Committee for Canonical Regional Planning

Description

The Committee for Canonical Regional Planning will formulate a proposal for a plan to organize all the Orthodox faithful of every jurisdiction in the Region on a canonical basis, in accordance with the Rules of Operation, Article 5.e of the 4th Pre-Conciliar Pan-Orthodox Conference in Chambésy. This plan is intended for presentation to the forthcoming Great and Holy Synod as per the Decision Article 1.b of the 4th Pre-Conciliar Pan-Orthodox Conference.

Membership

Abp. Nicolae (Romanian) - Chairman
Abp. Justinian (MP)
Met. Iakovos (GOA)
Met. Nicholas (GOA)
Bp. Daniil (Bulgarian)

Committee Liaison

Protodeacon Peter Danilchick

Consultants

Fr. Nicolas Apostola - Facilitator
Fr. Joseph Abud
Tatiana Veselkina
Jerry Dimitriou
Alexei Krindatch
Demetrios Moschus
Steve Radakovich
Fr. Bazyl Zawierucha

Terms of Reference

What is to be accomplished

  • Develop an organizational and geographic map of all bishops, dioceses and parishes
  • Define specific characteristics of pastoral and administrative relevance, e.g., distances and travel demands within dioceses, liturgical/ daily language, liturgical and ethnic customs, pastoral and financial practices, canonical requirements, etc
  • Develop possible alternatives to existing assignment of bishops to dioceses and distribution of parishes within dioceses, taking into account the above characteristics and ensuring the highest degree of pastoral concern for the faithful
  • Review, discuss, and revise above alternatives with the Committee Chairs, Officers and Executive Committee and review with entire Assembly when consensus reached
  • Call the Orthodox to a deeper spiritual as well as canonical unity which is often threatened by schismatic groups competing with the canonical structure of the Orthodox Church

How it is to be accomplished

  • Determine at the outset, and update regularly, the timetable for accomplishment of the Committee's objectives
  • Obtain information on existing organizations and geographies from Committee on Canonical Affairs
  • Construct and complete a matrix of specific pastoral and administrative characteristics in coordination with Bishops' strengths with input from other appropriate Committees
  • Form a small group of objective consultants to brainstorm and produce possible alternatives to existing hierarchical and parish distributions
  • Review, discuss and revise possible arrangements with successive levels: Committee Chairs, Officers, Executive Committee, and Assembly

With whom it is to be accomplished

  • The Committee Chairs
  • A team of consultants to develop potentially-sensitive canonical alternatives
  • The Officers, Executive Committee, and the entire Assembly

News and Events

Canonical Regional Planning Committee 2012 Annual Report

Monday, February 04, 2013
The 2012 annual report of the Committee for Canonical Regional Planning is now available online. read more »

Committee for Canonical Regional Planning 2011 Annual Report

Monday, March 26, 2012
Read the latest annual report from the Committee for Canonical Regional Planning which is charged with formulating a proposal for a plan to organize all the Orthodox faithful of every jurisdiction in the Region on a canonical basis. read more »

Five Facts About the Orthodox Church in the United States

Monday, March 12, 2012
Assembly of Bishops Research Coordinator Alexei Krindatch has released a new 40-page report titled, Five Interesting Facts About Orthodox Church Geography and Demography in the United States. read more »

Committee for Canonical Regional Planning Meets

Tuesday, January 31, 2012
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. read more »

Atlas of American Orthodox Christian Churches

Wednesday, June 29, 2011
The Atlas provides a "snapshot" of the Orthodox Christian Churches in the United States. It is addressed for the wide - Orthodox and non-Orthodox, academic and non-academic - audiences. Simultaneously, this book is an atlas, a reference book and a thematic monograph. It is an atlas because it contains numerous maps to show the historical development and present territorial patterns of Orthodox Church life in America. It is a reference book because it furnishes comprehensive information and statistical data on all American Orthodox Christian Churches. It is a thematic monograph because the essays in this book tell the story of the Orthodox Christian past and present in the United States. read more »