ECUMENICAL PATRIARCHATE

Exarchate of Parishes of Russian
Tradition in Western Europe

Report on the Presbytery Meeting, 29 February - 1 March 2008

Since the last Assembly the Presbytery have held their second residential meeting at Lancaster Hall Hotel, Bayswater. It was again marked by open discussions, both at formal sessions and informally.   Fifteen priests and deacons gathered, and apologies were received from Fr Patrick Radley, whose farewell letter to us was read out, and from Fr Nicanor, who was not well enough to come.   They were in our thoughts and prayers.  

Archbishop Gregorios again put in his customary and highly valued appearance. He described aspects of his recent visit to Australia.

Co-operation with other Orthodox jurisdictions.   The collaborations with the Archdiocese of Thyateira in Aberdeen, Inverness, Keswick and Sheffield are going well and numbers are growing.   A new collaboration has begun at Guildford.   There was discussion about how to serve the Orthodox people of these islands. There is now emerging a generation who want, not to escape from British culture, but to be Orthodox and British,  while at the same time appreciating the cosmopolitan links which our parishes and our children’s camp provide.

Twinning of UK and continental parishes is developing - Norwich with another parish of St John the Theologian at Meudon in the Paris suburbs, Oxford with Deventer in Holland, Clapham with the French language crypt parish at Rue Daru.

The main item of the meeting was the recruitment of prospective clergy. Fr John Marks presented written suggestions from a meeting he had held at the Bishop’s request with Fr Patrick Hodson, Fr David Gill, Dn Peter Scorer and Wendy Robinson, which was intended to initiate an ordered process that would help in the selection, preparation and support of new clergy. It was considered essential that assistance also be given to the wives of prospective clergy in thinking about how to deal with their own role. It was noted that difficulties may arise from the individualism of our culture which can affect the relation of clergy to their Bishop and parishioners to their priest. In principle local communities should put forward someone known to them for the Bishop to consider for ordination and undertake to support him, and to safeguard the interests of his family.

The position and functions of a Presbyter (priest) are outlined in the statutes, which make clear the powers and duties he undertakes by virtue of his ordination and the authority given him by the Bishop. The position of a Deacon is not elaborated in the statutes, but there are two defining points.  Firstly, the diaconate should not be seen merely as an automatic stepping stone to the priesthood;  secondly, those who wish to do so should be able to remain Deacons for life. The role of a Deacon was defined briefly in its liturgical, social, administrative and educational aspects. In addition the requirement of loyalty to the Bishop  and to the local congregation, applies as much to deacons as to priests. The local community should also undertake to support him, and to safeguard the interests of his family.

The process of considering an ordination should include evidence of the candidate’s baptism, marriage and previous involvement in church life, and from referees.  It goes without saying that he should have criminal record screening, since he would be working with vulnerable individuals.   The gathering of evidence would be undertaken by a panel, accountable to the Bishop on the one hand for their advice, and to the candidate for their confidentiality, and presented to the Bishop, after which the candidate and his wife should meet the Bishop and members of the panel.   Areas for preparation and development would be explored, and the Bishop would then decide.

Potential difficulties were noted in new priests having to take over a parish without first passing through a curate stage, which implied that we need to develop training procedures and mentor relationships after ordination as well.   New priests could also maybe be introduced to confession and preaching gradually, though this has not been the practice hitherto.   There was support for a positive approach to helping candidates.   Finally, it was agreed that it is important for the candidate to understand that the role of clergy is defined by obedience (in the best sense) to the local Bishop and through him to our Archbishop.

None of these approaches would necessarily obviate future difficulties in extreme situations, but we did feel, I believe, that we are now moving in the right direction.

Further meetings were set for 24-25 October 2008 and 20-21 February 2009 at the same place.

Fr John Marks, Vicar General