Assembly of Bishops Regional Planning group meets

(AOB) - The Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops' Committee on Canonical Regional Planning met in-person on Friday, January 27, 2012, at the headquarters of the Romanian Orthodox Archdiocese in Chicago, Illinois, hosted by Archbishop Nicolae, Chairman of the Committee. Committee members present in addition to His Eminence were Archbishop Justinian, Russian Orthodox Church in the USA; Metropolitan Jonah, Orthodox Church in America; and Bishop Demetrios representing Metropolitan Iakovos, Greek Orthodox Archdiocese. Consultants to the Committee who participated in the all-day meeting were: Fr Nicholas Apostola, Fr Joseph Abud, Jerry Dimitriou, Demetrios Moschos, Steve Radokovich, Alexei Krindatch, and Protodeacon Peter Danilchick. Also present by invitation were Fr Mark Arey and Hieromonk Savvaty, interpreter to Archbishop Justinian.

The Committee reviewed and recommended changes to the existing Terms of Reference for Canonical Regional Planning, reviewed the extensive statistical and demographic work performed by Alexei Krindatch, and discussed other ecclesiastical and planning issues. Three separate subcommittees were established, each headed by a hierarch and containing two or three consultants, respectively, to: (1) develop a draft global vision and principles for a united church administration, (2) list the present canonical and liturgical issues impacting the common life of the church, and (3) document the various ecclesiastical and governance structures of the member churches in the USA. These efforts will be undertaken in cooperation with other Assembly Committees, such as Canonical Affairs, Clergy Affairs, Liturgy, etc., with initial results to be reviewed by the entire Committee for Canonical Regional Planning in early April.