Jurisdictional webmasters meet at St. Vlad's

(OCA) - Saint Vladimir’s Seminary here was the site of a meeting of web team members representing member jurisdictions of the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops in North and Central America on Wednesday, March 6, 2013.

The purpose of the gathering was to discuss the future of the Assembly web site—how it can be improved, how it can more efficiently interact with the various Church offices, and how it can better serve the Orthodox Christian community in the North America. Oh to have been a fly on the wall. Some time ago I wrote a "wish list" (see here) that got some attention from some of the people pictured above. Hopefully, some of the items listed there will get considered. Comments/emails are of course welcome.

“Discussion wasn’t limited to the Assembly web site, but to the entire interaction between the Assembly and the jurisdictions regarding the web—what we can offer one another, what the Assembly can offer us, how we can best interact and work together, how the effort can be organized, and so on,” said attendee Ryan Platte, Technical Manager of the Orthodox Church in America’s web site oca.org. “A variety of issues were covered, including the creation of a common clergy roster and other directories.

“Everyone present had a unique perspective and skillset and contributed their expertise to common efforts,” Ryan continued. “I was privileged to take part in this meeting of such talented and energetic people as we discovered valuable ways to work together in the immediate future.”

In addition to Mr. Platte, other attendees included Monk Benedict [Armitage] and Douglas Cramer [Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America], Priest Ivan Synevskyy [Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA]. Priest Peter Paproski [Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Diocese], Jamil Samara and Theo Nicolakis [Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America], Ginny Nieuwsma [Saint Vladimir’s Seminary and Antiochian Archdiocese], and Chrysanthe Loizos [Assembly staff].