Spring/Summer print edition of “The Orthodox Church” sent in bulk to parishes
The print edition of the Spring/Summer issue 2010 of “The Orthodox Church” magazine, published by the Orthodox Church in America, was mailed in bulk to all parishes and missions during the first week of August 2010.
The on-line edition has been available on the OCA web site at https://www.oca.org/PDF/DOC-PUB/TOC/2010/toc-spring-summer.pdf since July.
For over four decades, TOC was mailed directly to the homes of OCA faithful whose names and addresses were submitted by their respective parishes. Due to budgetary considerations, in part caused by a series of sharp spikes in the cost of paper, printing and mailing in recent years, the previous two issues only appeared on-line in downloadable PDF format. This, however, precluded many from reading the magazine, since not everyone is connected to the internet.
Reducing the number of printed copies from some 27,000 to 10,000 and distributing TOC in bulk yielded considerable savings, making it possible to print a limited number of copies within the designated budget. The number of printed copies of the current issue sent to each parish hopefully will “fill the gap” for those who otherwise would not have access to the magazine.
While all bulk packets of TOC were mailed on the same day, the actual delivery date of each parish’s packet will vary, in some cases by up to three or four weeks, depending on the local post office. Parishes that do not receive their packets within the next few weeks should check with the delivering post office while sending notification to .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
Individual subscriptions, sent directly to home addresses, are available. Subscription information will be available on the OCA web site at www.oca.org in the near future.
In addition to world, North American and OCA news briefs—including an account of the consecration of His Grace, Bishop Michael of New York and New Jersey and a detailed announcement concerning the theme and preliminary plans for the 16th All-American Council in 2011—the Spring/Summer issue focuses on mission and ministry, the recent Episcopal Assembly, and related articles, including
- “The Episcopal Assembly, and Beyond” by His Beatitude, Metropolitan Jonah, and an editorial on the same theme, “The Quest to be Truly Orthodox and Truly American,” by Archpriest Leonid Kishkovsky. The full text of the “Statement of the North American Episcopal Assembly” also appears. A fourth article on this theme, “First Steps,” offers an account of the Assembly’s sessions.
- “Christ’s Ministry, Our Ministry” and “Six Principles for Christian Ministry” by Denise Jillions of Annunciation Cathedral, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
- “The World Becoming Church: An Orthodox Vision of Mission,” by Priest Richard Rene of Saint Aidan Mission, Cranbrook, BC, Canada, and a practical, “hands-on” titled “Mission and Ministry: Putting Our Words into Action.”
- three articles highlighting practical ministry—“Mission and Ministry: Putting Our Words into Action,” “When I was in Prison: Rediscovering a Forgotten Ministry,” and “The Mission Field at your Front Door” by Luke Loboda of Saint Nicholas Church, Mogadore, OH.
- a reflection by Archpriest Alexander Garklavs, OCA Chancellor, titled “Forty Years of Autocephaly.”
- a reflection on Ephesians 2:1-2, “Sons of Disobedience,” by Archpriest Vladimir Berzonsky of Holy Trinity Church, Parma, OH.
The Fall 2010 TOC is slated to appear in October.