UKRAINIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH OF THE USA

CONSISTORY OFFICE OF PUBLIC RELATIONS


PRESS RELEASE

Metropolitan Council Meets At Metropolia Center

Our Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA Board of Trustees – the Metropolitan Council – held its semi-annual meeting at the administrative office – Consistory of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA in Somerset, NJ on 23 July, 2015 to reflect upon the life of the various ministries of the Church and to set new goals for the upcoming new ecclesiastical year in the life of the Church.

Metropolitan Antony opened the annual session and expressed his gratitude to God Almighty that he was blessed to be present at the meeting and to have the opportunity once again to work so closely with the dedicated members of the Council, who all volunteer their time energy to God in service to the Body of Christ – our Holy Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA. He welcomed the Council Members – Bishop Daniel, Protopresbyter Taras Chubenko, V. Rev. Fathers Robert Holet, Stephen Hutnick, Myron Oryhon, Anthony Ugolnick, Anthony Perkins, Jakiw Norton, Protodeacon Ihor Mahlay, Dr. Gayle Woloschak, Dr. Paul Micevych, Helen Boyko-Greenleaf, Olga Coffey, Lydia Dzus, Elizabeth Synomenenko, Panimatka Linda Oryhon and Alexandra Kocelko.

During his Consistory President’s Report, Bishop Daniel reflected upon the many accomplishment achieved during the last year, especially with the renovations of the Metropolia Center, St. Sophia Seminary, St. Andrew Memorial church, etc. In addition, the bishop reported on the activities of our Church institutions and commissions:  our Church/Seminary Library, All Saints Camp, the Historical and Educational Complex (HEC), St. Andrew Cemetery, St. Andrew Bookstore, the Cultural Center. 

His Eminence Metropolitan Antony offered a presentation about the developments in most recent events surrounding the unification of various ecclesiastical bodies in Ukraine. Moreover, the Metropolitan spoke about the establishment of various new mission communities, while some older parishes ceased to exist due to the geographical locations, changes in membership, etc.

Both Metropolitan Antony and Bishop Daniel spoke of his many visitations to parishes, where they witness many signs of a renewed enthusiasm in the life of the Church and a willingness to support the various ministries of the Church.  Vladyka Daniel discussed his visits to Ukraine in the past year with the Orphanage Mission Team and to distribute the funds collected for the victims of the ongoing war conflict in Ukraine. Over $250,000 were distributed so far in direct assistance to the wounded and refugees in Ukraine.  The bishop expressed his view that such missionary and Christian charity programs that exist in the life of the Church must continue – not only for the benefit of the recipients of the love we have to offer, but for those who offer that love in the Name of the Lord.

The Council also reviewed financial statements and the latest Audit report presented by the Audit Committee of the UOC of the USA. While offering observations on the sate of financial affairs of the Church, the Treasurer of the Consistory, Very Rev. Fr. Stephen Hutnick and Mrs. Natalia Honcharenko, along with His Eminence Metropolitan Antony related the news of the various donations that were recently received from various parish communities, sustaining the ministries of the Church, the Endowment Fund and the Historical and Education Complex of the UOC of the USA.

Moreover, the Council reviewed the ongoing progress of theological education of the seminarians of the Church, as presented by His Grace Bishop Daniel and Very Rev. Fr. Anthony Perkins, the Church’s Vocations Director.

A great deal of time was dedicated to a presentation on the Strategic Plan of the Church, to which the members of the Council expressed their support and dedication.

In its closing session, the Metropolitan Council took the time to consider many issues and topics of import to the world of Orthodoxy, Ukraine and the United States of America.  Most sincere greetings were expressed to His All-Holiness Patriarch Bartholomew in gratitude for his continued support of ecclesiastical unity of the Church in Ukraine. Concluding the meeting, His Eminence Metropolitan Antony called everyone in attendance to offer prayers for the repose of numerous generous donors to the ministries of the UOC of the USA, among them the newly reposed servants of God Protopresbyter Michael Kudanovich, Pani-matka Nadia Metulynsky and Pani-matka Ann Hankevich.

The Council expressed its most sincere gratitude to our hierarchs, the Consistory, the Central Church Organizations, the Consistory Staff, the Seminary Staff and all the faithful of our Church who have contributed so much throughout our parishes, ensuring the success we have known for the glory of God alone, in all our ministry programs.  In the future, the Metropolitan Council’s annual meeting and budgetary sessions will take place during the month of November.