To the Reverend Clergy and Faithful of the Diocese of New England,
Christ is Risen!
At the Diocesan Council Meeting on May 21, 2024, we discussed at length our continued search for a property that would provide Diocesan Offices and a residence for the Bishop. We reviewed two recent possibilities we had identified but ultimately decided were unsuitable.
As you are probably aware, in today's market, good properties move quickly. The Council considers that the process of identifying a suitable property, inspecting it with the committee and then with the Council, and then calling a special Diocesan Assembly to approve the purchase, would take so much time that we would lose the opportunity even to make an offer.
With this in mind, and with the consultation and approval of the Diocesan Council, and under my authority as Bishop of New England in accordance with OCA Statutes Art IX, sec. 3 b, I am calling for a Special Diocesan Assembly to be held on Saturday, June 15, 2024 at Holy Trinity Orthodox Church in New Britain, CT. The sole purpose of this meeting will be for the Assembly to authorize the Diocesan Council to acquire property for the Diocese (OCA Statutes Art IX, sec. 4 d) with a purchase price not to exceed $650,000.
The Assembly will begin with the Divine Liturgy at 8:30 AM, with the plenary session following a small breakfast after Liturgy. As is the case with our Annual Assembly, each parish is to send clergy and lay delegates to represent it at this Special Assembly. The clergy delegates are to be the clergy assigned to each parish, and the lay delegates are to be those most recently elected in each parish. Any parish without assigned clergy is to send one lay delegate.
Accompanying this letter are the registration package and the agenda, as well as a financial analysis of the impact of purchasing property, of renting property, and the financial implications of having a full-time Bishop, as a reference to help make an informed decision.
In Christ's service,
+Benedict
Bishop of Hartford and New England
