IDENTITY

The General Secretariat for Pan-Orthodox Ministries is a canonical structure of the Holy Archdiocese of Mexico, Central America, Colombia, Venezuela, and the Islands of the Caribbean (Ecumenical Patriarchate). The ministry of the Secretariat is twofold, and includes: (1) missionary outreach to native and indigenous communities within the territory of the Archdiocese, and (2) pastoral care of the non-Hellenic Orthodox diaspora in Latin America, not currently being served. The Secretariat enables communities received into the Ecumenical Patriarchate to maintain a degree of corporate cultural identity and autonomy and / or to preserve elements of their particular national Orthodox tradition. The ultimate goal is incorporation into the life of the Ecumenical Patriarchate through the establishment of national, special needs, and / or territorial Deaneries of the Archdiocese and / or the establishment of national, special needs, and / or territorial Dioceses of the Archdiocese.

The Secretariat is led by an Archiepiscopal Vicar, whose authority, established by Archiepiscopal edict, is an extension of the exercise of the jurisdiction of the ruling Archbishop. The duties of the Archiepiscopal Vicar of the Secretariat consist in directing the work of the mission entrusted to his care. His faculties are those connected with the administration of the Secretariat, including: (1) the reception of communities into Archdiocese; (2) the efficacious preparation, formation, and assignment of clergy / missionaries; and (3) the general management of all matters related to the Secretariat.

ARCHIEPISCOPAL EDICT