Orthodox Church hierarchs to discuss mission, challenges

SOUTH BOUND BROOK, N.J. - Metropolitans, archbishops and bishops of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople), representing eparchies in Canada, the U.S., South America, Great Britain, Australia, New Zealand and faith communities in Western Europe, will gather in St. Andrew the First-Called Apostle Center here on June 25-26 for an in-depth discussion of the diaspora Church's mission and the challenges it faces in light of current circumstances in Ukraine and throughout the world. An announcement of the conference was released by the Consistory of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the U.S.A.

Foreseen as major items of discussion are: the role of the Church as sanctifier and promoter of the sanctity and dignity of life from conception to natural death, mission evangelization, religious life, and the family and parish community. Of several important moral issues on the agenda, the growing movement in the secular world to legalize assisted suicide, and the Church's response, will be discussed.

Also significant will be the conference's response to the evolving ecclesiastical situation in Ukraine, the presence of three Ukrainian Orthodox jurisdictions and proselytism on the part of sectarian and non-Christian groups.

The two-day Bishops' Council, co-chaired by Metropolitan Constantine, primate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the U.S.A. and Diaspora, and Metropolitan Wasyly, primate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Canada, is being hosted by the Consistory of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the U.S.A., of which Archbishop Antony is president.

Copyright © The Ukrainian Weekly, June 23, 1996, No. 25, Vol. LXIV

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