Clicking here goes to information on the icon.Welcome to the St. Luke Web Page.
Search the site.Talk with fellow followers of Christ.See What St. Luke Orthodox Church has planned.Password protected area for only members of St. Luke Orthodox Church.Contact the St. Luke Orthodox Church Web Development Team.
Find something on the site in a hurry.
St. Lukes Orthodox Church Home PageDonate Now!Shop for Orthodox goods from your Computerchurchdirectory Pages that deal with St. Luke the Evangelist Orthodox Church. What's the news at St. Lukes.View all the previous and current Evangelist newsletters.View the Sunday bulletin.Information about St. Luke Orthodox Church including the Mission and Vision statements. Pages for 'keeping in touch' with God. Information on prayers and prayingView the prayer of the week and all other previos prayers of the week.Need to pray for something? What is the Orthodox Church and how/why do Orthodox Christians worship? What is the Orthodox Church of America?Who were the Saints, and why do we honor them?Find and explore many different liturgical texts we have available, including the Divine LiturgyWhat is Pascha? See what it's like at St. Luke's.How is Orthodoxy playing a role in the present times?Learn what are icons and how are they used in the Orthodox Church today.BellsSee what we have to offer!Current Issues Pages for Organizations of St. Lukes. Christian Education, Youth Group, Music, Church Resource Center, Adult Education, and Junior Olympics.Maintenance, New Building, Strategic Planning, Cell Phone Tower, Inventory, Cemetery/Memorial Book, and Historian.Outreach, Charities, Internet, Evangelist Newsletter, Media, Prison, Sanctity of Life, and Mission.Fellowship, Supply Coordinator, Prayer, Women's Ministry, New Americans, Sunshinem, Flowers, and Vestments. Some stuff Study the bibleSearch the bibleOrthodoxy on the lighter side...Words of Wisdom...If you've got the taste for great Orthodox foods, this is the place to be.Children friendly section of the pageMessages

Annual Report January 2008

Prepared by Interim Diocesan Representative - Lee Kopulos.

Report to St. Luke Church Board on the Diocese of the Midwest’s Diocesan Assembly - Cleveland Deanery – Archangel Michael Church October 1-3, 2007

General Information & Impressions:

1. This Assembly began with a Service for the Salvation of our Church and the appeasing in it of discord and strife. This was headed by Archbishop Job and with the assistance of Deacon Joseph Matusiak.

2 .The Assembly was a very well organized in every sense. Written reports were available prior to the meeting. The church location, Archangel Michael Church, is a top quality property including its fellowship hall where we conducted our meetings. Official reports on the current condition of the Diocese were issued and discussed beginning with the Reports of the Chancellor, Fr. Zdinak and the Deans of Chicago, Cleveland, Michigan and Minneapolis. A special report on the Metropolitan Council by Fr. Berzonsky was issued along with Communications, Monastery, Treasurer, Audit and Budget Reports. I will leave a booklet with Fr. Andrew that has all the written reports for any one of you to read.

3. One of the highlights of the Assembly in the afternoon was the proposal for every Parish to have a Parish Health Facilitator as a paid position. Our Archbishop and the Diocesan Council see that church membership in the Midwest as a whole is falling. They are very concerned and want to do something about it. It is hoped that each Parish would employ a full or part-time person responsible for what we would call evangelization and church growth. Of course, this position should be a given in all churches. Apparently many parishes are not that well organized or not concerned with church growth.

My talk with the Priest at Archangel Michael revealed that it is comprised of older people. The parish has not been concerned with growth since it had about 800 adult members not long ago. However, death has taken its toll on this parish over the past few years and it is now closer to only 600 members. He is very concerned and working on revitalizing the parish.

The afternoon session also included reports on Late Vocations, Clergy Compensation, Evangelization, Sexual Misconduct Procedures and Parish Financial Audit Guidelines.

4. Diocesan finances totals are as follows:

Total Income Year 2006 Actual $451, 891 Budget $540,725

$75Assessment 2006 Actual $385,646 Budget $452,325

$78 Assessment 2007 Budget $468,000

$81 Assessment 2008 Budget $486,000

The assessments are increased based upon a calculated CPI % rate now at 3.63% for the 2008 budget. The Diocese has an Mission Endowment Fund now totaling over $300,000 as of 6/30/07.

5. Regarding the National Church Scandal, I give you these comments and facts:

• Our Archbishop is continuing to speak out loud and clear for the truth concerning the financial and/or other misconduct at the National Church level. A vast majority of the Midwest Diocese is in full accord with him.
• Our Archbishop is calling for the resignation of Metropolitan Herman for we have “No Confidence” in his leadership.
• The Diocese is continuing to hold all National Church monies in escrow until we get complete resolve of this matter.
• On the second day the Assembly voted on four resolutions as follows:

1. “No confidence” passes 88-19
2. Continue Withholding monies, 88-19
3. Herman Step down , 95-10
4. The Diocesan Council and the Archbishop will decide if we participate in the All American council for 2008

It is interesting to note here that the Western Pennsylvania Diocese of 65 delegates and clergy which is now under Metr. Herman as Locum Tenens and in his presence:

1. Passed a “no confidence ‘ resolution on Metropolitan Herman.
2. Passed a resolution for the Metropolitan Council to appoint a new Special Committee to get answers to the hidden facts on the National Churches financial misconduct and other matters. Passed 46 yes, 6 no’s, and 2 abstentions.
3. Asked Herman to resign immediately. 27 yes, 19 no, 10 abst.
4. Asked the Synod to appoint Archbishop Job as Locum Tenens.

I believe our Diocese and Archbishop should be commended for their unwavering stance in seeking to get to the real facts of the grave and sinful acts committed by members of the National Church Administration. These financial misconducts alone are known to be in the $millions and Metropolitan. Herman is authorizing loans of a substantial nature to resolve this problem. He may be bankrolling us without full authority which is really under the rights of the Metropolitan Council

Respectfully submitted,

Lee Kopulos
Interim Diocesan Representative.