Statute amendments for consideration at 16th All-American Council Released

SYOSSET, NY [OCA]
31/8/2011

On Wednesday, August 31, 2011, two proposed amendments to the Statute of the Orthodox Church in America were released by the Commission on Canons and Statutes.

According to Archpriest Alexander Rentel, Commission Vice Chair, the proposals will be considered by delegates to the 16th All-American Council October 31 through November 4, 2011.

His Eminence, Archbishop Nathaniel of Detroit and the Romanian Episcopate, Commission Moderator, has given his blessing to post the proposals for consideration.

PROPOSED STATUTE AMENDMENT I

Rationale
The following proposal seeks to amend Article X.5.b of the Statute. The amendment attempts to clarify the following: someone may be considered a parishioner in good standing, even if he or she confesses to a priest other the parish priest. Confession outside of their parish must be done with the blessing of the parish priest.

The rationale for this proposal concerns the statutory requirement that the member confess “in his home parish” annually. As is known, it is common for some parishioners to confess to a priest at another parish. In addition, family members of a priest confess to other priests. Under current OCA Statute, people who confess elsewhere, including priests’ wives and children, are not technically “voting members” and should not vote at parish meetings. If the OCA or one of its parishes becomes involved in legal action which hinges in part on a vote, this definitional inconsistency could become a problem. The idea of any amendment would be simply to conform the statute to the existing practice in the OCA.

Current Statute: Article X.5 Parishioners
Parishioners are those who, by virtue of their Baptism and Chrismation, are members of the Body of Christ and strive to live in accordance with their high calling (Eph. 4:1) as Orthodox Christians. No one can be a member of the parish if he openly betrays the teaching of the Orthodox Church, or if he leads a life or acts in a manner condemned by the Holy Canons as incompatible with the name of Orthodox Christian.

A “voting member” of the parish is a member [as defined in Article X, Section 5(a)] at least eighteen years of age, who partakes of the Sacraments of Confession and Holy Communion in his home parish at least once a year; has belonged to the parish for a period as may be fixed by the parish; and regularly fulfills such financial obligations as may be established by the All-American Councils, Diocesan Assemblies, and parish.

Proposed Amendment
A “voting member” of the parish is a member [as defined in Article X, Section 5(a)] at least eighteen years of age, who receives the Sacrament of Confession at least once a year in his home parish or, with the permission of the parish priest, elsewhere; who receives Holy Communion at least once a year in his home parish; has belonged to the parish for a period as may be fixed by the parish; and regularly fulfills such financial obligations as may be established by the All-American Councils, Diocesan Assemblies, and parish.

PROPOSED STATUTE AMENDMENT II

Rationale
The following proposal seeks to amend Article V.1 of the Statute. The amendment attempts to clarify an ambiguity in the length of terms and term limits for members of the Metropolitan Council who are elected by the Diocesan Assemblies or the All-American Council.

Current Statute: Article V.1 Organization

The Metropolitan Council is the permanent executive body of the Church Administration which exists for the purpose of implementing the decisions of the All-American Council and continuing its work between sessions. It shall consist of the Metropolitan as Chairman, the Chancellor, the Secretary, the Treasurer, two representatives from each diocese, one priest and one layman to be elected by the Diocesan Assemblies, three priests and three laymen elected by the All-American Council. Vacancies occurring among diocesan representatives are filled by the respective dioceses.

Two alternates are to be elected by the All-American Council, one priest and one layman, to fill vacancies occurring among members elected by the All-American Council. All elected members, whether representing the several dioceses or those elected by the All-American Council, may succeed themselves in office for one term only. The Metropolitan Council may, between meetings, delegate a committee consisting of the Chancellor, Secretary, Treasurer, and two other members to meet in conjunction with the Lesser Synod of Bishops upon their invitation, to discuss normal church administrative procedures. This committee shall report back to the Metropolitan Council concerning all actions and decisions.

Proposed Amendment

The Metropolitan Council is the permanent executive body of the Church Administration which exists for the purpose of implementing the decisions of the All-American Council and continuing its work between sessions. It shall consist of the Metropolitan as Chairman, the Chancellor, the Secretary, the Treasurer, two representatives from each diocese, one priest and one layman to be elected by the Diocesan Assemblies, three priests and three laymen elected by the All-American Council. Vacancies occurring among diocesan representatives are filled by the respective dioceses. Two alternates are to be elected by the All-American Council, one priest and one layman, to fill vacancies occurring among members elected by the All-American Council. The Metropolitan Council may, between meetings, delegate a committee consisting of the Chancellor, Secretary, Treasurer, and two other members to meet in conjunction with the Lesser Synod of Bishops upon their invitation, to discuss normal church administrative procedures. This committee shall report back to the Metropolitan Council concerning all actions and decisions.

All elected members of the Metropolitan Council, whether representing the several Dioceses of the Church or those elected by the All-American Council, shall serve a term of three years from the time of their election by a Diocesan Assembly or All-American Council. All members of the Metropolitan Council may succeed themselves in office for one term only for the maximum period of service of six years on the Metropolitan Council by any individual; any Member of the Metropolitan Council having served two consecutive terms, being six consecutive years in office, may, on the expiration of three years after the completion of the sixth year of such service, be reelected to the Metropolitan Council, either by a Diocese of the Church or by the action of the All-American Council. In the event of a change in periodicity of the All-American Council, as provided for in Article III.3, those members of the Metropolitan Council elected by the All-American Council shall serve until the convening of the next All-American Council.

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