Browsing: Governance & Unity News

Source: Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of North and Central America The first day of meetings of the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of North and Central America reflected a growing collegiality and cooperation among those present. Forty-three hierarchs representing 11 jurisdictions are in attendance. The morning began with hierarchs participating in a common celebration of the Divine Liturgy at the Holy Virgin Protection Cathedral in Des Plaines, IL. “Today…we are here together in unity and joy in full awareness of the truth that the love of Christ has brought us together and is with us,” said Archbishop Demetrios, Chairman…

Source: Orthodox Church in America SCHAUMBURG, IL [OCA] – His Beatitude, Metropolitan Tikhon and the members of the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Orthodox Church in America are among 65 hierarchs participating in the 2013 annual meeting of the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of North and Central America at the Chicago Marriott here Tuesday through Thursday, September 17-19, 2013. The first annual meeting was held in New York City in 2010, while the second and third gatherings were held in Chicago in 2011 and 2012. The schedule and agenda as posted on the Assembly web site may be accessed here. According to…

Source: Patristic Nectar Publications Four years ago, in June of 2009, something momentous took place in World Orthodoxy. At the invitation of His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, delegates from the fourteen Autocephalous Orthodox Churches participated in the historic Fourth Pre-Conciliar Pan-Orthodox Conference, meeting at the Center of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Chambésy-Geneva, Switzerland. They expressed their “desire for the swift healing of every canonical anomaly that has arisen from historical circumstances and pastoral requirements, such as in the so-called Orthodox Diaspora, with a view to overcoming every possible influence that is foreign to Orthodox ecclesiology.” This ecumenical decision translated…

We reprint the OCL Resolution calling for Autocephaly of the American Orthodox Church passed in 1998, fifteen years ago, and pray that the meeting of Assembly of Canonical Bishops on September 17-19 in Chicago will make progress in developing the blueprint for a unified, self-governing, canonical Church in our geographic areas.  The “fullness of time” for the unification and autocephaly of the Church in the United States and in all other  geographic areas has arrived.                          – Editor    Orthodox Christian Laity A Resolution for Autocephaly Adopted October 10, 1998 BE IT RESOLVED THAT:  The Orthodox Christian Laity (OCL), assembled…

by Fr. Alexander Schmemann Editor’s Note: As the Assembly of Bishops meets in Chicago on September 15-17, 2013, please review some of the following canonical issues related to unity. The Canonical Problem [St. Vladimir’s Seminary Quarterly, 1964, Vol. 8, # 2, pp. 67-85.] 1. An Uncanonical Situation No term is used—and misused—among the Orthodox people in America more often than the term canonical. One hears endless discussions about the “canonicity” or the “uncanonicity” of this or that bishop, jurisdiction, priest, parish. Is it not in itself an indication that something is wrong or, at least, questionable from the canonical point of…

We are happy to reprint this resolution as the Assembly of Bishops begins its deliberations developing a blueprint for an administratively-unified, self-governing Orthodox Church in North and Central America. For the last 200 years, Orthodox Christians in North America have been working together to bring the message of Christ to their brothers and sisters and to care for widows, the poor, and the least of God’s Children. They lived the faith before there was a formal structure here. They also built most of the churches before there was a formal administrative structure. The Assembly is a turning point to build…

Source: Orthodox Church in America Sunday, September 15, 2013, has been designated “Assembly Sunday” by the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of North and Central America to draw attention to the fourth meeting of the Assembly’s hierarchs at the Chicago Marriott here September 17-19. The following encyclical from His Eminence, Archbishop Demetrios of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, Assembly Chair, was issued in conjunction with the occasion. Encyclical to All Orthodox Christian Faithful of North and Central America Concerning Assembly Sunday 2013 To the Most Reverend Hierarchs, the Reverend Priests and Deacons, the Monks and Nuns, the Presidents and…

Source: Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of North and Central America In an unprecedented action, two Orthodox Christian churches—one Greek and one Antiochian—have merged together to form a new parish in northeastern Tennessee. Holy Resurrection (AOCA) in Johnson City and Holy Trinity (GOA) in Bluff City joined together in their first liturgy on June 23, the Feast of Pentecost. The new parish, which has taken the name Christ the Savior, comes under the jurisdiction of His Eminence Metropolitan Alexios of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese. The parish is served by Fr. Stephen Mathewes, an Antiochian priest who had been assigned to…

Source: Greek Orthodox Christians for Truth and Reform Two recently published articles, one in the Orthodox Observer and the other in The National Herald caught the attention of our Editors. Both concern the administration and the future of our Church and Faith. They come from two different perspectives yet both accurately indicate the present condition. Both authors draw upon their own views and reach, in our minds, the identical conclusion that foreshadows the future of our Church. These authors have not yet fully appreciated the foresight, power or the precision of their observations. Remarkably, it is as if both of…

Source: Assembly of Bishops The Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of North and Central America will hold its annual meeting September 17-19, 2013 at the Chicago Marriott in Schaumburg, Illinois. This is the fourth Annual Meeting of the Assembly. The agenda, which includes discussion of the Assembly’s vision, proposals for canonical restructuring, and an Assembly-sponsored national youth conference, can be found here. The Assembly requests the prayers of all clergy, monastics, and laity. The Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops is comprised of all 65 active Orthodox hierarchs serving the United States, Canada, and Mexico. [subscribe2]

Source: Assembly of Bishops The Executive Committee of the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of North and Central America held an official meeting at the Greek Orthodox Archdiocesan headquarters in New York on Tuesday, August 13. Under the chairmanship of His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios, the Executive Committee made final preparations for the fourth general Assembly of Bishops meeting in September. The members of the Executive Committee also reviewed the process by which the Assembly would reach consensus, when required. Participating in the meeting were: Archbishop Demetrios (Ecumenical Patriarchate); Metropolitan Philip (Patriarchate of Antioch, by phone); Archbishop Justinian (Patriarchate of Moscow);…

Source: Milwaukee – Wisconsin Journal Sentinel Leaders at Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church cite financial discrepancies  By John Diedrich of the Journal Sentinel The Milwaukee County district attorney’s office has been asked to investigate possible theft from theAnnunciation Greek Orthodox Church by a former priest. Assistant District Attorney David Feiss confirmed Monday that he was reviewing documents sent to the office by Annunciation’s Parish Council. Feiss declined to comment further. After discovering financial “discrepancies,” the council voted to request the district attorney investigate the matter, according to a news release from the church. “The concerns that have been raised have nothing to do with current church operations…