Recent Events of OCN Board Meeting

The Board of Directors of the Orthodox Christian Network (an agency of the Assembly of Canonical Bishops of North and Central America) held its annual meeting in Ft. Lauderdale, FL at the Network’s headquarters in St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church on January 26, 2013. This was a historic meeting due to the presence of His Grace Bishop Peter, the Official Episcopal Liaison of the Assembly of Canonical Bishops.

The meeting opened with a prayer led by His Grace. Following this, Fr. Christopher Metropulos, Executive Director of OCN, offered his thanks to the Board members and all of OCN’s supporters for making 2012 the most successful year in OCN’s 17-year history. The unprecedented financial and communication support offered by Share the Light Partners and OCN listeners around the world have enabled the launch of exciting new programs and acquisition of valuable personnel and resources.

Amazingly, OCN and her various 24/7 radio stations are now heard by over 2.6 million listeners in over 200 countries. In addition, Fr. Christopher cited the wonderful working relationships that have been established between OCN and all of the Orthodox Christian jurisdictions of the Assembly of Bishops, especially pertaining to the website and various departments as they share their news with the faithful through multiple OCN delivery platforms.

During the meeting, the Board of Directors studied reports of current programming and discussed new and enterprising programs for the future that will move OCN’s media ministry forward. It was reported that parishes around the country have now begun to celebrate Share the Light Sunday, which was declared by the Assembly of Bishops as the day to recognize this agency of the Assembly for its work. This is the kick-off month for parishes to begin celebrating and supporting OCN’s ministry. Further information can be found on our website at www.myocn.net or by calling OCN Headquarters at 954-522-5567. Share the Light Sundays may be celebrated on any Sunday of the year and are very important to the continued growth of the ministry.

The Board of Directors is pleased to announce the following new initiatives.

Starting in February, listeners will be able to hear broadcasts of Come Receive the Light in Greek, Spanish, and Russian. In addition, launch of OCN’s iPhone app is now complete and a new Android app is now available.

Board members greeted one exciting piece of news with applause: the launch of the OCN Webstore. Faithful everywhere can now shop at the OCN Webstore for everything pertaining to Orthodoxy, and each purchase will benefit OCN’s worldwide ministry at no additional cost to the shopper. The Webstore can be accessed at http://astore.amazon.com/theocnwebstore08-20 or by visiting MyOCN.net.

The Board of Directors was also thrilled to learn of the launch of a brand new program, “Our Life in Christ and in America,” hosted by Bill Hinkle, former Minority Whip in the Washington state legislature and member of the Antiochian Archdiocese of America, and Fr. Constantine Papademos, Pastor of Saint Katherine Greek Orthodox Church in Elk Grove, CA and the longest serving Chaplain of the California State Assembly in its history.

Newly elected Executive Board members include: Dr. George Mekras, Chairman; Nick Furris, 1st Vice Chair; Joanne Mitchell, 2nd Vice Chair; Tony Maiorana, Treasurer; Nick Mavrick, Secretary; Garry Paxinos, Assistant Secretary.

For further information on how to get involved and help this vital ministry grow, we welcome calls to our office at 954-522-5567, or you can visit our website at www.myocn.net.