NOV. 2005 WORD FINAL - Iglesia Ortodoxa

cially the members of the holy episcopate to work and pray for the
unity of the faith and to work to correct any uncanonical situation;
AND WHEREAS, the Standing Conference of Orthodox Bishops in
America, (SCOBA) which is comprised of Orthodox bishops from all
canonical Orthodox jurisdictions in North America, last met with
respect to Orthodox unity at the Antiochian Village in 1994 and has
done nothing since that time to further resolve the uncanonical situation
in North America and to promote Orthodox unity;
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that this General Assembly of the
47th Archdiocesan Convention, duly assembled at Dearborn,
Michigan, challenges, requests and calls on SCOBA to meet with all
Chancellors Charles Ajalat and Robert Koory present resolutions
deliberate speed with the expressed purpose to endorse, promote
and accomplish Orthodox Unity in North America and to set forth a
plan and timetable for the achieving such Orthodox Unity.
Fr. Joseph Abud of Flint, MI, asked the motion makers to accept a friendly
amendment to the first paragraph so that it would read, “those who have
been born and raised on this continent and have no desire to leave their
homeland, and/or those who have moved to this country and have adopted
it as their homeland;” as well as a friendly amendment to the last paragraph
so that it would read, “calls on SCOBA to establish a commission to
meet with all deliberate speed …” The motion makers accepted the friendly
amendments, and the resolution was approved as amended by acclamation.
RESOLUTION IN VIGOROUS OPPOSITION TO POSITIONS
TAKEN BY EXTREME CHRISTIAN GROUPS
WHEREAS, several extreme positions that are both divisive and
dangerous have emerged from so-called “Left-wing” and “Rightwing”
Christian groups;
AND WHEREAS, the tenets of these extreme positions include, but
are not limited to, support for same-sex marriage, support for abortion,
support for ordination of women to Holy Orders, support for the
concept of war which is “pre-emptive” or “justifiable”, and the labeling
of other faiths and their leaders with hateful terminology;
AND WHEREAS, The Holy Orthodox Church believes and teaches
the faith which was taught by Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and
52 The Word
upheld by His Apostles, and “which was once for all delivered to the
saints” (Jude:3);
AND WHEREAS, The Self-Ruled Antiochian Orthodox Christian
Archdiocese of North America stands firm in her resolve to uphold
this Holy Orthodox Faith in all of its purity;
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that this General Assembly of the
47th Convention of the Self-Ruled Antiochian Orthodox Christian
Archdiocese of North America firmly rejects all extremist positions
that are contrary to the teachings of the Holy Orthodox Faith;
AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that this Archdiocese will not
be affiliated with those groups that support and promulgate these
extreme positions, and that this Archdiocese will continue to witness
to the Truth as received from our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, His Holy
Apostles, the Holy Fathers, and all of the saints and martyrs who
have lived and died to uphold the Holy Orthodox Faith.
Sponsored by His Eminence Metropolitan PHILIP
Fr. John Morris of Vicksburg, MS, asked the motion makers to accept a
friendly amendment to the last paragraph so that it would read, “that support
and promulgate any of these extreme positions.” The motion makers
accepted the friendly amendment, and the resolution was approved as
amended by acclamation.
RESOLUTION OF THANKSGIVING
WHEREAS, the hierarchs, clergy and faithful of this God-protected
Self-Ruled Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese of North America
have met in General Assembly under the leadership of our beloved
Primate Metropolitan PHILIP at the 47th Antiochian Orthodox
Christian Archdiocesan Convention in Dearborn, Michigan, at a regular
convention for the first time as a self-ruled Archdiocese as set
forth in our duly adopted and amended Constitution approved in
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in July 2004 and by which Constitution our
newest diocesan bishops, Bishop THOMAS, Bishop MARK and
Bishop ALEXANDER were duly nominated, elected and consecrated
to the holy episcopate;
AND WHEREAS, the General Assembly and all the faithful of this
Archdiocese have worked and continue to work for the building of
this God-protected Archdiocese and the Holy Orthodox Church in
North America, steadfastly holding to the Holy Scriptures, Holy
Traditions and Canons of the one Holy Catholic and Apostolic
Orthodox Church and our beloved Patriarchate of Antioch;
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that this General Assembly of the
47th Archdiocesan Convention, duly assembled at Dearborn,
Michigan, from July 25-31, 2005, give thanks to Almighty God for the
blessings bestowed upon this Archdiocese for guiding our beloved
Primate Metropolitan PHILIP in achieving Self-Rule for this
Archdiocese and for granting to our beloved Patriarch IGNATIUS IV
and the members of the Holy Synod of Antioch the wisdom, courage
and foresight to grant irrevocably Self-Rule to this Archdiocese in
the October 9, 2003 Resolution.
Moved by Dr. GEORGE FARHA of Wichita, KS, seconded by the Archdiocese
Board of Trustees, the resolution was approved by acclamation.
9a. FR. PETER SHPORTUN of St. Nicholas Church, Montreal,
PQ, Canada, presented the report on the 2007 Archdiocese
Convention to be held in Montreal, Quebec.