1. The clergy are strictly to observe the teachings of The Church, regarding Christ, the Sacred Scriptures and Holy Traditions (Ephesus, c. 6, 7; Trullo, c. 1; Carthage, c. 2).

 
2. The clergy are under the complete authority of the diocesan hierarch, without whose blessing they cannot function and to whom they must show proper respect (Laodicea, c. 57; Holy Apostles, c.31, 39, 55; Carthage, c. 10).

 
3. The clergy are to show respect and concern for other members of the clergy (Holy Apostles, c. 56, 59).

 
4. The duty of the priest is to instruct the faithful in the way of godliness (Holy Apostles, c. 58).

 
5. Clergy are to be examples to the flock through prayer and fasting as prescribed by the Church (Carthage, c. 41; Holy Apostles, c. 69).

 
6. Clergy should not abstain from the Eucharist (Trullo, c. 80; Holy Apostles, c. 8).

 
7. Clergy should always be diligent and sensitive in encouraging pious repentance and receptive to a sincere confession (Holy Apostles, c. 52; Trullo, c. 102).

 
8. Clergy must not run for political office (Carthage, c. 16; Holy Apostles, c. 81, 83; Chalcedon, c. 7).

 
9. Clergy may not accept secular appointments or engage in business without the permission of the diocesan hierarch (Holy Apostles, c. 39; Chalcedon, c. 3).

 
10. Clergy have the right to a hearing before a Church Court (Chalcedon, c. 9; The Statutes of the Orthodox Church in America, Article XI).

The Episcopacy 

1. The hierarch determines the assignment of the clergy in his own diocese.

 
2. The hierarch’s official representative in a parish of his diocese is the assigned priest or rector.

 
3. The hierarch has direct supervision over all matters in his diocese involving canon law and the spiritual function, rights and duties of the clergy.

 
4. The hierarch alone may judge the merits of the transfer of clergy from one assignment in his diocese to another. A clergyman who would like to transfer from the parish top which he has been assigned must submit a written petition to his hierarch.

 
5. The hierarch alone has the right to invite another hierarch to serve in one of his own parishes. Should a parish wish to have the presence of another hierarch for a particular occasion, that request must be made in writing to its own hierarch.

1. Ministry is identified by Our Lord in terms of being sent to serve. He gives Himself as an example and model for the service to be performed: "I am among you as one who serves" (Luke 22:27; John 13:13). Greatness in ministry is proportionate to greatness in service as we see when the Lord washes the feet of His disciples (Matt. 20:25 f.; Mark 10:42 f.). Thus the ministry is not to be mistakenly identified with holding a particular ecclesiastical office, but with having been sent to serve the Church, the Body of Christ, in a specific community.

 
2. The priest is the spiritual father of his parish, and every parishioner ought to respect him a such. The priest is addressed with the title of Father. This can remind him that he is to treat his parishioners, his parochial family, as a father treats his children, i.e., with love, kindness, patience, and understanding. Being edified by his example, the parishioners will respect him as their spiritual father and as their true guide along the path of salvation.

 
3. The priest must be diligent in preparing homilies for his flock, giving this priority over administrative duties. The homily at the Divine Liturgy should take place immediately after the reading of the Holy Gospel. 

(See: On Preaching, Encyclical Letter, Holy Synod of the Orthodox Church in America, 1989.)
 
4. The priest must see to it that the appropriate hymns and responses are sung during Divine Services in accordance with Orthodox Tradition and by persons trained for the exercise of this ministry. The choir director or cantor and the parishioners that make up the choir are directly responsible to the priest, who is the presiding authority in all worship services.

 
5. Often, it is not possible for the parish choir to participate in all liturgical services. The priest should encourage congregational singing under the leadership of a qualified cantor or musician.

 
6. It is a primary responsibility of the parish priest to continue ongoing education of the faithful in matters of dogma, tradition, precepts, and sacred rites of the Church. Her supervises the Church School, gives direction to its instructors, and decides on appropriate resources and texts in conformity to diocesan directives.

 
7. The priest must include in his ministry personal contact with all parishioners. This shall include a visit to the homes of parishioners during the days of the celebration of the Feast of the Theophany, a tradition occasion for this. He can bless their homes and also discuss spiritual matters with them. If the number of homes to be visited is too great, or if winter weather makes it impractical, these visits may be done at another appropriate time of year.

 
8. Because the priest is the spiritual father, he must not delay visiting each parishioner who has fallen ill. He is to make no distinction as to whom he visits, for all need the healing power of his prayer (James 5:13-16). Once he has ascertained the degree of illness, he shall determine the ministry best suited.

 
9. On some occasions, when visiting in the privacy of a home, the priest may consider it necessary and advisable to have a deacon or another person accompany him.

 
10. The priest must not neglect to attend to the spiritual needs of shut-ins, who for reasons of poor health are unable to attend Divine Services regularly. Through infrequent and scheduled visitations by the priest and fellow parishioners, the shut-in is reminded of his/her place in the fellowship of the Church and of the importance and blessing of being a part of the parish community.

 
11. By the virtue of his office, the parish rector has supervision over every organization in the parish. He directs the life, activities, and administration of the parish. Nevertheless, the priest must work in harmony with all the faithful of the parish council, which has an active role in parish life.

 
12. The rector is the presiding officer at the annual parish meeting. At his discretion, he may appoint others to chair various sessions of the meeting.

 
13. A priest or deacon may not absent himself from the diocese for any extended period of time without first receiving the explicit permission of his diocesan hierarch. If he has received his hierarch’s blessing to serve in another diocese, he will be issued a Certificate of Canonical Order, which states that he has obtained the blessing of the other hierarch to serve.

 
14. When a clergyman plans to make a prolonged visit or vacation to another city where a hierarch resides or where there is a parish, the visiting priest must contact the hierarch or priest and be prepared to show ecclesiastical identification documents obtained from his diocesan hierarch. Clergy on holiday/vacation should remember that they are, in fact, still clergy. When visiting other parishes, a clergyman should wear appropriate clerical garb. He should enter into the sanctuary, venerate the Holy Table, greet the rector and other clergy present, and remain in the altar to serve, or take the place assigned to the clergy. The rector should invite visiting clergy to serve.

 
15. A clergyman may not accept an invitation from the laity of another parish to celebrate in a parish that has a canonical priest assigned to it. The rector of that parish may, however, make such invitations with the blessing of his hierarch.

 
16. A clergyman should have personal liability insurance coverage and coverage for the personal contents of his rectory (i.e., clergy homeowner’s/renter’s insurance). The parish should assume the cost of insuring the rectory if it owns t. The contents of the rectory which are personal to the priest should be insured, with coverage cost assumed by the priest. Likewise, the parish must cover insurance costs for the contents belonging to the parish.

 
17. A clergyman may not claim a personal right of ownership to any property of the parish he is serving unless it has been specified by mutual written agreement with the official parish representatives. To clarify this matter, it is appropriate for an inventory of parish items to be made each time there is a transfer of clergy.

 
18. A clergyman may not enter into any contractual agreement or otherwise engage in a business enterprise which, by nature, may cause scandal or jeopardize the assets of the parish to which he has been assigned, or which might subject the parish to any claim, lawsuit, or other liability arising from such activity.

 
19. A clergyman may not seek secular employment in addition to his parochial responsibilities without the previous blessing of the diocesan hierarch and the knowledge of the parish.

 
20. Before a clergyman may begin to seek an assignment in a diocese other than the one in which he is presently serving, he must first receive the blessing of his hierarch.

1. No one may schedule any liturgical service without the approval of the rector of the parish. This also applies to meetings affecting the life of the parish.

 
2. No one may invite any clergy to participate in a liturgical service without the approval of the rector. 

(See Guidelines for the Ordination, Appointment and Transfer of Clergy, Holy Synod of the Orthodox Church in America, October 21, 1993; System of Awards for the Clergy and Bishops of the Orthodox Church in America, Holy Synod of the Orthodox Church in America, Spring 1994; On Preaching, Encyclical, page 5.)