Canonical Regional Planning

Description

The Committee for Canonical Regional Planning is formulating a proposal for a plan to organize all the Orthodox faithful of every jurisdiction in the Region on a canonical basis, in accordance with the Rules of Operation, Article 5.e of the 4th Pre-Conciliar Pan-Orthodox Conference in Chambésy. While developing this plan the Committee will work on possible strategies to bring all Orthodox faithful in America to a deeper spiritual unity and create conditions for greater inter-Orthodox cooperation.

Membership

Metropolitan Nicolae (Romanian) - Chairman
Metropolitan Nicholas (GOA)
Bishop John (AOCA)
Metropolitan Tikhon (OCA)

Committee Liaison

Protodeacon Peter Danilchick

Consultants

Spyridoula Fotinis, Facilitator

Terms of Reference

What is to be accomplished

  • Develop an organizational and geographic map of all bishops, dioceses and parishes
  • Define specific characteristics of pastoral and administrative relevance, e.g., distances and travel demands within dioceses, liturgical/ daily language, liturgical and ethnic customs, pastoral and financial practices, canonical requirements, etc
  • Develop possible alternatives to existing assignment of bishops to dioceses and distribution of parishes within dioceses, taking into account the above characteristics and ensuring the highest degree of pastoral concern for the faithful
  • Review, discuss, and revise above alternatives with the Committee Chairs, Officers and Executive Committee and review with entire Assembly when consensus reached
  • Call the Orthodox to a deeper spiritual as well as canonical unity which is often threatened by schismatic groups competing with the canonical structure of the Orthodox Church

How it is to be accomplished

  • Determine at the outset, and update regularly, the timetable for accomplishment of the Committee's objectives
  • Obtain information on existing organizations and geographies from Committee on Canonical Affairs
  • Construct and complete a matrix of specific pastoral and administrative characteristics in coordination with Bishops' strengths with input from other appropriate Committees
  • Form a small group of objective consultants to brainstorm and produce possible alternatives to existing hierarchical and parish distributions
  • Review, discuss and revise possible arrangements with successive levels: Committee Chairs, Officers, Executive Committee, and Assembly

With whom it is to be accomplished

  • The Committee Chairs
  • A team of consultants to develop potentially-sensitive canonical alternatives
  • The Officers, Executive Committee, and the entire Assembly