Howell, NJ: Regular Session of Eastern American Diocesan Council held at Diocesan Center

July 18, 2015
Howell, NJ: Regular Session of Eastern American Diocesan Council held at Diocesan Center

On Tuesday, June 30, His Eminence Hilarion, Metropolitan of Eastern America & New York, led a regular session of the Eastern American Diocesan Council at the Diocesan Center in Howell, NJ. His Eminence began the meeting by leading a Moleben before the Beginning of Every Good Work, before an icon of the Holy New Martyrs & Confessors of Russia. Members in attendance were:

- His Grace Nicholas, Bishop of Manhattan
- Archpriest Victor Potapov
- Archpriest Serge Lukianov, Diocesan Secretary
- Hieromonk Alexander (Frizzell)
- Archpriest Mark Mancuso
- Archpriest Alexandre Antchoutine
- Deacon George Temidis
- Reader Peter Lukianov
- Reader Gregory Levitsky, Diocesan Treasurer

Metropolitan Hilarion greeted Bishop Nicholas on the occasion of the first anniversary of his consecration to the episcopate, and Council members sang "Many Years" to their vicar bishop.

With some small changes, the Council approved the minutes of the December 8th meeting, as well as a report to His Eminence summarizing the March 16th meeting, which took place prior to the start of the Lenten Clergy Retreat.

The Council was informed that member Serge R. Lopoukhine had requested that the Metropolitan officially accept his resignation from the Council. His request was accepted.

Deacon Dionysius Lvov delivered a presentation on St. Zosima’s Candle Factory, over which he was recently given supervision. The Factory is working hard to improve product, delivery, and operating procedures, and has paid off most of the debts it had incurred over recent years. However, the Factory’s greatest challenge is that not all parishes follow the yearly directives of the Metropolitan, instructing them to purchase their candles from the Factory. Council members reviewed a list of parishes and monasteries that do not do so. Fr. Dionysius explained that another set of directives has instructed all parishes that do not purchase candles from the Factory to pay an additional 10% in dues directly to the Synod of Bishops. Fr. Dionysius answered Council members’ questions, and they voiced their overall approval of changes being made at the Factory. Prices for candles are currently a flat $9 per pound, including delivery costs via UPS, and rebates for wax remnants are now returned in the form of a check, rather than credit to a given parish’s account. In addition to supporting the Factory, the Media Office also offered to help promote St. Zosima’s by visiting the Factory and assisting with marketing to encourage diocesan parishes to support our Synod’s endeavors.

Council members heard a report from the Diocesan Spiritual Court regarding cases currently being heard and resolved, and His Eminence approved further cases for the Spiritual Court’s review.

Council members heard a report on the status of the diocesan property in Gulfport, FL. In the 1990s, Metropolitan Vitaly (Ustinov; +2006) signed over a small, two-bedroom house to the Diocese as a rental property. Unfortunately, the house burned down after a grease fire on Monday, May 25, and is a total loss. In keeping with the Council’s earlier resolution, a buyer is still being sought for the property.

Metropolitan Hilarion delivered a report on the status of Metropolitan Jonah (Paffhausen), former Primate of the Orthodox Church in America (OCA). Metropolitan Jonah has received a release from the OCA and has been accepted into ROCOR, pending ratification by the Patriarch of Moscow. Metropolitan Jonah will serve in ROCOR as a retired bishop, with the title "Eminence." For the time being, he will serve at St. John the Baptist Cathedral in Washington D.C., as well as perform archpastoral visits in the Diocese.

Council members reviewed a plan, spearheaded by Metropolitan Hilarion and further developed by the diocesan administration, to reorganize the diocesan deaneries. In light of the retirement of Archpriest George Larin, who served as dean of both the Hudson Valley parishes and New England, the parishes under his supervision are now broken down into a restored New England Deanery and a single deanery encompassing Long Island and the Hudson Valley. The Council also voted to split the Deanery of the South, currently the Diocese’s largest, into three separate deaneries, in the hopes that this will help give greater focus to the much-needed missionary work to be done in those regions. A full directive from Metropolitan Hilarion regarding the deaneries is available here.

Members heard a report on the work of the diocesan administration at the new Center, and received updates on progress made since the last meeting. The biggest challenges have involved integrating the diocesan administration into normal parish life, but with time, the process has been a success. All diocesan offices have officially been moved to the Center, where regular office hours are now held. The Diocese now has a Center that is open daily to worshippers and visitors, and able to host large-scale church events. Council members were also updated on the day-to-day affairs of the administration, which are primarily overseen by Bishop Nicholas during his weekly visits to the Center. His Grace has been assuming more responsibilities in the diocesan administration, thus providing a great relief for Metropolitan Hilarion, who must allocate his time between two dioceses and the Synod of Bishops.

A reflection from the Diocesan Council addressed to the faithful was prepared in response to the ruling of the U.S. Supreme Court legalizing same-sex marriage. Members reviewed the text and made several revisions via e-mail over the following days. Click here to read the full statement on same-sex marriage.

Council members heard a report by the Diocesan Auditing Committee, which met with the Treasurer to review financial records for the second half of 2014. All accounts were found to be in order. The Auditing Committee made a few minor recommendations regarding check receipts and internal controls over funds. All of the recommendations were approved and are currently being implemented. Another audit, for the first half of 2015, will take place before the Diocesan Assembly in October.

The Treasurer delivered a report on diocesan finances for the first half of 2015. For the most part, anticipated income is being met, and costs are being kept in line with the budget. The greatest expenditure over the anticipated budget is legal fees for incorporating the Diocese and applying for 501(c)(3) status. Owing to the vague legal status of the Diocese prior to 2009, the original incorporation was allowed to lapse. The diocesan administration was only recently made aware of this discrepancy, and incorporation was renewed at the start of the year. An application for tax-exempt status is currently under review by the government. Members also reviewed a report on parishes’ dues payments to the Diocese and Synod. Rectors will be sent a reminder that dues for the first half of 2015 must be submitted by August 1.

Council members discussed plans for the upcoming Diocesan General Assembly, which will be held at the Diocesan Center on October 26-28, 2015. Bishop Nicholas is currently overseeing the preparation process and will report back to the Council in the coming weeks, once details have been finalized.

Media Office of the Eastern American Diocese