BY-LAWS
OF THE GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH OF ST. PAUL
Article I
PARISH NAME
The name of this religious corporation, which shall hereinafter in these
By-Laws be referred to as the parish, shall be as follows:
St. George Greek Orthodox Church of St. Paul.
Article II
AIMS AND PURPOSES
The aims and purposes of this parish shall be as follows:
- 1. To keep and proclaim pure and undefiled and Orthodox Christian faith
and traditions in conformity with the doctrine, cannons, administrative
rulings, discipline, divine worship, usages and customs of the One,
Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church.
- To promote the religious and moral life of our parishioners through
the Word of God, instruction in Sunday schools and parish schools, books
and the ministrations of duly ordained clergymen.
- To erect and maintain a church for the worship of God and to erect
and to maintain any appurtenant annexes.
- To admit persons into the Orthodox Christian Faith and Church through
baptism and chrismation and usher them into family life through marriage
according to the teachings and traditions of our church.
- To practice charity according to the high ideals of the Christian religion
and, to the extent feasible, lend support to all causes of benefit to
the public.
- To preserve our ancestral traditions of interring members of our church
who depart this life.
Article III
ECCLESIASTICAL AUTHORITY
- The parish shall unreservedly and irrevocably recognize the ecclesiastical
authority of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of North and South America,
in so far as spiritual matters are concerned, which canonically and historically,
is under the supreme jurisdiction of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople.
- The parish shall observe the faith, cannons, constitution, administrative
rulings, discipline, worship, customs, regulations and encyclicals of
the said Archdiocese, and shall conform with legislation adopted by the
biennial ecclesiastical congresses of the said Archdiocese and the administrative
decisions of its mixed council.
- The parish shall be represented at the biennial ecclesiastical congresses
of the Archdiocese and of the Diocese and shall cause the parish by-laws
to be amended to conform to the legislation adopted thereat with approval
of the General Assembly.
Article IV
MEMBERSHIP
- All persons, eighteen years of age or over, who were baptized according
to the rites of the church, or who were received into the church through
Chrismation, who live according to the faith and cannons of the church,
and who agree to abide by the provisions of the By-Laws of this parish
and regularly pay their financial support, shall be voting members
thereof.
- That all persons under 21 years of age who were baptized according to
the rites of the church, or who were received into the church through
Chismation, who live according to the faith and canons of the Church,
and who agree to abide by the provisions of the By-Laws of this parish
shall be allowed to receive and participate in all the sacraments of the
Church.
- The priest and the parish council shall judge cases of indigence within
the parish.
- Any member shall be entitled to vote at meetings of this parish provided
that any such member shall have been enrolled in the register of this
parish for at least three calendar months prior to the month in which
said meeting is held, and provided further that any such member is in
good standing by having his financial support, as hereinabove and
hereinafter in this Article provided, paid in full for the twelve calendar
months immediately preceding the month in which said meeting is held.
- Any member of another parish who moves into this parish shall be entitled
to vote at meetings of the members of this parish, provided that any such
member shall have been enrolled in the register of this parish and paid
financial support to this parish for at least three calendar months
prior to the month in which said meeting is held, and provided further
that any such member was a member in good standing in his former parish
for at least nine calendar months prior to his moving into this parish
and enrolling in the register of this parish.
- Any member shall be entitled to be elected to any office in this parish
provided such member is in good standing and shall have been enrolled
in the register of this parish and shall be a member in good standing
by having paid his financial support, in accordance with this Article
for the twelve calendar months immediately preceding the month in which
said election is held.
- No salaried employee of the parish shall be eligible for election to
office.
- There shall be no minimum commitment for financial support. A
signed pledge card shall be accepted as evidence of satisfying the financial
support.
- A person qualifying for membership as above and wishing to be a member
of more than one parish must pay his or her financial support to
each parish.
Article V
PRIESTS AND ASSISTING CLERGYMEN
- The priest and all assisting clergymen shall be assigned or transferred
by the Bishop within his Diocese. Prior to the assignment or transfer
of a priest, the parish council shall be informed by the Bishop regarding
his decision
- The priest shall take part in the meetings of the parish council as
a non-voting ex officio member thereof and may state for the record his
opinion on the business transacted..
- The priest shall have charge of matters of divine worship, and the personnel
connected therewith and he shall keep the registers of marriages, baptisms
and funerals.
- The priest shall be accountable to the Diocese Bishop for the
fulfillment of his sacred duties, and those of clergymen assisting him,
in keeping with the faith, worship, discipline of the Greek Orthodox Church
and the encyclicals of the Archdiocese. Membership in the clergymen’s
pension fund of the Archdiocese shall be obligatory upon all clergymen.
- The priest and the parish council shall strive to promote the financial
well-being of the parish by appropriately imparting to the congregation
an awareness of its financial obligation thereto.
- The priest shall not absent himself from the parish without prior arrangement
with the parish council nor without authorization of the Diocese previously
granted in writing.
- In the event of illness while in the service of this parish clergymen
shall receive full pay during such illness for a period not to exceed
three months.
- Clergymen of this parish shall be entitled to a minimum annual vacation
of fifteen days plus an additional week for each five years of ordained
services to a maximum of thirty days, provided he has obtained from the
local Bishop and the parish council permission to absent himself from
his parish.
Article VI
PERSONNEL
- At the request of the priest and the parish council, the parish may
make application to the Diocese for an appointment of a deacon to serve
the parish church, stating in such application the amount of compensation
to be paid.
- The parish council shall also have the right to engage, in consultation
with the priest, such number of chanters, clerks, assistant clerks and
sextons, as may be requisite to proper functioning of the parish, to fix
their salaries and, likewise, in consultation with the priest to discharge
them.
Article VII
USE AND DISPOSAL OF PROPERTY, FUNDS
GIFTS, BEQUESTS AND DEVISES
- The parish shall have absolute title to and control of all real and
personal property acquired by it and such property shall be held subject
to, and shall be managed at all times in accordance with the present By-Laws
and the laws of the State of Minnesota.
- The parish council shall have no power to purchase, mortgage, sell or
assign real property without the consent of the members of the parish,
obtained by a resolution adopted by a vote of a least two-thirds of the
members present and voting at a meeting of the general assembly of the
parish, convoked upon proper notice and properly conducted. Such resolution
shall require the ratification by the Diocesan Council. The Diocesan Council
shall render its decision in writing within Thirty (30) days of the receipt
of the Parish’s request. In the event that no response is received
within such a time limit, the said consent shall be deemed to have been
granted.
- In the event of dissolution of the parish the real and personal property
thereof, including all proprietary interests derived from the rights acquired,
shall devolve to the Archdiocese which shall make the same available to
the nearest duly organized parish for the benefit of the Greek Orthodox
communicants in that area.
- Title to all property, real or personal or of any nature whatever, proprietary
interests and parochial secular authority shall be vested in the parish
at all times and shall be used to serve its needs and purposes. The care,
control, and management thereof shall be committed to the parish council.
- All special gifts, bequests and devices shall be administered by the
parish council as one or more special funds in keeping with the intent
and purpose of the donor or testator, as far as practicable.
- All funds of the parish shall be deposited in the name of the parish
with depositaries selected by the parish council and shall be withdrawn
upon signature of the treasurer and president for use and purpose of the
parish. Should either the treasurer or president or both be unavailable,
such funds of the parish may thus be withdrawn upon the signature of any
two other officers of the parish.
Article VIII
POWER AND DUTIES OF THE PARISH COUNCIL
- The parish council shall consist of the priest, as an ex officio member
thereof, and of 12 elected members and shall have charge of the secular
affairs of the parish. The term of office of the elected members shall
be two years until their successors have qualified. Such parish council
shall be divided into two classes as provided by the laws of the State
of Minnesota, one-half of such parish council shall be elected annually
as provided by law.
- It shall be the duty of the parish council to conduct the affairs of
the parish in furtherance of the aims and purposes of the Church and in
accordance with the parish By-Laws and the constitution, canons, discipline,
and regulations of the Archdiocese and in accordance with the statutes
of the State of Minnesota.
- The parish council shall hold a regular meeting on the second Thursday
of each month and shall hold special meetings whenever the priest, the
president or a majority of the parish council deem it necessary. The presence
of seven of the total number of elected members shall be required to form
a quorum for the transaction of business.
- It shall enforce the parish By-Laws and have supervision over all secular
activities of the parish.
- It shall adjust all matters arising in the parish in conformance with
the existing By-Laws.
- It shall refer all spiritual questions or matters pertaining to the
clergy to the Diocese.
- In cooperation with the priest, it shall appoint and dismiss the lay
personnel of the parish. School programs, text books and educational materials
shall be those approved by the Parish Council, the Priest and Board of
Education of the Archdiocese.
- It shall call meetings of the members of the parish and meeting of the
parish council.
- It shall have all the powers granted by law to corporations, including
the power to purchase, sell and mortgage parish property upon adoption
of a resolution to such effect by members of this parish. It shall rule
on anything not provided for in the parish By-Laws and do anything within
its jurisdiction generally that it may deem advantageous to the parish.
- It shall submit annually to the Archdiocese and to the Diocese the budget
for the coming year and the audited financial statement for the past year.
- It shall collect the revenues of the church against receipts for the
same and shall pay by check the salaries of the employees of the parish,
all parish expenses and grants-in-aid to parochial institutions within
the limitations imposed by the budget.
- It shall procure all the supplies necessary to the conduct of church
services and shall assist the priest in maintaining order thereat.
- It shall prohibit the dispensing of any liquors other than beer and
wine on the church premises.
- Where necessary, it shall assume obligations in excess of the total
annual budget in an amount up to but not exceeding 5% of the original
total annual budget, but for any larger sums it shall obtain the approval
of the members as a general assembly.
- It shall attend services, thereby setting the example of regular fulfillment
of religious duties.
- It shall turn over to the succeeding parish council everything appertaining
to the parish against receipt for same.
- The minutes of all parish meetings shall be available to any member
upon request.
Article IX
FISCAL YEAR, FINANCIAL REPORTS AND BUDGETS
- The fiscal year shall commence on the first day of January and shall
end on the thirty-first day of December.
- A financial report of the revenues and expenditures of the parish during
the preceding year shall be drawn up and submitted at the annual meeting
of the members of the parish held in February and a copy thereof shall
be submitted to the Archdiocese.
Article X
BOARD OF AUDITORS
The board of Auditors, consisting of three members will be elected at the
February meeting of the General Assembly and will be elected for a term or
one year and shall have the following powers and duties:
- It shall have access to the parish records at all times and particularly
prior to the annual meeting of the members at which the financial report
must be submitted as required by the parish By-Laws.
- It shall make copies of the annual budget and financial statements
and reports and shall deliver the same to the parish council for filing
with the permanent records of the parish.
- It shall have the authority to employ an accountant at the cost to be
approved by the parish council to assist in the execution of its duties.
Article XI
BOARD OF ELECTIONS
- The Board of Elections shall consist of five members elected at the
February meeting of the General Assembly and no member thereof shall be
eligible for election to office.
- In cooperation with the parish council and priest, the Board of Elections
shall check the list of parish members qualified to vote, the eligibility
of candidates and shall hold and supervise the elections.
Article XII
ELECTIONS
- Elections for members of the parish council for the ensuing year shall
be held during the second half of the month of November every year.
- No person shall serve on the parish council for more than 3 consecutive
elective terms. This does not include partial terms to fill vacated board
positions.
- Nomination for members of the parish council shall be accepted by the
Board of Elections in writing signed by one or more members in good standing
and countersigned by the nominee. The Board shall also accept a written
request from any member in good standing who desires to place himself
in nomination.
- Elections shall be held at a place on the Parish premises previously
announced by the Board of Elections and voting shall be by secret ballot.
Voting shall begin after the conclusion of the divine liturgy and shall
terminate at five o’clock in the afternoon of the same day. Absentee
ballots may be utilized in cases of illness, excessive distances involved
and in such exceptional cases approved by the Board of Elections.
- Nominations for members of the Board of Auditors and Board of Elections
shall be from the floor.
- All elections shall be by secret ballot.
- Fifteen days before the designated date of election the Board of Elections
shall give notice of the pending elections by posting the notice in a
conspicuous place on the church premises and in addition will mail such
notice to all parishioners either by separate mail or as part of the weekly
church bulletin. The notice will provide the names of those council members
whose term in expiring, the date, time and place of election, and date,
time and place that nominations and ballots should be in the hands of
the Board of Elections. The parish secretary will post alongside the election
notice a complete list of all eligible voters. The results will be announced
at the election meeting.
- The election results shall be entered in the official record of the
parish. The number of votes cast for each candidate shall be shown and
the candidates receiving the greatest number of votes shall be declared
elected for the ensuing term. Within five days the election results shall
be forwarded by the priest to the local Bishop. In case of equal
votes, a toss of a coin by the Chairman of the Board of Elections in the
presence of those receiving equal votes, shall determine the winner thereof.
- The outgoing president of the Parish Council together with the Priest
act upon the Bishop’s ratification regarding the giving of the oath
of office. The newly elected members shall take the oath of office administered
to them by the Priest on the first Sunday after receiving the Letter of
Ratification from the Diocesan Bishop.
- Any person concerned shall have right to file with the local Bishop,
through the priest within five days after elections a written exception
to the validity of the elections. Such protest shall be signed by him
and at least four other Parish members in good standing. The local Bishop
shall pass upon such exceptions and render a final decision thereon.
- The following shall be the oath of office:
“I do solemnly swear that I will uphold the dogma, teaching, traditions,
holy canons, worship, and moral principles of the Greek Orthodox Church,
as well as the constitutional charter, discipline, and regulations of
the Greek Orthodox archdiocese of North and South America and that I will
fulfill faithfully and sincerely the duties and obligations required of
a member of the Parish Council. So help me God.”
Article XIII
VACANCIES ON THE PARISH COUNCIL AND
BOARD OF AUDITORS
- Pursuant to a resolution of the parish council to such effect, a member
of the aforesaid council shall be relieved of his duties in the following
instances:
- Where he has been absent from tow consecutive council meetings,
except where it is necessary for him to absent himself for more than
one month, but not exceeding six months, and he has obtained a leave
of absence from the council. If in the judgment of other members of
the council its interests are not prejudiced by a single absence of
such duration or if they agree to perform his duties for him while
he is away, permission for such absence shall be granted. A member
who absents himself without consent of the council for longer than
two months or who violates his leave of absence without sufficient
cause shall be replaced by a new council member.
- Where a member of the council resigns or dies.
- Where upon proper showing of cause he is found to be detrimental to
the interests of the parish generally. All charges must be made under
oath in writing by the accusers, a fair trial shall be conducted by the
parish council and a unanimous vote of all members present at a special
Parish Council meeting called for that purpose shall be required for dismissal
from the council.
- Vacancies on the parish council, howsoever they may have occurred, shall
be filled from the list of candidates who received the next largest number
of votes in the last previous elections. In the absence of such candidates
he will be elected from the parish members in good standing. Any person
who feels he has been unjustifiably removed from office may appeal to
the local Bishop.
Article XIV
POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE PRESIDENT
- At its first meeting following the elections, under the chairmanship
of the priest the parish council shall elect by secret ballot its officers:
the president, vice-president secretary and treasurer.
- The powers and duties of the president shall be as follows:
- To call meetings of the parish council and meetings of the
members of the parish.
- To preside over meetings of the parish council.
- To present the agenda.
- To rule on motions and preside over debate, to give the floor
to speakers or refuse to recognize those who speak out of order and
to adjourn the meeting.
- To submit questions to vote.
- To sign the minutes of the proceedings, various incoming
and outgoing documents and to sign checks jointly with the treasurer
or, should the treasurer be unavailable, then with one of the other
officers of the parish.
- To supervise the operations of the office personnel and condition
of the treasury.
- To exercise all of the authority vested in him as president
under the existing law, the regulations and the canons, land Roberts
Rules of Order.
- To appoint committees for the purpose of carrying out such
duties as he may assign to them.
Article XV
POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE VICE PRESIDENT
The Vice President shall have all the powers and duties of the President
whenever he acts in place of the latter.
Article XVI
POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE SECRETARY
The powers and duties of the secretary shall be as follows:
- To attend all meetings of the parish council and meetings of
the members of the parish and to keep minutes thereof.
- To affix his signature to all incoming and outgoing parish
documents which shall also have to be signed by the president.
- To turn everything over to his successor in good order against
receipt for same.
Article XVII
POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE TREASURER
The powers and duties of the treasurer shall be as follows:
- To collect parish funds and deposit them in the name of the
parish with depositaries selected by the parish council.
- To keep a Record of the revenues and pay all duly authorized
expenditures of the parish.
- To sign checks jointly with the president, or, should the president
be unavailable, then with either one of the other officers of the parish.
- To obtain a surety bond for the protection of the parish funds.
The premiums for such bond to be paid out of the parish treasury.
- To turn over everything appertaining to his office to his successor
in good order and against receipt thereof.
- To maintain a membership roster of the parish.
Article XVIII
MEETINGS OF THE MEMBERS OF THE PARISH
General assemblies of the members of the parish shall be held twice each
year, namely during the second half of the months of February and November.
Nominations for presiding chairman will be entertained for the floor. Special
general assemblies shall be called whenever deemed necessary by the parish
council, the Priest, 10% of the membership of the parish or by the President.
Written notice shall be sent out by the president to members in good standing
as hereinbefore defined, at least seven days prior thereto. The presence
of 40 parish members in good standing shall be required to form a quorum
for the transaction of business. If a quorum is not present, the general
assembly shall be called a second time within 21 days. At such time decisions
may be taken by the number of members present with the exception of matters
pertaining to purchase, sale or encumbering of Parish property, in which
case a quorum of members shall be required.
Article XIX
PARISH SEAL
The parish shall have a seal bearing the name of the parish in a form acceptable
under the laws of the State in which it was incorporated. Said seal shall
be kept in the parish office.
Article XX
When it is determined by the parish council that the parish is incapable
of supporting itself, a meeting of the embers of the parish shall be called
and if three-fourths of all the members in good standing confirm such determination,
the Archdiocese shall dissolve the parish and dispose of its property in
the manner provided by the By-Laws.
Article XXI
AMENDMENT OF BY-LAWS
- These By-Laws may be amended, added to or repealed at the special general
or annual meeting of the members of this parish entitled to vote, by the
affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of the members present, and entitled
to vote. Notice of proposed amendments to these By-Laws shall be given
in writing at least thirty (30) days before such meeting.
- All previous By-Laws are hereby repealed. These By-Laws shall take effect
immediately.