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National USRL (CYC) office:__ 1175 Main St. Winnipeg MB __R2W 3S4 __Ph: (204) 253-0013 __Fax: (204) 582-4659__ E-mail: nationalusrl@shaw.ca
JOINT STANDING COMMITTEE
of the
Ukrainian Self-Reliance League of Canada (USRL) and
the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada (UOCC)
24 November 2005
For immediate release
The Joint Standing Committee of the UOCC and the USRL which was mandated by both the Sobor of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church this past July and the national convention of the Ukrainian Self-Reliance League in Saskatoon this past August held their first meeting on November 23rd and 24th in Winnipeg. The committee was formed to address areas of shared interest that would serve to enhance the activity and effectiveness of both the Ukrainian Self-Reliance League and the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada, specifically focusing on ways of fostering the growth and sustainability of both bodies.
The terms of reference of the committee were reviewed and discussed. They are to:
- Clarify the relationship between the USRL and the UOCC by identifying mutual goals and developing an implementation strategy to achieve such goals in order to strengthen this organizational relationship.
- Determine how to facilitate the missionary role of the Church into that segment of the general membership that maintains a cultural identification with the Ukrainian Canadian tradition.
- Facilitate and promote the role of the laity in the Church.
- Determine how to enable the USRL to act as a broker and liaison with common interests in Ukraine where the UOCC cannot be as overt or active.
- Identify the ways and means of encouraging the interaction of the UOCC and USRL with other parts of the mainstream Canadian community with respect to charitable and other endeavors.
The committee includes members of both the USRL and the UOCC who have been delegated to determine how these outcomes might be achieved. His Eminence, Archbishop John, as Primate of the UOCC and Honorary Patron of the USRL, Sonja Bejzyk as national president of the USRL, and Fr. Bohdan Hladio as presidium chair are members of this committee ex officio. The committee chair is Audrey Sojonky of Vancouver. Church representatives include the Rev. Protopresbyter Dr. Oleh Krawchenko of Winnipeg, Stella Spytkowsky of Beamsville, ON and Emil Yereniuk of Edmonton. The USRL representatives include Eugene Luczkiw of St. Catharines, ON, Dr. Tania Mysak of Edmonton and Fr. Taras Udod of North Battleford, SK.
Specific areas of action were identified. Not surprisingly, one of the main focuses was engaging, educating and evangelizing our youth. The committee members concentrated on several proposals which they believed would serve to achieve these ends. Workshops for our young adults (25 – 40 year olds); Summer camps; our Insititutes (St. Vladimir, St. John, St. Peter Mohyla) and St. Andrew’s College; Chaplaincy and Leadership programs; and CYMK were identified as areas where great opportunity exists to positively impact both our Church and our Ukrainian Orthodox community in Canada.
Constructive projects and programs were prioritized by the participants, with the goal of presenting such activities to the Consistory of the Church as well as the national executive of the USRL for approbation and support. It is expected that with the active support of both the USRL and its component organizations as well as the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada the deliberations of the Joint Standing Committee will bear fruit for the benefit of the Ukrainian Orthodox Community in Canada.