOS
Archbishop of America
|
