Parish Council

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A Parish Council is a body of practicing Orthodox Christians sacramentally in good standing with the Church, elected by the members of a parish for the purpose of working together with the priest in fulfilling the goals and needs of that parish. This brief description of a local governing body also describes the fundamental structure of the Orthodox Church. That the clergy and laity together are the "People of God," seeking, to the best of their human capabilities, to fulfill the mission entrusted to them by our Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ.

The Parish Council is a sacred office that requires total love, loyalty and dedication to our Holy Orthodox Church. A Parish Council member is an official representative of the Church, and as such is expected to exert every effort to exemplify its sacred character and spirit. Upon being elected to this trusted office one assumes three basic obligations which will help guide them in making the many decisions and policies that will be their responsibility in the months to follow.

These obligations are:

1. To understand, live by, and uphold the tenets, teachings, and traditions of the Greek Orthodox Church;
2. To understand and abide by the GOAA Regulations (formerly known as the UPR) as set forth by the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America through the Clergy-Laity Congresses.
3. To live by and uphold your oath of office by utilizing your God-given time, talents, and treasures for the spiritual progress and advancement of your parish.

This is attested to publicly before the congregation of the parish with the following oath of office as administered by the parish priest and to which the elected members affix their signature:

"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 Charter and Regulations of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, and that I will faithfully and sincerely fulfill the duties and obligations required of me as a member of the Parish Council. So help me God."

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The Parish Council is a Ministry

Parish Council Guidebook

Archdiocese Regulations

Official Documents of the GOA

Saint Barbara Bylaws

Parish Council Liaisons

Committees

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2024 Parish Council