Basically the election process for a Metropolitan takes place in the following manner: According to the Statutes of the OCA, after the vacancy of the Metropolitan is announced, the Church is to gather together in Council with a clergy and lay representative from each parish. When the election is to begin, every delegate is given a ballet and must write down the name of one person whom they would like to see lead the Church. Names submitted may be those of bishops, priests, or laymen as long as they are in canonical good standing with the Orthodox Church. If any one candidate receives a 2/3 majority upon this ballet, the election process stops and the Holy Synod goes into the altar to discuss and/or approve the nomination. If no one receives a 2/3 majority, or if the Holy Synod does not approve this candidate, a second ballet is cast with each delegate submitting the names of two individuals to fill this position. After this vote is tallied, the top vote getter’s name is submitted to the Holy Synod for approval as our next Metropolitan. Therefore, because voting is not restricted to a specified number or pool of individuals, this process differs greatly from when we elected our diocesan hierarch.
