Official Charter Text and Support Documents Available Online Related Articles "A Great Faith to Share": Varied, Passionate Opinions on GOA's Future Charter Survey Completed: Results Indicate Support for Reform, Dissatisfaction with Process Clergy-Laity Congress Ends on Note of Unity Information Bulletin - New Charter for the Archdiocese Granted by the Ecumenical Patriarchate The Church and the Patriarch's Charter New York -- The distribution of the Charter of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America has begun with the posting of the official English and Greek texts on the web site of the Archdiocese. Also posted with the Charter is the letter of His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew upon the granting of the Charter by the Holy and Sacred Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate and the letter of His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios of America to the Clergy, Parish Councils, and Faithful of the Greek Orthodox Communities in America. This distribution of the Charter comes after the preparation of the English text following the granting of the original Greek text of the Charter by the Synod of the Patriarchate. Printed copies of the Charter and the letters of the Patriarch and Archbishop are currently being prepared and will be distributed to the parishes within the month of August. In his letter Archbishop Demetrios states, "This Charter of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America is the product of intensive work over several years by the representatives of the Joint Archdiocesan/Patriarchal Committee, our Holy Eparchial Synod, our Archdiocesan Council, our Clergy-Laity Congresses, and the clergy and lay leadership and membership of the parishes of the Church in America. All have had the opportunity to contribute to a process that has affirmed the level of maturity of our Archdiocese, as our discussions and deliberations have been characterized by respect, honesty, moderated concern, Christian dignity, and deep commitment to the Church and Her mission and function." In addition he states that the Charter "affirms first and foremost the unity of our 'one and indivisible Archdiocese,' a unity that has been and will continue to be crucial to mission and ministry at all levels," and that the various articles of the Charter clearly affirm "the cooperation between clergy and laity and their harmonious function within the Church?. "United in our vision, and in our programs and activities, we will meet the needs of our contemporary world in ways that will bring healing, transformation, salvation, and life." The Charter and the related documents are available on-line at http://www.goarch.org/en/archdiocese/documents/charter_index.asp .