SCOBA News Archive
Below you will find news items from SCOBA, the predecessor to the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of North and Central America, that cover the years 2000-2011.
OCF Builds Ministry for the Future
Another banner school year for Orthodox Christian Fellowship is winding down, full of milestones including new OCFs and expanding National Programs; OCF is looking to continue this momentum into the future. At its recent annual spring meeting in Denver, Colorado the OCF Executive Committee approved expansion of the OCF Staff to meet the growing ministry demands. OCF seeks to expand its full-time staff at its National Office in Boston, Massachusetts. OCF is searching for a highly organized, self-motivated individual to plan and implement its OCF Programs under the guidance of the Program Director and serve as a point of contact for the more than 200 local OCF chapters.
IOCC Aid to South Asia Focusing On Long-Term Recovery
As part of its ongoing tsunami response, International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC) is supporting efforts such as these to train professionals in trauma counseling techniques and to provide counseling to tsunami victims. As the seminar participants told their stories, it was clear that they carried with them an unbearable sadness, coupled with a fierce determination to help friends, relatives and others who had suffered trauma and loss.
Charles Powell named new Director of Development For Orthodox Christian Networks
Charles Powell, the media director of the ministry since 2003, was promoted to his new position as of April 1st by the board after a generous grant from the Farah Foundation. The multi-year grant by the Farah Foundation was made for the expressed purpose of creating this new development office to assist OCN in securing the funding to support a nationwide media presence for the Orthodox Christian churches in this country.
Orthodox Peace Fellowship of North America - East Coast Conference
Please join us for the upcoming Orthodox Peace Fellowship - North America Conference!
The Come Receive the Light Monthly Program Schedule for May 2006
Schedule of Programs for May 2006
Come Receive the Light Monthly Program Schedule for June 2005
Schedule of Programs for June 2005
Partners Unite to Fight AIDS, Family Violence in Romania
Romanians and Americans have joined forces in an ambitious partnership to fight HIV/AIDS and family violence in Romania, a country that faces an alarmingly high level of HIV-positive teenagers. The project brings together the Romanian Orthodox Church, International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC), the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), and the Romanian Ministry of Education.
Archbishop Iakovos and the Establishment of the Orthodox Christian Mission Center
Archbishop Iakovos, former Archbishop of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of North and South America from 1959 to 1996, fell asleep in the Lord on April 10, 2005 at the age of 93 years old. His Eminence will be remembered for many achievements during his fruitful ministry, including his encouragement, support, and establishment of the Orthodox Christian Mission Center (OCMC).
Orthodox Christian Network Offers Premier Radio Program
OCN now makes the premier Orthodox Christian radio program, Come Receive The Light, available for download to an MP3 player. This means that a listener can now download the weekly Orthodox Christian radio program and then share that program with others. Rev. Dr. Christopher Metropulos, founder and executive director of OCN, states “One of our primary goals is to share joy, hope, and salvation in Jesus Christ with our young people, especially college students leaving home for the first time. We want them to stay connected to the Church and one of the best ways to do this is to use the technology they are already using to keep them focused on Christ while they are away from home.”
Farah Foundation Awards Major Multi-Year Grant
The Virginia H. Farah Foundation has made a multi-year commitment to fund a new Development Office for Orthodox Christian Network (OCN). The purpose of this grant is to help OCN establish an Office of Development for the media outreach of the Standing Conference of Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the Americas (SCOBA). This new development office will work with other foundations and individual donors to fully fund the media outreach ministry for the Orthodox Christian churches in this nation.
IOCC Memo from the Field – March 16, 2005
Chief Operating Officer Colin McGinnis recently traveled to the island of Sumatra, where 170,000 people perished from the tsunami, as part of a humanitarian team to further assess the needs there and help plan a long-term response.
IOCC Launches West Bank Job Creation, Education Project
IOCC was one of six international relief agencies to recently sign an agreement with USAID to promote job creation and education reform in the West Bank. The $13 million agreement, spread among the six agencies, will create employment opportunities through the construction and renovation of classrooms and youth centers in the West Bank and Gaza.
Encountering Women of Faith: The St. Catherine’s Vision Collection,
With great joy we announce an exciting new book Encountering Women of Faith: The St. Catherine’s Vision Collection, vol.1
SCOBA Directory Available
For the first time, a Directory of Orthodox Parishes and Institutions of all the member jurisdictions of the Standing Conference of Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the Americas (SCOBA) is available. This 2004 Directory has been endorsed by SCOBA.
The Orthodox-Catholic Theological Consultation Held 69th Meeting
The Consultation continued its reflection on primacies and conciliarity in the Church, beginning at the first theological session with an examination of two texts. The first was the 1991 Agreed Statement of the Orthodox-Catholic dialogue in France entitled, “The Roman Primacy Within the Communion of Churches,” and the second was an article by Jean-Marie Tillard, “The Mission of the Bishop of Rome: What is Essential, What is Expected?” In the second theological session, the consultation heard a paper by Rev Thomas FitzGerald, “The Orthodox-Oriental Orthodox Theological Dialogue,” and one by Rev Ronald Roberson, “The Contemporary Relationship of the Catholic Church with the Oriental Orthodox Churches and the Assyrian Church of the East.” At the third theological session, held on Saturday morning, Rev Nicholas Apostola presented a paper entitled “Primacy in a Pluralistic Context.”
Come Receive The Light Schedule of Programs for January 2006
Come Receive The Light Schedule for January 2006
SCOBA Hierarchs Name January 16th Share the Light Sunday
“Now it’s our turn!” With those words Come Receive The Light founder and co-host Rev. Dr. Christopher Metropulos announced that SCOBA (The Standing Conference of Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the Americas) has named Sunday, January 16th, Share The Light Sunday in all of the Orthodox Christian parishes of America. This special Sunday will help all our Orthodox Christian parishes become partners with Orthodox Christian Networks (OCN) in creating a national media ministry tool for all our churches. “With over 800 Christian programs on the air each week in the US, we now have an opportunity to add an Orthodox Christian voice to the broadcast industry. For our children's sake, we can no longer remain silent on American media” states Fr. Chris.
Come Receive the Light Schedule for December 2004
Schedule of Programs for December 2004
IOCC Sunday Encyclical
As we look around us, it is not difficult to see tribulation in every direction. Sacred and venerable institutions such as the family and Holy Matrimony are under attack. Terrorism affects daily life, bringing fear and uncertainty. Natural disasters continue to plague the world, leaving death and destruction in their wake.
Come Receive the Light Schedule for November 2004
Schedule of Programs for November 2004
Orthodox Christian Network Welcomes Three New National Board Members
Rev. Christopher Metropulos announced the appointment of three new national board members for Orthodox Christian Networks (OCN), the SCOBA commissioned agency built to create a national media presence for the Orthodox Christian Churches in America.
Fourth Annual Orthodox Prayer Service for the United Nations Community
The fourth annual Orthodox Prayer Service and Reception for the United Nations Community was celebrated on Tuesday, October 12, 2004 at St. Vartan Armenian Cathedral, at 6:30pm. This year, the service, jointly sponsored by the Standing Conference of Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the Americas, (SCOBA) and the Standing Conference of Oriental Orthodox Churches in America, (SCOOCH) was presided over by His Eminence Archbishop Mor Cyril Aphrem Karim of the Syrian Orthodox Archdiocese for the eastern United States. Under the theme of overcoming violence in the world, suggested by the World Council of Churches' program of the "Decade to Overcome Violence", the service focused on the verse from the Gospel of St. Matthew 5:9: "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God."
College Student Sunday Encyclical
The presence of the OCF on the college campus is so very crucial in that it serves as a community that brings students together and anchors them firmly in their Orthodox Christian faith. Through communal prayer, fellowship, philanthropy, and witness, students who participate in the OCF can be sure that their encounter with others from different walks of life will truly enrich and enhance their growth as Orthodox Christians. Likewise in the classroom, their exposure to philosophical worldviews and teachings that sometimes diverge from Orthodox Christian thought will also beautifully augment their intellectual and spiritual growth.
Missionaries needed - Youth and Young Adult Workers
The Orthodox Christian Mission Center (OCMC), St. Augustine, FL - Hierarchs around the world have requested our help! The Orthodox Christian Mission Center (OCMC) is looking for those who work with youth and young adults to help the Church in Africa, Eastern Europe and Latin America. Working with young people is a priority in our local parishes and it is also a priority for Orthodox throughout the world.
Romanians Pledge Support For IOCC Efforts
At recent meetings in Detroit and Chicago, Romanian-Americans pledged their continuing support for the humanitarian work of International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC) in Romania. Archbishop Nicolae of the Romanian Orthodox Archdiocese in America and Canada and Archbishop Nathaniel of the Romanian Orthodox Episcopate of America committed their respective communities to raising $50,000 toward new initiatives planned by IOCC in Romania. IOCC has proposed to the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) a program to work with Romanian youth on the problems of HIV/AIDS, alcoholism, human trafficking and family violence.