The 20th Triennial Church Assembly/Sabor

His Grace, Bishop Mitrophan, The Eastern American Diocese and Saint George Serbian Orthodox Church in Canton, Ohio consider it an honor and privilege to host the 20 th Triennial Church Assembly/Sabor of the Serbian Orthodox Church in North and South America

The Sabor will open with the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy and Invocation of the Holy Spirit on Tuesday, August 11, 2009 at 8:00 a.m.. All Sabor deliberations should conclude by Thursday, August 13, with the evening banquet. Please make your travel arrangements accordingly.

All events, meetings, sessions, meals and banquet will be held at Saint George Serbian Orthodox Church, 4669 Applegrove Street., NW North Canton, OH 44720.

In accordance with Article 18 of the Constitution of the Serbian Orthodox Church in North and South America, We hereby summon into Triennial Session, the Church Assembly [Sabor] of the Serbian Orthodox Church North and South America, to be held at the facilities of Saint George Serbian Orthodox Church 4669 Applegrove Street, NW, North Canton, OH 44720 on Tuesday through Thursday, August 11-13, 2009.

Enclosed you will find a Credentials Form which each Congregation Board is required to fill out for its 3 participants and return with a registration fee of $200 per person in U.S. funds made payable to "2009 Sabor" and mailed to the 2009 Sabor Committee c/o St. George Church in Canton. The registration fee includes all meals and the Grand Banquet. All completed credential forms with registration fees must be submitted by July 1, 2009 so that each participant receive the necessary documents for the Sabor.

In accordance with the provisions of the Constitution, the following are participants to this Assembly:

Diocesan Bishops
Active and retired clerics of both orders
Members of the Central Church Council
Members of the Diocesan Councils
Two (2) delegates from every Church-School Congregation in good standing. One of these is ex-officio the President of the Executive Board of the Congregation (or his alternate Vice President), and the other is the elected delegate of the Church-School Congregation.
Two (2) representatives of each Diocesan Federation of Circles of Serbian Sisters.
One (1) representative of the School of Theology
The theme of the 20 th Triennial Sabor is "Christ the True Light: The Light of Christ in the Church and the Light of Christ in the World" -and will center on a greater understanding of the Church community in the New Testament towards outreach and growth in this 21 st Century. With this as our focus, in conjunction with our regular Church Assembly we hereby also summon into session the 4th Annual Youth Conference [High School Student Sabor] and the 2 nd Conference of Young Adults [18-40] to be organized by our Standing Committees prior to and in conjuction with our 20 th Triennial Sabor. We ask every Church-School Congregation to encourage its active representation and participation in all aspects of these important gatherings of our Church. The 20th Sabor is an important and joyful gathering of the Church in the sacrament of the Holy Eucharist which will be celebrated each day, and in the wonderful opportunity to look to the past, give thanks for the present and plan for the future, in the Light of Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

WITH ARCHPASTORAL BLESSINGS,

President
The Episcopal Council

+Christopher

METROPOLITAN OF MIDWEST AMERICA

20th Triennial Church Assembly-Sabor
Of the Serbian Orthodox Church
in North and South America
Canton, Ohio August 11-13, 2009
Tentative Schedule of Events

Monday, August 10, 2009

2:00 p.m. Clergy Brotherhood Annual Meeting

5:00 p.m. Vespers followed by Clergy Brotherhood Dinner Conference
"The Pastor and Shepherd in the New Testament"

6:30 p.m. Welcome Reception (for all participants)

7:30 p.m. Meeting of the Central Church Council

Check-In Registration of Sabor Delegates and Observers
Check-In Registration for Young Adult Conference

Tuesday, August 11, 2006

8:00 a.m. Hierarchical Divine Liturgy & Invocation of the Holy Spirit

10:00 a.m. Continental Breakfast

10:30 a.m. Plenary: Opening of Assembly and Saint Nicholai Oratorical Festival

12:30 p.m. Lunch

2:00 p.m . Conference of Young Adults [ages 18-35] (separate room and agenda)

Second Plenary Session for Delegates

Confirmation of Assembly Secretariat

Report of the Credentials Committee

Review of the Highlights of the 18th Triennial Assembly

Reports and Presentations of the Central Church Committees:

Christian Education, Stewardship, Youth Ministry Liturgical Music, Communications, and Publications
Young Adult Ministry , Serbian Culture and Heritage

4:00 - 6:00 Presentations and Committee Workshops

6:30 p.m. Vespers

7:30 p.m. Dinner & Fellowship

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

8:00 a.m. Hierarchical Divine Liturgy

10:00 a.m. Continental Breakfast

10:30 a.m. Third Plenary Session: Keynote Address: "Christ the True Light"

12:30 p.m. Lunch

2:00 p.m. Fourth Plenary Session

Reports of the Central Church Continued

Decisions of the Central Church Council, Financial Report, Auditing Report, Theological School, Theological Foundation,
Clergy Pension Plan, Group Health Care Plan

5:30 p.m. Vespers

6:30 p.m. Diocesan Caucuses: The purpose of Diocesan Caucuses prior to the fifth plenary session
is to elect new members to the Central Church Council.

7:00 p.m. Dinner

Thursday, August 13, 2009

8:00 a.m. Divine Liturgy

10:00 a.m. Continental Breakfast

10:30 a.m. Fifth Plenary Session - Ministries Presentation

1:00 p.m. Lunch

2:30 p.m. Sixth Plenary Session and Conclusion of the work of the Sabor

• Release of the present Central Church Council

• Confirmation of new Central Church Council elections

• Oath of Office of new Council members

• Adoption of Central Church Budget

• Miscellaneous items

• Closing Remarks by the President of the Episcopal Council

• Adjournment with prayer

5:00 p.m. Vespers

6:00 p.m. Hors d'oeuvres Reception

7:00 p.m. Sabor Grand Banquet and Program