Proposed Statute Amendments for the 21st All-American Council
According to Article XVII of the Statute of the Orthodox Church in America, “The Statute may be amended by a regular All-American Council or an extraordinary All-American Council called for that purpose. An amendment can be proposed by the Holy Synod, the Metropolitan Council, Diocesan Assemblies, Diocesan Councils, Deaneries, Parish Assemblies, Parish Councils, Monasteries, and Seminaries. A proposed amendment must be submitted to the Commission on Canons and Statute at least ninety (90) days prior to the date set for the convening of an All-American Council. The Commission on Canons and Statute shall consider proposed amendments and may either approve, consolidate, or return proposed amendments. Final drafts of proposed amendments, together with recommendations of the Commission on Canons and Statute, shall be disseminated at least sixty (60) days prior to the date set for the convening of the All-American Council. An amendment of the Statute requires a two-thirds majority of the delegates of an All-American Council present and voting. Upon adoption, amendments take effect immediately upon final adjournment of the All-American Council unless otherwise indicated in the amendment itself.”
The 21st All-American Council will consider two statute amendments. The first is proposed by the Metropolitan Council, and the second by the Diocesan Council of the Diocese of the South.
The first statute amendment aims at providing clarity and standardization to the terms of office for Diocesan Representatives serving on the Metropolitan Council. The proposed amendment, along with its rationale, is available here.
The second statute amendment proposes adding professional qualifications for Pension Board members and replacing the popular vote with a collaborative vetting process between the Pension Board and the Metropolitan Council. The most qualified candidates will be endorsed by the Council and then ratified by the All-American Council. It also updates language to allow participation in either the current Pension Plan or any future official OCA retirement plan. This amendment is available here.
Delegates to the 21st All-American Council are encouraged to carefully review the texts of the two amendments that will be considered at the second and fourth plenary sessions.