Another Overview of the Concerns of OCL 

First Annual Meeting: Chicago, Illinois - January 14, 1989 at the historic church of St. George in Chicago…guests Rev. Christos Vagias and Rev. George Scoulas.  Presiding Officer,  President James A. Koulogeorge, founding president of OCL.  By-laws ratified, The Forum Publication established. This was an organizational meeting.

Meeting - June 5, 1989: Rye, New York with Archbishop Iakovos and Fr. and Presbytera Baglaneas.

Second Annual Meeting: RyeTown Hilton Hotel - Nov 10-11, 1989.  A Conversation with Archbishop Iakovos….  Fr. Alkiviadis Calivas was the luncheon speaker.

Third Annual Meeting: Chicago, Illinois - November 9-11, 1990.  Theme: “Together We Care” at the Inn at University Village and St. Basil Greek Orthodox Church. Featured speakers: Rev. Leonid Kishkovsky, Hon. Paul Tsongas, Rev. Dr. Dimitrios Constantelos.

Fourth Annual Meeting: Baltimore, Maryland - October 25-27, 1991. Workshop on topics included in Project for Orthodox Renewal: Administration and Accountability; Faith, Language and Culture; Mission and Outreach; Orthodox Unity; Selection of the Hierarchy; Spiritual Renewal and Women’s Role in the Church.  Keynote Speaker was Anthony Ugolnik. His topic was “Orthodoxy: A New World Vision.” Dr. Daniel Shahas spoke on the “Theological Foundation of the Role of the Laity in the Church.”  Reception hosted at the Walter Gallery.  Senator Sarbanes and Rep. Helen Delich Bentley, 2^nd Congressional District of Maryland attended.

                Fifth Annual Meeting: St. Louis Missouri at Frontenac Grand Hotel - October 23-24, 1992. “Orthodoxy: Rediscovery and Renewal”: emphasis on Orthodox Unity and Orthodox Challenges.  Speakers included: Fr. Eusebius Stephanou, Th.D. on Proclaiming the Truth of Orthodox Renewal, Fr. Steven Vlahos on How Should the Church Address Interfaith Marriage? and Dr. Paul Meyendorff on Liturgy: Work and the Laity.  Three workshops were conducted including Fr. William Gaines – “Orthodoxy and Young Adults,” Pauline Sarantopoulos – “Orthodox Religious Education” and Matushka Ellen Gvosdev on “Women in the Church.”  .      

Sixth Annual Meeting: Park Central Hotel, New York - October 29-31, 1993. Theme: “A Call to Unity: One Christ, One People.” Fr. Thomas Hopko, Dr. Thomas Klocek, Dr. Andrew Kopan, Dr. Alice Scourby and George Tenet were presenters.

Seventh Annual Meeting: Sts. Peter & Paul, Skokie, Illinois - Oct 28, 29, 30, 1994. “Embracing our Spiritual Identity.” Workshops on the topics of the OCL Project for Orthodox Renewal.  Keynote speaker was Demetria Velisarios Jacquet.  Others included: Fr. James Doyle, Fr. William Caldaroni, Fr. Joel McEachen.  Dr. Charles Moskos was our luncheon speaker and Fr George Scoulas conducted  a workshop.

Eighth Annual Meeting: Baltimore, Maryland, Tremont Plaza Hotel - November 17-19, 1995. “Orthodox Unity in the Americas.”  Keynote speaker was Bishop Nicholas of Amissos on “Unity the Gift from God.”  Fr. John Garvy, St. Nicholas Church in Jamaica Estates, moderated the forum: “What Unites Us, What Divides Us? “ Panelists included: Dr. Efthalia Makris Walsh, Despina D. Prassas and Nicholas Balamaci.  Bishop Nikiphoros of Constantine also spoke on the conditions of the Church in the Holy Land.  Afternoon session: “Orthodoxy in Action” included Fr. Steven Vlahos, Fr. Leon Pachis, Alexander Rondos and Fr. Milton Gianulis.

Ninth Annual Meeting: Sarasota, Florida - October 11-13, 1996. “Transition, Renewal: One Faith, One Church.”  Keynote Speaker was His Grace Bishop Iacovos of Catania, administrator of the Diocese of Atlanta.  Title of his address was “On the Historical Jesus.”  Other speakers included: Frank Schaeffer, “Renewing Orthodoxy: Rediscovering the Foundations of our Orthodox Faith,” Dr. Helen Theodoropoulos spoke on the life of St. Symeon the New Theologian, Dr Nicholas Gvosdev on “The Phanar Project,” Sophia Stefanadis eloquently spoke on “Reaching our Young People.”  Dr. James Oliver, Vice President for Institutional and Program Planning at St. Petersburg Junior College, conducted an administrative workshop.  

Tenth Annual Meeting: Boston, MA, The Harvard Club and The Maliotis Cultural Center at Hellenic College/Holy Cross School of Theology  - November 14-16 , 1997. Theme:  “The American Church and the Ecumenical Patriarchate.” Charles T. Lelon, John Collis, Dr. James Counelis, Rev. Theodore Stylianopoulos, Dr. Ariseidies Papadakis, Dr. Valerie Karras and George Matsoukas were presenters..

Eleventh Annual Meeting: Los Angeles, CA , The Jonathan Club - October 9-11, 1998.  Theme: “Orthodoxy in the Next Millennium and the Role of the Orthodox Christian Laity.”  Stephen P. Angelides, George D. Aravosis, George D. Coupounas, Dr. Peter Haikalis, John T. John, Rev. Michel E. Najim, Rev. Steven J. Vlahos, and Dr. Verna Harrison presented.

Twelfth Annual Meeting: Berkeley, California, Radisson Hotel, Berkeley Marina -  November 12-14, 1999. Theme: “The Ethos and Identity of American Orthodoxy: A Vision for the 21^st Century.” Tour and Vesper Services at Athenagoras Orthodox Institute, Graduate Theological Union, Berkeley. Keynote: Dr. Robert Scott, “Developing the Qualities and Identity of Spiritual Maturity in American Orthodoxy.”

Thirteenth Annual Meeting: Dallas, Texas,  Doubletree Hotel at Lincoln Center - October 13-15, 2000. “Individual Responsibility in the Church.” Speakers on the topic included: Dr. Nikolas K. Gvosdev, Dr. Valerie A. Karras, John Sallas, His Eminence Archbishop Nathaniel of the Romanian Orthodox Episcopate of America, Rev. Dn. Robert Scott, and Greta Larson.

Fourteenth Annual Meeting: Oak Brook, Illinois,  Renaissance Hotel - October 20-21, 2001. Theme: “Orthodox Christian Diversity …and the Unity We Need.”  Peter Marudas, Dr. Elizabeth Prodromou, Dr. John Erickson, and His Eminence Archbishop Nathaniel of the Romanian Orthodox Episcopate of America all contributed to the topic.

Fifteenth Annual Meeting: Detroit, Michigan, Westin Hotel and St. Andrew House / Center for Orthodox Christian Studies - November 9, 2002. Theme: “Returning Home: Bringing our Youth Back to Orthodoxy.” Ann Salvador, students George Gallos and Larissa Galan, Archpriest Paul Jannakos, Natalie M. Kapeluck, and His Eminence Archbishop Nathaniel, Romanian Orthodox Episcopate of America spoke.

Sixteenth Annual Meeting: Cleveland, Ohio, Cleveland Marriott Downtown at Key Center - November 1, 2003. “The Orthodox Christian Ministries Networking Conference.” Presenters included: Very Rev. Anthony Scott, Executive Director of Stewardship Advocates; Gregory Yova, founder and director of Project Mexico; Very Rev. Leon A. Pachis, Director of Development of Eastern Orthodox Foundation of Steel Valley - Senior Care and Healing; Renee Croitoru, Executive Director of Treehouse; Very Rev. Thomas Hopko; Very Rev. Peter Gillquist, Director of Missions and Evangelism, Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese; Paula Kappos, Executive Director ZOE for Life; Ann Salvator, Outreach Program Coordinator at Sts. Constantine and Helen Church, Cleveland; Eric Namee, President of Virginia H. Farah Foundation,  Brian Gerich, philanthropist and Rev. Scott discussed the need for the development of private foundations to support Orthodox missions and other Orthodox Christian needs.      

Seventeenth Annual Meeting: Oak Brook, Illinois, Renaissance Oak Brook Hotel - October 30, 2004. “Celebrating the 10^th Anniversary of the Intention of Ligonier.” In addition to the video “A New Era Begins,” His Eminence Archbishop Nathaniel of Detroit provided the participants with his impressions of Ligonier.  Very Rev. Fr. Peter Gillquist discussed “Evangelism and the Church at Ligonier and Now;” Dr. Valerie Karras discussed “The Nature of the Orthodox Church;” and Alexis Liberovsky, Director/Archivist Office of History and Archives for the OCA presented “Autocephaly of the OCA: How did it occur and what does it mean?”    

Eighteenth Annual Meeting: Dedham, Massachusetts, Church of St. John of Damascus - October 8, 2005. “How to Do Pan-Orthodox Ministry Successfully / Orthodox Christians United: Building Up the Body of Christ.” Keynote speakers included: Very Rev. Gordon Thomas Walker, D. Min, Department of Mission & Evangelism and New Church Development for the Antiochian Archdiocese; and Dr. Robert Haddad, Sophia Smith Professor of History and Professor of Religion Emeritus, Smith College.   The work of the Council of Eastern Orthodox Churches of Central Massachusetts was discussed by Deborah Sedares and the St. Nina’s Quarterly, the publication of Women’s Orthodox Ministries and Education Network (WOMEN) was presented by Teva Regule.  Very Rev. Peter Gillquist talked about Orthodox Christian Fellowship / Campus Ministry.  

Nineteenth Annual Meeting: Baltimore, Maryland, The College of Notre Dame, Doyle Hall - November 4, 2006. “The Present State and Future of Orthodoxy in North America.”  Keynote Speaker: Archbishop Lazar, retired Archbishop (OCA) of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada and Abbot of the All American Saints Monastery, British Columbia, Canada. He is a hesychastic theologian whose writings clearly reflect both the spirit and approach of St. Gregory Palamas and St. Symeon  the New Theologian.  He is a founder of the Institute for Canadian Orthodox Studies and the Nemanjic Institute for Serbo-Byzantine Studies.  He is an acclaimed author of numerous books, monographs and articles.  Other speakers included: Professor and Journalist Terry Mattingly who spoke on the topic of So What Do the Converts Want, Anyway? Andrew Natsios, diplomat and professor, spoke on Working with the Orthodox Church Around the World in humanitarian efforts to serve the least of God’ children.  Peter Marudas, journalist, political activist and commentator, spoke on The Ecumenical Patriarchate and Orthodox Unity in America.  Subdeacon Robert Miclean presented his experiences on creating and implementing Campus Ministry programs in the Maryland area and the OCF outreach program at St. John’s College and the US Naval Academy.  Father Peter Gillquist discussed Crucial Steps to Orthodox Unity. 

**Twentieth Anniversary of OCL Celebration and Annual Program will be presented in Chicago, Illinois, November 2 and 3, 2007.  Topic of the educational forum will deal with: “The “Upcoming ‘Great and Holy Council’: Who can Convene it?; Why Have it; and Why Hasn’t it Happened?” Mark your calendar for this discussion which will take place on November 3, 2007.  An informal dinner celebrating the 20^th Anniversary of OCL which will highlight some of its achievements will take place on Friday evening, November 2, 2007.  Details of these two events will be announced.**

REGIONAL OPEN FORUMS

From 1987- 2007, OCL has hosted 56 REGIONAL OPEN FORUMS throughout the United States as part of its educational outreach program.  The most recent Forum was held on February 17, 2007 in Miami Lakes, Florida at the Orthodox Cathedral of Christ the Saviour.  A Hierarchical, Pan-Orthodox Liturgy was celebrated by Archbishop Nathaniel of Detroit and the Romanian Orthodox Episcopate of America officiating, assisted by 11 area clergy.  A brunch followed, hosted by the Sisterhood of the Cathedral. The topic of the brunch open forum was: “Celebrating the 20^th Anniversary of the Evangelical Christians COMING HOME to Orthodox Christianity,”  which occurred on February 8, 1987 at St. Nicholas Cathedral, Los Angeles, CA. Father Peter Gillquist and Father Gordon Walker were the special guest speakers.  Archbishop Nathaniel provided the gathering of over 130 faithful with an update on the January 29-30, 2007, “Faith of Our Fathers Colloquium” hosted at St. Andrew House / Center for Orthodox Christian Studies, Detroit with 80 mostly Anglican but also other Protestant Clergy attending.  Some Anglican Clergy of greater Detroit asked that this meeting be developed to provide them with information on the Orthodox Christian faith.

++Next REGIONAL OPEN FORUM will be in Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota Area on Saturday, June 23, 2007: “Orthodoxy Comes to Lake Wobegon” – Celebrating two 20^th Anniversaries: Evangelicals Come Home to Orthodoxy in Feb. 1987 and Orthodox Christian Laity founded in Chicago in 1987.++