The African Orthodox Church

Its Declaration of Faith

Constitutions and Canons

(as amended and coded)
and

Episcopate
with a

Summary of Proceedings of the First General Synod

September, 1921
also

Historical Notes and Apostolic Succession

from

Antioch The First See of St. Peter, Apostle.

Constitution
Article I. Name.
Name
Sec. 1. The name of this Church, which was organized September 2nd, 1921 is
and shall be THE AFRICAN ORTHODOX CHURCH.

Faith Orthodox
Sec. 2. The faith of this Church as declared, is ORTHODOX, in conformity
with the Orthodox Churches of the East from which its Episcopate is derived.

Membership All Races Purpose

Sec. 3. The A.O.C. admits to membership and other privileges persons of all
races. It seeks particularly to reach out and enfold the millions African descent
in both hemispheres.

Autonomous. Controlled by Negroes. Is Independent

Sec. 4. The A.O.C. declares itself to be and is perpetually autonomous,
autocephalous and controlled by Negroes. Hence the name, AFRICAN
ORTHODOX. In the exercise of its Sovereign rights the A.O.C. is independent
of every other Orthodox Eastern Church or Jurisdiction.

Article II. Government and Authority

Hierarchy
Sec.1.
The government of the African Orthodox Church shall be
HIERARCHIAL

Legislative Authority The General Synod

Sec. 2. The general legislation of this Church and the direction of all matters
which concern and belong to and affect the Church as a whole, shall be and is
vested in its General Synod, subject to its DECLARATION OF FAITH and to
such Constitution and Canons as it may from time to time adopt.
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Executive Supervisory and General Administrative Authority

Sec. 3 (A). The executive supervisory general administrative and supreme
authority of the A.O.C. shall be vested in an Archbishop, with the rank and
dignity of a PATRIARCH and he shall be designated upon his election by the
Conclave or House of Bishops, of which every Bishop of the A.O.C. is a
member and must CAST a vote.

The Patriarch, Primates, Bishops and Holy Consistory

(B)
The patriarch, Primates, Bishops and Holy Consistory are integral
parts of the executive, supervisory and general administration.

Election Confirmed by General Synod, A Life Term

Sec. 4. Notification of the election of the Patriarch and the date, time and place
of said election shall be duly given and proclaimed to the Holy Consistory and
the General Synod of the A.O.C The term of office of the Patriarch shall be that
of his natural life.

Specific Duties Set Forth in Canons

Sec. 5. The specific duties of the Patriarch shall be those set forth in the Canon
or Canons of the General Synod of the African Orthodox Church.

Jurisdiction
Sec. 6. The A.O.C. has jurisdiction in its own name and right in the United
States of America and in all the world wherever it may be established.

Provinces
Sec. 7 (a). The A.O.C. shall be divided into Territories following National or
other geographical lines, termed PROVINCES appropriately named, over which
the Bishop presiding shall have the rank and title of Archbishop.

Archbishop Metropolitan
(b). The Archbishop presiding over the General Synod of a National Province
shall be designated PRIMATE or METROPOLITAN of the same.

Diocese Missionary and Special Jurisdictions

Sec. 8 (a). The Territories of the National Province shall be divided along State
or other geographical lines into DIOCESES, MISSIONARY or SPECIAL
JURISDICTIONS, over which duly elected and consecrated Bishops shall have
executive and administrative authority, subject only to their superiors in office
and the General Synod of the A.O.C.

Bishops, Annual Synod. Priests and Lay Deputies from each

Congregation
(b) Each such Diocese, Missionary or Special Jurisdiction shall form and
establish within its territorial boundary an ANNUAL SYNOD under the
jurisdiction of its BISHOP, composed of all the PRIESTS of the A.O.C. resident
within its limits and such number of LAY DEPUTIES from each congregation
as the Synod shall determine.

Enact Canons
( c ) Each such jurisdiction shall enact CANONS for its government under the
direction of its Bishop not conflicting with the Constitution and Canons of the
General Synod.

Dioceses, Diocesan Synod. Name from Principal City

Sec. 9(a) Ten or more contiguous parishes of the A.O.C. being self-supporting,
with seven or more priests of this Church each of whom shall be Rector of one
of said parishes, may be given the privileges of a diocese by General Synod,
from their own Diocesan Synod under the Jurisdiction of a Bishop of this
Church, elected by such Synod which shall take its name from the PRINCIPAL
CITY located within its territorial limits.

Power to Frame Constitution and Canons. Provisions for Support

of Bishop
(b) Each DIOCESAN SYNOD shall have power to frame a Constitution and
Canons for its own government not conflicting with the Constitution and Canons
of the General Synod. Provision shall be made in the same for the proper
maintenance and adequate support of its Bishop.

Missionary and Special Jurisdictions

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Sec. 10 (a) The Conclave of Bishops may establish Missionary and Special
Jurisdictions with territorial boundaries and elect Bishops therefore, the
PATRIARCH or PRIMATE assenting thereto in writing and under his official
seal after adequate provision has been made for the proper support and
maintenance of such Bishop.

Missionary or Special Jurisdiction Qualifying May Become

Diocese
(b) Any Missionary or Special Jurisdiction qualifying as to growth of selfsupporting parishes and fulfilling all other provisions of the Constitution and
Canons of the A.O.C. may become a Diocese, (Sec.9a) in which event the
Bishop of the Jurisdiction shall be installed BISHOP OF THE DIOCESE by its
Diocesan Synod (Sec. 9b) and adequate provision made for his proper support
and maintenance.

Must Elect Same Bishop

Holy Consistory Membership Must report to General Synod
Sec.11. Conjointly with the PATRIARCH there shall be a HOLY
CONSISTORY of the A.O.C. consisting of the PRIMATES, CONCLAVE OF
BISHOPS and such other PRELATES and DIGNITARIES of the Church as the
PATRIARCH shall appoint, numbering not more than eighteen (18) nor less
than nine subject to call, to assist in the government of the A.O.C. during the
period BETWEEN sessions of the General Synod. A report of all these
transactions shall be made to the next meeting of the General Synod.

Article III. General Synod

Composition of General Synod
Sec. 1. The General Synod shall be composed of:
(a) All Archbishops and Bishops of the A.O.C. in good
standing.
(b) All Priests of the A.O.C. in good standing.
(c) All Lay Officers of General Synod.
(d) All Deputies to be elected as provided in the Canons.
(e) All persons who attended and voted in the FIRST and
SECOND GENERAL SYNODS, and also the
SEVENTEENTH GENERAL SYNOD held in
September 1937, provided they are still members in
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good standing in
CHURCH.

the

AFRICAN

ORTHODOX

Officers of General Synod

Sec. 2. The Officers of General Synod shall be a President, Vice President,
Secretary, Assistant Secretary, Financial Secretary, Treasurer, Chancellor, Vice
Chancellor, Registrar and Statistician and Historian.

Officers
Sec. 3. The President shall be the Patriarch or Bishop of Church designated by
him.
(b) The Vice President shall be an Archbishop, Bishop or Priest elected
by ballot at each regular meeting of the General Synod.
(c) The Secretary shall be a Priest with liberty to nominate his assistant.
The Assistant may be either of the Clergy or the Laity.
(d) The Financial Secretary shall be either a Priest or a Layman.
(e) The Treasurer may be either a Priest or Layman.
(f) The Chancellor and Vice Chancellor shall be either Bishops or Priests.
The Chancellor shall have the privilege to nominate the Vice Chancellor.
(g)The Registrar and Statistician and the Historian shall be Priests.

Elected by Ballot
(h) All these Officers shall be elected by ballot at each regular meeting of
the General Synod.

Duties of Officers
Sec. 4. The DUTIES of said several Officers shall be those usually pertaining to
their respective offices and such others as may be prescribed by the Canons.

Article IV. MEETING OF GENERAL SYNOD

Regular Time of Meeting
Sec. 1. General Synod shall convene on the last Wednesday in the Month of
May in each year, unless for good reason the PATRIARCH shall see fit to make
a change, in which case the reason shall be stated and due notice given of the

new date, allowing sufficient time for the DEPUTIES from distant point to
arrive.

Extra Meeting
Sec. 2. The PATRIARCH for urgent reasons, by and with the consent of the
HOLY CONSISTORY may on sixty (60) days notice summon an EXTRAORDINARY MEETING of the General Synod.

Other Changes
Sec. 3. The PATRIARCH by and with the consent of the HOLY CONSISTORY
may change the meeting of GENERAL SYNOD from Annually to Bi-annually
or Tri-annually, that is, every two or three years.

Article V. PROCEEDINGS OF GENERAL SYNOD

Proceedings
Sec. 1. General Synod shall be convened by the PATRIARCH appearing in
person, unless hindered by sickness or other unforeseen circumstances, in which
case the Senior Bishop in point of consecration in the Province where the
General Synod is convened shall preside.

Opening Service Pontifical

Sec. 2. The OPENING SERVICE of general Synod shall be PONTIFICAL,
(i.e.) by BISHOPS. If there be a sermon, some noteworthy Priest may be
designated to deliver same.

Pontifical Mass and Corporate Communion

Sec. 3. SOLEMN PONTIFICAL MASS and a Corporate Communion of
Bishops, Clergy, Lay Deputies and Members attending shall be the Religious
feature of each and every General Synod.

Reports from all Officers

Sec. 4. (a) General Synod duly organized shall hear and receive reports from all
Officers, including the PATRIARCH, PRIMATES, ARCHBISHOPS,
METROPOLITANS, BISHOPS, the Dioceses Missionary and Special
Jurisdictions, General Officers, heads of all general Church Organizations,
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Domestic and Foreign Missionaries and the Officers of the Special Standing
Committees of General Synod.
Agenda
An AGENDA shall always be issued and used.

Parliamentary Usage and Freedom of Debate

(b) General Synod shall debate and vote as a general body according to
such parliamentary rules as may be adopted. Freedom of debate shall
always be allowed.

Special Sessions of Clergy Only. Concurrence Necessary

Sec. 5. All matters pertaining to Faith, Order, Worship and Discipline shall be
presented at a SPECIAL SESSION in which the Clergy alone shall sit and vote,
the Bishops and Priests separately, and a majority vote of both Orders shall be
necessary for the passage of any measure so voted on.

Quorum
Sec. 6 (a) Seven Priests and seven Lay Deputies together with the President of
the General Synod shall constitute a QUORUM for the transaction of business.

Increase of Quorum
(b) This number may be increased by legislation at any session of the
General Synod.

The Synod Assessment

Sec. 7. AN ANNUAL ASSESSMENT OF TWO DOLLARS ( $2.00) (Years
1936-1937 ?) is ASSESSED EVERY ADULT MEMBER of the A.O.C. and
shall be collected and paid into the HEADQUARTERS by the 30th day of April
of each and every year.

ARTICLE VI. CONCLAVE OF BISHOPS

Conclave or House of Bishops

Sec. 1. All Bishops of this Church shall be members of the CONCLAVE OR

HOUSE OF BISHOPS of which the PATRIARCH or in the absence the Senior
Bishop in point of consecration in the Province shall preside.

Duties of Conclave
Sec. 2. The Conclave shall safeguard the Episcopate and the DECLARATION
OF FAITH and seek communion with other Churches of ORTHODOXY. The
Conclave shall assist the PATRIARCH in governing the Church.

Authorization of Archbishops and Bishops

Sec. 3. Archbishops and Bishops of The African Orthodox Church are
AUTHORIZED TO MAINTAIN MEMBERSHIP IN THE CONCLAVE OF
THE AMERICAN CATHOLIC CHURCH THROUGH WHICH THE
EPISCOPATE was transmitted from the APOSTOLIC SEE OF ST. PETER AT
ANTIOCH to THE AFRICAN ORTHODOX CHURCH.

Conclave Essential to Life and Work

Sec.4. The Conclave of Bishops constitutes an ESSENTIAL PART in the
membership of General Synod and the HOLY CONSISTORY of the A.O.C. for
the PRESERVING AND PERPETUATING the LIFE and WORK of the
Church.

ARTICLE VII. THE LITURGY

The Liturgy Orthodox
Sec. 1. A standing Commission of which Bishops shall be members, shall
prepare and set forth a LITURGY, ORTHODOX IN FAITH, derived from the
EASTERN AND WESTERN RITES and published in the ENGLISH
LANGUAGE.

Contents
Sec. 2. The Liturgy besides the Mass and Propers shall include such other
RITES and CEREMONIES as are in use in the A.O.C. in the administration of
the SEVEN SACRAMENTS and other RELIGIOUS OFFICES, together with
the PSALTER or PSALMS of DAVID.

ARTICLE VIII. THE HYMNAL

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Orthodox Hymnal
A Standing Commission of which the Bishops shall be members shall compile
and publish an ORTHODOX HYMNAL as soon as convenient. Until such
publication the hymns ANCIENT AND MODERN shall be the OFFICIAL
HYMNAL of THE AFRICAN ORTHODOX CHURCH, with the proviso, that
the proper Ecclesiastical Authority may, if necessary, authorize the use of
another hymnal, not conflicting with the Faith of this Church AND where it is
clearly shown that it is for the advancement of the Church.

Priest Responsible at all Times

The PRIEST has charge and shall be responsible for the selection of hymns used
in each service.

ARTICLE IX. COLLEGE AND SEMINARY

Orthodox College and Seminary
Sec. 1. A COLLEGE AND SEMINARY shall be founded, duly incorporated
and conducted by the learned Dignitaries and Prelates of the Church, together
with the aid of competent Priests and Laymen who may be appointed to serve, in
which Academic, Collegiate and Theological studies shall be taught.

Courses of Study and Examinations

Sec. 2. Courses of Study shall conform to such as are in general use in
institutions in the subjects taken.

Provisions for Candidates for Holy Orders

Sec. 3. Provision shall be made by which ALL CANDIDATES for HOLY
ORDERS in this Church, shall receive instructions in the courses of study, or
shall prove themselves in possession of knowledge equivalent to the courses of
study offered, after a thorough examination.

Degrees. On Whom Conferred

Sec. 4. ACADEMIC, THEOLOGICAL and OTHER DEGREES, both in course
and Honoris Causa may be conferred on ALUMNI and other PERSONS of
distinguished character and learning, who may be presented as worthy and

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efficient by the Dean and Chapter, or who have completed examinations in the
FULL COURSE of STUDY, with the required average of percentage.

ARTICLE X. RELIGIOUS ORDERS

Religious Orders May Be Organised
Control
RELIGIOUS ORDERS of MEN and WOMEN for promoting the life of
sacrifice and service towards God, HIS CHURCH and HUMANITY in
GENERAL, may be organised with the authority and consent of the
PATRIARCH, PRIMATE, DIOCESAN or BISHOP of a Missionary or Special
Jurisdiction, who shall have direct and immediate supervision and shall exercise
full control of the temporal and spiritual affairs of every such RELIGIOUS
ORDER.

ARTICLE XI. PUBLICATIONS

Journal of General Synod Correct List of all Clergy
Sec. 1. The PROCEEDINGS of the General Synod shall be prepared for
PUBLICATION by the Secretary, after examination and certification by the
President. This journal shall be printed as the OFFICIAL and PERMANENT
RECORD of the CHURCH and shall contain a correct list of all its clergy.

Orthodox Churchman
Sec. 2. THE AFRICAN ORTHODOX CHURCHMAN, a monthly record of
news and information concerning the work and progress of the A.O.C. and its
adherents, shall be edited and published as provided for the Canons.
Provisions for Expenses
Sec. 3. Provision for the necessary expenses incurred shall be made by vote of
General Synod.

Article XII. STANDING COMMISSIONS

Standing Committees

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Sec. 1. There shall be a STANDING COMMISSION and COMMITTEES

making report to the General Synod at each meeting on the following:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.

Constitution and Canons

Church Literature
Finance
Church Extension
Episcopate Fund
College and Seminary
State of the Church
Vestments
Propaganda

Majority Quorum
Sec. 2. A MAJORITY of all the members each of the aforementioned
Committees a QUORUM for the transaction of business. A proper RECORD of
all proceedings and funds shall be kept.

ARTICLE XIII. AMENDMENTS

Amendment of Constitution
ALL AMENDMENTS to this CONSTITUTION shall be submitted in writing to
the STANDING COMMITTEE on CONSTITUTION AND CANONS to be
presented to the current meeting of the General Synod. When presented to the
General Synod the Amendment may be adopted by a Two-thirds (2/3) vote of all
present and voting.
NOTE: - THIS CONSTITUTION AS AMENDED was adopted as a
whole on its SECOND READING. THE FIRST READING was at SYNOD IN
1936.
THE THIRD READING when this CONSTITUTION was RATIFIED
ON ADOPTION AND IMMEDIATELY BECAME LAW, was on TUESDAY,
JUNE 6th, 1937 at 01.30 P.M.
This CONSTITUTION IS NOW THE ACCEPTED LAW OF THE
AFRICAN ORTHODOX CHURCH.

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