Bill Suvall

Orthodox Christian Laity – Road to Unity (Audio)

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The 2009 Road to Unity conference held at Antiochian Village in October 2009. The format was “conversational” in nature with panels, questions, and interaction between the attendees. Recorded by Ancient Faith Radio.

Metropolitan Jonah – Unity in Our Time (38:10)
OCA Primate Met Jonah gives the keynote address at the OCL Road to Unity conference.

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New Face of American Orthodoxy – Alexei Kindratch (36:04)
Alexei Krindatch is a director for research with the Patriarch Athenagoras Orthodox Institute in Berkley, CA.

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Panel 1 – Orthodox Unity at Work and in Service (64:56)

The moderator for all of the panels is Fr. John Cassar from Mother of God Joy of All Who Sorrow Orthodox Church in Princeton, NJ.

This panel focused on responding to real needs including educational and outreach programs that demonstrate the Unity of the Orthodox Christian Church in America.

Panelists:
Fr. Justin Matthews – Director of Focus North America
Sister Sarah Elizabeth Oftedal – Co-founder and Housemother of the Martha and Mary House
Bryan Smith – Headmaster of St. Peter’s Classical School in Ft.Worth, TX

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Panel 2 – Unity at Many Levels (71:07)

The legacy of Ligonier 1994 and beyond. Where are we 15 years after this event and how are we overcoming resistance to unity here and abroad?

Panelists:
His Eminence Archbishop Nathaniel – Archbishop of the Romanian Orthodox Episcopate of America
Teva Regule – Managing editor of St. Nina quarterly, MA in Divinity Holy Cross Seminary and Computer Network Manager at MIT
Fr. Nick Apostola – St. Nicholas Orthodox Church in Shrewsbury, MA and Secretary of the Romanian Archdiocese as well as Secretary of the Study and Planning Commission of SCOBA.

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Panel 3 – An Accountable and Canonical Unified Orthodox Church of Tomorrow (67:49)

Focusing on conciliar governance and transparency issues and the ability to successfully overcome corruption within the system and move ahead.

Panelists:
Deacon John Zarras – Member of the Metropolitan Council of the OCA
George Karcazes – A practicing attorney in Chicago and a founder of OCL as well as an active board member of the GOA
Peter J. Petkas – Presidient of OCL since 2007 with a career in government and business

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Panel 4 – Orthodoxy and American Culture (64:31)

What does it mean to be an Orthodox Christian in America? How do our churches come to see themselves as missions within the community? How should we educate Americans to see Orthodoxy as the roots of Christianity?

Panelists:
Bishop Melchisedeck- Diocese of Pittsburgh and Western PA (OCA)
Fr. Hans Jacobse – Pastor of St. Paul Orthodox Mission in Ft. Meyers and founder of the American Orthodox Institute
George Pontikes – Attorney and OCL board member from Sts. Peter and Paul Greek Orthodox Church in Glenview, IL

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Panel 5 – Youth (59:16)

What experiences do we provide our youth to educate them to be Orthodox Christians and to retain them in the Church?

Panelists:
Bishop Thomas – Diocese of Charleston, Oakland, and the Mid-Atlantic (Antiochian)
Fr. Antonio Perdomo – Pastor of St. George the Great Martyr (OCA) in Pharr, TX and Chaplain of St. Peter the Aleut Summer Youth Camp
Christopher Shadid – Senior at the University of Pittsburgh majoring in Psychology and Business

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Panel 6 – Orthodox Communications (53:28)

Building on Orthodox Christian internet ministry and the media.

Panelists:
Fr. Hans Jacobse -See earlier panel for bio
Fr. Peter Michael Preble -Pastor of St. Michael Orthodox Church in Southbridge, MA and involved in blogs, podcasting and terrestrial radio
John Maddex – CEO of Conciliar Media Ministries and founder of Ancient Faith Radio

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Panel 7 – The Great and Holy Council (70:12)

What does it mean for a unified Church in America? What does unity mean for the ancient Patriarchates?

Panelists:
Nicholas Katich – attorney who helped orchestrate the re-unification of the Serbian Church in America in the early 90’s
Peter Marudas – served as Admin Assistant to Senator Paul Sarbanes and authored the 2006 paper “New Strategy Needed to Save Endangered Ecumenical Patriarchate”
Metropolitan Jonah – primate of the Orthodox Church in America
Fr. Nick Apostola – See Panel 2 for bio

Wrap up comments were made by OCL Executive Director George Matsoukas, outgoing OCL President Peter Petkas, and incoming OCL President William Souvall.

Orthodox Christian Laity Says Patriarch Bartholomew’s Remarks to SCOBA Boost Orthodox Unity Effort in America

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ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN LAITY
Press Release
November 3, 2009
For more information contact: George Matsoukas 877-585-0245

Orthodox Christian Laity (OCL) described Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew’s remarks to the recently-held SCOBA (Standing Conference of Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the Americas) meeting held in New York City on October 27, 2009 “as another important step on the road to Orthodox Unity in the United States.”

“By reaffirming his support for the unity process which commenced a year ago in Istanbul and subsequently refined this past June in Chambesy, Switzerland, His All Holiness delivered a clear message to America’s Orthodox leadership that he backs the unity effort,” said Bill Souvall, newly-elected President of OCL.

Mr. Souvall added that the Patriarch “demonstrated an acute understanding of our situation in the United States,” citing excerpts from his remarks which referred to the evolving status quo of the Church in America. “Patriarch Bartholomew’s recognition of the changing reality of Orthodoxy in America is most encouraging to those in OCL and others who support church unity,” Mr. Souvall continued.

George Matsoukas, OCL Executive Director, said: “What was especially notable about the Patriarch’s remarks was his openness to new ideas; and I quote him: ‘We welcome positive suggestions and, as is said in our modern world, “thinking outside the box,” so that we may construct models of ecclesiastical polity and governance sunk deep in the venerable tradition of our One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church and at the same time are relevant to the spiritual needs and societal conventions of the world within which our faithful live’.”

Mr. Souvall and Mr. Matsoukas agreed that the Patriarch’s remarks provide clear direction for the Orthodox prelates as they prepare for their first-ever Episcopal Assembly of all Bishops in North America which will take up unity issues scheduled for after Pentecost in May 2010.

OCL, an independent movement established in 1987, has been a leading and consistent advocate for Orthodox unity in North America and for the laity’s full participation in Church life; and in that spirit, anticipates that all members of the Church will fully engage in the process leading to a unified North American Church.

Visit OCL at www.ocl.org or www.orthodoxnews.com.

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Ligonier 1: THE VISION - Gathering of the Hierarchs, Antiochian Village November 30 - December 2, 1995

Ligonier 2. MOVING FORWARD - 15 years later: Gathering of Hierarchy, Clergy and Laity offering time, talent and resources to build up a unified, autocephalous Orthodox Church in North America. OCL 22nd Annual Meeting, Antiochian Village, October 29 -31, 2009.

Orthodox Christian Laity issued a call for broad community support and involvement in Orthodox Unity efforts which will formally begin when all Orthodox Bishops in North America meet after Pentecost in May, 2010.

The independent lay movement announced its action plan on October 31 at the end of its 22nd Annual Meeting held at the Antiochian Village in Ligonier, Pennsylvania.
“It appears that for the first time in the history of the Orthodox Church in America, we have a process which can lead to unity, a hope which OCL has kept alive these past two decades,” stated Bill Souvall, the group’s newly-elected president. He was referring specifically to the Episcopal meeting of all Orthodox bishops which will consider preparations and plans for bringing about Orthodox unity in America.

“We stand ready to assist our bishops in any appropriate way as they prepare for this meeting and urge all concerned clergy and laity to begin their own discussions and dialogue on the important issues which this historic gathering will discuss,” Mr. Souvall continued.

He indicated that OCL will launch a 2010 meeting countdown initiative as a means of building interest and discussion among Orthodox in America as the May meeting approaches. “This effort is consistent with OCL’s long-standing campaign for Orthodox unity in America and its commitment to involve all clergy, laity and bishops in that endeavor,” Mr. Souvall added.

To further the unity effort, OCL plans to hold regional and local meetings to discuss how unity might come about and the affect it might have on local communities. Mr. Souvall emphasized the necessity of engaging in a unity dialogue to ensure that accurate information is circulated and misunderstanding avoided.

“We chose to meet at the Antiochian Village to mark the 15th Anniversary of the Ligonier Unity Declaration, but little did we know that the Orthodox Church universal would join in that anniversary by announcing last October in Istanbul and this past June in Chambesy, Switzerland, her commitment to unity in America,” Mr. Souvall declared.

“Truly, the Holy Spirit has been working this past fifteen years. Now it is our task to make sure that our journey to unity includes the whole Church.”

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