Bylaws of the missionary movement

1.

The Orthodox Missionary Movement of the Holy Prophet Daniel unites clergy and laymen of the canonical Orthodox Churches who are striving to fulfill the Commandment of the Saviour: “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:​ teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you” (Mt. 28:19–20)

2.

The task of the movement is to create parishes within the next decades and to promote the creation of dioceses of canonical Churches in all countries of the world and to achieve through this the holiness of all participants in the movement. As the Lord said: “this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations” (Mt. 24:14). The movement serves to strengthen the existing dioceses and parishes by the power of Christ’s evangelism, to root Christians in the intact apostolic faith and Revelation of God.

3.

All members of the movement undertake to keep and spread the holy Orthodox faith intact, pure, in the form as it is contained in the Holy Scriptures, and in the Holy Tradition, expressed in the teachings of the Seven Ecumenical Councils and the consensus of the Holy Fathers. The purity of the doctrine is monitored by the Council of the Movement, together with all missionaries under the canonical leadership of the episcopate.

4.

The movement is strictly ecclesiastical and therefore, in principle, refuses to participate in political struggle, rejects all forms of nationalism and racism. All members of the Movement must be citizens of heavenly Jerusalem, remembering that “here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come” (Heb. 13:14). Every Christian entering the Movement must be a patriot of the Heavenly Fatherland.

5.

Individual Christians as well as parishes and dioceses can participate in the Movement. Moreover, the canonical subordination of a Christian to the ruling bishop must be strictly fulfilled.

6.

Clergy members of the Movement undertake, with the blessing of the bishop, to create missionary parishes and communities (missionary camps) in their area of ​​responsibility. They are also obliged to render all possible assistance to the members of the Movement who ask them for help.

7.

The movement involves three forms of cooperation with Orthodox Christians: missionaries, trustees and helpers.

8.

Missionaries carry the word of the Lord in the place where God placed them. They create new missionary parishes, missionary camps, educational institutions, Bible schools, clubs for the study of Orthodoxy, etc. Missionaries can be both men and women, both married and unmarried (both monks and the non-vowed). Missionaries have a casting vote in the meetings of the Movement.

9.

In fulfillment of the Savior’s words “without me ye can do nothing” (John 15: 5) missionaries voluntarily take upon themselves a special prayer endeavor. Following the example of the patron saint of the Movement st. prophet Daniel (Dan 6:10) every missionary, in addition to morning and evening prayers, makes an effort to offer prayers to God three times a day at 9, 12 and 15 hours. Whenever possible, the missionary resorts to Holy Communion weekly, remembering the words of Christ: “He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him” (John 6, 56). Also, the missionary must make every effort to read the Holy Scriptures annually.

10.

The trustees help the Movement by serving the Lord with their possessions (Luke 8: 3). They have an advisory vote at meetings of the Movement.

11.

Helpers help the Movement with prayers and in other ways.

12.

The movement has branches in certain places. In the event that a branch is formed at a parish or diocese, then it acts in cooperation with the parish priest or ruling bishop.

13.

Each branch of the Movement includes missionaries, trustees, and helpers. Each branch is headed by a chairman who is elected by a majority vote of the missionaries of that branch or appointed by the missionary – the founder of the community.

14.

The chairman can be either a cleric or a layman. In the absence of a priest in the community (in missionary territories), he organizes the liturgical life of the community. The chairman ensures the contact of the branch with all other branches of the Movement and ensures the entry of the community into the canonical structure of the Church.

15.

Under the chairman, there should be a treasurer who is responsible for the financial activities of the branch.

16.

Under the chairman, there should be a treasurer who is responsible for the financial activities of the branch.

17.

Each branch is financially independent and is itself accountable to the state for its own accounts.

18.

Participants in the movement according to the commandment of the Lord (Lev. 27:30–32; Deut. 12:17; Mal. 3:8–10; Mt. 23:23; Luke 11:42) contribute tithes or other part  of their income to the work of God. This sacrifice to the Lord is offered according to the commandment of the Apostle Paul every Sunday (1 Cor. 16: 1-2). Other forms of sacrifice to the Lord are also accepted, but all of them should be offered from a pure heart and freely, for God loves a cheerful giver (2 Cor. 9: 7).

19.

Tithes should be spent only on the work of God: spreading the Holy Gospel, charity, maintaining preachers, publishing Orthodox literature, missionary trips.

20.

The Council provides all regional chapters with missionary information, organizes joint missionary projects, distributes responsibilities among the various chapters, facilitates Movement conventions and resolves disputes within the Movement.

21.

If there is a necessity of joint activities of several branches, their chairmen apply to the Council, and the latter announces the collection of the necessary donations for the given cause or looks for people necessary for this cause.

22.

The Council has information analysis, scientific methodological and publishing centers.

23.

The work of the Movement presupposes three stages of a person’s churching: missionary work, catechesis, and introduction to church life.

24.

Missionary work is addressed to those who are outside the Orthodox Church. Its purpose is to introduce a person into the Body of Christ. The movement recognizes the mission as unacceptable through bribery or violence. Any deception in the preaching of Orthodoxy is also unacceptable.

25.

The mission has to bring the converts to catechesis. Normal catechesis should last forty days (Resolution of the Synod of 20.02. 1840) and end with joining the Church. A convert must know the teaching of the Church, understand the Creed, and be willing to live according to the commandments. Before the Sacrament of Baptism (or before the Rite of Joining), a new convert must be confessed.

26.

An introduction to church life includes both explanation of the Sacrament of the Divine Liturgy after Baptism, and constant teaching of the word of God and patristic wisdom. All communities of the Movement should have permanent Bible schools, clubs for the study of sacred dogmas and the spiritual life of Orthodoxy.

27.

Monasteries participating in the Movement must provide instruction in Orthodox ascetic practice to all who wish.

28.

The Movement undertakes to provide the opportunity to receive theological education to each member, as well as the opportunity for spiritual guidance from the priests of the Movement.

29.

All members of the Movement arriving in another city must have letters of recommendation from the chairman of their branch. Under this condition, the local branch of the Movement should provide them with all possible support.

30.

The participants of the Movement themselves also have a duty before God to help their fellows.

31.

The movement has two holidays in which general meetings are held. This is the day of memory of the patron saint of the Movement st. prophet Daniel (December 30th) and missionary day – the day of the Holy Spirit.

32.

Missionaries are recertified during the holidays. Recertification includes both testing the knowledge of the doctrine and work efficiency of a missionary. At the same time, recertification is accompanied by an analysis of the work done (both theoretical and practical part).