Canon Law and Pastoral Theology Group
Interim Chair:
Alexander Rentel, St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary (Crestwood, New York, USA)
Steering Committee:
George Grigorita, University of Bucharest (Bucharest, Romania)
Grigorios Papathomas, University of Athens (Athens, Greece)
Andrei Psarev, Holy Trinity Orthodox Seminary (Jordanville, New York, USA)
Patrick Demetrios Viscuso, Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America (Chantilly, Virginia, USA)
Vision Statement
St. Paul wrote, “all things should be done decently and in order” (1 Cor 14:40 NRSV) and “love is the fulfilling of the law” (Rom 13:10 NRSV). Canon law regulates the organization of the Church and its activities under the leadership of the episcopal ministry when carrying out its mission from Christ.
The IOTA Canon Law and Pastoral Theology group seeks to keep the apostolic parenesis of St. Paul in mind while exploring the Eastern Orthodox canonical tradition from the perspectives of its principles, its history, and the present pastoral situations.
The session of the Canon Law and Pastoral Theology group will be devoted to the theme “Canon Law and Pastoral Practice: Theological, Hermeneutical, and Historical Issues.”
The Canon Law and Pastoral Theology group will also co-sponsor a session with the Moral Theology group on the following topics concerning contemporary challenges to marriage and the family:
- Contemporary pastoral challenges in preparing couples for marriage
- The concept and institution of marriage in theology and secular law and its consequences for canon law
- The pastoral challenges and canonical aspects of ecumenical (mixed) marriages
- The pastoral challenges and canonical aspects of divorce and remarriage
