Update Report and Next StepsUSRL National Biennial Convention

August, 2015

Ukrainian orthodox church of CanadaUkrainian orthodox church of CanadaUkrainian self reliance league of CanadaUkrainian self reliance league of Canada

Joint standing committee (UOCC-USRL JSC)Joint standing committee (UOCC-USRL JSC)

Presentation ObjectivesPresentation Objectives

▪ Overview – 2013 through to 2015

▪ Highlight Reporting to Sobor 2015 – Key Issues Review June 2015

▪ Key Programming Decisions of Sobor 2015

▪ Next Steps

Committee MembershipCommittee Membership

USRL

▪ Ex Officio – Dr. Tony Harras

▪ Gerald Luciuk , Chair

▪ Yars Lozowchuk

▪ Fr. Taras Udod

▪ Dr. Tania Mysak

▪ Dennis Kuchta (Katrina Baziuk-Slevinksi)

UOCC

▪ Ex Officio – Metropolitan Yurij, Bishop Ilarion

▪ Fr. Victor Lakusta

▪ Dr. Peter Kondra

▪ Ihor Triska

▪ Donna Reed

Overview – 2013 through to 2015Overview – 2013 through to 2015

▪ 2013 Convention – reviewed the history of the JSC and considered potential of a joint programming initiative

▪ 2013-2014 – JSC vets planning for TYC/UOCC Symposium 2014

▪ 2014- 2015 Planning activities for Sobor 2015 – By-Laws and Resolutions Committees

▪ June 2015 – Strategic Review Initiated by CYC National President Harras/UOCC Metropolitan Yurij

What did the Synoptic Overview What did the Synoptic Overview Consider?Consider?

▪ Key issues before the UOCC and the USRL respectively

▪ Specific short term plans of USRL for organizational and community growth

▪ Specific short term plans of UOCC for parish and community growth

▪ What the USRL would like to hear the UOCC state, at Sobor, how it plans to facilitate the mandate and growth of the USRL,

▪ What the UOCC would like to hear the USRL state, at its 2015 Convention, how it plans to facilitate the mandate and growth of the UOCC,

▪ Any implications of the Chambesy deliberations/discussion

Main Issues before UOCCMain Issues before UOCC

▪ Participants identified problems of declining membership

▪ Aging demographics and clergy were noted

▪ Comments also included concern about the lack of faith understanding

▪ Metropolitan Yurij echoed the concern and need for sense of community. He was optimistic about potential for youth interaction and about the role of UOCC at an inter-jurisdictional level.

Key Issues before USRLKey Issues before USRL

▪ Very obvious issue is that of an aging membership

▪ Existing structures are not serving current needs such as mobilizing women

▪ Focus of USRL does not align with 3rd and 4th generation families

▪ CYMK is virtually non-existent. Youth must become a primary focus with non-traditional approaches.

Specific Projects of USRL for future Specific Projects of USRL for future community growthcommunity growth…

▪ President Harras noted two projects which would focus on aspects of Ukrainian history and culture together with addressing summer camp needs.

▪ The hope is to operationalize 3 to 4 projects beginning in 2015.

▪ Participants also noted the 125th anniversary of Ukrainian immigration as well as the 100 anniversary of Mohyla Institute.

Specific Projects of UOCC for Church Specific Projects of UOCC for Church and community growth ….and community growth ….

▪ Participants noted need to revamp and reinstitute Office of Missions and Education.

▪ Mention was made of initiatives underway led by Fr. Chrapko at youth level.

▪ Metropolitan Yurij noted discussions at Council of Orthodox Bishops in Canada and potential for CYMK and youth involvement in joint projects.

What would UOCC and USRL like to see What would UOCC and USRL like to see respectively affirmed at Sobor 2015 and at respectively affirmed at Sobor 2015 and at National USRL Convention:National USRL Convention:

▪ From a UOCC perspective

▪ participants felt that growth has to come from within both entities.

▪ There is a need to address membership from inside and outside of community and, in particular, those outside of Ukrainian heritage.

▪ From USRL

▪ New demographics needed recognition in USRL.

▪ President Harras felt that it would be helpful for the Sobor to reaffirm support for creation and growth of CYMK and that clergy be encouraged to be proactive in this direction.

▪ His Eminence noted that need to distinguish between USRL as medium and as content. Church can facilitate but not necessarily force change. Good examples of successful initiatives exist such as Symposium 2014.

▪ Participants agreed on need to reaffirm the mandate respectively of the Joint Standing Committee.

A Concept Proposal…..A Concept Proposal…..▪ The Proposal - the UOCC and the USRA jointly form a Focus on Youth Initiative Taskforce

to develop and implement strategic initiatives for youth engagement. Implementation be realized through two stages:

▪ First Stage (Analytical): develop an understanding of the challenges today’s youth faces through the staging of an ‘International Consultation on Youth Engagement’. The consultation would bring together - the best expertise on the attributes of contemporary youth and challenges faced by youth in general, those who are experiencing success in their youth ministries within the Orthodox and other Christian communities, our Church leadership, youth and those working with the youth in our communities.

▪ The Consultation should be initiated by our community, but other Orthodox jurisdictions should be invited to participate in the planning and staging of such a Consultation.

▪ Second Stage (Action) - develop strategic initiatives of youth engagement based on the understanding developed in first stage.

▪ As an example, one such initiative would be the development of a ‘Servant Youth Leadership Training Program’. Future leaders need to be given the opportunity to acquire knowledge and skills required for effective leadership in Christian communities living in an ever increasingly hostile to faith environment. They also need to be systematically nurtured and mentored. Most importantly, we need to ignite the spark of faith – to provide the opportunities for our youth to be energized by their experience of the Divine in a personal way.

WHAT DID SOBOR 2015 MANDATE?WHAT DID SOBOR 2015 MANDATE?

▪  Resolution R1 – Overwhelming support to put $50,000 annually of levies into a restricted fund solely for OME and to seek out opportunities to operate OME using clergy and/or other individuals from across Canada

▪ Resolutions R 40 – To seek out and hire a director for OME by the 2016 Spring Consistory Meeting

▪ Resolution F14 – Through the OME implement national youth retreat similar to Western Eparchy with following principles – i) first to occur by 2017, ii) to be held every 2 years, iii) retreat rotates to different locations and iv) costs to be funded as close to 100% as possible

Some Key Considerations Going Some Key Considerations Going Forward….Forward….

▪ Commitment to implementation and joint participation

▪ Resources

▪ Programming – diversity in our parishes

▪ Youth versus young adults – scope of t focus to take

When do we take the plunge….?When do we take the plunge….?

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