47th Convention Highlights

The 47th North American Convention of the Self-Ruled Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America was held in Dearborn, Michigan from July 25th through July 31st, 2005. The convention was hosted by St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church of Troy, Michigan and was attended by 2,500 faithful. It was the first regular convention held since the granting of self-rule status by the Holy Synod of Antioch by unanimous resolution in October, 2003. Highlights of the Convention included:

A. The organizational and departmental meetings held earlier in the week

B. The General Assembly held on Thursday and Friday

C. The North American Bible Bowl and Oratorical Festival

D. The Hierarchical Divine Liturgy on Sunday concelebrated by Metropolitan PHILIP, Archbishop of New York and All North America, the visiting Metropolitan PAUL, Archbishop of Australia and New Zealand, and the six diocesan bishops of the North American Antiochian Archdiocese

The General Assembly was attended by 1,000 delegates comprised of pastors, retired pastors, clergy who are full-time department heads, North American and diocesan presidents of organizations, and Members of the Archdiocese Board of Trustees. The General Assembly took specific action on the following items:

  1. The delegates approved a voluntary contribution plan for clergy and full-time employees of the Archdiocese whereby the contributor may deposit up to 3% of his or her salary into the fund, and the parish (for pastors) or the Archdiocese (for full-time employees) may match this 3% contribution.
  2. The delegates approved a new and significant system by which the parishes of the Archdiocese will contribute to the Archdiocese budget. The old system had consisted of a fixed dollar amount that each parish contributed based on the number of people reported by the parish census. The new system will eventually result in the parish tithing to the Archdiocese based on its Operating Income. The 10% will be attained by starting with 8% in 2006, 9% in 2007, and 10% in 2008.
  3. The delegates approved a resolution calling on SCOBA to act decisively to plan and implement Orthodox Unity in North America (attached)
  4. The delegates approved a resolution in vigorous opposition to extreme positions being taken by so-called “left-wing”, and “right-wing” Christian groups (attached)
  5. The delegates approved a motion which removes the Archdiocese from membership in the National Council of Christian Churches in the USA (NCCCUSA), in light of the shift of the NCCCUSA to a position which no longer contributes to the mission of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese in North America. This move does not signal an end to participation in ecumenical dialog, and membership in appropriate groups.  On the contrary, it allows our attention to be focused on participation in groups which are consistent with the mission of this Archdiocese in North America.

Opposition To Extreme Christian Groups

Occured during the 47th North American Convention of the Self-Ruled Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America was held in Dearborn, Michigan from July 25th through July 31st, 2005.

WHEREAS, several extreme positions that are both divisive and dangerous have emerged from so-called “Left-wing” and “Right-wing” Christian groups;

AND WHEREAS, the tenets of these extreme positions include, but are not limited to, support for same-sex marriage, support for abortion, support for ordination of women to Holy Orders, support for the concept of war which is “pre-emptive” or “justifiable”, and the labeling of other faiths and their leaders with hateful terminology;

AND WHEREAS, The Holy Orthodox Church believes and teaches the faith which was taught by Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and upheld by His Apostles, and “which was once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude:3);

AND WHEREAS, The Self-Ruled Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America stands firm in her resolve to uphold this Holy Orthodox Faith in all of its purity;

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that this General Assembly of the 47th Convention of the Self-Ruled Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America firmly rejects all extremist positions that are contrary to the teachings of the Holy Orthodox Faith;

AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that this Archdiocese will not be affiliated with those groups that support and promulgate these extreme positions, and that this Archdiocese will continue to witness to the Truth as received from our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, His Holy Apostles, the Holy Fathers, and all of the saints and martyrs who have lived and died to uphold the Holy Orthodox Faith.

Call For Orthodox Unity

Occured during the 47th North American Convention of the Self-Ruled Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America was held in Dearborn, Michigan from July 25th through July 31st, 2005.

WHEREAS, Orthodoxy first came to North America over two hundred years ago, and has been firmly planted in this soil and in the hearts and souls of North Americans who have been born and raised on this Continent as well as those who have immigrated here and have no desire to leave their homeland;

AND WHEREAS, the past century has seen the presence of many Orthodox jurisdictions, each with their own parishes, bishops, priests and faithful, building churches and Orthodox communities along their own ethnic and/or jurisdictional lines, often in close proximity and in conflict with other Orthodox communities;

AND WHEREAS, this has resulted in an uncanonical situation by the presence of multiple Orthodox communities in the same geographic area and the presence of more than one Orthodox Bishop for the same geographic area, as well as the division of the one Holy Orthodox Church along jurisdictional and/or ethnic lines thereby dividing what is meant by God to be united;

AND WHEREAS, this uncanonical situation has weakened the presence of the Orthodox Church in North America, in many practical respects among others: The inability to speak to the political leaders and the citizens in North America with one united Orthodox voice that would vocalize with strength the Orthodox position and concerns on the moral, spiritual, practical and political issues that concern North Americans in their everyday life;

AND WHEREAS, this uncanonical situation has resulted in the faithful Orthodox, whether in school, work or in the home, being unaware that their schoolmates, fellow workers and/or neighbors share the same Orthodox faith;

AND WHEREAS, it is the duty of all Orthodox Christians, and especially the members of the holy episcopate to work and pray for the unity of the faith and to work to correct any uncanonical situation;

AND WHEREAS, the Standing Conference of Orthodox Bishops in America, (SCOBA) which is comprised of Orthodox bishops from all canonical Orthodox jurisdictions in North America, last met with respect to Orthodox unity at the Antiochian Village in 1994 and has done nothing since that time to further resolve the uncanonical situation in North America and to promote Orthodox unity;

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that this General Assembly of the 47th Archdiocesan Convention, duly assembled at Dearborn, Michigan, challenges, requests and calls on SCOBA to meet with all deliberate speed with the expressed purpose to endorse, promote and accomplish Orthodox Unity in North America and to set forth a plan and timetable for achieving such Orthodox Unity.