Romanian Orthodox Church

National Church Council

The National Church Council is the central executive body of the Holy Synod and of the National Church Assembly (Art. 28 of the Statute). The National Church Council meets at least twice a year, or whenever necessary, at the convocation of the President.
Biserica Ortodoxă Română
Crucea Patriarhală Centenară

The National Church Council is composed of 12 members of the National Church Assembly, one clergyman and one layman representing each Metropolis of the country, appointed for a period of 4 years and for a maximum of two terms.

The President of the National Ecclesiastical Council is the Patriarch of Romania, and in his absence his deputy, in accordance with the dispositions of art. 12 paragraph (2) of the Statute. Members of the Holy Synod may participate with deliberative vote in the meetings of the National Council of the Church. The patriarchal Assistant-bishops are ex officio members of the National Church Council with deliberative vote. The Patriarchal Administrative Vicar, the Patriarchal Vicars (Assistant-bishops), the Patriarchal Counsellors and the Church Inspector General are permanent members of the National Council of the Church, with consultative vote (Art. 29 of the Statutes).

Tasks

The National Church Council exercises the following duties between sessions of the National Church Assembly:

  • Supports the rights and activities of the Romanian Orthodox Church;
  • adopts general measures to support the Church’s cultural, social-philanthropic, economic and foundational establishments;
  • establishes means of support for central Church bodies and institutions;
  • shall draw up the annual report on the general activity of the Romanian Orthodox Church, which shall be submitted for approval to the National Church Assembly
  • shall draw up the budgetary execution account and the financial-accounting balance sheet of the Patriarchal Administration, of the Orthodox Biblical and Missionary Institute and of the other central Church institutions with a missionary purpose
  • draws up the general budget of the Patriarchal Administration, of the Orthodox Biblical and Missionary Institute and of the other central ecclesiastical missionary institutions;
  • approves the plan of activity of the publishing house, the printing house and the workshops of the Orthodox Biblical and Missionary Institute;
  • approves the administration of the movable and immovable property of the Patriarchal Administration, the Orthodox Biblical and Missionary Institute, the other central Church missionary institutions and central Church foundations;
  • lays down rules (instructions) for the administration of central ecclesiastical property in matters not laid down by another statutory or regulatory norm;
  • decides, after the prior approval of the Permanent Synod, on the alienation in any manner (sale, exchange, donation, assignment of litigious rights, etc.) of the ecclesiastical real estate of the Romanian Patriarchate, except for sacred property which is inalienable
  • exercises such other powers as are given to it by statute, regulations or by decisions of the Holy Synod and the National Church Assembly (Art. 30 of the Statute).