Parish Council

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The mission of the Archdiocese is to proclaim the Gospel of Christ, to teach and spread the Orthodox Christian faith, to energize, cultivate and guide the life of the Church in the United States of America according to the Orthodox Christian faith and Sacred Tradition. The mission of the parish, and therefore the mission of the Parish Council, is to keep, practice and proclaim the Orthodox Christian Faith pure and undefiled.

Parish Council Members

Parish council members represent their parish and the Orthodox Christian faith. As leaders of the community, parish council members are on the front lines and are able to have a long-term effect on their parish. To serve on the parish council is a ministry and those who serve are called to represent Christ to all whom they meet in all aspects of life.

Often the first person our visitors see is a member of the parish council. Reaching out to those who enter our doors with a handshake, a greeting and a welcoming smile could be the most important missionary work we do. To be a good council member, one must be active in the worship and sacramental life of the Church. The duties of a parish council member include regular attendance at divine services and participation in the sacramental life of the Church.

To serve on the council is a ministry and a mission. We are called to use the gifts with which we have been blessed to carry out the work of the Church. Under the leadership of the Priest, the Parish Council shall:

A. Assist the Priest in the administration of the affairs and ministries of the Parish;

B. Establish the appropriate committees, including but not limited to Stewardship, Finance, Fundraising, Planning and Real Estate committees;

C. Utilize the Stewardship material provided by the Archdiocese to implement and expand the Parish Stewardship program and ministries;

D. Prepare budgets for the Parish’s administration and ministries and collect the revenue of the Parish;

E. Provide for the Priest's remuneration and benefits in accordance with the Clergy Compensation Plan of the Archdiocese;

F. Provide financing for the salaries of the Parish personnel;

G. Provide financial resources for the Parish's administration and for the Parish's spiritual, educational and other ministries and expenses;

H. Buy, sell or mortgage Parish property, subject to the approval of the Parish Assembly and the provisions of these Regulations;

I. Provide for payments and assessments for support of the Archdiocese as fixed by the Congresses;

J. Submit to the respective Hierarch and the Archdiocese, at the end of each year, the financial statement of the Parish for that year (certified by the Parish's Board of Auditors) and the Parish budget for the ensuing year;

K. Submit annual Parish profile reports that may be required by the Archdiocese and the respective Archdiocesan District/Metropolis; and

L. Adhere to the Charter, the Regulations and decisions promulgated at the Congresses.

Current members of the Parish Council serve multiple ministries beyond the council including: Sunday school, choir, usher/greeter, JOY/GOYA faith nights, adult education, Building Committee and Festival Committee. This broad involvement lends to a better understanding of the parish needs and the ability to plan for the future of the parish.

There are several opportunities for the Parish Council to act upon in the near future. We intend to further utilize technology to improve and enhance our accounting processes, financial responsibility, and protect the future of our parish. We will work collaboratively with the Building Committee to assure the best utilization of the donation for the parish hall to meet the current and future needs of our parish. We will also work to improve communication between our local parish ministries and the Parish Council to maximize the use of our resources and our ability to give back to the Orthodox community.