Executive Committee Meeting of the Assembly of Bishops

(OCA) - On Thursday, February 27, 2020, His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon participated in the spring meeting of the Executive Committee of the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the United States of America. The meeting was hosted by His Eminence Metropolitan Joseph of the Antiochian Archdiocese of North America at the headquarters of the archdiocese in Englewood, New Jersey.

The meeting, convened by His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros, Archbishop of New York of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America and Chairman of the Assembly of Canonical Bishops in the United States

also included His Eminence Metropolitan Joseph, His Eminence Metropolitan Nicolae of the Romanian Metropolia of the United States, His Grace Bishop Saba of the Georgian Orthodox Church, His Eminence Metropolitan Gregory of Nyssa of the American Carpatho-Russian Diocese of the United States, secretary of the assembly, and His Eminence Archbishop Michael of New York and New Jersey of the Orthodox Church in America, treasurer of the assembly.

The Executive Committee heard reports on the budget, committee work and ongoing projects as well as plans for the 10th meeting of the assembly slated to be convened May 2-5 in Washington D.C. The anniversary weekend will include a reception for clergy families on the evening of May 2nd, and concelebration of the Divine Liturgy of all bishops of the assembly on Sunday, May 3rd.

Of particular note was the report of a task force that was commissioned by the Executive Committee to identify and develop programs to address the crisis of homelessness. The task force recommended the creation of an Orthodox Volunteer Corps (OVC) which will provide young adults the opportunity to serve in a humanitarian organization for one year after collegiate or graduate studies. The Executive Committee looks forward to the launch of this new endeavor in 2021.