Holy Synod of Bishops reviews, blesses revised approach to Strategic Plan
Members of the Orthodox Church in America’s Strategic Planning Committee [SPC] met with the Holy Synod of Bishops on Thursday, November 18, 2010 to discuss feedback received to date on the Working Draft of the Strategic Plan, review their recommendations for proceeding with the Plan’s development, and receive additional feedback from the hierarchs.
“The two-and-a-half hour discussion was highly productive and produced several major revisions to the Strategic Plan,” according to Priest John Vitko, who chairs the SPC.
The meeting was held in conjunction with the Holy Synod’s fall session, which opened on November 16.
Among the revisions were
- the inclusion of a more specific statement on the autocephaly of the Orthodox Church in America.
- elimination of the section on governance and the inclusion of an explicit statement that no organizational/Statute changes or revisions are being proposed at this time.
- further elaboration on the goals for internal spiritual growth and outreach to others, rendering them more concrete and practical and, where appropriate, considering what the roles of the parishes, dioceses, and Central Church should be in realizing said goals.
His Grace, Bishop Tikhon, Secretary of the Holy Synod, reported that “the members of the Holy Synod were unanimous in their support of this revised approach and gave it their formal blessing, noting the importance of this activity to the life of the Church.”
In addition to Father John, other SPC members present included Archpriest Eric G. Tosi, OCA Secretary; Archpriest David Mahaffey; and Deacon John Zarras.
The Strategic Plan working draft, developed in June 2010, is available in PDF format on the OCA web site at www.oca.org/PDF/NEWS/2010/2010-0624-strategicplan-v4.6.pdf. Recent news of the SPC’s activities may be found at www.oca.org/news/2226 and www.oca.org/news/2187.
Additional information on the Holy Synod’s fall session will be posted as it becomes available.