At the closing banquet of the 2014 Clergy Symposium, His Eminence Metropolitan Joseph, Archbishop of New York and Metropolitan of All North America, gave a speech including his initial vision for the Antiochian Archdiocese of North America (beginning at 11:20 in the recorded audio). These remarks are available as an audio recording from Ancient Faith Radio. A full written transcription is being prepared.
His Eminence says in part:
Tonight, I am going to utilize my time by sharing with you my vision for the future of this Archdiocese. I truly believe that each and every one of us is an important and integral part of this body. We are grateful for everything that our beloved Metropolitan Philip of thrice-blessed memory created over the past 48 years. We humbly accept the fruit of his labor, as well as the labor of the faithful who worked alongside him and the legacy upon which we will now build. We have serious work ahead of us. We don’t have time to waste. …
Although we begin a new chapter, let me remind you that we are not starting from the beginning. As good stewards, we will only continue the work with which we have been entrusted, and my expectation is, that we continue to work as a team. … We are working together. We are one Body, and this is what unity means.
As for myself, I promise you that every decision that is required of me will come by way of prayer, deliberation, and by the thorough consideration of all pertinent information. I can assure you that I will be acutely attentive to things requiring any significant decision, praying first for guidance in all matters. You need to know that I take very seriously that which our ecclesiology teaches. For direction, I will rely on St. Ignatius of Antioch. His vision for the Church is a oneness of mind.
