CONSTITUTION
AND
BY-LAWS
OF
ST NICHOLAS
ALBANIAN ORTHODOX
CHURCH
OF
CHICAGO, ILLINOISREVISED CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS OF THE
ST. NICHOLAS ALBANIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.
ARTICLE 11: AIMS AND PURPOSE
|A.The aims and purpose of thi Church isto Keep and proclaim pure and undefiled
the HOLY EASTERN ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN FAITH, and traditions in conformity with
the doctrine, canons, worship, discipline, wage and customs ofthe Church.
B. The work and ministry of the Church consists of proclaiming the GOSPEL in
sccordance with the ORTHODOX FATTH, saetifyng its members through worship, the
Divine Liturgy andthe other socraments, adding tits numbers by instructing others and admiting
them tothe Church trough bapiam andor chrismation, educating in the ORTHODOX FAITH snd
the language ofthe Church throogh the establishment of appropriate schools, and carrying on
conscientiously all philanthropic actives,
‘C.The operation and maintenance of an edifice and House of Wotthip dedicated to and
bearing the the name of ST NICHOLAS and know asthe SAINT NICHOLAS ALBANIAN
ORTHODOX CHURCH of Chicago, Minos, presently located at 2701 N. Narragansett Avenue,
Chicago, Mlinois 60639.
D. This Church is a Religious, non-profit, corporation. The duration of this Rel
corporation shall be perpetual
ARTICLE 1: HIGHER SPIRITUAL AUTHORITY
‘AND DEDICATION TO SAME.
‘A. This Church recognizes the spiritual leadership ofthe ECUMENICAL
PATRIARCHATE OF CONSTANTINOPLE and tothe end of effeeuaing this even farther. it
also submits and dedicates itself tothe sista command of the THE ALBANIAN ORTHODOX
DIOCESE IN AMERICA which is the American higher Religious Authority designated by the said
[ECUMENICAL PATRIARCHATE OF CONSTANTINOPLE.ARTICLE Ul: PROPERTY
‘A. Church edifices and other Church propery shal be used to serve the religious,
‘edvatioal snd philanthropic activities ofthe Church, Such propery shall be held subject to and at
all tmesadntnistered in accordance withthe reglatons herein, the by-laws ofthe Church. and
the laws of the State of lino, in which State the Church was incorporate,
The Church shall have absolut eto and contol of ll eal and personal property
acquired by i
ARTICLE IV: REVENUE
[A.The revenue or income ofthe Church iso be derived from the following sources:
| Membership dues from all members.
2 Collections as made on each Sunday or the vasious Saint's days and other
religious Holidays.
3. Conuibutions by individual members andor non-members.
4. Payment fr performance of Religious services
‘5 Monies received from renal of hall
6.Sale or dsposition of real property
7. Fund rsising events.
8. Any andall other relative sources
ARTICLE V: MEMBERSHIP
A. MEMBERSHIP: (REQUIREMENTS AND QUALIFICATIONS)
1 REGULAR MEMBERS:
‘A. Any person, male or female, whois twenty-one (21) years of age or older
andisof Albanian extraction or descent, and who was baptized according tothe ites ofthe
Eastern Orthodox Church.
B. Any person, male or female, who i twenty-one (21) years of age or older,
‘ho isthe spouse of one of Albanian extraction or descent and iso the Easter Orthodox Faith
and adheres othe canons, laws and disciplines of the Easter Orthodox Church
C.All regular members who ae in good standing are endowed and shall enjoy
the following privileges:
1. They shall participate in ll he regular and special general assembles of
the membership.
2. They shall have the righ tobe elected to any office ofthe Church six (6)
months afer they bave ben acepted as regular members.
3. They shall have the right to vote at general assemblies and elections if
they are not delinquent inthe payment oftheir dues.
u RY
'A. Any person. mule or female. who is twenty-one (21) years of age or older
‘who is ofthe Easter Orthodox Fath and adheres othe exnons, laws, and disciplines of the
Easter Orthodox Church may become sn honorary member ofthis religious body
'B. Honorary memtersin good standing shall be endowed with the same
privileges as regular members with the excepion ofthe following:
| They may not vote, nor be elected to Tee
'B Application for membership (regular or honorary) mast be in writing on forms
provided by the Church.
‘CAI regular members shall lso become members of the ALBANIAN ORTHODOX,
DIOCESE IN AMERICA.
. All members (regular or honorary) shall be provided with a card of membership signed
bythe President ofthe Church and co-signed by the Secretary.
E. The amount ofthe dues tobe paid by the members (regula or honorary) shall be fixed
by the general asemblyI mn "
'A. Member (regular or honorary) canbe stricken from the ral, fhe or she is delinquent
for period of sx (6) months after said dues have become due.
B. The Secretary ofthe Church shall fst notify, in writing, the said member whois
delinquent ofthe non-payment of dues at east ten (10) days prior to the day of suspension.
‘C. All members (regular or honorary) being suspended or scken from the rolls shall not
be entitled toa refund of any dues that they may have paid,
'D. Members (regular or honorary) who have been dismissed or stricken from the ols may
re-apply for membership by filing a new aplication as provided for in paragraph B AticleV.
vu
[A. The Church shall be governed by Board of twelve (12) Directors also known asthe
Parish Council
B. The formation and selection ofthe officers ofthe Board of Directors is herein later
provided inthe succeeding antics.
ARTICLE Vill: BOARD OF ELECTIONS
‘A. BOARD of ELECTIONS:
1. Ata regular general assembly meeting ealled for this purpose on the lst Sunday of
the month of September in every election year.
2. Will consist of a Board of thee (3), which will be eleced by the general assembly,
‘and be knowa a he Board of Elections,
3, Duty ofthe Board of Elections is to supervise, manage, contol and di
lection of the Board of Directors and the officers ofthe Board of Directors.
4, The existence ofthis Board of Elections shall terminate upon completion ofthe
lection andthe installation ofthe new Board of Directors and new offices,
'5.A member of the Board of Elections may not bea candidate for Director nor member
ofthe Board of Examiners
the
ARTICLE IX: ELECTION OF BOARD OF DIRECTORS
‘A-The election of REGULAR MEMBERS tobe onthe Board of Directors shal take place
every two (2) year on tela Sunday of the month of November in eer lection yea.
B. The election shall ake place on the premises ofthe St Nchlat Albanian Orthodox
Church lected a 2701 N, Naragansent Avenue, Chico, lies rin ay otber svete ot
location where the St Nicholas Albanian Orthodox Church of Chicago may have its headquarters,
‘C Only the REGULAR MEMBERS who arn good standing and nt delngeet inthe
‘eyment oftheir dues shal be given alle to vote in the election ofthe Board of Directors nd the
election sal be condiced by secret ale
Any REGULAR MEMBER who's ct delingsent inthe payment of hier dos must
submit tothe Secreta of the Church statement of candidacy to become eligi to ren for the
Board f Director ot est than thiny (30) days ror the day ofthe election
Alter the expiration of he hiny (30) day period forthe formation of he candidates, and
within seven (7) days afer sch prin, the Board of Elections tll meet and recive from the
Secretary ofthe Church the application oh candidates that have bee ubited and sal