OCA Diocese of New York/New Jersey concludes Extraordinary Assembly
The Diocese of New York and New Jersey of the Orthodox Church in America held an Extraordinary Diocesan Assembly at the Church of the Assumption of the Holy Virgin here on Monday, August 31, 2009.
His Beatitude, Metropolitan Jonah, locum tenens of the diocese, presided.
The extraordinary assembly was convened to nominate a candidate for diocesan bishop, whose name would be forwarded to the OCA’s Holy Synod of Bishops for consideration in a canonical election.
During the assembly, the delegates discussed a motion to postpone the selection of a candidate until later in the year. This motion was defeated in a 56/42 vote, and the election was allowed to proceed.
Initially, three possible candidates had been proposed by the Diocesan Episcopal Search Committee: the Very Revs. David Brum, Michael Dahulich, and David Mahaffey. Father David Brum’s name was withdrawn by joint decisions. Fathers Michael Dahulich and David Mahaffey were nominated. Other names were brought forward, but the nominees declined. The delegates voted on the proposed candidates.
The Assembly cast 55 votes for Father Michael Dahulich and 33 votes for Father David Mahaffey. Ten votes were deemed invalid.
The Assembly suspended the rules of a second ballot and, according to election procedures, will submit both names to the Holy Synod for consideration in their election of a hierarch for the Diocese of New York and New Jersey.