Metropolitan Council’s September 20-23 meeting to open with retreat led by Fr. Thomas Hopko

The Metropolitan Council of the Orthodox Church in America will hold its fall meeting Monday through Thursday, September 20-23, 2010. The meeting will open with a retreat led by Protopresbyter Thomas Hopko, Dean Emeritus of Saint Vladimir's Seminary, Crestwood, NY.

"The retreat was planned at the last session of the Metropolitan Council as an opportunity to build a stronger communal relationship within the MC," according to Archpriest Eric G. Tosi, OCA Secretary. "Father Thomas will lead the participants in discerning the most important issues facing the leaders of the OCA today - how they understand the Church's being and life, and its purpose and ministry in the world generally, especially at the present time in North America. In other words, the responses to these questions will reveal the participants' theological and ecclesiological views and demonstrate how these views impact the practical, everyday communications and operations of the Orthodox Church in America.

"The purpose of the retreat is not to make decisions, formulate policies, or undertake actions," Father Eric added. "It is to reveal and clarify the participants' understanding of things, both theoretical and practical, so that they may communicate with each other and perform their personal and corporate work as Church leaders more effectively and fruitfully."

Members of the Holy Synod of Bishops will participate in the retreat, which will end on Tuesday evening, when regular business of the Metropolitan Council will commence. Agenda items will include reports from His Beatitude, Metropolitan Jonah, and the OCA's officers, chairs, and committees. Other reports include a review of the finances and audits of the Church, the presentation of the 2011 budget, an update on the 16th All-American Council, and communication issues.

Source: www.oca.org