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September 15, 2005

Parish Council Eligibility Requirements

The parish requires a proper Christian structure and administration in order to provide proper worship, education, pastoral care, spiritual direction, evangelism, and philanthropy. The head of the parish in its total life must be the chief parish presbyter who is ordained and assigned by the diocesan bishop. This does not mean that the parish priest functions merely as the bishop’s “representative” or “delegate.” It means rather that he is appointed by the bishop and accepted by the parish as the community’s spiritual and sacramental leader, father, and pastor. He is the head of the Body who images and presents God and Christ in every aspect of the Lord’s messianic ministry.

The Christian parish headed by its priest shows that it is truly Christ’s holy Church, and not merely a human association of like-minded people incorporated to satisfy the demands and desires of its members. When properly functioning and structured, the parish maintains its identity and integrity as Christ’s Body, the household of God.

The parish priest, properly understood in Christian Orthodoxy, is neither a domineering despot nor a servile hireling. He is neither an authoritarian “stand-in” for an almost always absent hierarch, nor a lackey at the beck and call of a parish board. He is rather a called, trained, tested, and ordained teacher, pastor, and priest who guarantees the presence and action of Christ in the community.

The council consists of the pastor and our selected representatives. The pastor is the presiding officer and the only permanent member of the church council. The process of nomination and election/appointment of these members and the details of the council’s duties are explained in the church constitution.

It is important to recognize the nature and purpose of the church council. It is often thought that the church council is responsible for the “material” operation of the church, leaving the “spiritual” ministry for the priest. Part of its 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. The church council should not be seen as a governing body or business committee, but as a group of spiritually rooted individuals who assist the priest in building up the body of Christ. Council members must therefore be spiritually active, and exemplary in church attendance and stewardship. A candidate for service on the church council must:

  • have been a member of the church for at least one year;
  • be in church on Sunday 90% of the time, attend the feasts of Nativity and Pascha (both are required), attend the celebration of other major feasts, preferably attend Great Vespers on Saturday, too;
  • be in union with the teaching of the faith, which means frequent confession as established by the priest, and frequent reception of the Holy Mysteries;
  • work toward tithing of their income to the general budget and the good of the church;
  • Actively pursue spiritual development and growth through the deepening of a personal prayer life, reading the Scriptures, the Church Fathers, and other spiritual books related to the Orthodox faith as determined by the priest.

Once a slate of potential parish council members is compiled and approved by the pastor, it must be sent to the diocesan office for approval and blessing by the bishop. Only those who have attended a parish council workshop will be considered as eligible candidates.

Yours in Christ,

+ MARK

Bishop of Toledo and the Diocese of the Midwest