1. Council Composition: The Council consists of the Parish Priest plus 9 parish members, as well as the Representatives or Presidents for the dully recognized Parish Organizations. The Parish Protos Priest, as Presbyter of the Parish, is the presiding officer [3] and the only permanent member of the parish council.
A) Representative of Archbishop: The Priest, as the appointed representative of the Archbishop [4] , has the ultimate responsibility for our church.
B) Need for Harmony & Synergy: However, for a synergistic and effective Christian management of our parish, the Priest, the Council, and every Parishioner has to work in harmony.
C) Trinity as our Model: Much like the Holy Trinity is three Persons in One, so must be this parish relationship. Each ministry is a vital part of Christ?s Holy Church.
2. What is the Council?s Purpose?: It is important to recognize the nature and purpose of the parish council. It is often thought that the parish council is responsible for the ?material? operation of the church, leaving the ?spiritual? ministry for the Priests. Part of their role is certainly to ensure that physical needs are provided for, by managing funds, facilities, etc. But this task is not separate from the spiritual ministry in the Church ? such labor of love is equally ?spiritual,? if it contributes to the good of the community.
A) Not Business Only: Thus, the parish council should not be seen as a governing body or business committee; rather, as a group of spiritually rooted individuals who assist the priest in building up the Body of Christ.
B) First in Church Life & Activity: Council members therefore must be spiritually active in the parish, as well as exemplary in Church attendance, sacramental life, Christian living, and stewardship. [5]
C) Advisors: The Council members are the advisors to the Parish Priest. By use of their God-given gifts, they help enable the Presbyter to direct the parish in the most spiritually enriching and truly Orthodox manner.
3. The Parish Constitutional requirements are set forth below:
Qualifications for election to the Parish Council : A candidate must be [i] eighteen (18) years of age or over, [ii] have been a Voting member of the Parish for a period of one year, and [iii] has fulfilled the Canonical requirements of the Faith. 4. Age & Voting Membership : The first two requirements are simple enough.
5. Fulfilling Canonical Requirements: But what of the third: what are the Canonical [6] requirements of the Faith?
A) What are the Canonical Requirements of the Faith: These are many and varied. However, we must understand that the Church's law is first and foremost spiritual, since its main purpose is the spiritual growth of the faithful. Furthermore, its main object of concern is the inner disposition and intention behind one's outer actions. The Canons are like a measuring stick with which we can ? measure ourselves spiritually ? to see if we are living Godly lives. [7]
B) Summary of Canonical Requirements: The following are a summary of the Guidelines [8] for those who wish to run for a parish council position, as well for those who are already in a parish council position; further they should be taken as sacramental goals for all parishioners who wish to fulfill the Canonical requirements of the Faith :
i) Exemplary Character: The Parish Council person should strive to be of exemplary [9] character (this is a requirement for all Orthodox Christians, not a suggestion);
ii) Divine Service Attendance: Striving to attend the Sunday Divine Liturgy eighty percent (80%) of the time, and attending other services regularly (or as often as is possible taking into consideration work, family, and unforeseen events and emergencies);
iii) Eucharistic Participation: Participating in the Eucharist not less than twice a month (all Orthodox Christians are required to participate in Confession and Eucharist at least once a year);
a) Arrive early: Arriving in Church before the Gospel and Epistle readings in order to participate in the Holy Eucharist (This is a requirement for all Orthodox Christians);
b) Partaking: And, in any event not missing taking Eucharist three weeks in a row without first returning to the life of the Church through Confession (This is a requirement for all Orthodox Christians);
c) Preparation: Adequate preparation to take the Holy Eucharist (see Section VII herein);
iv) Confessional Participation: Participating in Confession at least three times a year (once a year is a minimal requirement for all Orthodox Christians);
a) As Needed: However, it is strongly suggested that Confession be participated in as needed, and, thus, it is recommended that a person confess at least once every month or every other month, minimally;
b) Father Confessor: The parish priest is generally the Father Confessor for each Church member unless good reason can be shown why it should be otherwise;
c) Deeper understanding of Confession: See Section VI herein for a further understanding of the Sacrament of Confession and how to prepare for and engage in the Sacrament.
v) Protecting the Office: A member must not in his or her official capacity or in any other circumstance, conduct himself or herself in a manner, which could reasonably be regarded as bringing his or her office or Parish Council into serious disrepute;
vi) Not self-seeking: A member must not, in his or her official capacity, or any other circumstance, use his or her position as a member improperly to confer on or secure for himself, herself or any other person, an advantage or disadvantage;
vii) Attendance at Meetings: A member must be present at all Council Meetings to the extent possible. In any event a member who misses three meetings per year (with justifiable reason shown) is subject to removal from office.
vii) Position of Service: We must always remember: The Parish Council is a position of service! The parish council is not a position of power or authority, but of service to God, Church and parish.
1] These Membership Guidelines are to give the Orthodox Christian, as well as those thinking about entering into the Holy Church, an overall general understanding of the Orthodox Church, of Her regulations (Canons- which are not laws per se, but which are meant to help the Christian develop a deeply spiritual life in union with God), and the general Church expectation(s) for the members and worshippers in Orthodox places of worship. The sanctity of the Church requires that we have an dynamic attitude of reverence. The Apostle Paul says, "Let all things be done decently and in order," when Christians gather for prayer (1 Cor. 14:40.) To this end the following have been established and set forth for guidance, so that the Orthodox Christian may know what is appropriate and expected of them.
[2] Special thanks must be noted to His Eminence Metropolitan PHILIP for sharing his life experience in the Holy Priesthood in his many books and other writings; His Grace Bishop Demetri (retired) for his advice, guidance and love; the Very Rev. Alexander Atty, Priest & Pastor of St. Michael?s Church in Louisville, KY, and the Very Rev. Nabil Hanna, Priest & Pastor of St. George?s Church in Indianapolis, IN, for sharing their Parish Guidelines and insights ? as the vast majority of these guidelines are based upon their parish guidelines; as well as to St. George?s Church, Cicero, IL, for information from their web site; as well as the many others who have made contributions and/or suggestions in regard to the development of these Guidelines.
[3] The Priest, by virtue of his holy office, is the presiding officer of every organization in his parish. The Antiochian Archdiocese Priest?s Guide, Sec. I. The Rights & Duties of Pastors, ? 9.
[4] The Priest is the official representative of the Metropolitan in his assigned Parish. The Antiochian Archdiocese Priest?s Guide, Sec. I. The Rights & Duties of Pastors, ? 2.
[5] The priest?s parish is limited, but the layman?s parish is the whole world. It is mainly through its laity that the Church enters into contact with the world. . . The laity, however, cannot fulfill their ministry to the Church and the world if they are not regular members of the worshiping community. We need Christ-bearing (Christiphoros) laity, conscious of their royal priestly responsibilities, to which they were called by baptismal ordination. Metropolitan PHILIP Saliba, Feed My Sheep, page 54 (St. Vladimir?s Seminary Press, 1987).
[6] ?The Canons that express dogma are, of course, sacrosanct (i.e., the always apply in all places at all times). Those that guide Church administration (trial of priests and bishops, diocesan prerogatives, marriage requirements for clergy, etc.) are still very much applicable in our time. Those that guide the behavior of clergy and the faithful are also applicable, with appropriate updating reflecting the realities of our time. Some are just anachronisms or historical artifacts. It is the "Mind" of the Church as a whole that is important here.? Some Thoughts on the Holy Canons, Fr. Alexander Lebedeff.
[7] The canons are at the service of the Church; their function is to guide her members on the way to salvation and to make following that way easier. . . Unlike secular law, or Mosaic law, the purpose of the Church's law is the spiritual perfection of her members. . . the purpose of the Church's canonical discipline is both pastoral and pedagogical. It seeks both to correct and reform the repentant sinner and to protect the community from the resulting sin. Lewis Patsavos, Ph.D., The Canonical Tradition of the Orthodox Church.
[8] As previously noted herein, a guideline is not a ?hard and fast? legal rule, but in this case a spiritual goal statement with which the person running for office should agree and strive to achieve. However, as also noted herein some of the items listed are requirements for being a member of the Orthodox Church and are not simply goals.
[9] Exemplary Character: According to the Holy Scriptures, Sacred Canons and Traditions this includes but is not limited to (during the time one is an Orthodox Christian): living the Orthodox Faith in sincerity; if unmarried being chaste; if married not committing adultery; never having participated in a murder, which includes abortion; not being divorced more than once; not living with another out of wedlock; not absenting oneself from Eucharist for three weeks in a row without good cause, and then reentering the communion life of the Church through confession; being an example of morality and ethnical behavior to all; not attending the religious services of heretics and non-Christians; and faithfully and regularly participating in the spiritual life of the Church and parish.
