Русская Версия

October 23, 2009 - 12:50 PM
Atlanta: Diocesan Secretary Archpriest Serge Lukianov delivered the State of the Diocese Address

The second day of the pastoral conference was dedicated to missionary efforts and addressing the current state of affairs in the diocese. After the conclusion of the media office presentation, diocesan secretary Archpriest Serge Lukianov delivered the following State of the Diocese address:

 Your Eminence, Your Graces, Reverend Fathers and distinguished matushkas. I stand before you here today to deliver a report on the state of our diocese and the progress which has been made by the recently elected Diocesan Council. Since being elected, the Diocesan Council has met in session four times and two more sessions are planned for 2009. The Diocesan Council consists of the following members: All three hierarchs, Archpriest Victor Potapov, Archpriest Serafim Gan, Priest John Moses as Southern Liaison, Priest Nikolai Manduke, Priest Jonah Campbell as treasurer, Subdeacon George Schatiloff, Mr. George Nikolsky, Mr. Serge Lopouchine and me as secretary. The role of the Diocesan Council is to assist the ruling bishop and vicars in governing and operating our very large diocese. An agenda is laid out at every meeting for the Metropolitan’s approval and then members of the Council are assigned specific tasks to complete between meetings.

Since the Diocesan Council meets every two months and many members live far away from each other, an administrative office of paid part-time staffers was created to handle day-to-day operations. The treasurer, two media office staff members and the secretary make up the diocesan administrative office. The main goal of this office is to make sure that the resolutions of the Diocesan Council are implemented successfully.

The first meeting of the Diocesan Council in March was the most crucial, because during that session, the following restructuring plan was laid out:

1)       The diocesan administration would be moved from the Synod in New York City to St. George’s Church in Howell, NJ.

2)       The spiritual court was to be restructured with new members while former experienced members would act as advisors and counselors.

3)       The Diocesan Council would meet on a bi-monthly basis.

4)       The auditing committee would carefully inspect all financial records of previous years and conduct regular audits of current diocesan finances.

5)       A bilingual diocesan website would be launched to act as the main information highway in the diocese.

6)       A diocesan media office would be created to manage the website and all other media operations in the diocese.

7)       A diocesan music commission (the EADMC) would be created to handle all music related projects and help local parish choirs.

8)       A southern liaison would be appointed to assist Bishop George in presenting issues to the diocesan council which are unique to the South.

9)       A diocesan youth association would be formed to organize and expand youth activities within the diocese.

This plan was laid out before the delegates of the Diocesan General Meeting in March and I am pleased to report that the Diocesan Council and administration have completed all of these projects within the first three months of taking office.

Currently the Diocesan Council is working on a series of new projects that will benefit the diocese:

1)       An investigative committee has been formed to research the possibility of getting a diocesan health insurance plan and benefits for all clergymen.

2)       The formation of a committee was commissioned to assist clergymen with immigration issues.

3)       The diocesan media office is researching the possibility of opening a diocesan publishing house, which will print a monthly diocesan newsletter and other publications such as bilingual service books.

4)       The media office is currently working on printing clergy identification cards.

5)       A Lenten retreat and pastoral conference is being organized at St. John the Baptist Cathedral in Mayfield, PA.

As you can see, the administration has been working very diligently on your behalf to effectively restructure and revive the diocese.

There are many challenges that we face today, especially because the Evil One will not rest in trying to destroy the Holy Church of Christ. Temptations present themselves in many different forms, and the only way we can overcome them is with prayer and unity. The diocese is not only comprised of bishops and clergymen, but of every Orthodox Christian who comes to our churches in search of eternal salvation. Therefore, if we are to overcome our challenges, we must do so together as brothers and sisters in Christ.

Our Lord and Savior has given us the Holy Church, and His Holy Apostles ordained bishops, priests, and deacons to carry out the spiritual and earthly functions of the Church. Every single clergyman has a predetermined position within the church. The deacons assist the priests in performing the Holy Sacraments, and the priests assist the bishops by caring for their spiritual flocks. Our hierarchs are the princes of the Church and together they comprise the Bishop’s Council which is the highest authority in the Church. No bishop is higher than the collective Sobor of Bishops, and no priest is higher than his bishop.

The reason we have a Church hierarchy is to preserve order and peace within the Holy Church, and because we live in the secular world, there are certain rules that govern the earthly aspect of the Church. In 1956, the Sobor of Bishops approved a set of regulations for all dioceses and parishes of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad. These regulations are known as the normal parish by-laws, and they are available in full on the official ROCOR website. In recent decades, the Russian Orthodox Church has gone through a very difficult period and has at times, strayed from its traditions. We have been blessed to live in a time when the Local Russian Orthodox Church is experiencing a world-wide revival, and it is our sacred duty to return to our roots and examine the traditions of the past within our own diocese. The current administration is dedicated to preserving the legacy of our great Archpastors, men such as Archbishop Vitaliy (Maximenko) and Archbishop Nikon (Rklitsky). These hierarchs governed the Church Abroad in some of the most difficult times for all Russians, and yet they succeeded. The rules that we follow today were not written by simple men. They were written by men full of Divine Grace who lived their lives in constant prayer and humility. They approached the Church and its administration with reverence and fear, knowing that one day they would have to answer for their actions to Christ Himself.

As a Diocesan Council, we are deeply saddened that certain members of the clergy and laity feel that their personal convictions outweigh the rules and regulations of the Church, or the commands of their bishops. As members of the Council, we cannot rewrite history or make amendments to the rules; instead, we have a responsibility to uphold and preserve them. When clerics disregard hierarchal decrees they are, in fact, taking it upon themselves to go against the Church. The reason we have a Diocesan Council is to support our bishops and assist them in governing the Church. We cannot properly function as an administration until we restore order and obedience. If we are to preserve peace within our diocese, we must unite around our bishops and support each other so that we may be an example to each person who walks through the doors of the church. We have all gathered here today because we have an earnest desire to serve the Holy Church and support each other in our pastoral struggles. We must “bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ” (Gal. 6:2).

Aside from spiritual support, we are also in great need of financial support in order for us to implement the recommendations of the general meeting. The 9% dues, which all parishes are required to pay, must be divided between the diocese and the Synod. Without these funds, we cannot function or even begin to undertake any of the projects that are so crucial to the life of our diocese. The best way for parishes to help us is to send in your yearly dues in a timely manner.

We encourage all of you to take the time to come and speak with members of the Council and share your thoughts. We are here to serve the greater good of the diocese and we sincerely value the input of not just the clergymen but also the matushkas. We understand how difficult it is to carry the clerical cross in our times and there is no one who better knows this struggle than our matushkas. How many of us present here today would not be able to carry out our pastoral duties without the constant prayers and support of our spouses? Our matushkas usually toil in silence behind the scenes, baking prosforas, conducting the choir, cleaning the church, interacting with parishioners and, most importantly, supporting us weak and sinful men. On behalf of everyone here, I would like to extend a special heartfelt thank you to all of our dear matushkas, for you help us accomplish our most difficult tasks.

 The process of restructuring the diocese is not an easy one. It requires constant prayer and support from all members of the diocese. Without prayer and humility we risk turning the diocese into a business, instead of a Church. We have many examples of fraud, fiscal irresponsibility and corruption in many different jurisdictions and faiths around the world. Aside from prayer, our most important goal is to maintain transparency and accountability. We all have a sacred responsibility to uphold the rules of the Church and we will be held accountable not only to each other, but to Christ Himself. The path of servitude to Christ’s Church on earth leads to one end goal: eternal life. Without genuine prayer and dedication of our lives to Christ, we lose the one thing that is needful – the acquisition of eternal life in Christ. If we dedicate our lives to the service of Christ and His Holy Church, then we need not fear our adversaries, ever mindful of the words of the Savior to his apostles: “I am with you, and no one shall be against you.”

Media Office of the Eastern American Diocese