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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 20th All-American Council will consider two statute amendments that are proposed by the Metropolitan Council, which have been duly reviewed, edited, and endorsed by the Commission on Canons and Statute.
The first statute amendment is proposed in consideration of the reorganization of the Chancery following the work of the Ad Hoc Restructuring Committee in 2018. The proposed amendment with its rationale explanation is available here.
The second statute amendment emerges from the work of the Pension Subcommittee of the Metropolitan Council. This amendment aims at codifying some of the basic expectations of the Pension Plan’s regular reporting to the Metropolitan Council, and change the composition of the Pension Board to make for more direct representation of the key constituents, Plan participants and Employers. This amendment with its introductory explanation is available here.
