The Church National Council is a central executive body of the Holy Synod and of the Church National Assembly.

The Church National Council is met - following the convocation of the President – at least twice a year or any time is needed.

The Church National Council is made up of 12 members of the Church National Assembly, one clergy and one lay person representing each Metropolitan See of the country, assigned for four years time for two mandates at last.

The President of the Church National Council is the Patriarch.

The members of the Holy Synod can participate in the Council meetings, with deliberative vote.

The Assistant Bishops to the Patriarch are lawful members of the Church National Council, with deliberative vote.

The Administrative Patriarchal Vicar, Patriarchal Counsellors and the general church inspector are permanent members of the Church National Council, with consulting vote.

The Church National Council takes valid decrees by consensus or with half plus one vote of the members present.

The coordinator counsellor of the Patriarchal Office is the secretary of these meetings, and in case of his absence, one of the patriarchal counsellors appointed by the Patriarch.

 

During the period between the meetings of the Church National Assembly, the Church National Council exerts the attributions provided by Article 22, letters a, d and e, as well as the following attributions:

a. Drafts the annual report concerning the general activity of the Romanian Orthodox Church;

b. Drafts the budgetary account and the financial balance sheet of the Patriarchal Administration, of the Bible and Mission Institute of the Romanian Orthodox Church and of the other church central institutions;

c. Drafts the general budget of the Patriarchal Administration, of the Bible and Mission of the Romanian Orthodox Church and of the other central church institution;

d. Approves the activity plan of the Editorial Office, of the Printing House and of the Workshops of the Bible and Mission Institute of the Romanian Orthodox Church;

e. Decides upon the way of administering the real estate and movable goods of the Patriarchal Administration, of the Bible and Mission Institute of the Romanian Orthodox Church, of the other central church institutions and of the central church foundations;

f. Decides upon conveying with any title of the usage or property over the real estate of the Patriarchy (sale or exchange), as well as over the tasks or servitudes of the Patriarchy property, but for the sacred goods, which are inalienable, with the observance of the statutory, regulative and legal stipulations;

g. Exerts any attributions given through the Statutes, regulations or decrees of the Holy Synod, Permanent Synod or of the Church National Assembly… [+] more information