REGULATIONS FOR PARISHES, CHURCH CONGREGATIONS, CHURCH-SCHOOL CONGREGATIONS AND MONASTERIES OF THE WESTERN AMERICAN DIOCESE OF THE SERBIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH

REGULATIONS

FOR PARISHES, CHURCH CONGREGATIONS,

CHURCH-SCHOOL CONGREGATIONS AND MONASTERIES OF THE

WESTERN AMERICAN DIOCESE OF THE

SERBIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH

 

 

I DIOCESE

 

Article 1

1. The Western American Diocese of the Serbian Orthodox Church is canonically, hierarchically and administratively an integral and inseparable-inalienable organizational part of the Serbian Orthodox Church (hereinafter “S.O.C.”) with its See in Belgrade, Republic of Serbia.
2. The Western American Diocese of the S.O.C. is an incorporated (registered) legal entity, i.e. a religious non-profit corporation in the State of California (California Secretary of State File Number 4014767) in the United States of America.
3. With respect to church-administrative matters, the Western American Diocese of the S.O.C., consists of Episcopal Deaneries, Parishes, Missionary Parishes, Church Congregations, i.e. Church-School Congregations, Monasteries and other church institutions that exist and are established in accordance with the Constitution and other acts of the S.O.C.
4. The See of the Western American Diocese of the S.O.C. is located in Alhambra, Los Angeles, California.
5. The Western American Diocese of the S.O.C. is headed by a Diocesan Bishop who, by decision of the Holy Assembly of Bishops of the S.O.C., may have the title of bishop, archbishop or metropolitan (hereinafter “Diocesan Bishop”) and is the principal ecclesiastical and administrative authority of the Diocese.
6. The competent[1] Diocesan Bishop is, according to the Church Canons, the principal ecclesiastical authority of all church life and church order in the Western American Diocese of the S.O.C. and He oversees the Diocese with the assistance of the church-hierarchical and church-self-governing ecclesiastical authorities and governing bodies identified in the Constitution of the S.O.C. and the Statute of the Western American Diocese of the S.O.C.
7. The Episcopal Deaneries, Parishes, Missionary Parishes, Church Congregations, i.e. Church-School Congregations, Monasteries and other church institutions in the Diocese of the Western American Diocese of the S.O.C. that exist and are established in accordance with the Constitution and other acts of the S.O.C. are governed on the basis of:

• Holy Scripture and Holy Tradition in accordance with the teachings of the Holy Orthodox Church;
• the Canons of the Ecumenical Councils of the Holy Orthodox Church and, recognized by them, the canons of the Apostolic Councils, the Regional Councils and Holy Fathers;
• the Regulations of Regional Councils and the Synods of the Patriarchates, insofar as they have been adopted by the S.O.C.;
• the Constitution of the S.O.C.;
• the decrees, regulations, rules and other general and individual acts of the Holy Assembly of Bishops of the S.O.C., the Holy Synod of Bishops of the S.O.C. and the Patriarchal Administrative Board of the S.O.C.;
• Statute of the Western American Diocese of the S.O.C.;
• these Regulations; and
• the By-Laws (Local Regulations) of the Church Congregation, i.e. Church-School Congregation or the Monastery, which have been approved by the Diocesan Administrative Board of the Western American Diocese of the S.O.C. and, in the final instance, by the Holy Synod of Bishops of the S.O.C.

8. The Holy Synod of Bishops of the S.O.C. and the Holy Assembly of Bishops of the S.O.C. are the highest church authorities who in the final instance interpret the church-ecclesiastical acts identified in this Article.
9. The Western American Diocese of the S.O.C., by decision of the Holy Assembly of Bishops of the S.O.C., carries out its Orthodox spiritual mission among the faithful (members) of the S.O.C. on the territory of its canonical jurisdiction.
10. Existing and future Episcopal Deaneries, Parishes, Missionary Parishes, Church Congregations, i.e. Church-School Congregations, Monasteries and other church institutions in the Western American Diocese of the S.O.C. constitute its integral and inseparable parts of the Diocese and recognize the jurisdiction of the Western American Diocese of the S.O.C., the competent Diocesan Bishop of the Western American Diocese of the S.O.C. and the other ecclesiastical authorities and governing bodies of the S.O.C.
11. Episcopal Deaneries, Parishes, Missionary Parishes, Church Congregations, i.e. Church-School Congregations, Monasteries and other church institutions in the Western American Diocese of the S.O.C. are always governed in accordance with the church regulations identified in Paragraph 7 above of this Article 1 of these Regulations.
12. Church and legal acts of the Parishes, Church Congregations, i.e. Church-School Congregations, Monasteries and other church institutions in the Western American Diocese of the S.O.C. must be in accordance with the Constitution of the S.O.C., the Statute of the Western American Diocese of the S.O.C. and these Regulations, and otherwise shall be void and without effect within the Serbian Orthodox Church and shall not be recognized as authorized acts on behalf of the Diocese or the S.O.C.

 

II PARISH

 

Article 2

1. A Parish is a community of Orthodox persons who are under the spiritual leadership of a Parish Priest who is appointed and dismissed by the competent Diocesan Bishop.
2. Every communicant-believer of the S.O.C. who resides in the territory of the ​​canonical jurisdiction of the Western American Diocese of the S.O.C. belongs to that parish in which he/she permanently resides.
3. Decisions on exceptions to this rule are made by the competent Diocesan Bishop upon a formal-reasoned request from the interested parties.

 

Article 3

1. The Parish has its parochial church (building).
2. Several parishes may have a mutual church (building).
3. If there is more than one church (building) in a parish, only one of them is designated the parish church (building), and the others are secondary/affiliated.

 

Article 4

1. The Parish shall have its office in which are kept the parish seal and stamp, the metrical books for births and baptisms, marriages, deaths, converts, protocols, the register of households, the parish chronicle and other parish archives.
2. If there are several Parishes attached to one parish church (building), there is only one parish office for all of them, with common metrical books and other official books and one seal.

 

Article 5

1. The Parish Seal and all official records of the Parish are kept by the Parish Priest.
2. All official correspondence and extracts must be issued with the official seal of the Parish affixed thereto.

 

Article 6

1. In the Western American Diocese of the S.O.C., in addition to those already in existence, new Parishes may be established.
2. A proposal for the establishment of a new Parish shall be submitted to the competent Diocesan Bishop by at least 40 Serbian or other Orthodox communicants-believers who wish to be parishioners in the Western American Diocese of the S.O.C.
3. The competent Diocesan Bishop, in concert with the Diocesan Council and the Ecclesiastical Court of the Diocese of the Western American Diocese of the S.O.C., has the right to, if necessary, allow an exception to this requirement.
4. The competent Diocesan Bishop, after accepting the application and rendering the decision to establish a new Parish, grants an ecclesiastical charter to the newly-established Parish and appoints a Parish Priest.
5. Should it become necessary, the competent Diocesan Bishop, in accordance with the Constitution of the S.O.C. and in concert with the Ecclesiastical Court of the Western American Diocese of the S.O.C., has the right to arrondate-divide a parish into two or more Parishes and to regulate the Parishes, which is thereafter reported to the Holy Synod of Bishops of the S.O.C. and the Patriarchal Administrative Board of the S.O.C.
6. In a Parish and Church Congregation, i.e. Church-School Congregation, where the need for more Parish Priests arises, the Parish, and not the Church Congregation i.e. Church-School Congregation, is divided into several Parishes with one priest for each parish, with the competent Diocesan Bishop appointing one of the Priests as the Senior Priest of the joint parish church (building).
7. The Senior Priest of the joint parish church (building) is the custodian of the church-ecclesial seals and official church-ecclesial documents.
8. In places where there is a Parish without an organized Church Congregation, i.e. Church-School Congregation, the competent Parish Priest proposes Parishioners to serve as Members of the Parish Trusteeship.
9. The competent Diocesan Bishop, upon the proposal of the competent Parish Priest, appoints the members of the Parish Trusteeship, and in their work they are to follow and adhere to the Constitution of the S.O.C. and the other church-ecclesial acts which are set forth in Article 1, Paragraph 7 of these Regulations.
10. The decision to liquidate-dissolve a Parish is made by the competent Diocesan Bishop in concert with the Ecclesiastical Court and the Diocesan Administrative Board of the Western American Diocese of the S.O.C., and which is thereafter reported to the Holy Synod of Bishops of the S.O.C. and the Patriarchal Administrative Board of the S.O.C.

 

Article 7

A Parishioner (communicant-believer), when moving-transferring from one parish to another, is obliged to present to the new Parish Priest a certified extract from the parish register, signed by the previous Parish Priest, which contains the parish data about the Parishioner’s household.

 

Article 8

1. In places where a permanent Parish and Church Congregation, i.e. Church-School Congregation, have not been organized, the competent Diocesan Bishop, in concert with the Ecclesiastical Court and the Diocesan Administrative Board of the Western American Diocese of the S.O.C., renders the decision to establish a Missionary Parish, which is thereafter reported to the Holy Synod of Bishops of the S.O.C. and the Patriarchal Administrative Board of the S.O.C.
2. The Parish Priest of a Missionary Parish is appointed and dismissed by the competent Diocesan Bishop.

 

Article 9

1. The Parish Priest shall submit a written proposal to the competent Diocesan Bishop for the appointment of the Members of the Missionary Parish Trusteeship.
2. Members of the Missionary Parish Trusteeship shall be appointed and dismissed by the competent Diocesan Bishop in concert with the Ecclesiastical Court and the Diocesan Administrative Board of the Western American Diocese of the S.O.C.
3. Members of the Missionary Parish Audit Committee shall be appointed and dismissed by the competent Diocesan Bishop in concert with the Ecclesiastical Court and the Diocesan Administrative Board of the Western American Diocese of the S.O.C.
4. The competent Diocesan Bishop, in concert with the Ecclesiastical Court and the Diocesan Administrative Board of the Western American Diocese of the S.O.C., determines the scope of work of the Missionary Parish Trusteeship and provides to it those legal acts necessary for its organization, legal status and work of the Missionary Parish (Articles of Incorporation, By-Laws, etc.).
5. At the end of the fiscal year, the Missionary Parish Trusteeship shall submit an annual financial report and budget proposal, as well as a general report of its work, to the Diocesan Administrative Board of the Western American Diocese of the S.O.C.
6. The Missionary Parish Trusteeship, in concert with the competent Parish Priest, shall manage all of the affairs of the local organizations in the Missionary Parish (Church Choir, Circle of Serbian Sisters and other local church organizations).
7. Meetings of the members of the Missionary Parish shall be held in the Missionary Parish at least once a year and said meetings shall be of an informative nature.

 

Article 10

1. A Missionary Parish may become a Permanent Parish when it fulfills the conditions for regular functioning, in accordance with the Sacred Canons of the Orthodox Church, the Constitution of the S.O.C., the Statute of the Western American Diocese of the S.O.C. and these Regulations.
2. The competent Diocesan Bishop, in concert with the Ecclesiastical Court and the Diocesan Administrative Board of the Western American Diocese of the S.O.C., renders the decision to change the status of the Missionary Parish to a Permanent Parish and a Church Congregation, i.e. Church-School Congregation of the Western American Diocese of the S.O.C., which is thereafter reported to the Holy Synod of Bishops of the S.O.C. and the Patriarchal Administrative Board of the S.O.C.

 

III PARISH CLERGY

 

Article 11

1. A Parish Priest is a person who has been canonically ordained and appointed by the competent Diocesan Bishop to serve in the Church. A Parish Priest stands at the head of his Parish as the representative of the competent Diocesan Bishop and, as a rule, lives in the territory of his parish service.
2. The competent Diocesan Bishop, by virtue of his position and on the basis of the Sacred Canons of the Orthodox Church, the Constitution of the S.O.C., the Statute of the Western American Diocese of the S.O.C. and other church-legal acts, appoints and dismisses a Parish Priest in the Western American Diocese of the S.O.C., pursuant to request or according to the needs of the Church.
3. A Parish Priest also may be transferred from a parish based on a final judgment of the Ecclesiastical Court of the Western American Diocese of the S.O.C.
4. A Parish Priest may retire at any time upon request with the blessing of the competent Diocesan Bishop.
5. A Parish Priest is required to retire when he fulfills the requirements for receiving a full (100%) federal pension (Federal Social Security),e. upon reaching the age of 67.
6. A Parish Priest is required to notify the competent Diocesan Bishop in writing at least six months before fulfilling the requirements for retirement referred to in Paragraph 5 of this Article.
7. The competent Diocesan Bishop has the right to extend the Parish Priest’s parish service, with the Parish Priest’s consent, even after the requirements for retirement have been fulfilled.
8. A Parish Priest may have an additional occupation/job only with the express written approval of the competent Diocesan Bishop, of which the Parish Priest is obliged to timely inform the competent Diocesan Bishop.

 

Article 12

1. A Deacon is a person canonically ordained and appointed by the competent Diocesan Bishop to serve in the Church.
2. A church (building) which has been designated a Cathedral, which is located in the See of the competent Diocesan Bishop, customarily has a Deacon, who shall be entitled to diaconal emoluments both from the Diocese and the Church Congregation, i.e. the Church-School Congregation of the Cathedral Temple.
3. Parishes may have one or more Deacons, should the Parish have the means to support him/them and should the competent Diocesan Bishop so deem as necessary.
4. The Diocesan Deacon is under the direct supervision of the competent Diocesan Bishop, who determines his scope of work.
5. Diocesan and Parochial Deacons, except for those who are employed in other-private institutions-businesses, shall enjoy all the rights and benefits of Parish Priests.
6. A Parochial Deacon is appointed by the competent Diocesan Bishop and he assists the Parish Priest, i.e. the Senior Priest of the church (building), in conducting the administrative and other affairs assigned to him by the Senior Priest of the church (building).
7. Years spent in the diaconal service are recognized as years spent in the priestly service.
8. Deacons who are employed in other institutions are nevertheless under the canonical jurisdiction of the Diocesan Bishop and are attached to a specific parish church (building).
9. Deacons may serve and preach in the parish church temple (building) with the blessing of the competent Diocesan Bishop and with the knowledge of the Senior Priest of the church (building).

 

Article 13

1. In places where there are several Parish Priests at one parish church (building), the competent Diocesan Bishop appoints one of them as the Senior Priest of the church (building), who is also at the same time the Senior Priest of the parish office.
2. The Senior Priest of the church (building) is responsible for order in the church (building) and the office.

 

Article 14

1. If a formal complaint is filed against a Parish Priest or Deacon, the competent Diocesan Bishop has the right, in accordance with the Constitution of the S.O.C., to place him under a ban on serving any priestly rights-services (suspension) until the decision of the Ecclesiastical Court of the Western American Diocese of the S.O.C. becomes legally binding.
2. A case of this type shall be considered urgent, and the Ecclesiastical Court of the Western American Diocese of the S.O.C. is obliged to resolve such a case no later than within one year.

 

Article 15

A suspended Parish Priest shall receive half of his regular salary until the judgment of the Ecclesiastical Court of the Western American Diocese of the S.O.C. becomes final, and the other half shall be paid to the priest who substitutes for him in the parish.

 

Article 16

1. A Parish Priest cannot leave his parish vacant without the consent and release from his competent Diocesan Bishop.
2. The date of the Parish Priest’s release shall be promptly communicated to the Church Congregation, i.e. the Church-School Congregation, for information.

 

Article 17

Before leaving the parish, the Parish Priest is obliged to surrender, either to his successor or to the priest designated by the competent Diocesan Bishop, in good condition, the metrical and other church-ecclesial books, the archives, register of households, as well as the church property which he administered

 

Article 18

1. A Parish Priest, with respect to his work, is under the direct supervision of his Diocesan Bishop, who exercises this supervision personally or through Diocesan ecclesiastical authorities and governing bodies.
2. The Parish Priest is accountable exclusively to his Diocesan Bishop and the Ecclesiastical Court of the Western American Diocese of the S.O.C. and to the other ecclesiastical authorities and governing bodies of the S.O.C., in accordance with the Constitution of the S.O.C.

 

Article 19

1. All grievances and formal complaints of Parishioners and Members of the Executive Board of a Church Congregation, i.e. Church-School Congregation, against a Parish Priest shall be submitted in writing to the competent Diocesan Bishop through the Parish Priest.
2. The Parish Priest is obliged to submit the grievances and formal complaints submitted against him, within eight (8) days from the date of receipt, through the Episcopal Dean or by mail, to the competent Diocesan Bishop for review and consideration.
3. All grievances and formal complaints against Parishioners or the Executive Board of a Church Congregation, i.e. Church-School Congregation, shall be forwarded by the competent Parish Priest, in writing, to the competent Diocesan Bishop for review and consideration within eight (8) days from the date of receipt.
4. Upon receipt of grievances and formal complaints under this Article, the competent Diocesan Bishop either decides the matter himself, if it is within his jurisdiction under the Constitution of the S.O.C., or he submits the matter to the Ecclesiastical Court of the Western American Diocese of the S.O.C. for further legal process.

 

Article 20

1. A Parish Priest may not perform rites in another parish without the permission of the competent Parish Priest.
2. In extraordinary circumstances, the competent Diocesan Bishop may instruct a priest to perform a church-ecclesial rite in another parish.

 

Article 21

1. A Church Congregation, i.e. a Church-School Congregation, or a Parishioner may not bring a priest from outside the parish to perform the Holy Mysteries and other church-ecclesial rites.
2. In the event of a violation of this regulation, the competent Diocesan Bishop, together with the appropriate church ecclesiastical authorities and governing bodies, shall take consonant measures prescribed by the Constitution of the S.O.C.

 

Article 22

1. According to the Constitution of the S.O.C., the Statute of the Western American Diocese of the S.O.C. and these Regulations, the duties of a Parish Priest are as follows:

• regularly serves the Holy Liturgy and the daily church-ecclesial rule, performs the Holy Mysteries and sacred rites for his parishioners in the church (building) and parish according to the rules of the Sacred Canons of the Orthodox Church, the Constitution of the S.O.C. and other regulations of the competent ecclesiastical authorities and governing bodies, and at all divine services commemorates the competent Diocesan Bishop;
• regularly preaches the word of God and teaches his parishioners in the church (building) and on every other appropriate occasion;
• serves as a good example to his parishioners in his personal and family life;
• performs general prayers of supplication, thanksgivings and memorial services according to church-ecclesial regulations and the direction of the church authorities;
• performs liturgical processions led by the cross, along with the blessing of water, in those places where customary, prayers at the beginning and end of the school year, the breaking/blessing of the festal bread on the occasion of the Patronal Feast of the church (building) and on the Feast of Saint Sava, with the blessing of water;
• announces to the people in the church the holidays that are celebrated and explains their significance/meaning;
• takes care of the religious and moral upbringing and education of Orthodox youth outside of the schools and provides religious education instruction in the schools, if there is no permanent religious education teacher;
• takes care to ensure good order, pious and correct reading and chanting during divine worship services and the cleanliness and beautification-solemnity in the church (building) and makes takes steps to ensure the same, and further ensures the use, acquisition and good condition of vestments, church utensils and items and liturgical books, especially the maintenance and guarding of cemeteries and other consecrated places and church antiquities;
• takes care of the library of his church and distributes religious-moral books among his parishioners and zealously suppresses the distribution of writings whose content is against the teachings of the Orthodox faith and morals;
• visits his parishioners to teach them pastoral lessons and directs them to perform works of Christian charity-virtue, and in agreement with the Executive Board of the Church Congregation, i.e. Church-School Congregation, he takes care of the organization of charitable services and the establishment of church-charitable institutes;
• suppresses faithless and non-Orthodox propaganda and reports to the Episcopal Dean every attempt and manifestation against the faith, and in important cases, reports them to the Diocesan Bishop; he works to suppress extramarital life, drunkenness, blasphemy, cursing and all other bad habits among the people;
• reconciles quarreling spouses;
• executes in a timely fashion decisions and orders of his superior authorities;
• accurately and regularly keeps the Church Protocols-Metrical Books of baptisms, pre-marital questionnaires, marriages and deaths, together with the anagraph-inventory (register of homes), as well as other official books-registers and maintains them in good condition and order; issues excerpts and certificates, either at the request of individuals or as an official duty, and, in accordance with regulations, regularly sends annual reports and statistical data on the state of the parish to the Diocesan Ecclesiastical Court of the Western American Diocese of the S.O.C.;
• writes a diary-annal of his parish;
• appoints and dismisses, in agreement with the Executive Board of the Church Congregation, i.e. Church-School Congregation, the church janitor-custodian and cantor; instructs, directs and supervises them in their service; in the event of a disagreement-dispute between the Parish Priest and the Executive Board of the Church Congregation, i.e. Church-School Congregation with respect to the church janitor-custodian and cantor, the dispute is resolved by the Diocesan Bishop in the final instance; and
• fully participates in the work of the Executive Board and the other local organizations of the Church Congregation, i.e. the Church-School Congregation, and as a spiritual father gives them the necessary instructions for their work in the spirit of the Holy Gospel.

 

Article 23

1. The Parish Priest’s emoluments (salary, benefits, etc.) are:

• Monthly salary and benefits, the minimum amount of which is determined by the Diocesan Council of the Western American Diocese of the S.O.C. The minimum amount of salary and benefits, determined by the Diocesan Council of the Western American Diocese of the S.O.C., shall be implemented as consistently as possible for all priests of the Western American Diocese, regardless of the state in which they serve. The monthly salary is adjusted to the Consumer Price Index (CPI) of the state in which the priest lives. The basis for this adjustment is the priest’s salary for the previous year (including all previous raises).
• Appropriately furnished living quarters, including heating, electricity, water and other utilities or a commensurate monetary allowance for a rented apartment and the above costs.
• Federal Social Security, 50% of which is paid by the Church Congregation, i.e. Church-School Congregation, and 50% of which is paid by the Parish Priest.
• Church Pension Fund for Priests and other religious workers, 2/3 of which is paid by the Church Congregation, i.e. Church-School Congregation, and 1/3 of which is paid by the Parish Priest.
• Health insurance for the Parish Priest, his wife if she is not employed or is employed without health insurance, and minor children of his family.
• Life insurance for the Parish Priest.
• Workers compensation insurance for the Parish Priest.
• Official use-access to a telephone, computer, and the internet, or a corresponding monetary allowance for the same.
• Car allowance.
• Travel expenses for official business outside the territory of parochial service.
• Income from the performance of the Holy Mysteries and other church rituals at the church (building), the amount of which and the Parish Priest’s share are determined by the Executive Board of the Church Congregation, i.e. Church-School Congregation;
• Emoluments related to annual vacation. The expenses related to the substitute for the Parish Priest during his annual vacation are borne by the Church Congregation, i.e. Church-School Congregation or the Missionary Parish. In the event that a Parish Priest does not use his annual vacation and instead performs his parish duties during that time, the Priest shall only receive his regular salary, except under special circumstances, with the blessing of the competent Diocesan Bishop and with the agreement of the Executive Board of the Church Congregation, i.e. Church-School Congregation. Annual vacations cannot accumulate and must be used in the year that they accrue, except under special circumstances, with the blessing of the competent Diocesan Bishop and with the agreement of the Executive Board of the Church Congregation, i.e. the Church-School Congregation. The Parish Priest is obliged to timely send a written notification of his intention to use his annual vacation to the competent Diocesan Bishop and the Executive Board of the Church Congregation, i.e. the Church-School Congregation. The Parish Priest may not be absent from the parish without the consent of the competent Diocesan Bishop.
• The length of the annual vacation of Parish Priests and Deacons is determined according to the years of their active service in the Serbian or other Orthodox Church, including Sundays and holidays:
• from one to five years of service – 14 days;
• from five to fifteen years of service – 21 days;
• from the sixteenth year of service onwards – 31 days.

 

Article 24

A Parish or Church Congregation, i.e. Church-School Congregation, cannot decrease the emoluments (salary and benefits) of a priest without the consent of the competent Diocesan Bishop and the Diocesan Council of the Western American Diocese of the S.O.C.

 

Article 25

1. For the first six (6) months of sick leave, a Parish Priest shall receive all his regular emoluments (salary and benefits) from the Parish or Church Congregation, i.e. Church-School Congregation.
2. During the sick leave, a substitute Parish Priest shall be appointed by the competent Diocesan Bishop.
3. During the sick leave, the substitute Parish Priest is paid by the Church Congregation, i.e. Church-School Congregation.

 

Article 26

1. In the event of the death of a Parish Priest, the Church Congregation, i.e. Church-School Congregation, shall pay to his family his regular emoluments for three (3) months.
2. The Church Congregation, i.e. Church-School Congregation, may not evict the family of the deceased priest from the apartment for at least three (3) months from the date of his death.

 

Article 27

All priests of the Western American Diocese of the S.O.C. must participate as members of the Church Pension Fund for Priests and other religious workers, in accordance with the provisions of that fund, and must have life insurance coverage.

 

Article 28

1. The level of the fees for church-ecclesial rites performed by the Parish Priest in the church (building) shall be determined, after consultation with the Parish Priest, by the decision of the Executive Board of the Church Congregation, i.e. the Church-School Congregation, commensurate to the conditions in the parish.
2. The part of the fee for the performed parish rites that belongs to the Parish Priest shall be regulated by the Executive Board of the Church Congregation, i.e. the Church-School Congregation, in agreement with its Parish Priest.

 

Article 29

1. A Parish Priest may, for personal reasons, take a leave of absence from the parish only with the consent of the competent Diocesan Bishop, provided that he finds a substitute, preferably from among the priests of the S.O.C.
2. A Parish Priest is obliged to promptly inform the Executive Board of his Church Congregation, i.e. Church-School Congregation, about his absence.

 

 

IV CHURCH CONGREGATION/CHURCH-SCHOOL CONGREGATION

 

Article 30

1. A Church Congregation, i.e. Church-School Congregation, is composed of the members of the S.O.C. with a Priest in a defined territory, which may include one or more municipalities.
2. In the Western American Diocese of the S.O.C., in addition to those already in existence, new Church Congregations, i.e. Church-School Congregations, may be established.
3. When establishing a new Church Congregation, i.e. Church-School Congregation, a petition shall be submitted to the Diocesan Administrative Board of the Western American Diocese of the S.O.C., signed by at least 2/3 of the Parishioners, who undertake to financially support and assist it; a statement of acceptance of the Constitution of the S.O.C., other valid-applicable acts of the Holy Assembly of Bishops of the S.O.C. and the Holy Synod of Bishops of the S.O.C. relating to Church Congregations, i.e. Church-School Congregations, the Statute of the Western American Diocese of the S.O.C. and these Regulations, and drafts of the Articles of Incorporation and the By-Laws (Local Regulations) of the Church Congregation, i.e. Church-School Congregation, which must be in accordance with the Constitution of the S.O.C., the Statute of the Western American Diocese of the S.O.C. and these Regulations.
4. The competent Diocesan Bishop, upon receipt of the documents referred to in Paragraph 3 of this Article and examination of the possibility of establishing a Church Congregation, i.e. a Church-School Congregation in a parish, shall make a decision in concert with the Diocesan Administrative Board and the Ecclesiastical Court of the Western American Diocese of the S.O.C., which is thereafter reported to the Holy Synod of Bishops of the S.O.C. and the Patriarchal Administrative Board of the S.O.C.
5. The competent Diocesan Bishop, after making the decision to establish a new Church Congregation, i.e. a Church-School Congregation, and after receiving the acts of the Holy Synod of Bishops of the S.O.C. and the Patriarchal Administrative Board of the S.O.C., shall issue a church-ecclesiastical charter of establishment.
6. A Church Congregation, i.e. a Church-School Congregation, as well as a Missionary Parish of the Western American Diocese of the S.O.C., shall attain the status of a legal entity by way of incorporation (registration) with the competent State authority in accordance with State legislation, provided that the Articles of Incorporation, By-Laws (Local Regulations) and other acts are in accordance with the Sacred Canons of the Orthodox Church, the Constitution of the S.O.C., the Statute of the Western American Diocese of the S.O.C. and these Regulations.
7. Before a Church Congregation, Church-School Congregation or Missionary Parish submits a request for incorporation (registration), the Diocesan Administrative Board of the Western American Diocese of the S.O.C., must render a written decision affirming that the Church Congregation, Church-School Congregation or Missionary Parish has fulfilled the conditions/requirements for incorporation (registration), said decision simultaneously signifying the written consent/approval of the Diocesan Administrative Board of the Western American Diocese of the S.O.C. for the incorporation (registration).

 

Article 31

1. A Parishioner is a person who has been baptized and chrismated in the Orthodox Church and belongs to a Parish and Church Congregation, i.e. Church-School Congregation in the territory where the Parishioner resides.
2. A Member of a Church Congregation, i.e. Church-School Congregation, is a Parishioner who: fulfills his faith-spiritual obligations towards the Church and strives to live a Christian life, according to the teachings of the Orthodox Church; participates in the Holy Liturgy and other divine services; regularly receives Holy Communion; respects ecclesiastical authorities and governing bodies and church order, as witnessed by the Parish Priest; helps the Church materially and financially in its mission; and, by personal example, witnesses to others and professes the Orthodox faith.
3. A Church Congregation, i.e. Church-School Congregation, is organized in a specific area, headed by a Parish Priest, and its Members have voluntarily undertaken to assist in the management and maintenance of the property of the Church Congregation, i.e. Church-School Congregation, in accordance with the Constitution of the S.O.C., the Statute of the Western American Diocese of the S.O.C., and these Regulations, for the benefit of the Church and for their own faith life. Parishioners as members of the parish who towards the Church Congregation, i.e. Church-School Congregation, timely and regularly fulfill the prescribed obligations under Paragraph 2 of this Article, have the right to participate and vote at Assemblies, as well as the right to be nominated and elected to the Executive Board, the Audit Committee, and as representatives to an Annual-Regular or Special-Extraordinary Diocesan Assembly of the Western American Diocese of the S.O.C.
4. A Parishioner and Member of a Church Congregation, i.e. Church-School Congregation, must be of legal age, i.e. the age of majority, and has the obligation to regularly fulfill annual obligations to the Church Congregation, i.e. Church-School Congregation.
5. A Member of a Church Congregation, i.e. Church-School Congregation, is obliged to fulfill all faith and moral obligations set forth in Paragraph 2 of this Article, as well as the financial or stewardship obligations of the Church Congregation, i.e. Church-School Congregation; is governed by and lives in accordance with the Constitution of the S.O.C., the Statute of the Western American Diocese of the S.O.C. and these Regulations; and cooperates with the Parish Priest and other parishioners and Members of the Church Congregation, i.e. Church-School Congregation for the progress of the parish and the Church Congregation, i.e. Church-School Congregation.
6. All Church Congregations, i.e. Church-School Congregations in the Western American Diocese of the S.O.C. shall implement a procedure and maintain a protocol so that the Priest and the Executive Board of the Church Congregation, i.e. Church-School Congregation, are able determine the status of Parishioners, in terms of whether the Parishioner meets the conditions established to attain the status of a Member of the Church Congregation, i.e. Church-School Congregation.
7. Parishioners who are entered in the registry books and other documents of the parish and Church Congregation, i.e. Church-School Congregation, may be called Members, Stewards, or other similar titles.
8. In Church Congregations, i.e. Church-School Congregations, and Missionary Parishes, there may also be Stewardship regulations and programs. A steward is a Parishioner who has solemnly pledged to contribute to the spiritual and material-financial life of the Church Congregation, i.e. Church-School Congregation, through work or resources, in cooperation with the competent Parish Priest. The Executive Board of the Church Congregation, i.e. Church-School Congregation, shall annually determine the guidelines for acquiring the status of a Steward. A Steward who regularly fulfills his or her obligations under the adopted guidelines shall have the status of a Member of the Church Congregation, i.e. Church-School Congregation, who have the right to vote.
9. In the event that a Church Congregation, i.e. Church-School Congregation, has not been established in a parish, the conditions prescribed in Paragraph 2 of this Article shall apply to Parishioners.

 

Article 32

1. A person who has not been recognized as having the status of a Parishioner or the status of a Member of a Church Congregation, i.e. a Church-School Congregation, as well as a person who has been expelled from the Membership, has the right to appeal.
2. An appeal shall be submitted to the Diocesan Administrative Board of the Western American Diocese of the S.O.C. through the Executive Board of the Church Congregation, i.e. Church-School Congregation, within fourteen (14) days, starting from the day the appellant received the decision of the Executive Board of the Church Congregation, i.e. Church-School Congregation.
3. The decision of the Diocesan Administrative Board of the Western American Diocese of the S.O.C. is final and binding on both parties.
4. No one may be a Member of more than one Church Congregation, i.e. Church-School Congregation or Parish at the same time.

 

Article 33

Upon fulfilling the conditions set forth in Article 31 of these Regulations, a new Parishioner and Member of a Church Congregation, i.e. Church-School Congregation, shall attain rights and obligations after six (6) months.

 

Article 34

In the event that a Parishioner moves from the territory of ​​one parish to another parish, the Parishioner’s membership is valid in the new Parish or Church Congregation, i.e. Church-School Congregation.

 

Article 35

1. The merger of two or more Church Congregations, i.e. Church-School Congregations, in the Western American Diocese of the S.O.C. is permitted.
2. In the case referred to in Paragraph 1 of this Article, the Executive Boards of the Church Congregations, i.e. Church-School Congregations shall be obliged to obtain the prior written consent of the Diocesan Administrative Board of the Western American Diocese of the S.O.C.
3. The merger of two or more Church Congregations, i.e. Church-School Congregations, must be approved by at least 2/3 of the total number of Members – Parishioners who have the right to vote who are present at the Assembly of the Church Congregation, i.e. Church-School Congregation.
4. The session of the Assembly of the Church Congregation, i.e. Church-School Congregation, for the purpose of making a decision on merger with another Church Congregation, i.e. Church-School Congregation, shall be convened by way of written notice, sent by the Executive Board of the Church Congregation, i.e. Church-School Congregation, at least 14 days before the session is held.
5. The decision rendered by the Assembly of the Church Congregation, i.e. Church-School Congregation, related to the merger with another Church Congregation, i.e. Church-School Congregation, shall be submitted without delay to the Diocesan Council of the Western American Diocese of the S.O.C. for approval.
6. The Diocesan Council of the Western American Diocese of the S.O.C. informs the Holy Synod of Bishops of the S.O.C. and the Patriarchal Administrative Board of the S.O.C. of the merger of two or more Church Congregations, i.e. Church-School Congregations.
7. In the event that a Church Congregation, i.e. Church-School Congregation, is unable to support itself or must cease operations due to other objective reasons that prevent its regular functioning, the Executive Board of the Church Congregation, i.e. Church-School Congregation, shall be obliged to convene an Assembly. The Executive Board of the Church Congregation, i.e. Church-School Congregation, shall be obliged to request and obtain written consent from the competent Diocesan Bishop for the holding-convening of the Assembly.
8. In the event that a Church Congregation, i.e. a Church-School Congregation, has already been dissolved and the Assembly cannot be convened, the competent Diocesan Bishop and the Diocesan Council are authorized to announce that the Church Congregation, i.e. a Church-School Congregation, has been dissolved.
9. The decision regarding the dissolution-liquidation (cessation of work) of a Church Congregation, i.e. Church-School Congregation, shall be made by the Assembly of the Church Congregation, i.e. Church-School Congregation, at a session attended by at least 2/3 of the Members who have the right to vote. The Assembly of the Church Congregation, i.e. Church-School Congregation, shall be obliged to submit the decision regarding the dissolution-liquidation (cessation of work) of the Church Congregation, i.e. Church-School Congregation, within 7 days from the date of its adoption, to the Diocesan Administrative Board and the Diocesan Council of the Western American Diocese of the S.O.C. The decision regarding the dissolution-liquidation of the Church Congregation, i.e. Church-School Congregation, shall be enforceable after confirmation by the Diocesan Administrative Board of the Western American Diocese of the S.O.C., the Patriarchal Administrative Board of the S.O.C., and the Holy Synod of Bishops of the S.O.C.
10. The property and the rights of the Church Congregation, i.e. Church-School Congregation, in the event of liquidation (cessation of work) belong to the Western American Diocese of the S.O.C. and are exclusively used for church needs.

 

V ASSEMBLY OF THE

CHURCH CONGREGATION/CHURCH-SCHOOL CONGREGATION

 

Article 36

1. The decision regarding the agenda and venue of the Assembly of the Church Congregation, i.e. Church-School Congregation, shall be rendered by the Executive Board of the Church Congregation, i.e. Church-School Congregation.
2. An invitation containing the agenda shall be sent to the Members of the Assembly of the Church Congregation, i.e. Church-School Congregation, at least fourteen (14) days before the Assembly session.
3. The competent Parish Priest shall announce the time and venue of the Assembly in the church (building) and, if there is one, on the official website of the parish in a timely manner, at least fourteen (14) days in advance.
4. The Presidency of the Assembly of the Church Congregation, i.e. Church-School Congregation, must strictly adhere to the agenda, and the Presidency of the Assembly may include questions and proposals outside the agenda under the item: “Questions and Proposals”.

 

Article 37

1. The sessions of the Assembly of the Church Congregation, i.e. Church-School Congregation, are opened and closed by the competent Parish Priest with a prayer.
2. The President of the Executive Board of the Church Congregation, i.e. Church-School Congregation, opens the nomination for the election of the Presidency of the Assembly: Chairman, Vice-Chairman and Secretary.
3. The Chairman, Vice-Chairman and Secretary of the Assembly of the Church Congregation, i.e. Church-School Congregation, are elected by a majority of votes of the Members present at the Assembly.

 

Article 38

The Assembly of the Church Congregation, i.e. Church-School Congregation, shall perform the following tasks:

• elect the Presidency of the Assembly;
• elect representatives for the Diocesan Assembly of the Western American Diocese of the S.O.C.;
• elect the Executive Board of the Church Congregation, i.e. Church-School Congregation, the Nominating Committee for the upcoming year-term, and other necessary committees.
• decide, in accordance with the proposed budget, regarding the emoluments and other benefits of the priests and other staff of the Church Congregation, i.e. Church-School Congregation, in accordance with the Constitution of the S.O.C., these Regulations, and the decision of the Diocesan Council of the Western American Diocese of the S.O.C.
• makes decisions regarding the construction and repair of the church (building), school, parish house and other buildings, maintenance of church buildings and investments for the improvement of the property of the Church Congregation, i.e. the Church-School Congregation, and submits its decisions with plans, construction and financial estimates and other documents to the Diocesan Administrative Board of the Western American Diocese of the S.O.C. for approval;
• discusses other issues and proposals concerning the Church Congregation, i.e. the Church-School Congregation;
• adopts the By-Laws (Local Regulations) and makes amendments to and revisions of the By-Laws (Local Regulations) of the incorporated (registered) Church Congregation, i.e. Church-School Congregation, which must be in accordance with the Constitution of the S.O.C., the Statute of the Western American Diocese of the S.O.C. and these Regulations, and submits all said documents to the Diocesan Administrative Board of the Western American Diocese of the S.O.C. for approval;
• adopts By-Laws (Regulations) for special needs of the Church Congregation and By-Laws (Local Regulations) of the auxiliary organizations and bodies of the Church Congregation, i.e. Church-School Congregation, and submits all said documents to the Diocesan Administrative Board of the Western American Diocese of the S.O.C. for approval;
• in the budget proposal, provides financial and material resources for the implementation of the parish educational program, and the competent Diocesan Bishop approves the parish educational program;
• adopts the annual financial report (final accounting) and the budget proposal of the Church Congregation, i.e. Church-School Congregation, and submits them to the Diocesan Administrative Board of the Western American Diocese of the S.O.C. for approval; and
• decides on issues related to commercial turnover (purchase, sale/alienation, exchange and lease), as well as to mortgages/encumbrances, of the property of the Church Congregation, i.e. Church-School Congregation, and submits any decision to the Diocesan Administrative Board of the Western American Diocese of the S.O.C. for final written approval by the Patriarchal Administrative Board as set forth in Article 101 of the Constitution of the S.O.C.

 

Article 39

In the event that important issues arise during the year that exceed the competence-authority of the Executive Board of the Church Congregation, i.e. Church-School Congregation, and the decision cannot be postponed until the next Annual-Regular Assembly, the Executive Board of the Church Congregation, i.e. Church-School Congregation, upon approval of the competent Diocesan Bishop, has the right to convene a Special-Extraordinary Assembly that resolves only the issues for which it was convened.

 

 

Article 40

1. At the written request of one-half (1/2) of the Members of the Church Congregation, i.e. Church-School Congregation who have the right to vote or at the request of the Diocesan ecclesiastical authorities and governing bodies, the Executive Board of the Church Congregation, i.e. Church-School Congregation is obliged to convene a Special-Extraordinary Assembly.
2. A Special-Extraordinary Assembly, at which decisions will be rendered related to the sale-alienation, purchase and indebtedness-encumberance of church property, or the construction and expansion of new facilities, must be approved by the competent Diocesan Bishop and the Diocesan Administrative Board of the Western American Diocese of the S.O.C. and, in the final instance, written approval of the Patriarchal Administrative Board of the S.O.C.
3. The competent Diocesan Bishop has the right to send his delegates to any Assembly of the Church Congregation, i.e. Church-School Congregation.

 

 

Article 41

1. The quorum for an Annual-Regular or Special-Extraordinary Assembly is that number of Members who have the right to vote which is set forth in the By-Laws (Local Regulations) of the Church Congregation, i.e. Church-School Congregation.
2. If a quorum is not present for the work and decision-making of the Assembly, the Executive Board of the Church Congregation, i.e. Church-School Congregation is obliged to convene a new session of the Assembly within 14 days.
3. Issues related to the purchase, alienation, exchange, leasing or indebtedness of the property of the Church Congregation, i.e. Church-School Congregation, may be resolved only if at least 2/3 of the Members who have the right to vote are present.
4. In the event that a quorum is not present, the competent Diocesan Bishop, as an exception, may reduce the quorum for the next Special-Extraordinary Assembly.

 

Article 42

1. All decisions of Annual-Regular or Special-Extraordinary Assemblies shall be made by a simple majority of votes (50%+1 vote) of the total number of Members present who have the right to vote, unless a higher number is prescribed by these Regulations and the By-Laws (Local Regulations) of the Church Congregation, i.e. Church-School Congregation.
2. In the event of a tie, the vote of the competent Parish Priest shall be decisive.
3. Only Members who are present and have the right to vote shall have the right to vote at an Assembly.

 

Article 43

The Chairman of the Assembly of the Church Congregation, i.e. Church-School Congregation has the right to remove from the Assembly session any Member who abuses his/her rights, creates disorder and disrupts the Assembly in its work.

 

Article 44

1. In the event that the Assembly of a Church Congregation, i.e. a Church-School Congregation, exceeds its powers or prevents the execution of orders of Diocesan ecclesiastical authorities and governing bodies, the Diocesan Administrative Board of the Western American Diocese of the S.O.C. has the obligation to annul such decisions.
2. Until a new Assembly is held, the Diocesan Administrative Board of the Western American Diocese of the S.O.C. has the right to entrust the management of the Church Congregation, i.e. Church-School Congregation, to the previous Executive Board or to appoint a Temporary Trusteeship.
3. The Diocesan Administrative Board of the Western American Diocese of the S.O.C. will approve the convening of a new Assembly upon receipt of written assurance that the new Assembly will be held in accordance with the Statute of the Western American Diocese of the S.O.C., these Regulations, and the By-Laws (Local Regulations) of the Church Congregation, i.e. Church-School Congregation.

 

VI EXECUTIVE BOARD OF

CHURCH CONGREGATION/CHURCH-SCHOOL CONGREGATION

 

Article 45

1. Membership in the Executive Board of a Church Congregation, i.e. Church-School Congregation, is honorific and first and foremost signifies service to the S.O.C. All Members of the Parish, and especially Members of the Executive Board, are called to testify worthily and in every place that they are disciples of our Lord Jesus Christ and the Orthodox faith in all areas of life.
2. Candidates for Members of the Executive Board of a Church Congregation, i.e. Church-School Congregation must have the status of Parishioners who have the right to vote who strive to live a Christian life, regularly confess and partake in Holy Communion in their parish church (building) and respect church order, the Sacred Canons of the Orthodox Church, the Constitution of the S.O.C., the Statute of the Western American Diocese of the S.O.C. and other valid-applicable church acts.
3. The time required to be spent as part of the membership as a pre-condition for election to the Executive Board of a Church Congregation, i.e. a Church-School Congregation, shall be set forth in the By-Laws (Local Regulations) of the Church Congregation, i.e. a Church-School Congregation.
4. In the event that there are multiple candidates for one position on the Executive Board of a Church Congregation, i.e. a Church-School Congregation, the election will be held by secret ballot.
5. Candidates for the Executive Board of a Church Congregation, i.e. a Church-School Congregation are nominated by the Nominating Committee, which is always chosen at the previous Annual-Regular Assembly. The competent Parish Priest, or the Senior Priest of the parish church (building), is always a Member of the Nominating Committee ex officio.
6. The members of the Nominating Committee are: Members of the Church Congregation, i.e. Church-School Congregation who have the right to vote, and the competent Parish Priest; and the Nominating Committee shall consist of at least three (3) and at most nine (9) Members.
7. The Nominating Committee must meet at least two weeks before the date of the Annual-Regular Assembly of the Church Congregation, i.e. Church-School Congregation.
8. A Parishioner, i.e. a Member of the Church Congregation, i.e. Church-School Congregation who have the right to vote, who wishes to be a member of the Executive Board of the Church Congregation, i.e. Church-School Congregation, submits an application to the Nominating Committee, and the competent Parish Priest, after the service in the church (building), announces the names of the Members of the Nominating Committee so that potential candidates can contact them.
9. The Nominating Committee, at least two weeks before the Annual-Regular Assembly of the Church Congregation, i.e. Church-School Congregation, with the consent of the competent Parish Priest, shall publish, to the Members who have the right to vote, the list of candidates for Members of the Executive Board of the Church Congregation, i.e. Church-School Congregation.
10. No one may be nominated for more than one position on the Executive Board of the Church Congregation, i.e. Church-School Congregation.
11. Parishioners and Members of the Church Congregation, i.e. Church-School Congregation who have the right to vote who are interested in being candidates for Members of the Executive Board of the Church Congregation, i.e. Church-School Congregation, or to be the Chairman of the Assembly session, are required to meet with the competent Parish Priest, who is obliged to familiarize them with the Constitution of the S.O.C., the Statute of the Western American Diocese of the S.O.C., these Regulations, and the oath-taking obligation contained therein.
12. All candidates for Members of the Executive Board of a Church Congregation, i.e. Church-School Congregation, are obliged, after the meeting with the competent Parish Priest, to sign a statement stating that they are familiar with the Constitution of the S.O.C., the Statute of the Western American Diocese of the S.O.C. and these Regulations, which they will respect and follow, and that they will respect the oath that they will be required to take.
13. Members of the Executive Board of a Church Congregation, i.e. Church-School Congregation, cannot be related by blood up to the fourth degree inclusive, or by way of being in-laws and by baptismal sponsorship up to the second degree inclusive, as well as spouses. An exception to this rule, upon written approval of the competent Diocesan Bishop, might exist in Parishes, Missionary Parishes and Church Congregations, i.e. Church-School Congregations that have a small number of Parishioners.

 

Article 46

1. The competent Parish Priest is obliged, immediately after the election of the Members of the Executive Board and the Audit Committee of the Church Congregation, i.e. Church-School Congregation, to submit to the Diocesan Administrative Board of the Western American Diocese of the S.O.C. for approval the list of newly-elected Members of the Executive Board and the Audit Committee, the minutes of the Assembly, the annual financial report (final account) and the budget proposal for the following year.
2. The list of elected Members of the Executive Board and the Audit Committee of the Church Congregation, i.e. Church-School Congregation, shall be signed by the competent Parish Priest, the Chairman and the Secretary of the Assembly.
3. The Executive Board of the Church Congregation, i.e. Church-School Congregation, shall not be dismissed from their duties until the new Executive Board has been confirmed and its Members have taken the oath.
4. It is mandatory that there be a formal transfer with minutes between the Executive Board whose mandate/term of office has expired and the Executive Board whose new mandate/term of office has been confirmed.
5. The transfer with minutes shall be carried out in the presence of the competent Parish Priest, and the minutes shall be submitted to the Diocesan Administrative Board of the Western American Diocese of the S.O.C.
6. Complaints against the election of Members of the Executive Board, the Audit Committee or individual Members shall be submitted to the Diocesan Administrative Board of the Western American Diocese of the S.O.C. through the competent Parish Priest within eight (8) days from the date of election.
7. The Diocesan Administrative Board of the Western American Diocese of the S.O.C. has the right not to confirm the decision of the Assembly regarding the election of Members of the Executive Board and the Audit Committee if it determines that the complaint is well-founded, and, until a new decision is made, the duties shall be performed by the Executive Board of the Church Congregation, i.e. Church-School Congregation whose mandate/term of office has expired.
8. The Diocesan Administrative Board of the Western American Diocese of the S.O.C. has the right to confirm the newly-elected Members of the Executive Board and the Audit Committee of the Church Congregation, i.e. the Church-School Congregation, which the Diocesan Administrative Board determines were elected in accordance with the applicable church regulations.
9. The Diocesan Administrative Board of the Western American Diocese of the S.O.C. has the right, until a final decision is made, to postpone the confirmation of the decision regarding the election of those Members of the Executive Board and the Audit Committee of the Church Congregation, i.e. the Church-School Congregation, against whose election an appeal has been filed.
10. Newly-elected and confirmed, by the Diocesan Administrative Board of the Western American Diocese of the S.O.C., Members of the Executive Board and Audit Committee of the Church Congregation, i.e. Church-School Congregation, shall take the prescribed oath in the parish church (building), before the competent Parish Priest and in the presence of the faithful, and after taking the oath, they shall assume the duties of Members of the church ecclesiastical authorities and governing bodies for which they have been elected.
11. A newly-elected Member of the Executive Board and Audit Committee of the Church Congregation, i.e. Church-School Congregation, who refuses to take the oath before the competent Parish Priest, may not assume the duties of a Member of the Executive Board or Audit Committee of the Church Congregation, i.e. Church-School Congregation.
12. In the event that one or more seats on the Executive Board of a Church Congregation, i.e. Church-School Congregation, become vacant, the Diocesan Administrative Board of the Western American Diocese of the S.O.C. has the right, upon the proposal of the Executive Board of the Church Congregation, i.e. Church-School Congregation and the Parish Priest, to appoint new Members.
13. In the case referred to in Paragraph 12 of this Article, the Diocesan Administrative Board of the Western American Diocese of the S.O.C. also has the right to request that the vacant seats on the Executive Board of the Church Congregation, i.e. Church-School Congregation be filled by the election of new candidates at a Special-Extraordinary Assembly of the Church Congregation, i.e. Church-School Congregation.

 

Article 47

1. The Diocesan Administrative Board of the Western American Diocese of the S.O.C. has the right, in the event that the Executive Board of the Church Congregation, i.e. Church-School Congregation, does not perform its duties in accordance with the Sacred Canons of the Orthodox Church, the Constitution of the S.O.C., the Statute of the Western American Diocese of the S.O.C., these Regulations and other valid-applicable acts of the S.O.C., to make a decision to dismiss-remove the Executive Board of the Church Congregation, i.e. Church-School Congregation.
2. The Diocesan Administrative Board of the Western American Diocese of the S.O.C. has the right, after the dismissal-removal of the Executive Board, to appoint a Temporary Trusteeship of the Church Congregation, i.e. Church-School Congregation.
3. The Temporary Trusteeship shall exercise the powers of the Executive Board of the Church Congregation, i.e. the Church-School Congregation, in accordance with the Sacred Canons of the Orthodox Church, the Constitution of the S.O.C., the Statute of the Western American Diocese of the S.O.C. and these Regulations, and its mandate/term of office shall not be limited in time.
4. The Temporary Trusteeship shall exercise its powers until the election and confirmation of the new Executive Board of the Church Congregation, i.e. the Church-School Congregation.

 

Article 48

1. The meetings of the Executive Board of the Church Congregation, i.e. the Church-School Congregation shall be convened by the President of the Executive Board at least once a month.
2. In the event that the Diocesan Administrative Board of the Western American Diocese of the S.O.C. or a majority of the Executive Board Members request the convening of a session, the President of the Executive Board of the Church Congregation, i.e. Church-School Congregation, is obliged to convene a session of the Executive Board without delay.

 

Article 49

1. The Executive Board of the Church Congregation, i.e. Church-School Congregation, shall render its decisions at meetings attended by a majority of the Members of the Executive Board and with the mandatory participation of the Parish Priest and the President of the Executive Board, otherwise the meeting shall be invalid.
2. The President of the Executive Board of the Church Congregation, i.e. Church-School Congregation may approve that a meeting of the Executive Board be held in his absence, provided that he gives written consent to the agenda and to the holding of the meeting in his absence.
3. In the absence of the President of the Executive Board of the Church Congregation, i.e. Church-School Congregation, the meeting may be chaired by the Vice-President of the Executive Board upon written authorization from the President of the Executive Board.
4. The Executive Board of the Church Congregation, i.e. Church-School Congregation, renders all decisions by a majority vote of the Members present (50%+1 vote), and in the event of a tie, the vote of the President shall be decisive.

 

Article 50

The Diocesan Administrative Board of the Western American Diocese of the S.O.C. has the right, at the request of the Executive Board of the Church Congregation, i.e. Church-School Congregation, or ex officio, to exclude a Member from the Executive Board of the Church Congregation, i.e. Church-School Congregation in the event that he neglects his duty, does not justify his absence at three consecutive meetings, if he does not obey the decisions and orders of the competent church ecclesiastical authorities and governing bodies or if he obstructs their execution.

 

Article 51

The Executive Board of the Church Congregation, i.e. Church-School Congregation performs the following tasks:

• announces the time and place of the Annual-Regular or Special-Extraordinary Assembly;
• regularly maintains a list of parishioners who have the right to vote at the Assembly;
• represents the interests of the S.O.C. in all circumstances;
• executes the decisions of the Assembly of the Church Congregation, i.e. Church-School Congregation and the decisions and orders of higher church ecclesiastical authorities and governing bodies;
• proposes to the Assembly the amount of salary and benefits for the Parish Priest that must be provided for in the budget of the Church Congregation, i.e. Church-School Congregation;
• appoints and dismisses the staff of the Church Congregation, i.e. Church-School Congregation and proposes to the Assembly the amount of their salaries that must be provided for in the budget and ensures that salaries are paid on time;
• maintains and keeps an inventory of real/immovable and personal/movable property in the archives of the Church Congregation, i.e. Church-School Congregation;
• proposes funds for the construction and repair of the church (building), school, parish house and other buildings; submits plans and construction estimates for their improvement to the Assembly for approval, and thereafter, to the Diocesan Administrative Board of the Western American Diocese of the S.O.C. for approval;
• manages the property of the Church Congregation, i.e. Church-School Congregation, taking special care to ensure liturgical church order, and, in accordance with the Constitution of the S.O.C., meets all its needs;
• prepares the agenda for the Assembly and takes care of all matters necessary for the holding of the Assembly;
• prepares and proposes to the Assembly the annual financial report and budget proposal for adoption, and then submits them to the Diocesan Administrative Board of the Western American Diocese of the S.O.C. for final approval;
• ensures that the real/immovable church property is provided with evidence of ownership rights and is insured-protected with the appropriate insurance and other policies in order to protect the Western American Diocese of the S.O.C. and the Church Congregation, i.e. the Church-School Congregation, from potential lawsuits and legal proceedings;
• implements the Rules and Standards prescribed by the Diocesan Council of the Western American Diocese of the S.O.C. for Parishes, Church Congregations, i.e. Church-School Congregations, Missionary Parishes, Monasteries and other ecclesial institutions in the Diocese for the purpose of protection from all types of misconduct and criminal acts of abuse of priestly service-position, and of church service-position in general, that are sanctioned by State and Federal legislation in the United States of America. These Rules and Standards, upon the proposal of the Diocesan Council of the Western American Diocese of the S.O.C., shall, in the final instance, be adopted by the Holy Synod of Bishops of the S.O.C.;
• submits reports on its work to the Assembly;
• ensures that the approved budget of the Church Congregation, i.e. Church-School Congregation, is implemented;
• takes care of the church library;
• regularly monitors the condition, maintenance, order and cleanliness of the church buildings;
• timely-appropriately pays its prescribed assessments and other financial obligations to the Western American Diocese of the S.O.C., in accordance with the decisions of the competent Diocesan ecclesiastical authorities and governing bodies.

 

Article 52

The Executive Board of the Church Congregation, i.e. Church-School Congregation, is obliged to strictly adhere to the Constitution of the S.O.C., the Statute of the Western American Diocese of the S.O.C., these Regulations, the By-Laws (Local Regulations) of the Church Congregation, i.e. Church-School Congregation, and all decisions of the competent Diocesan ecclesiastical authorities and governing bodies.

 

Article 53

1. The Executive Board of a Church Congregation, i.e. Church-School Congregation, shall, to the extent possible, consist of the following:

• Parish Priest;
• President;
• First Vice-President;
• Second Vice-President;
• Secretary;
• Treasurer;
• Financial Secretary;
• Tutors-Warden (from one to three);
• Members (from two to five).

2. The Church Congregation, i.e. Church-School Congregation, shall be obliged to bear the costs of insurance for all Members of the Executive Board of the Church Congregation, i.e. Church-School Congregation during the duration of their mandate/term of office (directors and officers insurance). The Church Congregation, i.e. Church-School Congregation, shall be obliged to provide special insurance for the Treasurer and Financial Secretary of the Executive Board (fidelity bond).
3. The mandate/term of office of the Executive Board of a Church Congregation, i.e. a Church-School Congregation, may be at least one and at most three years.

 

Article 54

1. The competent Parish Priest and the President of the Executive Board of a Church Congregation, i.e. a Church-School Congregation, shall be the legal representatives of the Church Congregation, i.e. a Church-School Congregation, before the civil-governmental and church ecclesiastical authorities and governing bodies.
2. The President of the Executive Board of a Church Congregation, i.e. a Church-School Congregation, convenes the meetings of the Executive Board, opens and closes them, proposes matters for debate-discussion, brings them to a vote and announces the decisions of the Executive Board.
3. The President of the Executive Board of a Church Congregation, i.e. a Church-School Congregation, shall ensure that peace and order prevail at meetings and that all Members of the Executive Board strictly adhere to the agenda.
4. The competent Parish Priest and the President of the Executive Board of the Church Congregation, i.e. Church-School Congregation, are the legal guardians of the seal of the Church Congregation, i.e. Church-School Congregation.

 

Article 55

1. When the President of the Executive Board of the Church Congregation, i.e. Church-School Congregation, is prevented from performing his duties, the First Vice-President is his substitute.
2. The President of the Executive Board of the Church Congregation, i.e. Church-School Congregation, is, by virtue of position, the representative of the Church Congregation, i.e. Church-School Congregation at the Diocesan Assembly.
3. In the event that the President of the Executive Board of the Church Congregation, i.e. Church-School Congregation is prevented from attending the Diocesan Assembly, the First Vice-President is the substitute of the President at the Diocesan Assembly.
4. When a representative or his/her alternate, the President or the First Vice-President of the Executive Board of a Church Congregation i.e. Church-School Congregation cannot attend the Diocesan Assembly, the Executive Board of the Church Congregation i.e. Church-School Congregation may designate their substitutes.

 

Article 56

The President and Members of the Executive Board of a Church Congregation i.e. Church-School Congregation, as well as all Members of the Church Congregation i.e. Church-School Congregation, are obliged to protect the dignity and honor of the competent Parish Priest and may not demand anything from him that would diminish his reputation or violate his sacred service.

 

Article 57

1. The Secretary of the Executive Board of the Church Congregation i.e. Church-School Congregation shall keep minutes of the meetings of the Executive Board of the Church Congregation i.e. Church-School Congregation.
2. The Secretary of the Executive Board of the Church Congregation, i.e. Church-School Congregation, shall conduct the correspondence of the Church Congregation, i.e. Church-School Congregation, which he shall sign together with the President of the Executive Board.
3. The Secretary of the Executive Board of the Church Congregation, i.e. Church-School Congregation, shall keep the protocol book of official acts of the Church Congregation, i.e. Church-School Congregation, and shall keep the archives of the Church Congregation, i.e. Church-School Congregation, exclusively in the church office.

 

 

Article 58

1. The Treasurer of the Executive Board of the Church Congregation, i.e. Church-School Congregation, shall keep throughout the year a record of all of the income and expenditures, receives monies from the Tutors-Wardens and from other persons and deposits them in the bank, pays the emoluments to the competent Parish Priest and other personnel, as well as oversees all of the accounts of the Church Congregation, i.e. Church-School Congregation.
2. The Treasurer of the Executive Board of the Church Congregation, i.e. the Church-School Congregation, shall regularly submit a financial report to the Executive Board and the Assembly of the Church Congregation, i.e. the Church-School Congregation.
3. The Treasurer of the Executive Board of the Church Congregation, i.e. the Church-School Congregation, shall be responsible for the appropriate and timely payment of all assessments to the Western American Diocese of the S.O.C.

 

Article 59

1. The Financial Secretary of the Executive Board of the Church Congregation, i.e. the Church-School Congregation, shall maintain the list of Parishioners (Members) of the Church Congregation, i.e. the Church-School Congregation who have the right to vote, receives and registers all of their contributions and donations and all other income, issue receipts and transfers the collected money to the Treasurer of the Executive Board of the Church Congregation, i.e. the Church-School Congregation.
2. The Treasurer and Financial Secretary of the Executive Board of a Church Congregation, i.e. Church-School Congregation, must be covered by a fidelity bond paid for by the Church Congregation, i.e. Church-School Congregation.

 

Article 60

Tutors-Wardens are obliged to regularly attend all church services and church rituals, in order to collect the money from the candle offerings, the offering plate and other donations, and in order to thereafter transfer said the money to the Financial Secretary and to take care of other needs related to the church (building) and church rituals.

 

 

 

VIII AUDIT COMMITTEE OF

CHURCH CONGREGATIONS/CHURCH-SCHOOL CONGREGATIONS

 

Article 61

1. The Audit Committee of a Church Congregation, i.e. Church-School Congregation, shall consist of a Chairman and two or more members. The Nominating Committee shall propose members of the Audit Committee, and their election takes place at the Annual-Regular Assembly of the Church Congregation, i.e. Church-School Congregation.
2. Candidates for members of the Audit Committee of a Church Congregation, i.e. Church-School Congregation, shall have experience in professional financial accounting/auditing, and if there are no such candidates, the Church Congregation, i.e. Church-School Congregation shall engage a certified (licensed) accounting firm (Certified Public Accountant).

 

Article 62

1. The Audit Committee of the Church Congregation, i.e. Church-School Congregation, shall meet once at the end of each year, and before the Annual-Regular Assembly of the Church Congregation, i.e. Church-School Congregation.
2. The Audit Committee of the Church Congregation, i.e. Church-School Congregation shall review the entire financial operations of the Church Congregation, i.e. Church-School Congregation, and submit its report to the Annual-Regular Assembly.

 

Article 63

The Audit Committee of the Church Congregation, i.e. Church-School Congregation, shall have the right to review the financial operations of the Church Congregation, i.e. Church-School Congregation, more often during the year, if the need be justified, or if the Diocesan Administrative Board of the Western American Diocese of the S.O.C. so requests.

 

 

X MONASTERY

 

Article 64

1. A Monastery is a consecrated place with a church (building) and other buildings as a habitation for persons of the monastic order who are united in a spiritual fraternal community, bound by solemn vows of chastity, poverty and obedience, and dedicated to prayer and work. A Monastery serves prescribe spiritual and charitable aims.
2. The Sacred Canons of the Orthodox Church, the Constitution of the S.O.C., the Regulation for the Internal and External Life of S.O.C. Monasteries and the Statute of the Western American Diocese of the S.O.C. are directly applicable to all Monasteries in the Western American Diocese of the S.O.C.
3. The Monastery Administration prepares an annual financial report and a proposed budget for the upcoming year.
4. The Monastery Administration is obliged to submit without delay the annual financial report and the proposed budget for the upcoming year to the Diocesan Administrative Board of the of the S.O.C. for final approval.

 

 

XI SUBORDINATE-AUXILIARY ORGANIZATIONS OF THE DIOCESE

 

Article 65

1. Church subordinate-auxiliary organizations may be organized in the Western American Diocese of the S.O.C. and in Church Congregations, i.e. Church-School Congregations.
2. Diocesan subordinate-auxiliary organizations, such as the Diocesan (or Federation of) Circles of Serbian Sisters, choral associations, folklore societies, sports and youth organizations and other organizations that carry out their mission, are under the control of the Diocesan ecclesiastical authorities and governing bodies and are under the charter of the Western American Diocese of the S.O.C.
3. Each Diocesan subordinate-auxiliary organization is obliged, with the blessing of the competent Diocesan Bishop and in accordance with the decisions of the Diocesan ecclesiastical authorities and governing bodies, to assist the Diocese in its mission.
4. The Regulations of the Diocesan subordinate-auxiliary organizations must be in accordance with the Constitution of the S.O.C. and the Statute of the Western American Diocese of the S.O.C., and said Regulations are approved by the Diocesan Administrative Board of the Western American Diocese of the S.O.C.
5. The Diocesan ecclesiastical authorities and governing bodies supervise the work of the Diocesan subordinate-auxiliary organizations and provide them with the necessary orders and instructions, ensuring that each of these organizations acts in accordance with the teachings of the Church, the Constitution of the S.O.C. and the Statute of the Western American Diocese of the S.O.C.
6. Each member of a Diocesan subordinate-auxiliary organization must be a Parishioner of the Parish in which he or she permanently resides.

 

XII SUBORDINATE-AUXILIARY ORGANIZATIONS OF

CHURCH CONGREGATIONS/CHURCH-SCHOOL CONGREGATIONS

 

Article 66

1. Subordinate-auxiliary organizations, such as the Circles of Serbian Sisters, choir, folklore ensembles, sports and youth organizations, pensioners’ clubs and others, may be formed within each Church Congregation, i.e. Church-School Congregation, for the purpose of achieving the necessary aims of the Church Congregation, i.e. Church-School Congregation.
2. The Regulations (By-Laws) of the subordinate-auxiliary organizations of the Church Congregation, i.e. Church-School Congregation, must be in accordance with the Constitution of the S.O.C., the Statute of the Western American Diocese of the S.O.C. and these Regulations, and are adopted by the Assembly of the Church Congregation, i.e. Church-School Congregation, and approved by the Diocesan Administrative Board of the Western American Diocese of the S.O.C.
3. The Parish Priest and the Executive Board of the Church Congregation, i.e. Church-School Congregation, shall supervise the work of these subordinate-auxiliary organizations and provide them with the necessary orders and instructions, ensuring that each of these organizations acts in accordance with the teachings of the Orthodox Church, the Constitution of the S.O.C., the Statute of the Western American Diocese of the S.O.C. and these Regulations.

 

XIII FISCAL YEAR, FINANCIAL REPORTS AND BUDGETS

 

Article 67

1. The fiscal year for the treasury of a Church Congregation, i.e. Church-School Congregation, is the calendar year unless the Diocesan Council of the Western American Diocese of the S.O.C., with the approval of the Patriarchal Administrative Board of the S.O.C., determines otherwise.
2. The Executive Board of a Church Congregation, i.e. Church-School Congregation, and all other church institutions and organizations in the Church Congregation, i.e. Church-School Congregation, are obliged to submit annual financial reports to the Annual-Regular Assembly, in which they accurately enter all income and expenses for the previous year, as well as budget proposals for the upcoming year.
3. The Executive Board of the Church Congregation, i.e. Church-School Congregation, is obliged to submit all adopted annual financial reports and budget proposals for the upcoming year without delay to the Diocesan Administrative Board of the Western American Diocese of the S.O.C. for final approval.
4. Members of the church-hierarchical and church-administrative ecclesiastical authorities and governing bodies shall receive from their respective treasuries reimbursement for travel expenses incurred in the course of their work, according to the rules and decisions prescribed by their competent ecclesiastical authorities and governing bodies.

 

XIV GRIEVANCES AND APPEALS

 

Article 68

1. Permissible appeals from decisions and/or judgments of ecclesiastical authorities and governing bodies are subject to a time limit of fourteen (14) days, counting from the day of receipt of the decision and/or judgment.
2. The appeal is considered to be timely if it is submitted by either return receipt or registered mail within the prescribed time limit.
3. Appeals are submitted through the church authority/body which issued the first-instance decision and/or verdict.
4. Written appeals of individual Members of the Church Congregation, i.e. Church-School Congregation, against decisions of the Executive Board of the Church Congregation, i.e. Church-School Congregation, must be submitted through the Executive Board of the Church Congregation, i.e. Church-School Congregation, and the competent Parish Priest.
5. The Executive Board of the Church Congregation, i.e. Church-School Congregation, is obliged to, ex officio, submit the appeal to the Diocesan Administrative Board of the Western American Diocese of the S.O.C. within eight (8) days from the date of receipt.

 

XV OATH

 

Article 69

1. Each newly-elected member of the Executive Board of a Church Congregation, i.e. Church-School Congregation, shall, before assuming his duties, take an oath before the Parish Priest in the church (building).
2. The text of the oath reads:

“I, (.                 ), pledge by my honor before Almighty God that I will as an Orthodox Christian, obey, respect, fulfill the Law of God, protect and defend the Sacred Canons of the Orthodox Church, the Constitution of the S.O.C., the Statute of the Western American Diocese of the S.O.C. and other decisions of the competent Diocesan Bishop and church ecclesiastical authorities and governing bodies and that I will perform my duties as a parishioner and member of the Church Congregation (i.e. the Church-School Congregation) of ____________ in ____________________, and my parish church, regularly and accurately, guard official information, and protect and represent the interests of the S.O.C. As I do this, so may the Lord God judge and help me.

 

 

 

XVI TRANSITIONAL AND FINAL PROVISIONS

 

Article 70

1. These Regulations apply to every Parish, Missionary Parish, Church Congregation, Church-School Congregation and other church organizations in the Western American Diocese of the S.O.C.
2. The Articles of Incorporations, By-Laws (Local Regulations-Statutes), charters and other acts of Parishes, Church Congregations, Church-School Congregations, Monasteries and other church organizations in the Western American Diocese of the S.O.C. must be in accordance with the Constitution of the S.O.C., the Statute of the Western American Diocese of the S.O.C. and these Regulations, and in the final instance must be approved by the Diocesan Administrative Board of the Western American Diocese of the S.O.C.

 

Article 71

1. These Regulations are written in English and Serbian.
2. The English text of these Regulations shall be considered the official text on the territory of the United States of America.

 

Article 72

1. Amendments to these Regulations shall be made by the Diocesan Council of the Western American Diocese of the S.O.C. by a majority vote of the members present and shall be submitted to the Holy Synod of Bishops of the S.O.C. for approval.
2. Amendments to these Regulations shall enter into force upon the written and final approval by the Holy Synod of Bishops of the S.O.C.

 

Article 73

1. These Regulations were adopted by the Holy Synod of Bishops of the S.O.C., SB decision No. 1140, min. 845 of 20 November 2025, and entered into force on the day of their adoption.
2. With the entry into force of these Regulations, on the territory of the ​​canonical jurisdiction of the Western American Diocese of the S.O.C., the Uniform Rules and Regulations of the S.O.C. in the USA and Canada of 1982, with amendments in 1994 and 2006, cease to be valid and applicable.

[1] The word “competent” in these Regulations defines the jurisdictional authority of the person-office identified and is not related to the skill or level of performance of said person.