Orthodox attorney takes NCC post

Christian Century, Nov 21, 2001

Elenie Huszagh, a prominent leader in the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, has been installed as the 21st president of the National Council of Churches, succeeding Andrew Young. The ceremony took place November 15 in an Oakland cathedral during the ecumenical organization's annual General Assembly.

A longtime Chicago attorney, she now lives in her home state of Oregon, but has continued to travel extensively on NCC business and serves as legal counsel for both the Chicago- and San Francisco-based Greek Orthodox dioceses.

Huszagh is the second Orthodox Christian in the NCC presidency--a part-time, nonsalaried position but one affording a role as spokesperson for the National Council. Leonid Kishkovsky, an archpriest of the Orthodox Church in America, was NCC president in 1990 and 1991. Huszagh was chosen as NCC president-elect by the General Assembly two years ago.

The Orthodox denominations in the NCC have sometimes felt uncomfortable with the social concerns and religious issues championed by the mostly Protestant, 36-member council. At times, some Orthodox have threatened to pull out of the NCC. But Huszagh said things have improved for the Eastern churches.

"I'm pleased with the place of the Orthodox in the council at this time," she said. "In the past, we perceived ourselves as marginalized and were so perceived by others. But as the years went by, we contributed more broadly. 'We took our place.'"

In her own church, she has helped extend the responsiblities of women. In 1974 she was among five women who were the first ever named to the Archdiocesan Council--clergy and lay members who manage the archdiocese's business between the biennial Clergy-Laity Congresses. She presided over plenary sessions of four of those congresses.

Huszagh is among church members advocating the reinstitution of women deaconesses in Orthodoxy. "Writings on the subject of the role of women in Orthodoxy have evolved over the years," she said. "The pressure to ordain women deaconesses as `historically correct' is increasing throughout the Orthodox world."