Browsing: Governance & Unity News

Source: Orthodox Christian Laity by George Matsoukas The case for Unity among the Orthodox Jurisdictions is made more manifest by the sabotaging of the Assembly of Bishops by the Antiochian Archdiocese.  The dispute between Old World Patriarchs undermines the establishment of canonical order in the USA.  The dispute over Qatar appears to be the reason why the Patriarchate of  Antioch changed its mind and negated its signature on the Chambésy  Accord of 2008.   The act and statement presented to the Assembly of Bishops are contrary to the integrity and history of the Antiochian Archdiocese that brought seekers home to the…

Source: Orthodoxy and Heterodoxy by Seraphim Danckaert Orthodox Christians often find themselves answering the following question: why is Orthodoxy divided along ethnic lines into different churches? At least officially, the answer to that question has been quite clear: we are not divided; we are one Church, united in faith and worship, with an administrative structure that organizes itself along local lines, in accordance with the ancient traditions and canon law of the first millennium of Christian history. In recent years, however, there’s been a problem: while the answer given above is true in theory, it’s often not implemented in practice.…

Source: Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the USA Friday, September 18, 2015 The Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the United States of America concluded its sixth annual meeting on Thursday, September 17 in Chicago. The Assembly issued a message to the faithful, which can be read here. In other business, the Legal Affairs Committee presented a five-step plan to the Assembly for consideration.  The hierarchs unanimously authorized the committee to commence with the first three steps of the plan, in which the committee will assess, gather and analyze the relevant legal documents of the Assembly’s various jurisdictions. The hierarchs…

Source: Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America Statement of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America to the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the United States Regarding the Draft Proposal of the Committee on Canonical Regional Planning  Presented at the Meeting of the Assembly of Bishops Convened in Chicago, IL September 15-17, 2015 The Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America has always prayed for and been committed to unity and cooperation of all of the Orthodox Christians in North America. The unity that we seek is true Orthodox unity based on mutual respect, love and cooperation…

Source: Ecumenical Patriarchate From August 29-September 2, 2015, at the invitation of His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, a Synaxis of Hierarchs of the Ecumenical Throne gathered from all over the world at the Church of the Holy Trinity in Taksim Square. His All-Holiness delivered the Keynote Address to over 140 Hierarchs of the Throne, speaking to developments and challenges of the Ecumenical Patriarchate and the Orthodox Church in general during recent years. Introductions were presented by senior Metropolitans on ecclesiastical, pastoral and theological initiatives and ministries, including the forthcoming Holy and Great Council, the regional Assemblies of Bishops, the World…

Source: Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the USA Chicago, IL– The Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the United States of America convened for a second day on Wednesday, September 16 in Chicago, IL. Before beginning the day’s meetings, the hierarchs offered a service of supplication to the Mother of God. In the first session of the day, the hierarchs engaged in a candid and lengthy discussion on the Committee for Canonical Regional Planning’s proposal, discussing in greater depth the opinions that had been offered on Tuesday. After deliberation, the hierarchs unanimously agreed that the Committee for Canonical Regional…

Source: Orthodox Church in America HUNTINGTON, NY [OCA]  Members of the Metropolitan Council of the Orthodox Church in America will gather for their fall session at Immaculate Conception Seminary here September 21-24, 2015. “As customary, the session will open with a one-day retreat,” said Archpriest Eric G. Tosi, OCA Secretary.  “Dr. Mary Ford, Associate Professor of New Testament and Hermeneutics at Saint Tikhon’s Seminary, will speak on the ‘Proper Interpretation of the Book of Revelation,’ while Archpriest Dr. John Behr, Dean of Saint Vladimir’s Seminary, will deliver a presentation titled ‘Becoming Human.’” Regular sessions will begin on Tuesday morning.  His…

Source: Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the USA Assembly of Bishops USA Convenes Sixth Annual Meeting in Chicago Chicago, IL–The Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the United States of America convened its sixth annual meeting Tuesday, September 15 in Chicago, IL with 45 hierarchs in attendance. The day began with a celebration of the Divine Liturgy at St John the Baptist Orthodox Church in Des Plaines, IL. Archbishop Demetrios, Chairman of the Assembly, opened the meeting. His remarks can be read here in their entirety. General business followed, including acceptance of the minutes from Assembly V, a financial…

Source: Orthodox Christian Laity The argument presented to me by the Antiochian Archdiocese leadership is that Archbishop Demetrios cannot preside over the Assembly of Bishops of the USA, because he is an Exarch.  (See a reasonable explanation to the contrary below by Very Rev. Dr. Alexander Rentel, Assistant Professor of Canon Law and Byzantine Studies at St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary).    The games must stop!  The bishops have the responsibility to make canonical the Churches outside the boundaries of the former Roman Empire.  Orthodox Christianity as presently organized in the so-called Orthodox Diaspora is uncanonical.  The Assembly of Bishops of the…

Source: Holy Trinity Cathedral, San Franciso CA by Archbishop Gregory (Afonsky) The Russian canonical school of the 19th and 20th centuries studied the question of the Patriarch of Constantinople’s canonical status in the Orthodox Church with care and diligence. For the most part books and monographs on the subject were well-disposed, explaining the Patriarch of Constantinople’s exceptionally high position in the Church both during the Byzantine and Turkish periods as a result of particular historical circumstances. During the Byzantine era the Patriarch of Constantinople, as the hierarch of the imperial capital and bishop of New Rome, received not only the…

Source: Orthodox Christian Laity Can it be that the First-Vice Chair of the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the United States of America, Metropolitan Joseph, may not attend the 6th Meeting that will take place in Chicago from September 15-17?  As of September 10,  he has not responded to the invitation to attend.  He has received special calls to obtain his response.  He is also chairman of an important committee on Pastoral Practices. Why is he not going?  He did not attend the meeting in mid-June at the Phanar in Istanbul with the other heads of committees who met…

Source: Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the USA An independent audit of the financial records of the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the United States of America has been completed and is available online. The audit was conducted by Barnes Wendling CPAs Inc. and covers the year ending December 31, 2013. The audit report compares 2013 and 2012. The Assembly is pleased to have received an unqualified (“clean”) opinion from the auditors. The report can be read here. An earlier report, covering the period from the Assembly’s inception through December 31, 2012, can be found here. [subscribe2]