Canonical Matters

Description

The Committee for Canonical Matters is responsible i) for creating and maintaining the registries mentioned in the Message of the Assembly of Bishops, namely: a) the registry of canonical bishops; b) the registry of canonical clergy and their status; and c) the registry of all canonical communities in the United States; ii) for recommending to the Assembly any additions or deletions from these registries; iii) for determining the canonical status of local communities that have no reference to any of the autocephalous churches and addressing issues pertaining to these bodies; and iv) for considering any canonical questions submitted to it by the other committees.

Membership

Bishop Constantine (GOA) - Chairman

Committee Liaison

Fr. Nicolas Anton, Facilitator

Consultants

Fr. Nikolaj Kostur
Fr. Peter Paproski
Fr. Vladan Radovanovic
Fr. Ivan Synevskyy
Dn. Christian Mannasseh
Greg Gounardes
Alexandru Lazăr
David Lewis
Brenda Mikitsh
Virginia Nieuwsma
Michael Tsakalos
Nebojsa Varagic

Terms of Reference

What is to be accomplished

  • Create and maintain a registry of canonical bishops, a registry of canonical clergy and their status, and a registry of all canonical communities in the region
  • Monitor any additions or deletions from these registries, with particular reference to disciplined clergy or communities
  • Investigate status and history of local communities that have no reference to any of the autocephalous churches and make recommendations to the Assembly pertaining to these bodies
  • Prepare to take into consideration canonical questions addressed to it by the other committees of the Assembly

How it is to be accomplished

  • Determine what information will be needed to complete each registry
  • Design a system for storing the information, a system that will be easily updatable/searchable/publishable and will be able to be updated via a secure website
  • Use the current lists from the Secretariat of the Assembly as a basis for the registry of canonical bishops
  • Communicate with each jurisdiction in order to gather the needed information on clergy and communities, using the current SCOBA database as a point of origin

With whom it is to be accomplished

  • Secretariat of the Assembly
  • Chancellors' offices of all jurisdictions/presences
  • Webteam of the Assembly
  • Other Committee Chairs as appropriate and/or as requested