SCOBA Recognition of Fr. Paul Schneirla
by: Editors
On Monday, December 10, 2007, His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios, Chairman, hosted a reception and luncheon for SCOBA Commission members to acknowledge Father Paul Schneirla’s many years of service to SCOBA since its inception in 1961. Citing his “lengthy and extraordinary” support for Inter-Orthodox development and communication, Archbishop Demetrios said that this unusual dedication and commitment “certainly merit such recognition.” Honored as “the living memory of SCOBA and contributing to the cause of Orthodox Unity for many, many years,” a commemorative cross and congratulations were offered in St. Paul’s chapel at 10 East 79th Street in New York City, the Greek Archdiocese headquarters. A luncheon followed, which included Father Paul’s son and daughter, who were in attendance for this special event which yielded the following resolution:
Resolution of SCOBA Hierarchs – December 10, 2007
Whereas the Standing Conference of the Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the Americas was founded in 1961 for the purpose of:
The consideration and resolution of common ecclesiastical problems, the coordination of effort in matters of common concern to Orthodoxy, and the strengthening of Orthodox unity:
And whereas the Very Reverend Father Paul Schneirla was among the original clergy assisting in the work of the Standing Conference of the Canonical Orthodox Bishop in the Americas,
And whereas the Very Reverend Father Paul Schneirla has worked for over fortysix years for the common good and unity of all Orthodox Churches in the Americas through SCOBA,
We, the Hierarchs of the Standing Conference of the Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the Americas, do hereby recognize the vast contribution and tireless ministry of the Very Reverend Father Paul Schneirla and express our profound thanks and abiding appreciation.
We wish him “Many Years” and every blessing in Christ; this tenth day of December in the year of Our Lord 2007.
Reluctant to stand out as other than the parish priest he was for sixty years, Father Paul nonetheless agreed to attend the ceremony at the urging of his children, the Archdiocese and Mr. Charles Ajalat, a representative of the Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese to SCOBA’s Study and Planning Commission. While pastor at St. Mary’s, Brooklyn, New York, Father Paul also taught Old Testament at St. Vladimir’s Seminary in Crestwood, New York and worked on behalf of both Archbishop Antony Bashir and His Eminence Archbishop PHILIP in support of SCOBA. Father Paul is currently working on a history of SCOBA, as well as that of the Western Rite since World War II.
Bishop ANTOUN Khoury of the Antiochian Archdiocese moved that the Resolution be made unanimous, and those present responded enthusiastically. The Standing Conference represents the Primates of the Greek, Albanian, Antiochian, Bulgarian, Carpatho- Russian, OCA, Romanian, Serbian, and Ukrainian Orthodox Churches in the United States, sponsoring IOCC and numerous agencies and enterprises supporting united Orthodoxy. From our Antiochian Archdiocese, the members of the Study and Planning Commission, a coordinating body for SCOBA, include Father Paul Schneirla and Charles Ajalat, a Chancellor of the Archdiocese. Each member body of the Standing Conference is represented by two members of the Planning Commission.
Courtesy of the
May 2008 issue of The Word magazine.