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Published by Orthodox Christian Laity, June 12, 2005

OCL Board of Directors meet at Rives Junction, Michigan

(Rives Junction, MI - June 12, 2005) The board of directors of Orthodox Christian Laity held their Spring Meeting June 9-11, 2005 at the Dormition of the Mother of God Monastery. The members of the board have met in the great urban Orthodox Christian Centers throughout the United States and some have visited the ancient Patriarchates and autocephalous Church centers throughout the world. What they found in Rives Junction and Grass Lake, Michigan was unexpected! They found a pure, holy, vibrant, and upbeat Orthodox Christian center. Fr. Roman Braga, Mother Gabriella and the other members of the monastic community, together with the pilgrims, make Orthodoxy glow. This geographic center of Orthodoxy is a center of Light. It is guided by a true servant of the Lord, Archbishop Nathaniel of the Orthodox Church in America and spiritual leader of the Romanian Orthodox Episcopate of America located in rural Grass Lake. He is celebrating the 25th anniversary of his consecration to the episcopacy. May God continue to grant him many years to teach the word of His Truth. The members and board of directors thank him for his prayers and guidance. He is committed to Orthodox Christian Unity and the work begun by the bishops at Ligonier. OCL is committed to work with all Orthodox Christians who are share the vision of Unity. This goal was reinforced at the spring meeting. We are energized by the humble examples of the holy people we met at Rives Junction and Grass Lake.

Archimandrite Roman Braga's words and thoughts in "Exploring the Inner Universe" inspires the members and board of OCL to continue its advocacy work toward Unity. Archimandrite Braga writes: "Orthodoxy is the same everywhere. In a foreign country, it must bear the mark of the nation into which it gets implanted. If the missionaries are wise, they will sense and understand the character of the nation they live in. I believe that American Orthodoxy will contribute a great deal in the field of foreign evangelism. This is an utilitarian nation. I think Orthodoxy here will be practiced for the benefit of many nations. Jesus Christ had also a human nature, not only a divine one, and the Church is not only a spiritual institution but also a historical one. According to the human nature of the Savior, it needs food, clothing and places of worship. I believe that America will enhance this part of the mystical body of Christ - that of charity, of help, of community, as it already does. In other words, the American expression of Orthodoxy will be an expression of highly organized evangelism and highly organized charity."



Volume 7 Number 25 - Tuesday, June 21st, 2005	A Publication of the ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN LAITY