Holy Synod of Bishops meets at OCA Chancery

The Episcopate of The Orthodox Church in America

SYOSSET, NY [OCA Communications] — At their regular spring session held at the Chancery, Syosset, NY May 23-25, 2006, the members of the Holy Synod of Bishops of The Orthodox Church in America, under the presidency of Beatitude, Metropolitan Herman, reviewed a number of issues presently facing the Church.

“Since our last regular session in the fall of 2005, much has transpired in the life of our Church,” Metropolitan Herman stated in his opening address. “New missions have been planted. Young men have been ordained to the holy diaconate and holy priesthood. Our Church-wide departments and offices, in most cases staffed by talented volunteers who freely offer their time and talents to the Church, continue to strengthen existing ministries while developing new ones. Our widely acclaimed web site attracts a growing number of visitors from around the world, while the new magazine format of ‘The Orthodox Church’ has been received with extremely positive comments. The essential life of our Church, rooted in worship and revealed in service to God and His People, remains strong and vibrant, thanks to the devotion of countless clergy and laity who labor, often in the midst of difficult circumstances and growing tensions, for nothing other than the glory of God. In these, and in countless other areas of our Church’s life, there is much for which we indeed may rejoice.

“At the same time, however, it has been painfully obvious to me that since our 2005 fall session, our Church has faced a multitude of intensely serious issues that have dampened our joy, shaken our faith and hope, and in far too many instances hardened our hearts to the love of God,” Metropolitan Herman continued. “It is no secret that we are facing a multitude of accusations and allegations, aggravations and assumptions. They range from the demand for accountability in the area of financial management and practice, from an increase in parochial isolation and disunity, to an increasingly evident conflict rooted in competing ecclesiologies and visions, as they relate to the very nature of the Church’s administration and ministry.

“During our deliberations, we will consider in detail the ongoing investigation of our financial practices, past and present, as well as the growing number of serious concerns that have surfaced as a result of the findings,” Metropolitan Herman said. “It is my conviction that, if all issues are not addressed squarely, firmly, and appropriately, and dealt with openly and forthrightly, we will face an even deeper crisis than we presently experience, one that will take years, if not decades, to reverse.”

Metropolitan Herman also reported on various aspects of the ongoing audits and investigation into allegations that have been raised during the past several months and on recent steps to resolve all related concerns.

In addition to receiving numerous reports from the OCA’s dioceses, departments, offices, boards, and commissions, the hierarchs considered the following issues.

  • The Very Rev. Paul Kucynda, acting treasurer, discussed the Church’s current financial situation. He distributed the draft of “Best Practices” that was sent to the members of the Metropolitan Council. The draft will be reviewed, discussed, and proposed for adoption at the June 2006 meeting of the Metropolitan Council. Mr. Steve Lamos from the accounting firm of Lambrides, Lamos and Moulthrop, gave an oral report about the Year 2004 Audit, and the ongoing review of the annual and special appeals for the years 2001 through 2004. Mr. Lamos noted that his role as an accountant is to examine documentation in support of transactions and not to put forth possible allegations of wrong-doing, which he noted are the responsibility of legal counsel. The Holy Synod, on receiving a final report after all accounting work has been completed, could decide to pursue the matter with legal counsel, should it appear necessary.

  • His Eminence, Bishop Tikhon of San Francisco, Los Angeles, and the West announced that he would retire from active ministry on November 14, 2006.

  • His Eminence, Archbishop Dmitri of Dallas and the South, requested that igumen Vladimir [Wendling], currently rector of Saint George Cathedral, Chicago, IL, be named Auxiliary for the Diocese of the South. Until the time of his formal election and consecration to the episcopacy, he will work as a member of the Chancery staff in Syosset.

  • His Eminence, Archbishop Nathaniel of Detroit and the Romanian Episcopate, reported on the work of the Joint Commission of the Romanian Episcopate of the Orthodox Church in America and the Romanian Archdiocese of the Patriarchate of Romania, charged with reflecting on the present relationship between the Episcopate and the Patriarchate. He noted that, having completed its work, the commission had been dissolved.

  • With regard to the Holy Synod’s decision to convene the 15th All-American Council in 2010, it was affirmed that the sufficient time was necessary to reveiw the entire Statute of the Orthodox Church in America and undertake appropriate changes to ensure that the Statute conforms to canonical tradition as well as civil law. This time-consuming process relies on the volunteer work of competent canonists and those versed in civil law, thereby requiring sufficient time for including contributions from others in the Church’s administration.

  • The participation of all OCA hierarchs in the conference of all Orthodox bishops in America, to be sponsored by the Standing Conference of Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the Americas in Chicago, IL in October 2006, was affirmed as a means of witnessing to our vision for a united Orthodox mission in North America.

  • At the recommendation of His Grace, Bishop Nikolai of Sitka, Anchorage, and Alaska, the name of the “Late Vocations Program” was changed to the “Diaconal Vocations Program” to clarify the primary purpose of the program.

  • The hierarchs reaffirmed that attendance at an Orthodox seminary remains the norm for candidates preparing for ordination to the holy priesthood.

  • In the area of external affairs and inter-Church relations, the hierarchs reviewed recent developments in the Russian Orthodox Church’s British Diocese of Sourozh, the All-Diaspora Sobor of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia, and a number of other current issues and events. His Eminence, Archbishop Kyrill of Pittsburgh, Western Pennsylvania, and the Bulgarian Diocese will represent the OCA at the celebration of the Feast of Saint Andrew in Bulgaria later in 2006.

  • His Grace, Bishop Nikon of Boston, New England, and the Albanian Archdiocese, reported on his visit to Albania in early May. He noted the tremendous progress made by the Church since the fall of communism, spoke of the Church’s various charitable programs designed to benefit all needy Albanians, regardless of religious affiliation, and discussed the ongoing building of new churches and monasteries. [A report on Bishop Nikon’s visit will be featured in the July/August issue of “The Orthodox Church” news magazine.]

  • A skills conference offering training in a variety of Church ministries offered by the OCA’s numerous departments and offices is being planned for 2007, with the date, location, and topics yet to be determined.

  • Bishop Nikon, OCA pension board chairman, reported to the hierarchs on the OCA’s pension, insurance, and personal assistance programs. He noted that the pension plan was in overall good condition and that more frequent financial reports will be issued in the future.

  • The regular fall session of the Holy Synod will be held at the Chancery October 24-26, 2006.

    In addition to participating in the Synod sessions, the hierarchs attended the Divine Liturgy in Saint Sergius Chapel on Wednesday, May 24.

    Also attending the session were His Eminence, Archbishop Job of Chicago and the Midwest; His Grace, Bishop Seraphim of Ottawa and Canada; His Grace, Bishop Tikhon of Philadelphia and Eastern Pennsylvania; His Grace, Bishop Irineu of Dearborn Heights, Auxiliary of the Romanian Episcopate; His Grace, Bishop Benjamin of Berkeley, Auxiliary of the Diocese of the West; and His Grace, Bishop Alejo of Mexico City, Auxiliary to the Metropolitan.


    Photo gallery of the Holy Synod of Bishops Spring Session.

    Minutes of the Holy Synod of Bishops Spring Session.