News from around America

(OCANews) - News From Orthodox America

• Syosset, NY
The Strategic Planning Committee of the Orthodox Church in America, a committee of the Metropolitan Council, together with Metropolitan Jonah, has been meeting regularly under the chairmanship of the Fr. Robert Arida, most recently on December 18th and 19th in Syosset. According to the Committee the strategic plan requires
“... the Church to describe her mission and how it can be implemented in the present time in America including, as necessary, a reexamination of administrative structures and governing Statutes.”

This process “...begins with certain elements of a vision that have so far been articulated by Metropolitan Jonah and the Holy Synod, and will ensure development of this vision through a conciliar process that is intended to engage virtually all members of the Church.” The Planning Committee promises that “...very soon all the faithful of dioceses and parishes will be encouraged to know what concerns the bishops and teachers of the Church have expressed; to respond to these concerns; and to expand upon these concerns and ideas in order to refine and advance the Church’s mission.”

One such “vision” being proposed by several members of the Synod is the elimination of the current parish representation system at All American Councils and its replacement with an All-American Council that would be composed of the Bishops and their Diocesan Councils as the delegates. Parishes would only be represented on the rare ocassions a new Metropolitan was to be chosen. The Metropolitan Council would then be composed of the Synod plus one clergy and lay delegate from each diocese, so as to “better reflect” the diocesan nature” of the Church.

• Indianapolis, IN
According to the late Archbishop Job in comments expressed at recent Deanery meetings before his untimely death last week, the St. Tikhon’s Investigative Committee completed its investigation late last month. According to the Archbishop as few records appear to exist, it has been difficult for the Committee to determine what happened at St. Tikhon’s bookstore and monastery in great detail. It is unclear if formal legal charges will be filed. The Archbishop suggested the financial troubles and woes may, in the end, be attributed to “sloppy bookkeeping”.

• Fargo, ND
The Society for Orthodox Christian History in the Americas (SOCHA) has created a website with articles and commentary exploring the known and little-known history of Orthodoxy on this continent at www.orthodoxhistory.org. Who knew about Orthodox Christians in colonial Virginia? Or that the first black Orthodox priest in America was ordained in 1908? Podcasts are available on Ancient Faith Radio, and there are hopes an annual, peer-review Journal will be ready for publication later this year.