| Protocol No. 34/2025
Encyclical on the Establishment of Regional Vicariate Councils
June 6, 2025
To the Reverend Clergy, Monastics, and Faithful Stewards of the Holy Metropolis of Chicago:
Beloved in the Lord,
Grace and peace be with you in the name of our Lord, God, and Savior Jesus Christ.
With deep gratitude to God and a sense of pastoral clarity I write to you regarding my desire to institute Regional Vicariate Councils across the Metropolis of Chicago by September 1, 2025. God-willing, these councils will mark a significant step forward in our collective effort to become a more unified, vibrant, and mission-oriented Church.
It is especially meaningful that this encyclical follows the Feast of the Fathers of the First Ecumenical Council in Nicaea. This event laid the foundations for a conciliar and collaborative Church—one that could respond to emerging challenges with clarity, unity, and faithfulness to Christ. The council was pivotal in the growth of the Church, offering new structures through which the Gospel could be proclaimed more effectively across the known world.
Ministry Happens Locally—But Not in Isolation
From the early days of Christianity, ministry and growth in the Church have occurred at the local level—in the parish communities where the faithful gather to worship, serve, and bear witness to Christ. While the bishop inspires, teaches, and encourages, the real fruit of the Gospel is planted and nurtured in our local churches. No vision, no matter how bold or beautiful, can flourish unless it is embrace and enacted where people live, pray, and serve each day.
At the same time, the people on the ground—our local clergy and lay leaders—have the clearest understanding of the challenges, opportunities, and spiritual conditions in their regions. They know the terrain, the faithful, the neighborhoods, and the needs. This local insight is indispensable to the larger work of the Church.
Oversight, Responsibility, and Shared Vision
As your Metropolitan and ἐπίσκοπος (epískopos)—a word found in the Scriptures meaning “overseer” (cf. 1 Timothy 3:1–2)—I have been entrusted with the spiritual oversight of the entire Metropolis. This is both a profound responsibility and a sacred privilege. And yet, as one person, it is impossible to simultaneously walk in every community or see every individual tree while tending the whole forest. This is where the structure of the Church reveals its wisdom: through our clergy and lay leaders across our parishes, the Metropolis extends its reach and deepens its care.
The establishment of Regional Vicariate Councils reflects this shared responsibility. It Is an acknowledgment that your insights and your service are not only needed—they are essential. You are not simply “participants” in a program; you are partners in the ministry of the Church.
An Ecclesial Model Rooted in Conciliarity
This initiative is not a modern invention or corporate strategy. It is a natural and ecclesiastical structure, grounded in the life and tradition of the Orthodox Church. From the apostolic era, the Church has embraced conciliarity—the sacred practice of discerning truth and guiding the faithful through collaborative leadership. This conciliar spirit is not only exercised among hierarchs, but also between clergy and laity, and among all who labor in Christ’s vineyard.
The Regional Vicariate Councils embody this conciliar vision. They offer a space where priests and lay leaders from neighboring parishes can gather, reflect, support one another, and shape the life of the Church together under the pastoral guidance of the Vicar, who represents the Metropolitan.
A Structure in Harmony with the Archdiocese
The establishment of Regional Vicariate Councils is not only rooted in the ecclesiology of the Orthodox Church, but also fully consistent with the Charter and the Uniform Parish Regulations of our Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America. These documents affirm the collaborative nature of Church life and the importance of lay participation, conciliar governance, and local ministry.
While these Councils do not possess executive authority over parishes, they function as advisory and collaborative bodies that support the pastoral leadership of the Regional Vicar and the overall direction of the Metropolis. Their purpose is not to create an additional layer of governance, but to enhance unity, communication, and shared responsibility in a way that reflects the best practices encouraged by our Archdiocese.
A Unified Body, Acting In Love
Through these councils, we will:
1. Share best practices and strengthen communication.
2. Identify and mentor future clergy and lay leaders.
3. Offer mutual support, especially to struggling parishes.
4. Promote unity and growth while maintaining local distinctiveness.
5. Build a Church that is both accountable and generous in spirit.
This structure allows us to act more deliberately as one body, with many members, each playing a vital role. As Saint Paul reminds us, “If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together. Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it” (1 Corinthians 12:26–27).
Your Participation Is Needed
I call upon each of our parishes to participate fully and joyfully in the life of the Vicariate Councils. I ask our clergy to offer their wisdom and time, and our lay leaders to offer their gifts and perspectives. In doing so, we strengthen not only our local communities, but also our collective witness to Christ across the Midwest.
Let us walk this path together—clergy and laity, parish and Metropolis—so that the Church entrusted to us may grow in holiness, in service, and in love.
With paternal love in the Risen Christ, |
