Metropolitan Council of the Orthodox Church in America Holds Regular Spring 2026 Session
The Regular Spring 2026 Session of the Metropolitan Council of the Orthodox Church in America was held via teleconference on Tuesday, March 10, and Thursday, March 12, under the presidency of His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon.
The meeting opened with prayer, after which the session was called to order by Archpriest Alessandro Margheritino, Chancellor of the Orthodox Church in America. Following a review of the agenda and the roll call, the Council approved the minutes of the Regular Fall 2025 Session and the Special Winter 2025 Sessions. The Council then conducted its regular business by reviewing and discussing reports that had been previously submitted in writing and presented during the sessions.
During the first day of meetings, the Council heard the report of His Beatitude, who addressed various matters concerning the life of the Orthodox Church in America. His Beatitude reflected on his work overseeing the stavropegial institutions, the work of the Chancery, and his responsibilities in the Archdiocese of Washington. He also offered an overview of several recent pastoral visits and travels. The Metropolitan further addressed the difficult situation within the wider Orthodox world, as well as the concerns and suffering of many people in light of the various conflicts affecting different parts of the world.
The Council also received the report of the Chancellor, Fr. Alessandro, who offered a brief reflection on the work of the Central Administration and highlighted several aspects of the Chancery’s work, including updates on personnel, ongoing projects, workflow developments, and the progress of the Chancery relocation.
The Council then heard the report of Priest David Bozeman, Secretary of the Orthodox Church in America, who reflected on his work during the past six months in his new role.
Additional presentations were given by Mr. Mark Hamilton, General Counsel of the Orthodox Church in America, who offered the legal report, and by Mr. Gregory Honshul on behalf of the Property Committee of the Metropolitan Council.
The Council also received the Treasurer’s report from Mr. Andrew Smith, Treasurer of the Orthodox Church in America. On behalf of the Finance and Investment Committee, Mr. Smith presented an amended 2026 Budget, which was approved unanimously by the Council.
The final report of the first day was presented by the members of the Internal Auditing Committee and delivered by Matushka Sharon Hubiak. The first session concluded with closing remarks from His Beatitude.
During the second session of the meeting, held on Thursday, March 12, the Council heard the report of the Pension Board presented by Archpriest John Dresko and Ms Melanie Ringa. Father John also presented six clarifying amendments to the Pension Document, which were approved by the Metropolitan Council. The Metropolitan Council’s liaison to the Pension Board, Mr. David Lane, offered brief remarks expressing gratitude to the members of the Pension Board for their faithful and dedicated work.
The Council also received an overview of the work of the various departments of the Orthodox Church in America from Archpriest Justin Patterson. Father Justin also presented an update on the Church Planting Grant program and reported on the work of an ad hoc committee currently developing a new parish revitalization initiative, which will be presented to the Council for further consideration in the coming months.
The Council then welcomed Archpriest Nicholas Solak, Director of the Office of Pastoral Life, who offered his report on the various programs overseen by the Office. Fr. Nicholas also spoke of the upcoming National Clergy Retreat and Clergy Wives Retreat later this year.
Finally, Archpriest Peter Robichau, Chair of the Governance Committee of the Metropolitan Council, presented an update on the work of the committee and reported on the progress of the Metropolitan Council Handbook. Time was also allotted for open-floor discussion among the members.
In his concluding remarks, His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon expressed his gratitude to the members of the Metropolitan Council for their continued dedication and service to the Church, and he offered words of encouragement in light of the many challenges presently facing the world. He noted that it is understandable to have feelings of anxiety, uncertainty, and fear but reminded them that the Church navigated many difficult periods throughout her history before.
His Beatitude also reflected on the rise of artificial intelligence and encouraged a dispassionate consideration of the topic, since “the singular emphasis of the AI enterprise is on the cognitive work of the brain and the intellect (and what we might call in the Church, thoughts). As we know, machines cannot pray. They cannot fast. … They have no heart. And it is the heart — according to Saint Gregory (whom we commemorated last Sunday), according to the whole hesychast tradition, and according to the Gospel itself — that is the organ of our salvation.”
His Beatitude closed his remarks by noting that Saint Gregory Palamas might be a key to facing this another other upcoming challenges since he is “a preeminent theologian of apophatic theology who articulates with the greatest clarity what it means for a human being to enter into genuine communion with a God who is, by nature, beyond all human knowing.”
The meeting concluded with prayer.
Minutes and reports from the Spring 2026 Session of the Metropolitan Council will be posted on the Orthodox Church in America website as they become available.