Board of Ukrainian Orthodox Consistory in Canada holds three-day meeting (02/04/01)

Board of Ukrainian Orthodox Consistory in Canada holds three-day meeting

WINNIPEG - The Consistory Board of Directors of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada, elected by the Church's 20th National Council (Sobor) last summer, held its first meeting on November 23-25, 2000, in Winnipeg. The three-day meeting was held at St. Andrew's College, on the campus of the University of Manitoba.

The Consistory of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada is composed of 18 members - the chair, eight members elected from among clergy and nine members elected from lay members of the Church. The president of the Consistory is the metropolitan of the UOCC.

The meeting was preceded with the traditional moleben, served by the Very Rev. Wasyl Makarenko (chancellor/chair of the Presidium of the Consistory), the Very Rev. Roman Bozyk (dean of theology and chaplain of St. Andrew's College) and the Rev. Cornell Zubritsky, in the Chapel of St. Andrew's College. Metropolitan Wasyly, primate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church Canada, and Bishop Yurij of the Eastern Diocese of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada, were also present. Responses were sung by the theology students, directed by Bishop Yurii.

The first order of business for the meeting of the newly elected Consistory members was a general orientation session on the mandate for the next five years, as directed by the 20th Sobor, and as outlined in the document "Vision 2000: A Blueprint for the Future of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada."

The presidium chair, the Very Rev. Makarenko, spoke to members of their responsibilities, both in the spiritual realm and in the temporal sphere. He reminded them to stay focused on the directives of the 20th Sobor, and to remember that their service on the Consistory Board is a gift and a blessing to serve the Church as servants of the Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

The orientation session also included a presentation by the Rev. Zubritsky on Christian-oriented leadership and Orthodox Christian meetings. Consistory Member Victor Hetmanczuk presented information on what it means to manage. He spoke about how the board should learn from the past, manage for the present and prepare for the future. He stressed that the Consistory must learn to balance the challenges ahead and to steer the strategic transformation of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada for its future survival in the new millennium.

The second day of meetings heard greetings from the bishops and dealt with numerous administrative and financial reports. The chair of the Presidium reviewed his first four months of the new administrative term and the reorganization of staff to deal with new challenges. Although there is still a period of transition, the work is running smoothly. Consistory members also heard reports from several of the Consistory's operating departments, including Ecclesia Publishing Corp., the Office of Missions and Education, and the Consistory Church Goods Supply Store, as well as an update on the joint Canada-U.S. prayerbook project.

The Consistory received the audited year-end financial statement for the 1999-2000 budget year and the report of the external auditors, Craig and Ross, and reviewed the investment report of the Consistory's investment advisor, Bob Challis of the Nakamun Group. Additional financial information was provided by the Consistory's financial manager, Maurice Labelle. At the conclusion of the financial reporting, the Consistory approved the new operating budget for the 2000-2001 year.

In keeping with the direction of the Sobor, three major Consistory Committees were struck to carry out the resolutions and directives over the next five years. The Rev. Makarenko stated that, "Vision 2000" thus becomes "Vision in Action." The three "vision areas" committees are: Committee on Spiritual Renewal - chaired by the Very Rev. Victor Lakusta (Edmonton), Committee on Educational Development co-chaired by Dr. Alexander Melnyk (Kirkland, Quebec) and Gerald Luciuk (Regina), and the Committee on Responsible Stewardship and Effective Communication - chaired by Mr. Hetmanczuk (Oakville, Ontario). Each of these three committees will have several subcommittees dealing with more specific mandates. As well, there will be a link with each of the three Diocesan Councils, bringing together all "Parishes in Action." The final day of the Consistory meeting heard reports from the Council of Bishops, including a review of the UOCC participation in the Canadian Council of Churches, particularly the Faith and Witness Commission, the Permanent Conference of Ukrainian Orthodox Bishops Beyond the Borders of Ukraine, and a discussion of the situation of Ukrainian Orthodox Churches in Ukraine.

The Consistory also heard reports from the Principal of St. Andrew's College, Dr. Vivian Olender, the dean of theology, the Very Rev. Bozyk, and the acting director of the Center for Ukrainian Canadian Studies, Dr. Denis Hlynka.

On the final day, the Consistory wrapped up discussion on issues tabled from previous sessions and dealt with a number of administrative matters, including reactivating the Liturgical Commission and the establishment of a Consistory Land Use Committee to study and advise upon possible development of the Consistory properties along St. John's Avenue. As directed by the Sobor, the Consistory also struck a Commission on the Status of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada and the Ecumenical Patriarchate.

The next meeting of the full Consistory is scheduled for May 2001.

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