Departments and Institutions Bring this handbook to the AAC and place It in the notebook provided at registration Table of Contents This report has been prepared by the Pre-Conciliar Commission of The Orthodox Church in America for the 18th All-American Council to be held in Atlanta. Georgia from July 20 through July 24, 2015. This report contains numerous sections dealing with the Boards, Commissions, Departments, Offices and institutions of the Orthodox Church in America. It also has a report from the Metropolitan Council and its work. Members and representatives will be available at a selected Plenary Sessions for questions and comments from the floor. Many of the Departments and Institutions will also have display booths containing additional information. Included in the Finance Report are specific financial reports on the Stavropegial institutions. The report is divided into three sections: Boards, Commissions and Departments; Institutions; and Metropolitan Council. Please thoroughly read each report in preparation for the Council. A. Boards, Commissions, Departments 1. Board of Theological Education 2. Canonization Commission 3. Department of Christian Education 4. Department of Christian Service and Humanitarian Aid 5. Department of Continuing Education 6. Department of Evangelization 7. Department of Liturgical Music 8. Department of Pastoral Life 9. Department of Youth and Young Adults 10. Office of Institutional Chaplains 11. Office of Military Chaplains 12. Office of Review of Sexual Misconduct Allegations 13. Pension Board 14. Fellowship of Orthodox Christians (FOCA) B. Institutions 1. Holy Myrrhbearer’s Monastery 2. New Skete Monastery 3. St. Katherine Representation Church 4. St. Tikhon of Radonezh Monastery 5. St. Tikhon’s Orthodox Theological Seminary 6. St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary C. Metropolitan Council 1. Metropolitan Council Report 2. Internal Auditors Report 3. Strategic Plan Summation Report 2 A. Boards, Commissions, Departments 1. Board of Theological Education Archdeacon Kirill Sokolov Director of Diaconal and Late Vocations Mandate Under the direction of His Beatitude, Metropolitan Tikhon, the Board of Theological Education establishes, maintains, and overseas the general standards and curriculum for the education and formation of clergy in the Orthodox Church in America's three seminaries. The Diaconal Vocations Program (DVP) is a program of theological study providing academic preparation for men who may be called to ordination to the Holy Diaconate but unable to attend a seminary. It is also designed to address specific academic and pastoral issues of non-Orthodox clergy -- who may have already earned a theological degree such as a M.Div. — who are seeking entry into the Orthodox Church and may eventually be called to Holy Orders. The Board of Theological Education oversees the general standards and curriculum for the Church's Late Vocations Programs, evaluates those who complete such programs, and offers recommendations on the ordination of individuals completing such programs. Members His Beatitude, Metropolitan Tikhon Chairperson Archpriest Stephen Voytovich His Eminence, Archbishop Michael Dean, St. Tikhon’s Seminary Diocese of New York and New Jersey Archpriest John Behr His Eminence, Archbishop Irénée Dean, St. Vladimir’s Seminary Archdiocese of Canada Archpriest John Dunlop Archpriest John Jillions Dean, St. Herman’s Seminary Chancellor, OCA Archpriest Chad Hatfield Archdeacon Kirill Sokolov Chancellor, St. Vladimir’s Seminary Director of Diaconal & Late Vocations 3 Full contact information for the Board and the DVP can be found at http://www.oca.org/dvp. Initiatives and Projects since the 16th AAC Archdeacon Kirill Sokolov (appointed 2010) continues to serve as Director of Diaconal and Late Vocations and as a resource to the Board of Theological Education. Deacon Dumitru Nita also provides administrative and technical support. At any given moment, there are approximately thirty candidates actively engaged in study in the Diaconal Vocations Program. Additionally, 5-15 students are enrolled in diaconal formation programs of dioceses at any given time. The Board works to coordinate the efforts of local diaconal training programs and to facilitate clear communication between bishops, candidates, parish clergy, program directors, and the Holy Synod. Since 2007, Diaconal Liturgical Practicums have been a required component of the DVP. A longer annual practicum is held at St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary and shorter programs are held in various dioceses of the Church as requested. In recent years, online courses were led by Archpriest John H. Erickson on church history and by Protodeacon Peter Danilchick on Christian leadership. As the conclusion of a long process of reflection and articulation by the Board, the Holy Synod, at its Fall 2013 session, reviewed and approved revisions to a number of documents, including Guidelines for the Ordination, Appointment and Transfer of Clergy; Oath of Allegiance to the Holy Priesthood and Diaconate; Statement of a Candidate for Ordination to the Holy Priesthood and Diaconate; Seminarian Guidelines and Checklist for Requesting Ordination; Guidelines and Checklist for Transfers; Form Letter Requesting Transfer; and Checklist for Transfer. The Guidelines are available on the Church’s web site. Proposed Initiatives and Projects Work on revising the Diaconal Vocations Program and other late vocations programs continues. The Board seeks to find a balance in its program between academic preparation, spiritual preparation, and practical training for the diaconal ministry. Comments The members of the Board of Theological Education are grateful for the efforts of dozens of priests throughout the Orthodox Church in America who serve as mentors in its program and for the faithful Orthodox Christians who support men as they seek God's Will to serve as deacons and priests in our Church. 2 2. Canonization Commission Alexis Liberovsky, Canonization Commission Secretary MANDATE As directed by the Holy Synod of Bishops, the Canonization Commission studies the lives of individuals being considered for glorification by the Orthodox Church in America according to the following criteria (not all of these criteria are absolute prerequisites in every case of glorification by the Church), established throughout the Orthodox Church worldwide: Popular Veneration Martyrdom Miracles Holiness and righteousness Orthodoxy of teachings and writings Spiritual impact on the Church The Commission submits its research to the Holy Synod for consideration. When a new saint is proclaimed by the Church, the Commission’s mandate extends to preparing the formal Synodal proclamation on the glorification as well as the saint’s official vita and hymnography for the new saint’s feast. MEMBERS His Eminence, Archbishop Nathaniel Chairman His Grace, Bishop Irineu Archpriest Basil Rhodes Bishop of Dearborn Heights Dr. Peter Bouteneff His Grace, Bishop Daniel Bishop of Santa Rosa Dr. David Ford Archpriest Joseph Frawley Alexis Liberovsky Secretary Archpriest Sergei Glagolev George Soldatow Archpriest Remus Grama 3 INITIATIVES AND PROJECTS SINCE THE 16TH AAC The Commission is continuing its work in fulfillment of the mandate it received from the Holy Synod in 2010 which renewed a previous directive to study the lives and labors of Metropolitan Leonty (Turkevich) and Archbishop Arseny (Chahovtsev) and to make appropriate recommendations concerning the possibility of their formal glorification as saints of the Church in North America. Concerning Metropolitan Leonty, preliminary indications suggest that while many people who knew him attest to his personal holiness, his life requires further systematic study. Since the 16th All-American Council, the persona of Metropolitan Leonty has become better known. In conjunction with the 50th anniversary of his repose this year, a symposium was held in his honor and his veneration is perhaps slowly spreading but it is not yet sufficiently widespread throughout the Church to proceed with his glorification at this time. Although Archbishop Arseny has been venerated for years within the Archdiocese of Canada, where miracles even have been attributed to his intercession, the Canonization Commission has been aware for some time of a controversy surrounding Archbishop Arseny arising from allegations of serious moral transgressions and unethical behavior. This controversy was publicized on the internet several years ago and some public discussion continues with arguments proffered on both sides. The allegations, which Archbishop Arseny challenged in the courts a century ago, and attendant issues, require further study. Also, widespread veneration of Archbishop Arseny outside of Canada is lacking. These factors point to the need for further work before a recommendation can be made with regard to the possibility of his canonization. Once they are completed, the Commission will present its findings and recommendations concerning these hierarchs to the Holy Synod, which has final authority in matters of canonization. ONGOING INITIATIVES AND PROJECTS As the Commission continues careful study of the lives and legacies of Metropolitan Leonty and Archbishop Arseny, hierarchs, clergy and faithful are encouraged to submit to the Commission any information or documentation that would aid the Commission in this process. First-hand testimonies and primary documents are particularly useful. Information or documentation regarding the lives of other faithful