Source: Orthodox Church in America
SYOSSET, NY [OCA] Members of the Lesser Synod of Bishops of the Orthodox Church in America received updates from the Church’s officers during their meeting at the Chancery here May 21-22, 2013.
According to Archpriest Eric G. Tosi, OCA Secretary, “the purpose of the meeting was to continue the work of the Holy Synod between sessions, address critical concerns, and plan for upcoming meetings.”
The meeting was chaired by His Beatitude, Metropolitan Tikhon. Also in attendance were His Eminence, Archbishop Nathaniel; His Eminence, Archbishop Benjamin; and His Grace, Bishop Melchisedek, who attended some of the sessions in the absence of His Grace, Bishop Michael, who was unable to attend.
Archpriest John Jillions, OCA Chancellor, updated members of the Lesser Synod of the status of the review of updated Policies, Standards and Procedures (PSP) for Clergy Sexual Misconduct and reviewed various clergy and pastoral issues and upcoming events.
Father Eric reviewed preliminary plans for 18th All-American Council and legal issues, as well as some outstanding procedural matters.
Melanie Ringa, OCA Treasurer, offered an updated financial report and briefed the Lesser Synod on the preliminary 2012 audit report.
Archpriest Leonid Kishkovsky, Director of External Affairs and Interchurch Relations, updated the Lesser Synod on recent occurrences in world Orthodoxy and upcoming external affairs events.
Before adjourning, the hierarchs began to plan and prioritize agenda items for the Fall Holy Synod Meeting, to be held on October 15-17, 2013, and the Fall Metropolitan Council meeting, to be held September 24-26.
“There also were a number of closed sessions on clergy matters, including ongoing work on vetting procedures for episcopal candidates,” Father Eric added.
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