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Synod Letter
Letter from the Holy Synod of the Orthodox Church in America
Memorandum
To: Reverend Clergy of the Orthodox Church in America
From: Protopresbyter Robert S. Kondratick
Date: May 24, 1999
Re: Fellowship of Orthodox Christians in America
Please find enclosed a recent statement by the Holy Synod of Bishops concerning the work and mission of the Fellowship of Orthodox Christians in America.
We encourage you to consider our archpastors' call for our parishes and clergy to support and give special attention to the many efforts of the FOCA. The FOCA and its members have been in the forefront of many of the missionary and youth ministry efforts of the Orthodox Church in America and they are committed to building upon these efforts as our Church begins a new chapter in her history.
The HOLY SYNOD of the ORTHODOX CHURCH IN AMERICA
To the Clergy of the Orthodox Church in America
Dear Fathers, Beloved in the Lord:
For many years the Federated Russian Orthodox Clubs (FROC) provided significant material and social benefits to its members and also supported much of the work of the Orthodox Church in America, including publishing, youth ministry and various charitable assistance programs.
The FROC officially affiliated with the Orthodox Church in America in 1996 and in time became the Fellowship of Orthodox Christians in America (FOCA).
The past few years have been a time of transition for the Fellowship. It has responded well to difficult issues and has taken courageous steps in order to bring about even greater service to Fellowship members and to the Church at-large.
Those who have been observing this transition support the FOCA and the direction it has taken.
They stand confident that the Lord God will increase and bless the good works which the
Fellowship undertakes for its members and the life and growth of our Church.
We, the Primate and the members of the Holy Synod, called together by the Holy Spirit, for our Spring Session in 1999, take this occasion to express our appreciation for the work and mission of the Fellowship.
We anticipate a fruitful and long relationship between the Church and the Fellowship of Orthodox Christians in America, and we are pleased the Fellowship will continue to work with the youth ministry and charitable programs. Know that we bless and support the mission and the work of the FOCA.
It is our intention that every parish take notice of these recent positive developments which have been accomplished in the Fellowship, the former FROC, and we exhort our clergy to support and give special attention to the activities being carried out by the organization. We desire that these good works be integrated into the life of the parish community and be espoused by the faithful.
The path to salvation is hard and the gate to it narrow. Let us join together struggling on our common journey into the Kingdom of Heaven.
+THEODOSIUS
Archbishop of Washington
Metropolitan of All America and Canada
and the Holy Synod of Bishops