LOMBARD, IL – More than 300 delegates, observers, and volunteers from across the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Chicago traveled to St. Louis, Missouri to participate in the Metropolis’ 2021 Clergy-Laity Assembly. During the Assembly, the delegates voted to approve the 2022/2023 Metropolis budget and to form the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Chicago Foundation, a separate 501(c)(3) organization to support the long-term growth of the Metropolis, its ministries, and its parishes.

Assembled delegates received detailed briefings on the Metropolis’ finances and audits, the Metropolis’ efforts to sell the Burton Place property, and its plans for a new Metropolis Center, as well as on the St. Iakovos Retreat Center’s strategic plan. The Metropolis Strategic Plan group presented its draft Stewardship report, and updates were given on the Metropolis’ Mustard Seed Fund, Project HOPE Ministry, and the Lighthouse Camp for high school seniors.

“The 2021 Clergy-Laity Assembly is and should be remembered as a tribute to the many volunteer leaders, parish stewards, and friends of the Metropolis who are responsible for the swift progress and considerable momentum we now are blessed with,” His Eminence Metropolitan Nathanael said. “We are forever indebted to these servant-leaders who dreamed boldly and worked tirelessly to realize a Christ-centered Metropolis dedicated to evangelism and outreach.”

Delegates also elected 16 of the 24 members of the Metropolis Council, two members of the Metropolis Audit Committee, and three Metropolis representatives to the Archdiocesan Council. According to the Archdiocesan Regulations, in the coming weeks, His Eminence Metropolitan Nathanael will appoint people to fill the remaining eight open seats on the Metropolis Council and who will join: Fr. Tilemahos Alikakos, Fr. Stephen Bithos, Fr. Chrysanthos Kerkeres, Fr. Sotirios Malamis, Fr. Chris Mihalopoulos, Fr. Doug Papulis, Fr. Timothy Sas, Fr. Dimitri Tobias, Anne Marie Adams, PhD (Education), Juliana Arsoniadis (Finance), Dr. George Bovis (Development), Dr. Efrosine (Lori) Chiampas (Development),

Dr. Alexandria Kalina (Education), Thania Panopoulos (Communications), Mary Scott (Digital Marketing), Aristides Smith (IT and Security Management).

The Audit Committee includes: Gus Harris, Marc Kotsonas, Archdiocesan Council, Fr. Tilemahos Alikakos, Harold Anagnos, and Tom Kanelos.

His Eminence lauded the progress of the Metropolis’ stewardship initiative, Strengthen Stewardship Now and Forever, a program aimed at helping parishes cultivate the spirit of welcoming and thanksgiving as the primary means of supporting their ministries and programs. “Each and every day, our Holy Metropolis grows stronger thanks in large part to the dedication of our faithful to enshrine stewardship as both an administrative and spiritual imperative for our parishes. As we embrace stewardship as an expression of our Christian identity, our parishes will certainly share the good news of Christ with the world in bold new ways,” His Eminence said.

The Metropolis of Chicago Philoptochos Society held its Conference concurrently with the Clergy-Laity Assembly, and elected the following members to the Board of Directors: Juliana Arsoniadis, Demetria Bakris, Mary Baryo, Flora Dimitriou, Georgia Gavaris, Pat Getbanas, Marilynn Jemas, Wanita Loupakos, Vonnie Karafotias, Kathy Katrakis, Maria Macris, Dena Pavlopoulos, Kathy Siavelis, Kathy Stamatis, Joanne Stavrakas, Marilyn Tzakis, and Kathy Walstrom. An additional four seats will be appointed by the Metropolitan.

“We are deeply grateful to the Clergy-Laity Assembly Co-Chairs, Helen Carey and Carol Kamburis, the clergy and volunteers from the co-host parishes of St. Nicholas (St. Louis, Missouri) and SS. Constantine & Helen (Swansea, Illinois), the Metropolis Council, the Metropolis Philoptochos, and all of the speakers and presenters at the Assembly for their sacrifice and service to the Metropolis of Chicago,” His Eminence said. “Through such selfless and joyous giving, our Metropolis will deliver on its promises, meet and exceed the expectations of the faithful, and fulfill its mission in earnest.”

Tracing its roots back to 1923, the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Chicago is the diocese of Greek Orthodox faithful in Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, northern Indiana, and southeastern Missouri, consisting of 58 parishes and two monastic communities. The Metropolis is one of nine regions in the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America and is presided over by His Eminence Metropolitan Nathanael. The general offices of the Metropolis are temporarily located in Lombard, Illinois.