Speaker Policy Feedback

Speakers should be approved by the local board and (the theological aspect) by the pastor, local ministers, or elders if applicable, based on:

• The material’s alignment with the Teachings
• or practical life issues that do not contradict direct teaching or the spirit of the teachings
• And/or precedent from conferences
• As well as the speaker’s professionalism and quality
• An additional possibility is an outside speaker expressing a contrary view in the context of a friendly debate or community discussion (in which case distinctions should be clearly laid out)

A speaker’s outside affiliation should be noted as a courtesy but no advertising or promoting should be included in the presentation.

Personal experience must not be suppressed but the speaker should not use them as a point of authority or express what was received through them authoritatively (unless a process is in place for the Church to approve mystical revelation as with some other Churches).

We must not become the model of the Orthodox Church suppressing the individual while balancing this with the need to maintain the integrity of the group’s expression of the Teachings.