The Shepherd, November 2005
IMPORTANT NOTICE
for the Parishioners at the Convent of the Annunciation, Saint Edward Brotherhood, and the St Boniface Mission
IT IS NECESSARY that, in preparation for the All-Diaspora Council to be held in San Francisco next year, delegates be elected to represent the British Diocese. His Grace, Archbishop Mark, has therefore sent the following circular to all the clergy in Britain who have pastoral responsibilities:
Dear in Christ Reverend fathers,
The pre-conciliar committee on behalf of the Synod of Bishops has established outlines for proceedings for the All-Diaspora Council which is to take place in May 2006 in San Francisco.
Each diocese is supposed to send delegates from among the clergy and laity to this sobor. In the case of Great Britain the committee expects us to choose one delegate from among the clergy and one layman.
Since we do not have an opportunity to meet personally before the end of the year, I would suggest that we elect our candidates by mail.
My thoughts regarding this subject:
1. Fr. Andrew Phillips was chosen by the pre-conciliar committee (without any participation of myself or anybody in the diocese) to attend the Council in order to give a lecture. This opens two possibilities:
a. once he is travelling anyway, we might choose him as our delegate. This I find reasonable because he speaks both languages,
b. in this difficult situation of the Council and its decisions we would probably have to elect a Russian member of our clergy, and there is only Fr. Vadim.
I wait for your suggestions.
2. As a layman our London parish would certainly by numbers be the most representative, and therefore would have first choice. Most of the work – both in planning and carrying out and in financing – on our church in London lately has been done personally by Paul Lisitsin. He is very interested in the Council. Therefore I would like to suggest his candidacy, but again would like to hear your comments, as well as the vote of the London parish.
Please let me have your ideas on this matter no later than November 30th.
In the love of Christ I remain Yours
+Mark, Archbishop of Berlin, Germany and Great Britain
ONE FURTHER POINT is that, on 5th October, we heard from Archpriest Peter Perekrestov, who is on the organising committee of the Council, that Michael G. Knupffer is eligible to be a delegate, and this was confirmed by an e-mail from Archbishop Mark, who on 11th October wrote: “Michael Knupffer, if I am not mistaken, was a delegate at the previous All-Abroad council. Therefore he is automatically a member of the forthcoming one.”
As time is now short and there is little opportunity to convene meetings, would the parishioners who attend the Convent of the Annunciation, the Saint Edward Brotherhood Church and the St Boniface Mission in Ryde, please let Fr Alexis know their views, preferably by post or e-mail before 23rd November. Parishioners who attend other parishes and missions should follow the guidelines which their pastors will be implementing to ascertain the response of the laity.
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