Diocesan Council Holds Summer Meeting

[July 13, 2012] On June 14, 2012 the Diocesan Council (clergy and laity) met at the Diocesan Administration for its summer session. The meeting began with a prayer and Archbishop Kyrill's report. Archbishop Kyrill shared his concerns regarding the skyrocketing costs of cemetery plots at the Serbian Cemetery in Colma. Costs are forcing many people to seriously consider cremation as an alternative. Archbishop Kyrill notified the Diocesan Council that the Saints Peter and Paul parish in Santa Rosa has purchased 22 acres of land adjacent to their church and are planning to set up a cemetery there.

Archbishop Kyrill proceeded to tell the Council members about the Fort Ross 200th anniversary celebration on August 25, 2012. It is anticipated that Metropolitan Jonah (OCA) will preside together with the First Hierarch of ROCOR, Metropolitan Hilarion, Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk (MP) and others, including Archbishops Benjamin (OCA) and Justinian (MP). Vladika Kyrill has also invited Bishop Peter of Cleveland to attend. On Sunday, August 26 all the above-mentioned bishops will concelebrate at the Holy Trinity Cathedral (OCA) in San Francisco, and on August 28, the feast of Dormition, at the Holy Virgin "Joy of All Who Sorrow" Cathedral.

Plans for St. John's feastday celebration are going according to plan: Bishop Peter of Cleveland will attend and Archimadrite Demetrios (Carellas) of the Greek Archdiocese will offer the homily at the feastday Liturgy.

The diocesan treaurer, Archimandrite Irenei, relayed to the Council that the diocesan finances look better than in 2011 during this same period. There are problems with the the diocesan tax ID number, but the treasurer feels that these should be sorted out within six weeks and the diocese will finally have 501C status. The Fort Ross 200th Anniversary Planning Committee decided to have the Western American Diocese be the central coordinating entity for funding the Ft. Ross August event. Archimandrite Irenei emphasized that this will not require the diocese to provide funds, but to offer use of its physical address, resources and to oversee the use of collected funds.

Archimandrite Irenei also reported on the diocesan Saints Cyril & Athanasius Institute for Orthodox Studies. Enrollment in the Institute's program is very good. It is anticipated that Metropolitan Kallistos (Ware) will hold a number of lectures and public symposiums at the Institute in 2013. The Institute is developing a diaconate program for all Orthodox jurisdictions in North America. As well, the Committee for Theological Education of the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of North and South America wants to see a presentation on the Institute at their next meeting.

Father Irenei relayed to the Council that plans for the 2012 St. Herman's Conference West are under way. It will be held in Seattle in December. The Diocesan Youth Department is also planning, together with the Bay Area's "Conquering Time" group, a festival in San Francisco in August. Details are forthcoming. Archimandrite Irenei has finished his tenure as principal of St. John of San Francisco Orthodox Academy and a new principal has been elected – Seraphim Winslow. Archpriest Serge Kotar has stepped down as chaplain of the Academy.

Among other matters, the Council discussed the diocesan Facebook page, the matter regarding the gravestones that mark the graves of six Russian sailors buried at Mare Island, the All Saints of Russia Church's (Burlingame) stewardship program and diocesan youth participation together with Bishop Theodosy in the youth program in Moscow and Ekaterinburg this July. The next scheduled meeting of the Diocesan Council will be on Tuesday, September 25, 2012 .