ECUMENICAL PATRIARCHATE

Exarchate of Parishes of Russian
Tradition in Western Europe

Meeting of the Clergy-laity Assembly of the Episcopal Vicariate: 1 December 2007

Around fifty people gathered for the first meeting of the Clergy-laity Assembly of the Episcopal Vicariate, from all parts of the country, including Scotland and Wales.

The meeting, held at St Andrew's Holborn, was chaired by Bishop Basil. During the day there was a very welcome visit by Archbishop Gregorios of Thyateira and Great Britain, who was able to spend some time at the meeting and address the participants.

After the opening prayers, Eternal memory was sung for Metropolitan Anthony and for Kenneth Storer (for a long time secretary of the Assembly of the Diocese of Sourozh). Fr Patrick Radley, unable to attend because of ill health, was also remembered.

Celia Olsson (Devon parish) was prevailed upon to be minuting secretary for the meeting, and Bishop Basil gave a brief account of the history of the Vicariate to the present. Special thanks were noted to the Steering Group who had brought us to the point of being able to hold an Assembly.

Father Alexander Fostiropoulos spoke about the very valuable links that are being established with the Archdiocese in Paris. Bishop Basil is a member of the Archdiocesan Council ex officio, and Fathe Alexander is an elected member. The Council meets around ten times a year, and both Bishop Basil and Fr Alexander try to attend all the meetings. In addition, a number of parish representatives had been to the Ordinary General Assembly of the Archdiocese in April/May this year.

Bishop Basil then invited representantives from the various parishes and communities to report to the meeting. Particular mention was made in the report from Nottingham of Fr Peter Brameld, who died almost three years ago, and is much missed in the community.

During the reports, Archbishop Gregorios arrived, and was able to hear about the life of our communities around the country. He subsequently gave a powerful address to the meeting, reminding us that we are falling behind our fellow churches in this country in terms of social responsibility.

Bishop Basil again thanked Archbishop Gregorios for all his support in recent months, and especially during the summer of 2006.

Financial matters

The Acting Treasurer, Seraphim Alton Honeywell, presented a summary of the finances to date, and stressed the need for contributions from individual members to enable day to day running of the Vicariate. Essentially we have managed to keep going because of generous contributions of time and money from a few individuals. As Seraphim pointed out, if every member of the Vicariate were to give £10 a month, we could cover our administrative costs and support our bishop. Without such contributions, the parish subscriptions will be insufficient. For forms and information about giving to the Vicariate either as a one-off donation, or on a regular basis, click here. (Gift Aid can be backdated to 23 June 2007 as soon as registration is complete.)

Elections to the Vicariate Council

According to our Statutes the Vicariate Council will be responsible for directing the Holding Trustees in relation to property and assets. It consists of the Bishop, the Vicar General, the Secretary and Treasurer, and elected members of the clergy and laity. Jill Crow, who was Secretary of the Diocese of Sourozh for many years, and who has been acting as Secretary of the Vicariate, finally stood down - there was a vote of thanks for all that she has done, and Many Years was sung for Jill, as well as for Simon Kirsop who was for several years treasurer of the Diocese of Sourozh.

Sophie Barnard (Clapham) was elected Vicariate Secretary, and Jill will continue to be responsible for ecumenical links.

Seraphim Alton Honeywell was elected Treasurer, and the following were elected as members of the Council: Fr John Lee, Fr Patrick Hodson, Fr David Gill, Dr Ian Wallis; Angelika Baxter, Karin Greenhead, Patrick Palmer and Irina von Schlippe.

Legal matters

Jessica Rose outlined our current legal situation. Much has already been achieved. The Vicariate adopted its constitution and appointed holding trustees at a meeting open to all those wishing to form the Vicariate on 23 June, and has applied for charitable status. Registration is expected to be completed within a few weeks.

The Assembly passed unanimously resolutions ratifying the actions taken by the Vicariate's Steering Group in arranging the elections and convening the first Assembly, and the actions taken to date regarding property by the Holding Trustees of the Diocese of Sourozh, in accordance with the diocesan trust deed.

This included a second meeting on 23 June of the members of the Assembly of the Diocese of Sourozh as constituted at 2 May 2006. At this meeting there was a vote that the diocesan property should be held for the benefit of the Episcopal Vicariate, and that the Assembly of the Vicariate should direct the trustees in relation to it. The calling of this meeting has been challenged by the Diocese who have begun legal proceedings against the holding trustees of the Diocese. Any decision on the transfer of property was therefore deferred, again by a unanimous vote, until legal proceedings have been resolved.

There was a vote of thanks to Patrick Palmer (who has been coordinating legal matters for the London Parish trust) and Jessica Rose for all their work over legal matters in the last year and a half.

Other reports

1. Fr John Marks reported on the recent Presbytery meeting. It had been particularly appreciated that Fr Patrick Radley had been able to attend.

2. Bishop Basil announced that an advisory panel for prospective ordinands has been set up. At present the members are Fr John Marks, Fr David Gill and Wendy Robinson.

3. Kelsey Cheshire reported on plans for the 2008 Conference, and stressed the importance of the annual conference in our life as a Vicariate

4. Gillian Crow gave a brief description of the recent pilgrimage to Constantinople, organised by Ruth Nares

5. Bishop Basil reported on publishing activities:

• The Messenger has now completed a year of publication
• In house publishing has included the Statutes, Directory of Clergy and Parishes and Child Protection Policy, as well as the Old-Style Lectionary, which will soon be ready for 2008. Seraphim Alton Honeywell and Sister Helena (Brooks) had made the publication of the lectionary possible, and thanks were recorded.
• The Hours and Typika are ready for formatting and will be produced soon, and there is now a Liturgical Texts committee meeting regularly.
• We continue to work with the Metropolitan Anthony of Sourozh Foundation, and 'The Living Body of Christ' - a collection on the nature of the Church - is to be published by DLT early in 2008. Earlier this year the Vicariate published 'Our Life in God - talks on the Holy Spirit and the Trinity' for MASF
• DLT will also be publishing a book of Bishop Basil's - The Healing Word - in 2008, and the Vicariate will be producing a new collection of his sermons.

The Assembly will meet again on 7 June 2008