Today, June 24, 2021, the Advisory Committee on the Charter met for the first time under the leadership of His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America and Mr. Michael Psaros, Chairman. The Advisory Committee was formed by His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros following an October 2020 directive of the Ecumenical Patriarchate that placed the charter of the Archdiocese into abeyance in order to take the important first step towards the creation of a new charter.

The Advisory Committee will submit recommendations to the “Joint Committee” established by the Ecumenical Patriarchate. This Joint Committee will consist of Archdiocesan representatives and representatives from the Mother Church.  The Joint Committee will be responsible for drafting the new Charter.

During this time the Archdiocese continues to function as a legal entity subject to its Regulations.

The Advisory Committee includes Hierarchs and representatives from each Metropolis appointed by the respective Hierarch.  It also includes the Senators for Orthodoxy and Hellenism, members of the Archdiocesan Council, representation from the institutions of the Archdiocese, members of the clergy, theologians, academics and other prominent members of the Greek American community. 

A full list of members can be found at https://www.goarch.org/administration/charter.

During this time the Advisory Committee is also actively seeking opinions and suggestions for the new charter from interested parties. For this purpose, it has set up the email address, [email protected].

The Archdiocesan website, www.goarch.org, will be the repository for important documents and developments related to the new charter process as it progresses.