The Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia

San Francisco: May 7, 2006

INSTRUCTIONS
to the IV All-Diaspora Council of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia of the Clergy and Laity of 2006, Adopted by the Pre-Council Committee at its Meeting of April 15, 2005, and Confirmed by the Synod of Bishops of May 2005

I. 1. These Instructions are issued to the IV All-Diaspora Council of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia of the Clergy and Laity.

2. The All-Diaspora Council of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia is obligated to work upon the basis of the Word of God, the Holy Canons and the legislation of the Russian Orthodox Church, insofar as these laws are applicable to church life abroad; and on the basis of the laws adopted by the Councils of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia.

3. The IV All-Diaspora Council of Clergy and Laity will convene at the Cathedral of the Mother of God "Joy of All Who Sorrow" in San Francisco, a city illuminated by the archpastoral podvigi [spiritual labors] of the future Patriarch Tikhon of All Russia the Confessor, and of St John, Miracle-worker of Shanghai and San Francisco, whose uncorrupt relics abide in the Cathedral.

4. The Council will be opened and will conduct its business under the chairmanship of the First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia.

II. The Membership of the IV All-Diaspora Council.

5. The IV All-Diaspora Council of Clergy and Laity will be comprised of:

а) the entire episcopate of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia;

b) elected clergymen and laymen in accordance with the rules of participation in the IV All-Diaspora Council;

c) The Rector and Dean of Holy Trinity Seminary;

d) persons selected and confirmed by the First Hierarch and the Synod of Bishops;

e) members of the Pre-Council Committee;

f) two representatives of the local Organizing Committee;

g) previous members of All-Diaspora Councils who have remained loyal to the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia (with the written authorization of their Ruling Bishop);

6. Each member of the IV All-Diaspora Council possesses one vote.

7. The program of the IV All-Diaspora Council is approved in advance by the Synod of Bishops, and during the All-Diaspora Council by the Conference of Bishops.

8. The legitimacy of the IV All-Diaspora Council is determined by the Conference of Bishops at the All-Diaspora Council.

III. The General Conference of the IV All-Diaspora Council.

9. The quorum will comprise one half of the delegates registered for the IV All-Diaspora Council.

IV. The Board of the IV All-Diaspora Council and its Committees

10. The Board of the IV All-Diaspora Council consists of the Chairman of the Council (article 4), four Vice Presidents (in the rank of priest) elected by the Conference of Bishops, and the Senior Secretary, who is ex officio the Secretary of the Pre-Council Committee.

11. The Board of the IV All-Diaspora Council establishes the schedule of sessions, executes the directives of the IV All-Diaspora Council, adopts resolutions of an executive nature when needed and has executive power in all matters.

12. The Conference of Bishops establishes the following committees:

а) the Mandate Committee (on organization and credentials), which is responsible for checking the credentials of participants of the IV All-Diaspora Council, and reports to the Council on the presence or absence of authorized members;

b) the Counting Committee, which collects votes;

c) the Editorial Committee, which drafts resolutions, addresses and other documents as instructed by the Council, and confirms official reports to the Press Office of the IV All-Diaspora Council.

13. The membership of each Committee is confirmed by the Conference of Bishops of the IV All-Diaspora Council.

V. Procedures for the Discussion of Topics

14. The Vice President:

а) presents the lecturers and announces the topic of each lecture;

b) oversees the observance of the schedule. Before each session, he checks the allotted time for each lecture. Five minutes before the end of each presentation, the Vice President notifies the lecturer in writing of the remaining time. If the lecturer exceeds the time limit, the Vice President makes a verbal request that he end his presentation;

c) leads the sessions, settles debates, if necessary issues warnings to those speaking and upon repetition of a violation may silence the speaker.

15. During discussion of a topic at the IV All-Diaspora Council, each delegate besides the lecturer is given no more than four minutes to speak.

16. Each delegate may speak on one topic no more than two times.

17. At the recommendation of the Chairman, the IV All-Diaspora Council may limit the number of speakers or limit the time allotted for each.

18. The delegates of the IV All-Diaspora Council are obliged to observe Christian respect towards others and may not utter harsh or insulting words or expressions.

19. All matters at the IV All-Diaspora Council are decided by majority vote.

20. At the Chairman's discretion, voting may be conducted by secret ballot.

VI. The Conference of Bishops of the IV All-Diaspora Council

21. All the bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia who are members of the IV All-Diaspora Council comprise the Conference of Bishops, which possesses the deciding voice in all resolutions of the IV All-Diaspora Council.

22. The Chairman of the Conference of Bishops is the First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia.

23. All decisions of the IV All-Diaspora Council are subject to confirmation by the Conference of Bishops.

24. A decision of the IV All-Diaspora Council which does not receive confirmation of the Conference of Bishops may be submitted for reconsideration by the IV All-Diaspora Council only with the consent of the Conference of Bishops.

25. The Conference of Bishops possesses the right if necessary to close the IV All-Diaspora Council upon completion of its program.

VII. The Secretariat of the IV All-Diaspora Council

26. The Senior Secretary of the IV All-Diaspora Council is ex officio the Secretary of the Pre-Council Committee, and his two assistants are appointed by the Conference of Bishops.

27. The Secretariat keeps the minutes of the IV All-Diaspora Council.

28. The Secretariat operates until the end of the IV All-Diaspora Council, after which it compiles all documents of the Council and submits them to the Secretary of the Synod of Bishops.

29. The Secretariat keeps an office organized by the Senior Secretary of the IV All-Diaspora Council.