Pastoral Issues Highlight Holy Synod Session
Pastoral issues, changing demographics, and episcopal concerns highlighted the spring session of the holy synod of bishops, meeting here at the chancery of the Orthodox Church in America, March 16-19, 1998.
Chaired by the Primate of the Orthodox Church in America, His Beatitude, Metropolitan THEODOSIUS, the full synod—which is comprised of ten hierarchs—meets twice annually, in the autumn and in the spring, to continue their work for the Church in North America.
Address of the Metropolitan
The Metropolitans Address followed the formal opening of the Synod, which began with a molieben in Saint Sergius Chapel. His Beatitude focused on the new waves of immigration in several American and Canadian cities that appear to be bringing new life into aging parish communities. New ethnic enclaves are sprouting up in Philadelphia, Boston, Los Angeles, and Brooklyn, where recent arrivals from Albania, Romania and Russia present a welcomed but unexpected challenge and pastoral demand upon older, established Orthodox communities. While it is important to be grateful that many new immigrants are discovering places of worship in our parishes, we must be careful that this new-found life does not perpetuate ethnic enclaves that have little or no agreement with the vision our Church has for a united Orthodox presence on this continent.
A Unified Vision
His Beatitude presented a challenge: The status quo must undergo a positive challenge, he said, because an apparent lack of unified vision among the clergy and parishes may be the result of what they perceive in the hierarchy. I strongly feel that our lack of consistency serves as a great temptation to these parish priests who have found unity and continuity among those who have reduced the Catholic and Apostolic Church to a sect, he continued. The Metropolitan goes on to speak about unity and consistency within the Synod of Bishops, while also recognizing the positive input of diversity in presenting a broader interpretation of our Apostolic witness. Whereas diversity can be a positive and healthy sign within the Church, we cannot allow it to become an expression of opposition.
Vocations
Metropolitan THEODOSIUS exhorted the bishops to focus on priestly and episcopal vocations during the coming year. Two models of priestly ministry were noted in his address: one practice, in which parish priests are forced to seek outside employment because their parishes are unable to adequately provide for their families; and, another where clergy who were well-trained by our seminaries years ago cannot seek further education to refresh their academic and spiritual reservoirs because of severe financial constraints. Vocations come from God, said His Beatitude, and we as bishops of the Church are entrusted to discern and nurture them. As bishops, he continued, we must be involved in the intellectual and spiritual formation of future candidates for priestly and episcopal ministry. Each hierarch was asked to encourage full participation of their diocesan clergy in the upcoming Pastoral Conference at St Tikhon’s Monastery in June.
Orthodoxy in America
Following the meeting of Orthodox hierarchs with His All Holiness, Patriarch BARTHOLOMEW I on November 24, 1997 in New York, the Metropolitan said that it was becoming increasingly clear that the quest for Orthodox unity on this continent weighs even heavier on our shoulders today, as the Orthodox Church in America. He raises a crucial question: Without unity, without the desire for ecclesial unity, can there be any real celebration as we draw near to the third millennium? Arriving at a theme to celebrate the millennium is not as important as continuing our call for Orthodox unity in America.
The Metropolitan concluded his address to the hierarchs with an appeal for a united vision in preparing the next generation of hierarchs who will lead the Church into the 21st century.
Chancellors Report
In his report to the Holy Synod, Protopresbyter Robert Kondratick also addressed pastoral concerns. The Chancellor noted that many priests are now visiting monasteries and convents regularly for spiritual retreats and to attend clergy seminars for intellectual and spiritual enrichment. “Far too often I encounter priests facing great spiritual and moral challenges who lack a spiritual father to guide their struggles,” stated Fr Kondratick. He suggested that clergy visit the St Silouan Retreat Center near Charleston, SC, where Fr John and Lydia Breck have created a place for prayer, rest and conversation.
Pastoral vocations must be a priority for all who work in the Church, noted the Chancellor. He informed the hierarchs that of the 15 OCA seminarians who will complete their studies this May at our three seminaries, only three students plan to immediately seek pastoral assignments. Furthermore, we are aware that 15 parishes will become vacant next year and will require the assignment of a qualified pastor.
The Chancellor spoke of our Church’s commitment to the education of her clergy. He stated that program heads of the OCA’s various offices and ministry units will be asked to develop seminars or workshops for clergy, focusing on their particular area of responsibility.
Fr Kondratick reviewed the work of the Preconciliar Commission, which is preparing for the 12th All-American Council. The Commission agreed on the following issues for extensive discussion at the Council:
• Parish Life: Members of Christ and Funding the Church in the Year 2000 and Beyond. He also reviewed the work of the Metropolitan Council, which met on November 14, 1997 for its fall session. The Metropolitan Council completed its regular budgetary and financial business, in addition to reviewing the programs of three administrative subcommittees on the role of the Metropolitan Council, diocesan boundaries, and structures and membership.
Treasurer’s Report / Finances
The Treasurers Report was given by Protodeacon Eric Wheeler. His report to the hierarchs included the following important areas:
1. the 1998 OCA Operating Budget, through Feb 28, 1998
2. assessments owed and received from the dioceses through Feb 28, 1998
3. assessments owed and received from the dioceses, by parish, through March 31, 1998
4. activity of the Central Church Appeals through Feb 28, 1998
The Treasurers Office is reviewing membership through mailing lists submitted to the Central Church Administration, and was authorized by the Synod to deal directly with parishes in working out discrepancies in reported membership.
In preparation for the 12th All American Council, it is important for us to know what parish operating budgets look like, so that we have a clearer understanding of the percentages that need to be set on the parishes if the Church moves away from the per-capita system of financial support. The Treasurer is compiling this information in time for the next Council.
Finally, the Holy Synod authorized the Office of Treasurer, along with the Chancellor, to continue dialogue with our non-territorial dioceses in order to develop a workable plan to financially support the central Church.
12th All-American Council
Fr Myron Manzuk, OCA Council Manager, updated the hierarchs on the 12th All-American Council scheduled for July 1999 in Pittsburgh. The negotiated room rate for the Council was set at $97.00 at the Doubletree Hotel, which has met the complimentary room schedule requirements.
Mr Paul Hunchak, Secretary for the Preconciliar Commission, presented an oral report on the work of the commission. He informed the hierarchs that more attention would be given to the preparation of post-council material, and not as much attention given to pre-council material as in the past.
Synodal Guidelines
The Holy Synod reviewed in depth the edited final version of Guidelines for Clergy Compiled under the Guidance of the Holy Synod of Bishops. Fr Alexander Garklavs, Unit Coordinator of the Pastoral Life and Ministry Program, was present for this review, in which the Synod approved the text of the Clergy Guidelines and directed that they be printed and distributed in time for the Pastoral Ministries Conference in June of this year.
The Holy Synod expressed its gratitude to His Grace, Bishop NATHANIEL, Episcopal Moderator for the Pastoral Life Ministries Unit, Father Garklavs, and members of the Program Unit for all their help in preparing the text for final adoption.
Church Growth and Evangelization
Fr John Reeves, newly-appointed director of the Office of Church Growth and Evangelization, informed the hierarchs that he receives 4-5 calls each week from the new toll-free number [1-888-539-GROW] recently advertised in the Church newspaper. He said he would like to identify six parishes that would be eligible for entrance into the Turn Around Ministry Program before the 12th All American Council meets in Pittsburgh.
From all the phone inquires he receives, Fr Reeves states that the common thread in all of these calls is the need for local parishes to understand parish growth and outreach.
Witness and Communication
A full report on International Church Relations was delivered by His Eminence, Archbishop PETER. Present for this report and discussion were Professor John Erickson, Fathers Leonid Kishkovsky and Gregory Havrilak. Fr Kishkovsky updated the hierarchs on ecumenical developments.
The report included a review of developments in world Orthodoxy, focusing on the patriarchates of Constantinople, Russia, Romania, Serbia and Bulgaria. Archbishop PETER informed the hierarchs that relations with the Patriarchate of Constantinople are good, and that we have been informed that our most recent document to the Phenar, Observations Concerning the Present State of Dialogue Between the Ecumenical Patriarchate and the OCA will be answered sometime this spring by Patriarchates commission on inter-Orthodox relations.
A discussion followed on the most recent meeting of SCOBA, while Metropolitan THEODOSIUS announced that His Eminence, Archbishop Spyridon, Primate of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese in America, was his guest for dinner at the chancery last month. His Beatitude also outlined a proposed agenda for the official visit of His Holiness, Patriarch Ilia of the Republic of Georgia in May.
Fr Leonid Kishkovsky updated the hierarchs on ecumenical developments. The bishops issued a statement calling for the immediate release of two IOCC workers who were abducted last year.
Office of Development
Fr Joseph Fester, Assistant to the Metropolitan for Planned Giving, reported that over $1,000,000 was received by the OCA from free will offerings in 1997. Last year more than 100 new parishes became members of the Fellowship of Orthodox Stewards. Metropolitan THEODOSIUS noted that because of the work of our Office of Planned Giving, which has assisted the OCA through financial gifts, even our seminaries, dioceses and local churches are benefiting from these gifts through grants provided on the local level.
The annual FOS Appeal Drive will be sent out to the faithful in September.
Military Chaplaincy
The bishops were informed by Fr Gregory Pelesh, Dean of Chaplains, that five active duty Orthodox military chaplains will be leaving the service to enter civilian life this year. Whereas the military will lose well-qualified and seasoned chaplains, the local dioceses will gain in receiving back senior pastors for assignment by diocesan bishops.
Metropolitan THEODOSIUS, who serves as Ecclesiastical Endorser for Orthodox Military and Veterans Administration chaplains, spoke of his visits last autumn and this spring to military installations in the continental United States. His Beatitude tries to make at least one military installation visit each year.
Holy Synod in Session
The spring session of the Holy Synod of Bishops came to a close on March 19, 1998 with the singing of a Service of Thanksgiving.
Participating in this session of the spring synod, in addition to Metropolitan THEODOSIUS, were the following hierarchs: Archbishop KYRILL of Pittsburgh and the Diocese of Western PA, Archbishop PETER of New York and the Diocese of NY & NJ, Archbishop DMITRI of Dallas and the Diocese of the South, Archbishop HERMAN of Philadelphia and the Diocese of Eastern PA, Bishop NATHANIEL of Detroit and the Romanian Episcopate, Bishop JOB of Chicago and the Diocese of the Midwest, Bishop TIKHON of San Francisco and the Diocese of the West, Bishop SERAPHIM of Ottawa and the Diocese of Canada, and Bishop INNOCENT of Anchorage, Auxiliary for the Diocese of Alaska.