Browsing: Governance & Unity News

Source: The Church Messenger By Protopresbyter Lawrence Barriger There is a story told about a group of pilgrims who were touring the Holy Land with a guide who was a native of the region. The guide was explaining how, since time immemorial, the shepherd did not walk behind his sheep but in front. The sheep would follow him wherever he would lead, just as the Lord describes Himself as the “Good Shepherd” in the Gospel of St. John: “…the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name, and leads them out. And when he puts forth…

Source: Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America NEW YORK – The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America announces with great joy and gratitude to His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and the Holy and Sacred Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, the elevation of the Holy Archdiocese of America to the rank of Gerontiki Eparchy (meaning an eparchy headed by a Geron/Elder hierarch) of the Ecumenical Throne in the person of His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios of America, who from now on will be called His Eminence Geron Archbishop Demetrios of America. His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew in his letter to the Archbishop notes that…

Source: Orthodox Church in America OCA Treasurer’s report for first three quarters of 2015 released SYOSSET, NY [OCA] The financial report for the OCA’s the first three quarters of 2015, prepared by Ms. Melanie Ringa, Treasurer of the Orthodox Church in America, has been released and is now available on-line. “Year to date, through September 30, 2015, expenses were under budget by $107,054.00,” Ms. Ringa noted.  “Total revenues for the same period were under budget by only $18,856.00, representing slightly lower assessments and lower Chapel and Continuing Ed revenues.” Download Complete Report [subscribe2]

Source: Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese of North America by His Grace Bishop John, The Word, November 2015 Many are asking if the Antiochians have changed their minds about Orthodox unity in America. Our response to the Proposal of the Canonical Regional Planning Committee printed in The WORD deserves some clarication. After all, Patriarch Ignatius IV, Metropolitan Antony and Metropolitan Philip of thrice-blessed memory, as well as the Antiochian Archdiocese in North America have been calling for administrative unity for almost a century. We must have a detailed understanding of the terms under which this unity will be achieved, however. There are many questions which still remain unanswered, and until we have detailed answers…

Source: Orthodox Christian Laity Overview on the Chronology and Work of the Assembly of Bishops Presented on Friday, November 5, 2015 Open Forum at the OCL Annual Meeting held at St John of Damascus Orthodox Church, Poway CA: ORTHODOX WORKING TOGETHER – George Matsoukas, presenter Will the Orthodox Christian Church in the USA remain as separate colonies of the fourteen Old World Patriarchates and autocephalous churches, or will it finally be a mission Church to the faithful in their own country?  This is the question for the Hierarchs of the Church to solve in their deliberations as the Assembly…

Source: JeffreyWaynick.com The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.  Martin Luther King, Jr. Deciding which situations need your personal attention, and which do not, is a constant challenge for every busy leader.  However, there are two types of incidents that always deserve a leader’s hands-on involvement: sexual misconduct and financial dishonesty.  How well and how quickly you respond to these kinds of emergencies is crucial, as they can cause extensive damage to vulnerable persons and to your faith group. As…

Source: The National Herald BY THEODORE KALMOUKOS SAN FRANCISCO, CA – His Eminence Metropolitan Gerasimos of San Francisco wants his chancellor, Bishop Apostolos of Medeia to be removed. TNH has learned that Gerasimos is extremely disappointed with Apostolos’ performance at the chancery and with his insubordinate behavior towards him, evident to the clergy and laity alike. Gerasimos voiced his concerns to His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew during the Synaxis of the Hierarchy of the Ecumenical Throne in Constantinople early in September, and has also discussed the issue with His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios of America. He has requested Apostolos’ transfer…

Source: Orthodox Church in America OCA Holy Synod releases Position Paper on Canonical Regional Planning SYOSSET, NY [OCA] The Holy Synod of Bishops has released the text of a Position Paper delivered in response to the plan presented by the Committee for Canonical Regional Planning during the sixth annual meeting of the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the USA in Chicago on September 15, 2015.  The text was reviewed during the Holy Synod’s fall session held in Detroit October 19-23.  [See related stories here and here.] The text reads as follows. POSITION PAPER OF THE ORTHODOX CHURCH IN AMERICA…

Source: Orthodox Church in America SYOSSET, NY [OCA]  The Holy Synod of Bishops of the Orthodox Church in America concluded its fall session at Saint Andrew House, Detroit, MI, on Friday, October 23, 2015.  His Beatitude, Metropolitan Tikhon, presided at the sessions. Among the decisions and actions taken by the hierarchs were the following. After concluding a Church Court held on October 19, the hierarchs canonically deposed the retired Archbishop Seraphim from the status and all sacred functions of the episcopacy, removed him from the ranks of the clergy, and returned him to the status of a lay monk.  [See…

Source: JeffreyWaynick.com By Rev. J. Gregory Waynick Another case of sexual misconduct. Another Orthodox priest.  Another scandal.  This storyline seems to repeat every few years.  How can we take action to stop this behavior, long before it explodes into national scandal? Clergy sexual misconduct is deeply wrong and intensely harmful, but it’s hardly a rare occurrence.  Tragically, it happens somewhat frequently in faith communities.  Some report that 1 out of every 5 pastors (of all Christian groups) have misused their power and position to sexually abuse or sexually harass. While we members of a local church will rightfully be shocked that…

Source: Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America [October 15, 2015] NEW YORK – The Holy Eparchial Synod of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America convened for its regular fall meeting at the Synodal Chamber of the Archdiocesan headquarters in New York on October 13th and 14th, 2015. His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios of America presided at the meeting with the participation of all the Members of the Synod. The Synod deliberated extensively on many matters including the following: 1) The Holy Synod discussed the need to establish at the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese a Department of translations into English of liturgical texts so…

Source: Ancient Faith Radio Antioch On The Record: Orthodox Administrative Unity in North America October 21, 2015  Length: 52:42 In this special edition of Ancient Faith Today, the V.R. Patrick O’ Grady of St Peter the Apostle Antiochian Orthodox Church in Pomona, California represents the Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese of North America in explaining the reasons behind its recent statement at the 6th Assembly of Bishops and why it appeared to many that its long-held support of Orthodox administrative unity has changed. CLICK HERE to listen. Sponsor a transcript for $39.75. [subscribe2]