SCOBA Hierarchs Convene For Spring 2008 Session

[Worldwide Faith News]

SCOBA
The Standing Conference of the Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the Americas
8 East 79th Street, New York, NY 10075-0106

Press Release

June 13, 2008


SCOBA Hierarchs Convene For Spring 2008 Session


New York, NY - The Spring Session of the Standing Conference of the
Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the Americas (SCOBA) met on June 12, 2008
from 10:30 a.m. ­ 3:00 p.m. at the  Headquarters of the Greek Orthodox
Archdiocese of America.  This session was attended by all Hierarchs of
SCOBA: Archbishop Demetrios, Chairman (Greek Orthodox Archdiocese),
Metropolitan Philip, Vice-Chairman (Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese),
Metropolitan Christopher, Secretary (Serbian Orthodox Church),
Metropolitan Nicholas (Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Diocese), Metropolitan
Herman (Orthodox Church in America), Metropolitan Joseph (Bulgarian
Orthodox Church), Archbishop Nicolae (Romanian Orthodox Archdiocese),
Archbishop Antony (proxy, Ukrainian Orthodox Church) and Bishop Ilia
(Albanian Orthodox Diocese).  In attendance as well were Metropolitan
Maximos of Pittsburgh (Greek Orthodox Archdiocese), Metropolitan Methodios
of Boston (Greek Orthodox Archdiocese), and Bishop Antoun of Miami
(Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese).  Also present were the General
Secretary and thirteen members of the SCOBA Study and Planning Commission
representing all the SCOBA member Churches.

The Hierarchs held a fraternal and open discussion related to SCOBA
Agencies, dealing with communications, education and mission.  The formal
request of the Vicar of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, who is
also the Administrator of the Moscow Patriarchal parishes in the USA (33
in number), Bishop Mercurius of Zaraisk to be included on SCOBA was
presented by the Chairman, Archbishop Demetrios.  He noted that the Moscow
Patriarchate, through its Exarchate, had been one of the original signers
of the SCOBA Constitution.  After the Archbishop’s presentation of the
matter, there was immediate unanimous agreement, in a spirit of fraternal
welcome, by all SCOBA Hierarchs to welcome the Representation of the
Moscow Patriarchate in the United States, in the person of Bishop
Mercurius, to full membership in SCOBA.

In addition, both Archbishop Demetrios and Metropolitan Philip shared with
the other SCOBA Hierarchs the positive results of their individual
meetings with Metropolitan Hilarion, the newly enthroned (May 18, 2008)
First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia (ROCOR).

The Co-Chair of the Orthodox-Roman Catholic Theological Consultation,
Metropolitan Maximos, gave a presentation on the status of the various
Inter-Christian Dialogues. The meeting closed with an open and fraternal
discussion of ecclesiastical issues that need attention.