Diocese of the West (OCA) takes sides in Met. Jonah kerfuffle

Quite a document we have here. You can also read their response to the Washington Post story here.

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(OCA-DOW) -

Unanimous Resolution

of the Diocesan Council of the Diocese of the West

Adopted March 29, 2011

Whereas, the Diocesan Council of the Diocese of the West affirms the conciliar nature and polity of the Orthodox Church as expressed in the Holy Canons and the Statute of the Orthodox Church in America; and

Whereas, the Diocesan Council of the Diocese of the West understands the Primate of the Orthodox Church in America to be bound by the Holy Canons to act in concert with his synod of bishops, rather than being a sovereign authority who acts independently and without reference to his peers, the diocesan bishops; and

Whereas, the Diocesan Council of the Diocese of the West recognizes a significant disruption in this critical relationship and urges the Holy Synod to exercise its pastoral care for the entire Church by calling its Primate to accountability and compliance with decisions agreed upon by the Holy Synod; and

Whereas, the Diocesan Council of the Diocese of the West recognizes the Metropolitan to be the presiding officer and chairman of both the Holy Synod and the Metropolitan Council;

Be it resolved: the Diocesan Council of the Diocese of the West reminds these two bodies of their fiduciary and legal responsibilities and urges the Holy Synod, with the support and consent of the Metropolitan Council, to:

1) establish a committee within the Holy Synod to control disbursement of the Primate’s compensation based upon his compliance with the decisions and policies agreed upon by the Holy Synod;

2) establish a committee under the authority of the Holy Synod to control the distribution of funds in the line item for the Metropolitan’s travel;

3) establish a committee under the authority of the Holy Synod to screen and vet significant decisions and pronouncements that relate to external affairs and the OCA’s relations with other Churches;

4) understand the oversight of the chancery, its officers and staff to be the joint responsibility of the Holy Synod and the Metropolitan Council, and;

5) understand the departments and offices of the Orthodox Church in America to be under the oversight of both the Metropolitan Council and the Holy Synod.