All American Council July 14-18, 2025 – Gathered Together by Christ

by Fr. Ryan Bishop · November 11, 2025

Phoenix, Arizona

Report by Clinton Buhler

To Father Ryan, the parish council and faithful of St. Olga of Alaska Orthodox Mission. Glory to Jesus Christ!

It was an incredible honor and privilege to represent our parish as the lay delegate for the 2025 AllAmerican Council, alongside our priest, Fr. Ryan. The pages that follow contain a summary of the notes I took from the plenary sessions. Some of it doesn’t directly apply to us in Canada, such as the pension discussion, but gives you an idea of what was discussed. Official minutes for each session are also readily available at https://www.oca.org/aac.

Some of my takeaways from the week: The Communion of The Church. It was perhaps a little surreal, being in a room with ~600+ Orthodox Christians, over half being Bishops, Priests, Deacons, a contingent of monks and nuns as well as the lay faithful. It was truly a coming together as Church; an actualization of our communion. I now believe that this communion is the primary aspect of attending a council such as this; the business side, although important, is secondary. Our gathering united not just those present, but also each parish that was represented as well as the saints depicted in the icon above. We participated in three Divine Liturgies, an All-Night Vigil and an Akathist to the North American Saints. There were 191 participants in the Youth Program which ran all week. The youth had a brunch with the Holy Synod on Thursday where they were able to get to know our Hierarchs personally and then gave an excellent presentation at the Grand Banquet, capped off with everyone holding crosses in the air singing “O Lord, save your people and bless your inheritance….”
The glorification of our patroness: Righteous Matushka Olga of Kwethluk. It was a major theme of the week and most certainly providential that our priest and mission participated in the All Night Vigil and Primatial Liturgy in her honor. We had the opportunity to venerate her sacred relics, as well as those of St Herman and St Tikhon. I met a young seminarian from St Herman’s Seminary in Kodiak Alaska who was present at the glorification of St Olga and he shared the following with me: On the day of her glorification, the faithful lined the beach, awaiting the arrival of the Hierarchs. The setting was hot, quiet, peaceful and still. As soon as the boats approached the beach, birds appeared, seemingly out of nowhere, and gathered just overhead. As the people processed to the church, the birds joined the procession, clearly recognizing the holiness of our St Olga.
Our Hierarchs and Clergy. It was inspiring and encouraging to hear Metropolitan Tikhon’s pastoral addresses. I sense in him to be an incredibly intelligent, deeply loving and caring father. We witnessed the assembly of the Holy Synod; representing both our apostolic succession and the highest authority of the Orthodox Church on this continent. As mentioned in the notes below, the Holy Synod confirmed and announced the election of a new Bishop for the West during the council which, I think, is a rare thing to witness. It was also inspiring to see so many priests, deacons and monastics gathered, the frontline warriors of our faith.

Plenary Session #1

14 hierarchs, 258 clergy delegates, 184 lay delegates, 33 clergy observers, 90 lay observers = 579

Metropolitan Tikhon’s address. I highly recommend to read his address in full.

Quoting holy bishop Seraphim of Dmitrov, martyred by the Soviet regime in 1937: “The whole meaning of this earthly life is found in nothing other than in continual preparation for the reception of the holy Mysteries of Christ: in prayerful struggle, abstinence, and pure-hearted repentance. The whole meaning of a Christian’s life is contained in this preparation for the holy Mysteries, and in the very communion of the holy and life-giving Mysteries of Christ. A Christian ought to commune as often as possible.” The OCA has been at the forefront of frequent communion and weekly communion is fairly common. There is risk with this, in that we may begin to approach the Chalice by habit, casually. The Holy Synod decreed 50 years ago that with weekly communion should be monthly confession.
The use of English in our services is vital to our role as The Orthodox Church in America. The myriad of English translations is a challenge.
We are a young Church, “teenagers” now, having been granted autocephaly in 1970. English is an important part of our worship, but it remains critical that we do not obscure our Slavic heritage: the sacred Saints and traditions of the Russian Church are ours too, and consciousness of our heritage connects us to those saints.
There is a spike in interest in Orthodoxy, currently paralleling a contested national character in the US. Many people do not feel part of the culture. Many inquirers come to the Church having consumed many hours of content online, including many misconceptions. This is a challenge for our clergy. Gone are the days of an inquirer having read one or two books on the faith and then visiting a parish.
Our work of the Church is not to push ideas, but to help others ascend to Christ. We each need constant prayer; we need to long for our Lord so we can preach the gospel. Silence and struggle is our means of ascending the mountain.

Plenary Session #2, 765 attendees

Nominations procedures for the Metropolitan Council and Pension Board. The role of the Metropolitan Council is to implement decisions of the All American Council.
Chancellors report. Chancellor noted that as the only Orthodox Church in North America not beholden to another country, we have a responsibility to lead. We must keep in mind what is best for the Church, be willing to step up when called, and be willing to step aside when needed.
Metropolitan’s Report.
a. We are gathered together by Christ. The Church is the true Israel. His Beatitude sees the role of the Bishop as a mountain guide: He guides us up towards the Light of Tabor and then
guides us down to reach a suffering world.
b. Matushka Olga is the first saint recognized in the OCA in over two decades. We asserted our autocephaly by glorifying her, which was preceded by widespread veneration of the
faithful. Glorification began November 8, 2023, but was delayed until June 2024. She is a reminder of our mission: sanctity. This week’s All-Night Vigil and Primatial Liturgy capstone
the celebration of her glorification.
i. The OCA does have a commission that manages the canonization process, of which Holy Matushka Olga went through. The process starts with listening to the voices of
the faithful.
c. His Beatitude was asked by the Serbian Orthodox Church to recognize the Macedonian Church as autocephalous and the Holy Synod did so, recognizing their canonicity and our
communion with them. An upcoming concelebration is planned.
d. St Vladimir’s Seminary has a new dean and the move of the facility is on hold. St. Tikhon’s seminary has been in service for 85 years and they are now constructing a new residence
for married seminarians. His Beatitude called for 1% of parish budgets to support seminaries.
e. During question period with our Metropolitan, a concern was brought forward regarding the war in Ukraine, that this was not directly addressed to this point. His Beatitude responded
that we were the first Church to openly and publicly condemn the aggression, that we have actively provided material aid and that he is the only Primate to visit Metropolitan Onufriy
since the war started. We need to continue praying!
f. A delegate asked if the OCA will be considering the female deaconate. His Beatitude was prepared for the question and pointed out the two topics: the role of women in the church
and the ordination of female diaconate. He responded that any discussion around the female diaconate would have to be brought forward by the Holy Synod for discussion, and
that it has not been brought forward. He also pointed out that women in the diaconate has not been part of our tradition passed down from the Russian Church. He eloquently
pointed out the incredible contributions and role that women play in the OCA as chancery staff, serving on different councils and board positions and throughout parish ministries.

Plenary Session #3, 606 attendees

Financial Report. The OCA’s investment portfolio grew from $3.5m in 2021 to $5.02M in 2024. Assets have grown to $8.9M in 2024. $1.86M in diocesan contributions.
a. Lilly Grants. $500,000 for “Thriving Ministry”. $1.25M for financial health initiative. Mission planting grants >$500K since 2020. In 2022, $700K raised for Ukraine support, given to the Polish Orthodox Church to manage distribution.
b. Funding resolution. Obligation for parish support to the OCA is 34% of net revenue in the US (minus Alaska) and 10% of net revenue in Canada and Alaska. Mexico was not listed.
Motion passed.
Chancery moved to northern Virginia
Stavropegial Monastery Report.
a. New Skete (Cambridge NY) Supporting themselves through German Shepard training program and have published a new book on the topic.
i. Mother Cecilia: Poverty is not destitution, but a focus on detachment from glory, honor… detachment from our own way! Daily life, household work is a path to sanctity. The Orthodox Church affirms the equality of men and women.
b. St Tikhons. Established July 15, 1905 (same day this report was given). Providential timing is like a God-wink . “Life at St Tikhon’s Monastery”

Plenary Session #4, 608 attendees

Archbishop Benjamin of San Francisco and the West is retiring (Later that day, a special session of the dioceses of the west convened a nominating assembly….Before the start of the All-Night Vigil to St Olga that evening, Archbishop Benedict came out from the altar and declared that the Holy Synod had canonically elected a new bishop in his place, Archimandrite Vasily (Permiakov), who will be ordained to the Episcopate and enthroned August 16, 2025 in San Francisco).
Pension Statute amendment. Proposed new selection process for pension board trustees, focusing on qualifications, did not pass.

Plenary Session #5, 579 attendees

Office of Pastoral Life. From a 2023 survey, 60% of clergy are under moderate to severe financial stress. 50% of clergy rarely or never take a full day off. The vision of the office is to
create sustainable conditions for our clergy:
a. Peer learning groups, grants for debt relief, coaching, quarterly clergy synaxis, clergy wives ministry.
b. Quote from Metropolitan Tikhon: “If the core of our lives as Christians is the Holy Altar…. then the core of our responsibility…. is to care for those who stand before that
altar.”
Departments.
a. Music translations, online music workshops and classes on OCA website.
b. Christian education. Church school material “Essential Orthodox Christian Beliefs” is a 36 week program covering 6 learning levels. Released in 2024 https://essentialbeliefs.org/
c. Mission grant program. Paused in 2025. Matching grant for a full-time priest salary diminishing over 3 years.
Seminaries
a. St. Tikhon’s. Dean Fr. John Parker discussed the upcoming married student housing and mentioned a “vocational discernment handbook”. They are currently developing information level courses (x8) that will be available online that would be taken prior to attending seminary; courses belonging before curriculum.
b. St. Vladimir’s. There are/were many tensions around the proposed re-location of the seminary (since paused) in tandem with a “crisis in leadership”. The seminary is rebuilding the leadership of the institution. To save costs, the seminary had to reduce staffing and have since experienced a welcome change in financial health.
Another resolution was offered to ask the Holy Synod to develop standards for pension board members, implementation contingent on passing legal review, and this did pass.

Plenary Session #6, 437 attendees

There was a plea for more Chaplains from both the Military Chaplains and the Institutional
Chaplains.
(From OCA minutes): Concluding Remarks from Metropolitan Tikhon: His Beatitude offered a few words of reflection on the past week. He remarked that this morning at the Akathist of All-American Saints, the Gospel reading (Mt. 28:16- 20) mentioned that the apostles gathered in a moment on a mountain. We are, as has been said, at an Orthodox moment. At the Rite of the Elevation of the Precious Cross, the bishop lowers the cross before bringing it up again. It would seem that today we have come to the “moment” where the bishop is about to raise the cross again. Our movements in the Church follow the path of the Cross – through the weight of struggles and the glory of victories. This is an image of our existence as Orthodox Christians, a reminder that the Cross is at the center of our struggles and our blessings. By remaining faithful to Christ and the Cross we can weather the waves and storms of life. He then reflected that having glorified a new saint, Righteous Matushka Olga of Kwethluk, we have now added her to the company of saints that Christ has gathered for our benefit. Many can remember the days when there was one saint, Saint Herman of Alaska, and now there are nineteen. But we do not depend on the quantitative aspect of this. The newly commissioned icon of North
American Saints reflects this – even without centuries of martyric witness, it seems that we are poised to fulfill the Gospel reading from this morning: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Amen.”

Appendix.

1 Metropolitan Tikhon entering the first session