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Saint Nicholas
©
1999-2006 St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church of |
Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church PRIVILEGES AND OBLIGATIONS OF PARISH MEMBERSHIP WHO CAN QUALIFY? Any person who has been baptized according to the rites of the Eastern Orthodox Faith, or has been received into the Orthodox Christian Faith through the Holy Sacrament of Chrismation, and who lives according to the faith and canons of the Church, can be a member of this parish. The religious, moral, and social duties of parishioners are: to apply the teaching of the Orthodox Faith to their daily lives; to attend the Holy Liturgy and other worship services faithfully; to keep the traditions of our Faith; to participate regularly in the sacramental life of the Church; and to actively work to further the goals of their parish in the fulfillment of the Church's sacred mission. SUPPORTING MEMBERSHIP All persons eighteen years of age or over who qualify for membership as described above, must also be supporting members of the parish. Supporting members are those who participate in the financial support of the Church by making and fulfilling an annual pledge to the Fair Share Membership Program. The amount of that pledge is determined by each parishioner's concept of what his or her "fair share" should be. A pledge to the Fair Share Membership Program is the supporting member's only required financial support of the Church. There are no sacramental fees in this parish. All parishioners may participate in the sacraments and rites of the Church in this parish provided membership requirements have been fulfilled. Participation in the sacraments is an expression of the life and faith of an Orthodox Christian. Parishioners who request Baptisms, Weddings, and other services in this parish therefore, must be active and consistent pledge members of this parish for a period of at least six months. ELECTION PRIVILEGES A candidate for election to the Parish Council must be an active, supporting member of this parish for at least one year and must fulfill the requirements of church membership as described above. A new member of the parish may vote in the elections and assemblies if he/she has been an active member for at least three months prior to elections or general assemblies. LETTER OF REFERENCE Any Orthodox Christian who is a member of another Orthodox parish may participate in Baptisms, Weddings, and other services in this parish by presenting a letter of reference from the parish priest. Letters of reference will be issued by this parish's priest to those parishioners who fulfill the membership requirements described above.
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