Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Denver
Fr. Bill Christ APC Report

Blessed Fathers,

Christ is Risen!

Attached, please find the minutes of our meeting last month in Ft. Lauderdale for your review.

Also attached is a brief overview of Father Vasilios Thermos, the priest who will serve as our retreat master at the October national clergy retreat at Antiochian Village. Currently, Father Jerry Hall is putting together the flier/registration forms for the national clergy retreat and we hope to have them out shortly. If you need financial assistance in order to attend this event, please let me know. I'm trying to arrange financial assistance for those of you who are not supported by your parish (remember the UPR requires they send you, but whatever) and don't have the bucks personally. I'll do what I can to make it happen for those that want to attend.

Also attached is a copy of the budget that we passed.

Our final attachment is the photo/thank you of Anthony Cook, the HC seminarian that Father Nick Triantifilou indicated should receive our first APC scholarship.

All in all, I think we're moving forward. During the course of our last two meetings we've updated and corrected our by-laws; established (and given!) an APC scholarship for a Holy Cross seminarian; passed the first budget in the history of the APC; laid the groundwork for our retreat in October; received a L100 grant for continuing education; updated our website; continued The Presbyter electronically; distributed funds from the APC/NSP BF to a number of clergy families in need; laid the groundwork for our next continuing education initiative on developing better preaching/communication skills; and are in the process of developing the ads/psa's we discussed to provide a ministry tool for clergy nationwide. And thanks to Father Sebastian Skordallos and his efforts, our executive board will meet with the Holy Synod in October; and we've begun efforts to assist him in updating the Priest's Handbook and parish council training materials for use by clergy nationwide.

Please remember that we need a stewardship check sent from each of you to Fr. Michael Stearns in Ft. Worth (make out check to "Metropolis of Denver Clergy Syndesmos"). We owe from our Syndesmos $20 each to the APC, plus $250 for our share of the HC Scholarship (that's almost $30 per priest/deacon). We also need to fund our own Denver Syndesmos bank account, so we need at least that same amount for us for normal operating funds. Of course, if you are able to be more generous it's certainly appreciated.

Blessings,

+Fr. Bill