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
Bp. Maxim (Serbia) 

Committee Liaison

VACANT

Consultants

Fr. Alexander Rentel
Jamil Samara
Matthew Namee, esq.

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