NOV. 2005 WORD FINAL - Iglesia Ortodoxa

Although we originally contracted with the oldest and best known
CAP provider, the industry has grown considerably, and we are currently
investigating other carriers who provide a wider range of services,
including relocation services, at comparable rates.
BISHOPS’ RETIREMENT STIPENDS
The Department unanimously approved and recommended to the
Archdiocese Board of Trustees a retirement stipend for the hierarchs
of the archdiocese. The stipend (see addendum), approved by the
Archdiocese Board in June, will include: the standard clergy housing
allowance, calculated according to the date of ordination to the
priesthood, plus one-half of the bishop’s annual salary at the effective
date of his retirement (provided he has served as a bishop for at
least ten years, or reduced in proportion to the number of years as a
bishop), plus the full cost of life and medical insurance.
RETIRED CLERGY ALLOWANCE
The most significant initiatives are in the area of the Clergy
Housing Allowance, a non-contributory and non-vested benefit. Mr.
George Nassor arranged for his daughter-in-law, Mrs. Christine
Shaffer Nassor, to perform a professional actuarial study of the
“housing allowance.” While we had hoped that the study would
empower us to increase the allowance, her analysis concluded that
we were badly underfunded even to maintain the current formula.
We are, therefore, especially grateful to NAB Antiochian Women for
committing themselves to the clergy retirement project to raise
$500,000 over the next five years and to the Order of St. Ignatius of
Antioch for increasing its annual contribution by $50,000 per year.
These contributions will stabilize the fund but will not allow an
immediate increase.
In this light, then, the Department is seeking the endorsement of
the General Assembly to investigate the establishment of a formalized
pension program. We are in the very early stages of this investigation
and still have more questions than answers at this point. We
must, for example, determine whether or not the clergy might be
able to afford contributing approximately 3% of their salaries to such
a plan, and whether or not the parishes are willing to match those
contributions. Such a plan might also require an additional commitment
of administrative support at the archdiocese headquarters.
The Department further recommends that parishes facilitate an
ongoing contribution to the pastor’s 403(b) plan in order to provide
for a comfortable and dignified retirement. These contributions are
especially important for those clergy who reside in parish rectories
and are not building equity for their retirement years.
CLOSING REMARKS
The Department extends its deepest gratitude to Metropolitan
PHILIP for his paternal concern for the stability of the clergy and
their families, to Bishop ANTOUN for his dedicated supervision of
the department, and to the Order of St. Ignatius of Antioch and the
Antiochian Women for their faithful and generous support of the
clergy and full-time employees of Archdiocese.
Respectfully submitted,
Very Rev. Fr. Michael Ellias, Chairman
Moved by MR. EDWARD ASSILE of Cresskill, NJ, seconded by MR.
DANIEL J. ABRAHAM of Grand Rapids, MI, the report was received.
Fr. Elias Bitar moved that the General Assembly endorse the
initiative of the Department of Clergy Insurance and Retirement
to establish a voluntary “defined contribution pension plan” for
the clergy and full-time employees of the archdiocese, whereby
the priest/employee would voluntarily contribute 3% of their
salaries to be matched by the parish/employer. Fr. Thomas Zain
seconded the motion. After discussion the motion carried.
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY RECESSED FOR LUNCH
UNTIL 2:25 PM.
8/9. FR. PETER GILLQUIST, Chairman, presented the report
of the Department of Missions and Evangelism.
1. New Missions. Since His Eminence Metropolitan PHILIP established
a full-time Department of Missions and Evangelism in 1988,
the Archdiocese has founded 99 new Eastern Rite missions
throughout the United States and Canada, of which 53 have grown
to full parishes. Since the summer of 2003 the Archdiocese has
received 14 new missions. At present we are developing 11 mission
projects, and exploring the possibilities for mission starts in over a
dozen additional cities and towns.
Department mission priests Frs. Peter Gillquist, Michael Keiser,
and John Finley have worked closely with local clergy and lay leaders
to start new missions. Our staff priests have celebrated hundreds
of Divine Liturgies and other services, provided careful liturgical
training for Protestant clergy converting to Orthodoxy, and instructed
countless laity in the Orthodox Christian Faith. In addition, Fr.
Gordon Walker, who formally retired from the Department in June
2002, continues to volunteer his time to advise and serve some of the
developing missions near his home in Nashville. He also has been
working with numerous Protestant pastors who are en route to the
Orthodox Church. Howard Lange and Carolyn Tanguay have supported
these missionary efforts through their technical and administrative
work at the Santa Barbara, California, office.
2. Parish Growth. Staff have visited several dozen established
Orthodox parishes to conduct Orthodoxy Seminars, provide outreach
training for clergy and lay people, and preach and teach on a variety
of subjects relating to Church planting and evangelism. Many non-
Orthodox clergy and laity attend these functions, so they serve as
both training for Orthodox believers and outreach to inquirers.
Department priests are frequently invited to speak at events of other
jurisdictions, which we accommodate as scheduling permits.
3. Evangelism. Staff have spoken on Orthodox Christianity at a
number of non-Orthodox venues, including Protestant colleges and
seminaries, secular colleges and universities, and fraternity houses.
We also address Protestant congregations where the pastor and laity
are interested in Orthodoxy.
The Department’s reputation among non-Orthodox clergy as a
point of first contact with the Orthodox Church and general resource
The Word 15