At their meeting on October 16th, the Bishops of the Archdiocesan Synod approved the following:

1.  The appointment of a committee to review the current in-force Manual of Hierarchical Duties and Responsibilities and to recommend changes that will increase the effectiveness of the Manual as a tool for clearly delineating the responsibilities of the Bishops and the Metropolitan.  The goal will be to present the final draft of the Manual to the Archdiocesan Synod for approval at their regular meeting in the Fall of 2010.  The members of the committee are as follows:

        His Grace, Bishop Joseph, Chairman

        His Grace Bishop Basil

        His Grace Bishop Thomas

        Deacon Emile Sayegh, Chancellor

        Fr.  George Kevorkian

        Mr. Daniel Abraham

2.  The appointment of a committee to study the differences between the Archdiocesan Constitution which was approved by the General Assembly in Pittsburgh, PA on 7/16/2004 and the Archdiocesan Constitution that was approved by the Holy Synod of Antioch on 10/14/2004 and to reconcile those differences, such that a single approved version of the Archdiocesan Constitution will be in effect.  The goal will be to present the reconciled Constitution for approval to the General Assembly at the 2011 Convention in Chicago.  The members of the committee are as follows:

        His Grace, Bishop Joseph, Chairman

        Deacon Emile Sayegh, Chancellor

        Fr.  George Kevorkian

        Mr. Daniel Abraham