Welcome to the website of the Orthodox Christian Attorney Network (OCAN)! We're a fellowship of Orthodox Christian attorneys (active and retired) and law students from across the country who share a desire to build relationships and learn to serve our Lord through the legal profession.
OCAN is not just another professional association. We'd like to help make your legal career a part of your life journey in Christ. As St. Paul said, “Whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him” (Col. 3:17).
We invite you to join us for what we hope will be a career-transforming journey. Check out our website to learn more about our history, mission, and purposes.
Sign up below to receive OCAN news. We look forward to connecting with you!
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Serbian St. Sava Monastery, Libertyville IL |
CLE Webinar
Friday, December 5, 2025 -- 12:00pm ET
The Orthodox Church has had a significant role in the nation's jurisprudence on church governance and property disputes. Three U.S. Supreme Court cases involved Orthodox churches: Kedroff v. St. Nicholas Cathedral, 344 U.S. 94 (1952), Kreshik v. Saint Nicholas Cathedral of Russian Orthodox Church in America (1960), and Serbian Eastern Orthodox Diocese v. Milivojevich (1976). Since then, disputes arising from discord within hierarchically affiliated churches have filled the courts.
Resolving these unfortunate disagreements, which divide jurisdictions and local church communities, involve considerations of the First Amendment's Religion Clauses, nonprofit corporate governance law, trust law, and the common law governing secular voluntary associations.
This program will discuss the manner in which the law has developed to its current state and the ways in which courts have addressed intra-church disputes. It also invites a discussion of whether the U.S. Supreme Court will bring more certainty to this area of the law.
(Clergy may register without charge. Contact us at: info@orthodoxattorneys.org)
Speaker
Peter Talevich is a litigation partner in the K&L Gates' Seattle office whose practice focuses on complex commercial disputes, constitutional law, and trust and estates disputes. Peter has represented Orthodox and Presbyterian jurisdictions in church governance disputes. He solely represents higher authorities within a religious jurisdiction in these disputes. Peter has also advised several other religiously affiliated organizations on transactional matters such as gifts and corporate governance. Peter is a graduate of University of Notre Dame and Seattle University Law School and attends a Roman Catholic church in Seattle. He also serves on the Board of Regents of Seattle University, a Catholic university.
CLE Credit
CLE credit is anticipated in the following states:
AK AL AR AZ CA CT GA IL KS NC NJ NV NY OH PA TN TX VA WA WV
The Challenge of Leadership Theology for Christian Attorneys
by Rev. Protodeacon Peter M. Danilchick, D.H.L.
Friday, September 19, 2025
There are no exclusion zones for the Gospel. All leaders, whether in corporate or church life, must resist the impulse to compartmentalize faith from leadership. Christian attorneys are no exception. This presentation explores how subtle leadership pathologies, including moral compromise and status-driven ambition, can tempt legal professionals toward broken decision-making. In contrast, the five pillars of Christian leadership—obedience, integrity, service, sacrifice, and shepherding—offer a transformative framework rooted in Orthodox theology. These pillars can not only diagnose what's broken but also actively heal, guiding attorneys toward leadership marked by wholeness, discernment, and courage.
OCAN 2026 Retreat
"Law, Calling, & Renewal of the Soul"
Rescheduled to April 24 - 26, 2026
St. Iakavos Retreat Center, Kansasville, WI
Due to scheduling conflicts in November, we are rescheduling the OCAN Retreat at St. Iakovos Retreat Center. More details to come!
CLE Webinar
Friday, August 1, 2025
Presented by Dn. Kenneth Liu
Executive Director, Orthodox Christian Attorney Network
Whether you serve on a parish or diocesan/metropolis council, provide informal guidance to a parish, or simply want to be aware of issues that a church should know about, we welcome you to join OCAN for this free webinar on top legal issues faced by churches. CLE credit was provided for the livestream only, but the recording is available.
This introductory webinar provided an overview of top legal issues all Orthodox parishes should be familiar with, including:
- Church Governance
- Parish Leader Fiduciary Obligations
- Youth Protection
- Clergy-Penitent Privilege
- Insurance
- Copyright
- Property
- Liability protection
Sign up for our newsletter to learn about upcoming OCAN activities and stay informed on the work being done to serve Orthodox attorneys, the Orthodox Church, and our world.
We invite all Orthodox attorneys to join OCAN for spiritual growth, professional development, and building meaningful relationships with fellow Orthodox Christians in the legal field. Membership is currently free!
We greatly appreciate your support! Our work is supported entirely by members and others who believe in our mission. Your contribution is crucial for building our ministry as we inspire Orthodox attorneys to live out their lives and careers fully for Christ, serve the Orthodox Church, and make a positive impact on our nation and the world.
“The emergence of the Orthodox Christian Attorney Network is a long-awaited and happy development for Orthodox Christianity in the United States. Creating this national pan-Orthodox professional community will clearly enhance the presence of Orthodox Christianity in the legal and judicial systems of our culture, and reinforce the principles and values of our holy faith among an important and underserved portion of our faithful. Having Orthodox Christian leaders in the legal community will doubtless enhance the quality of legal thinking in the United States, and provide a much-needed support system for faithful lawyers around the country. We look forward to the many blessings that will emerge within and because of OCAN.”
- Eric S. Namee, Managing Member, Hinkle Law Firm and President, Virginia H. Farah Foundation
The information provided on this website does not, and is not intended to, constitute legal advice. All content on this site is for general informational purposes only and should not be relied upon without seeking legal advice from one’s own attorney. Use of this website does not create an attorney-client relationship between the reader and OCAN or any authors. All liability with respect to actions taken or not taken based on the content of this site are expressly disclaimed.