San Francisco – The Archdiocesan Council of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America convened for its regular spring meeting May 28-29 in San Fransisco under the chairmanship of Archbishop Demetrios of America.
The two-day meetings of the Archdiocesan Council at the St. Francis Westin Hotel began with the Executive Committee meeting of the Council and the individual meetings of the committees on Thursday, May 28, that reviewed the work of the ministries of the Church and prepared their reports.
Archbishop Demetrios offered an opening prayer at the beginning of the meeting this morning and followed with a memorial prayer for the ten years since the falling asleep in the Lord of Archbishop Iakovos.
His Eminence in his opening remarks conveyed the greetings and blessings of His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and apprised the body of major developments in the life of the Orthodox Church and the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America. The Archbishop referencing the letter of Saint Paul to the Ephesians said that we are called to be apostles, prophets, evangelists, teachers and pastors, and emphasizing the fundamental apostolic function of the Church said that we are “an apostolic church and our meeting has an apostolic mission.”
Present at the meeting were Metropolitans Iakovos of Chicago, Nicholas of Detroit, Savas of Pittsburgh, Gerasimos of San Fransisco, the host hierarch, Bishop Sevastianos of Zela, the chief secretary of the Synod, and Bishop Apostolos of Medeia, the chancellor of the Metropolis of San Fransisco. The other members of the Synod, absent from the meeting, were unable to attend.
The Archbishop announced the appointment of Fr. Christopher T. Metropulos, as the next president of Hellenic College and Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology; and the appointment of Steven Christoforou as director of the Department of Youth and Young Adult Ministries.
Tony Stefanis, who presided at the meeting, also presented the report of the Administration committee. Jerry Dimitriou, executive director of administration, presented a comprehensive report on the rebuilding of Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox National Shrine.
Eight additional committee reports on the National Ministries of the Archdiocese were presented to the Council and discussed: Religious Education, Youth Ministries, Marriage and Family, Communications, Stewardship, Outreach and Evangelism, Greek Education and Finance.
Finally, it was announced that the 2016 Biennial Clergy Laity Congress would take place July 2-8, 2016 in Nashville, Tennessee.
