Diocese of the South - 2009 DOS ASSEMBLY

Orthodox Church in America

Orthodoxy in America

DEANERY REPORTS

Appalachian Deanery
Atlanta Deanery
Carolinas Deanery
Dallas Deanery - New
Miami Deanery - New
Orlando Deanery

Chancellor's Report

2009 DOS FINANCIAL REPORTS Complete Report Download
FINAL
Download Individual Reports

MINUTES OF THE 2008 DOS ASSEMBLY

MINUTES OF THE MAY 2009 DIOCESAN COUNCIL MEETING

BUDGET HEARING AND PARISH FINANCIAL DEVELOPMENT

This hearing is designed for those interested in gaining more information about the DOS proposed budget and the various methods now being used in the DOS to foster greater parish financial development. Issues of debt consolidation and refinancing of parish debt, financing ideas for building projects and the parish depository agreement are some of the topics that will be covered.

Mr. Milos Konjevich, the DOS Treasurer and Priest Gleb McFatter, a CPA, will lead the Hearing. Mr Konjevich will also be available for individual discussions with clergy and laity.

MONASTERY REPORTS

Saints Martha and Mary Monastery

St Michael's Skete

Mission Director's Report

RESOLUTIONS

Proposed Amendments to the DOS Uniform Parish Bylaws to be considered at the DOS Assembly

Overview of the proposed changes to the DOS Uniform Parish Bylaws

Proposed Bylaw Changes. Changes are highlighted in Bold Print.

Proposed Financial Resolutions. Updated

Metropolitan Council Report Given at 2009 Assembly

WORKSHOP OVERVIEWS

Pastoral Care and Contemporary Sexual Issues

The secular landscape continues to evolve - presenting the Orthodox pastor with a constant shift of culturally accepted behaviors that may present themselves for acceptance within the Church. However, the teaching of the Church remains what it has always been and will be. Standing in the midst of this increasing conflict is the Orthodox priest. How are we to pastorally confront these evolving demands in a manner that is saving and in a manner that is consistent with the Church's teaching? Drawing heavily from the work of Fr. Thomas Hopko, this presentation will seek to share helpful insights into pastoral care.

Fr. Stephen Freeeman will be the workshop presenter. Fr. Stephen is Rector of St. Anne Orthodox Church in Oak Ridge, TN, and Dean of the Appalachian Deanery. He holds degrees from Furman University, Seabury-Western Theological Seminary, and Duke University. He has served as an ordained minister in pastoral roles since 1980. He and his family were received in the Orthodox Church in 1998. He was ordained as an Orthodox priest in 1999. He is author of the podcast "Glory to God" on Ancient Faith Radio, and the blog "Glory to God for All Things." He has four grown children, two of whom are married to Orthodox priests. He and his wife, Beth, continue to live in Oak Ridge and serve at St. Anne.

Couplehood as a Spiritual Path

A brief explanation of IMAGO theory and it’s convergence with traditional Christian teaching. Explores the dynamics of choosing a life partner and explores the inevitability of conflicts and power struggles, and how through them true love and connection are ultimately attained. We will address some of the common pitfalls couples counselors and pastors can fall into when they see themselves as problem solvers, and offer some simple techniques for helping couples move from conflict to connection.

Fr. Thomas Alessandroni will be the workshop presenter. He has worked in the mental health field as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker for over 20 yrs. Prior to moving back to Georgia last year, Fr Tom spent 12 yrs in San Francisco where he was ordained in the OCA and served as rector of the church of the Synaxis of the Holy Theotokos. During this time Fr Tom was also the clinical supervisor at the Raphael House Family Shelter of San Francisco. Fr. Tom is currently working on developing a specialty in couples therapy specifically aimed at the needs of Orthodox Christians, and has recently undergone training to become a certified IMAGO relationship therapist.

Evangelism and Discipleship Through Traditional Orthodox Architecture

The session will show how we can employ the precious Tradition (and traditions) of the Church in evangelism and discipleship with classic Orthodox architecture being the "case study." It will involve a multimedia presentation of the Hilandar monastery of Mt. Athos.

Taylor Hostetter will be the workshop presenter. He was born and raised in Tuskegee, Alabama. While studying architecture at Auburn University, he and his futur wife Sally became involved with the Navigator student ministry. In 1991, after working for several years as an architect, Taylor and Sally moved to Belgrade, Yugoslavia as missionaries with the Navigators. For the next 17 years they lived in Belgrade and raised their three children there.

As their “official” reason for living in Belgrade, Taylor earned a master’s degree in Byzantine art and architectural history from the University of Belgrade. His thesis work involved creating the first three dimensional virtual reality computer model and presentation of an historical Byzantine/Orthodox church, that of the Hilandar monastery at Mt. Athos. Through their study of
the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ as preserved and presented in the classic Orthodox architecture and the fundamentally interrelated disciplines of iconography, hymnography and liturgy, Taylor and Sally and the rest of the local Serbian fellowship group came into the Orthodox faith. Taylor was baptized at Hilandar and Sally and their sons in Belgrade. Taylor and Sally are now living in North Atlanta and continue to serve with the Navigators in their new ministry of serving the Orthodox Church in areas of evangelism and discipleship.

2009 DELEGATE, OBSERVER, AND BANQUET REGISTRATION FORMS

May 2

(Dallas, TX) Registration forms for delegates, observers and those wishing to purchase banquet tickets are now available by downloading the forms below.

This year, there will be NO parish/mission registration fee (which in the past included 1 clergy and lay delegate.) Last year's registration fee was $175 per parish/mission. This year instead of the general registration fee there will be a per delegate fee of $65.00 which will include a banquet ticket. Observers will also have the same fee of $65.00 as last year, which includes a banquet ticket. Those wishing to only attend the banquet may indicate on the observer registration form with the $65.00 banquet ticket cost.

It is the sincere hope of His Beatitude, Metropolitan Jonah that all clergy of the DOS will be in attendance for the Assembly. It is understood that working clergy will need to make every effort to arrange with their employers to adjust their work schedules to attend the Assembly.

The Assembly begins on Tuesday, July 21. Diocesan Council members are asked to arrive on the morning of July 21. Delegates and observers should arrive by mid-afternoon on July 21. The Assembly will conclude on Thursday, July 23 with the Grand Banquet honoring His Eminence, Archbishop Dmitri, thus a morning departure from Atlanta on Friday, July 24 would accomodate participation in all of the Assembly events.

On Friday, July 24, St John the Wonderworker Church in downtown Atlanta will celebrate the Divine Liturgy at 9:30am provide a meal for those who wish to depart after the Friday Liturgy.

The complete 2009 Assembly schedule is being finalized and will be available on the DOS website in the week.

Finally, as in past years, all DOS Assembly Reports will be provided via the DOS website. Please copy the Assembly reports and bring them with you to Atlanta.

2009 DOS ASSEMBLY REGISTRATION FORMS

Please return completed Registration forms with payment to by June 29, 2009 to:

The Diocese of the South
PO Box 191109
Dallas, TX 75219

September 19

32nd Diocesan Assembly of the Diocese of the South
Atlanta, GA
July 21-23, 2009

September 19, 2008

To The Clergy and Faithful of the Diocese of the South:

Greetings in the Lord!

With the blessing of His Eminence, Archbishop Dmitri, the planning committee of the 2009 DOS Assembly invites you to prepare your schedules for next year’s Assembly.

The dates for the 2009 Assembly will be July 21-23. The host hotel is the Marriott Century Center off Clairmont Road. The local committee has arranged a special 2009 Assembly room rate of $99 per night. The special rate applies for the weekend before and after the Assembly. The hotel is easily accessed off of I-85

All Assembly functions will be held at Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral, also on Clairmont Road. The Cathedral is about 2 miles from the hotel. His Eminence, Metropolitan Alexios of the Greek Metropolis of Atlanta looks forward to opening his Cathedral to us and worshiping with us at the Assembly.

Being close to all the sites in and around Atlanta, the local committee will be adding direct web links to the myriad of venues for Assembly attendees and their families to visit including the Atlanta Zoo, Turner Field where the Braves play, Stone Mountain Park, and the Georgia Aquarium. Restaurants are also nearby for your culinary needs.

With anticipation to be of service to you all, we look forward to being your hosts.

The 2009 DOS Assembly Committee

DOWNLOAD YOUTH REGISTRATION FORMS HERE

ASSEMBLY 09 HOTEL RESERVATIONS NOW BEING ACCEPTED

CLICK HERE FOR HOTEL RESERVATIONS

Reservations for the DOS 2009 Assembly are now being accepted. Please use the link above and be sure that the special DOS Assembly code diodioa is in the Group Code box to get the special Assembly room rate.

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