OCAN national Attorney Retreat

"Law, Calling, & Renewal of the Soul"

St. Iakovos Retreat Center, Kansasville, WI

More Information & Registration

Join fellow Orthodox attorneys for a weekend of spiritual renewal, rest, and fellowship. Come to the peaceful St. Iakovos Retreat Center to learn together and reflect on our calling as attorneys and servants of Christ. Through thought-provoking sessions, worship, and time spent with colleagues who share your faith and vocation, this retreat offers an opportunity to (re)discover peace and joy in your work and career. The retreat center is in a rustic spot between Chicago’s O’Hare Airport and Milwaukee’s Mitchell Airport. (Ride-sharing will be coordinated.) 

Sessions

"Remember, Reveal, Renew:  Toward a Sacramental Understanding of Our Calling"

"Putting First Things First: Developing an Ascetically-Minded Vocation"

Revised topic: "Apostolic Affiliates - Considerations in Forming Church-Affiliated Entities" (CLE)

“Fireside Chat: Stories from the Trenches”

Orthodox Attorney DC-area Gathering

Sunday, March 15, 2026 | 6:00 pm ET

Join OCAN for a relaxed evening to get to know other Orthodox attorneys in the region and enjoy fellowship with colleagues who share the Orthodox faith! Fine food appropriate for Lent, as well as alcoholic and soft beverages will be provided. 

Fr. Patrick Viscuso, canon law expert and President of the Orthodox Canon Law Society, will be our special guest.

The event will be at the home of an OCAN member in the Hawthorne neighborhood of Northwest Washington, DC near Rock Creek Park.  (Note: Parking is on a street with a hill and stairs to the home.)

Please invite any other Orthodox attorneys (active or retired) and law students who you know. We look forward to seeing you there!

Introduction to U.S. Immigration Law for Clergy and Laity

CLE Webinar

Thursday, March 19, 2026 | 12:00pm ET

In light of the needs of the Orthodox Church in the United States, this presentation will provide a basic introduction to the U.S. immigration system, specifically as it relates to the Orthodox Church.  We will discuss the background and history of immigration law and policy, as well as the major agencies and components tasked with administering those laws and policies. Particular focus will be given to religious visas -- the R-1 visa for nonimmigrant religious workers and the EB-4 visa for special immigrant religious workers. Additionally, attendees will obtain a general understanding of the process to be pursued by those intending to be immigrants to the United States, including clergy members, as well as those seeking asylum, including based on religious persecution.

The Kingdom of God & the Common Good:

an Orthodox Approach to Law, Justice, and Mercy

Webinar

Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026

Video Recording Available Soon!

Dr. Dylan Pahman, author of The Kingdom of God and the Common Good, will join OCAN to discuss an Orthodox Christian approach to law, justice, and mercy.

Other Christian traditions have developed their own modern social thought to address contemporary economic and social problems since the industrial revolution. But what about the Orthodox Tradition? From the Old Testament, to the Gospel, to Byzantium and beyond, Dr. Pahman will show how our Orthodox faith has shaped the development of law throughout history and still has much to offer for the "least of these" among us today.

Join us for this first webinar of 2026 to explore how the Orthodox tradition provides a framework for thinking about important social issues of our time. Register below for this free presentation.

Legal Considerations for Security in Houses of Worship

CLE Webinar

February 27, 2026

Recording Available Soon!

In response to an increasing risk of threats against houses of worship, many Orthodox parishes are evaluating security measures such as engaging professional security personnel or establishing volunteer safety teams to monitor potential risks and maintain a secure environment. As part of these efforts, some parishes are considering whether, and under what circumstances, to permit the presence or use of firearms.

This webinar will examine the legal considerations associated with these decisions, including potential liability risks, regulatory compliance, and an overview of representative state laws governing firearms in houses of worship. The program will provide participants with a practical framework for assessing security policies while navigating applicable legal and risk management concerns.

CLE Webinar

December 5, 2025

The recording of this webinar is available to OCAN members here.

(CLE credit not available for recorded webinar)

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.

CLE Webinar

Webinar Recording

(CLE not available for recorded webinar)

Dcn. 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 this webinar on top legal issues faced by churches. This introductory webinar provides 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; and Liability protection.