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The Resolutions Committee of the 19th All-American Council [AAC] of the Orthodox Church in America is now accepting proposed resolutions for consideration by AAC delegates. The deadline for submitting proposals is April 25, 2018.
“Parishes, deaneries, dioceses, and stavropegial institutions may submit proposed resolutions and amendments for consideration well before the AAC convenes in Saint Louis, MO July 23-27, 2018,” said Archpriest Eric G. Tosi, OCA Secretary. “All information relating to resolutions and statute amendments is posted on the AAC web site.”
Proposed resolutions may be sent to resolutions.19aac@oca.org or by mail to the Resolutions Committee, 19th All-American Council, c/o the Chancery of the Orthodox Church in America, PO Box 675, Syosset, NY 11791.
“After review by the Resolutions Committee, proposals will be published and posted by May 24, 2018 — 60 days before the AAC, as required by Article III, Section 5 of the current Statute of the Orthodox Church in America,” Father Eric added. “Resolutions also may be proposed during the course of the AAC itself.”
The Resolutions Committee will review all submitted proposals and, if necessary, discuss possible editorial changes with the submitting body. Should substantially identical resolutions be submitted, the Committee will consolidate them into a single resolution, again in consultation with the submitting bodies. If, in the estimation of the Committee, a proposed resolution clearly lies outside the AAC’s competence, whether on canonical grounds or due to conflict with the OCA Statute, the Committee will inform the submitting body accordingly. In case of doubt, a proposed resolution will be submitted to the Holy Synod to determine whether it can be brought before the AAC. Should a proposed resolution be determined to lie outside the competence of the AAC, the Committee, in consultation with the Holy Synod and the proposing body, will consider alternative ways of bringing issues underlying the proposed resolution to the attention of the Council’s delegates.
“After reviewing submissions, the Resolutions Committee will turn over proposed resolutions to the Preconciliar Commission for inclusion on the AAC’s agenda,” Father Eric explained. “Deliberation on proposed resolutions will take place in plenary sessions throughout the course of the Council.”
Resolutions from parishes normally include the signatures of the parish priest and the president of the parish council; those submitted by deaneries bear the signatures of the dean and other priests of the deanery. Resolutions from dioceses include the signatures of the bishop and the diocesan chancellor, while those submitted by stavropegial institutions bear the signatures of the abbot, dean or rector and at least one other member of the institution in question. Resolutions will be sent to the respective diocesan hierarchs, who will sign and forward them to the Resolutions Committee.
In line with the OCA Statute, Article XVII, amendments to the Statute may be submitted to the Commission on Statutes and Canons prior to the 19th All-American Council. The deadline also is April 25.
“Amendments may be proposed by the Holy Synod, the Metropolitan Council, diocesan assemblies, diocesan councils, deaneries, parish assemblies, parish councils, monasteries, and seminaries,” Father Eric noted. “A proposed amendment must be submitted to the Commission on Statutes and Canons at least 90 days prior to the date set for the convening of an All-American Council. All proposed amendments must be received by the Commission by April 25, 2018 and will be published by May 24, 2018 — 60 days before the Council, per Statute Article XVII, Section 3.
“The Commission on Statutes and Canons will consider proposed amendments and may either approve, consolidate, or return them,” Father Eric concluded. “An amendment of the Statute requires a two-thirds majority of the delegates of an AAC present and voting and becomes effective immediately upon the final adjournment of the AAC unless otherwise noted.”
Statute submissions should be sent to statute.19aac@oca.org or by mail to the Statute Commission, 19th All-American Council, c/o Chancery of the Orthodox Church in America, PO Box 675, Syosset, NY 11791.
Members of the Resolution Committee include His Grace, Bishop Paul of Chicago and the Midwest, Chair of the 19th AAC Preconciliar Commission; Archpriest Dimitri Cozby; Michael Strelka; and Judge E. R. Lanier, OCA General Counsel.
Members of the Commission on Statutes and Canons include His Grace, Bishop Daniel of Santa Rosa, Chair; Archpriest Ioan Cozma; Archpriest John Erickson; Archpriest Alexander Rentel; and Judge E. R. Lanier.
