SCOBA to Host Conference in Chicago Oct. 3-6

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                       CONTACT: Nikki Stephanopoulos
September 27, 2006                                           Tel: (212) 570-3530
                                                                          Cell: (917) 503-1255



 STANDING CONFERENCE OF CANONICAL ORTHODOX BISHOPS
 IN THE AMERICAS TO HOST CONFERENCE IN CHICAGO OCT. 3-6
                                                                                       
New York, NY – Twenty-eight canonical hierarchs of the Orthodox Christian Church in the Americas will convene in Chicago from October 3-6 to “Exemplify the bond of brotherhood that exists among canonical Orthodox Churches in the Americas and provide the opportunity for the hierarchs to review the work of the Standing Conference of Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the Americas,” stated Archbishop Demetrios, Primate of the Greek Orthodox Church in America and Chairman of SCOBA. The Conference is to be headquartered at the O’Hare Marriott Hotel and will be the third such Conference, the two previous being held in 1994 and 2001.

 The opening session will include welcoming remarks by Archbishop Demetrios and reports on the role of SCOBA agencies including:  International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC); Orthodox Christian Mission Center (OCMC) and Orthodox Christian Fellowship (OCF) (college ministry). Several workshops will be held on October 4 and 5th. These include: New and Mission Parishes; Keeping Young People Connected to the Church; Sexual Misconduct in the Church; The Diaconate; Witness in Society; and Internal Ecclesial Issues. Also, reports on SCOBA Commissions: Ecumenical, Social and Moral Issues, Research Information Technologies and Study and Planning and reports of SCOBA endorsed groups, ZOE for Life, Orthodox Peace Fellowship, Project Mexico, Orthodox Christian Association of Medicine, Psychology and Religion, Orthodox Theological Society of America and Fellowship of the Transfiguration.

The Conference will conclude Friday morning with a Divine Liturgy at Holy Resurrection Serbian Orthodox Cathedral in Chicago, 8035 W. Serbian Road,
followed by a plenary session and adoption of an official communiqué. A news conference will be held at 12 Noon to issue the Communique.

CANONICAL ORTHODOX HIERARCHS PARTICIPATING IN CONFERENCE

Archbishop Demetrios, Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, Chairman
Metropolitan Christopher, Serbian Orthodox Church in US and Canada, Secretary
Metropolitan Joseph, Bulgarian Eastern Orthodox Church
Metropolitan Herman, Orthodox Church in America
Archbishop Nicolae, Romanian Orthodox Archdiocese in America and Canada
Metropolitan Constantine, Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA
Metropolitan Iakovos, Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America
Metropolitan Maximos, Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America
Metropolitan Methodios, Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America
Metropolitan Isaiah, Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America
Metropolitan Alexios, Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America
Metropolitan Nicholas, Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America
Metropolitan Gerasimos, Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America
Metropolitan Evangelos, Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America
Archbishop Nathaniel, Orthodox Church in America
Archbishop Job, Orthodox Church in America
Archbishop Antony, Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA
Archbishop Vsevolod, Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA
Bishop Dimitrios, Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, General Secretary
Bishop Mark, Orthodox Church in America
Bishop Tikhon, Orthodox Church in America
Bishop Seraphim, Orthodox Church in America
Bishop Mark, Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America
Bishop Basil, Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America
Bishop Thomas, Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America
Bishop Savas, Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America
Bishop Andonios, Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America
Bishop Ioan, Romanian Orthodox Archdiocese in America and Canada