The Parish Council is the administrative body of the local Church community elected by its stewards for the purpose of working together with the Parish Priest to fulfill the mission and goals of that particular community. The Parish Priest is the representative of the local Hierarch in the Parish and as such heads and administers the Parish. As the spiritual leader of the Parish, his priestly duties consist in shepherding the Parish entrusted to his care, directing its orderly life, preserving its unity, and keeping it faithful to its divine purpose of proclaiming the Gospel of Christ. He and the members of the Parish Council are together responsible for the administration of the Parish. Both clergy and laity are the “People of God,” who seek by the grace of the Holy Spirit to fulfill the mission entrusted to them to live and proclaim the Holy Gospel and the Holy Tradition of the Orthodox Church. Clergy and laity work together in dealing with matters of the Church’s life. The Parish Council is an example of the synergy of clergy and laity; it is a vehicle for implementing the ongoing mission of the Church and planning the necessary strategies, policies, procedures, and activities that will enable the Parish to move forward in accomplishing God’s work.
Some of the principal roles of the Parish Council include, but are not limited to,
- Planning, developing, organizing, and implementing stewardship programs and the various educational ministries of the Church.
- Regularly reporting and communicating to the parishioners:
- The work and ministries of the Church at the Parish, Metropolis and Archdiocesan levels;
- Decisions that may impact the Community, such as plans regarding facilities, ministries, and personnel changes;
- Financial reports on the income and expenditures of the Church.
- Recruiting and training others for further service.
The Parish Council must abide by Local, State, and Federal statutes applicable to the Parish and by the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America Regulations.
The elected members of the Parish Council, together with the Parish Priest, are responsible for the welfare of the Parish in keeping it faithful to its mission. On the Parish level, the Parish Council is accountable to the General Assembly, which consists of all faithful stewards who are able to participate in the sacramental life of the Church. The Priest and Parish Council are accountable to their local Hierarch.
In all things, Council members should imitate our Lord Jesus Christ, who “came not to be served but to serve”. The focus of the Parish Council must be to serve the needs of the faithful and to spread the Gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
