Audit Committee meets, completes Phase I of annual audit

Members of the Orthodox Church in America’s Audit Committee met at Saint Andrew Church here on Saturday, May 29, 2010 to review progress made since their official appointment by the Holy Synod of Bishops and the Metropolitan Council in the fall of 2009.

“Committee members reported that Phase I of the annual audit has been completed with the receipt of questionnaires from each entity under review,” reported Deacon Marty Watt, CPA, who chairs the committee. “They also determined that several entities would not be visited in person. While spiritually under the omophorion, or leadership, of His Beatitude, Metropolitan Jonah, these entities are operationally independent and do not receive direct financial assistance from the Chancery. Most notably, the Representation Church of Saint Catherine in Moscow operates as a parish within the Diocese of Moscow, while only the rector’s salary is paid by the Chancery.

“While the same may hold true of the monasteries in the United States, committee members felt it best to visit and continue the evaluation,” Deacon Marty continued. “Once completed, the evaluation will provide Metropolitan Jonah with the information necessary to provide oversight to his spiritual charges.

“The committee will correspond with each entity to be audited within the next 14 days to determine a mutually convenient time to perform their work,” he added. “The work will focus on the proper classification of expenses, the inclusion of all operations within the financial reports, and the proper function of controls to safeguard assets and resources.”

The committee expressed its deep gratitude for the warm hospitality offered by Priest John S. Kopcha, rector, and the faithful of Saint Andrew Church, who so graciously hosted the meeting.

Other committee members participating in the meeting were Karen Simons-Durkish, CPA; and Michael Strelka, CPA.