By Saint Innocent (Veniaminov), Metropolitan of Moscow
Part 3. Rules Concerning Church Affairs, Communication, and Reporting, Concerning All Colonial Priests in General
Order of Church Affairs
51) All colonial churches must have a churchwarden, elected by parishioners or appointed by the colonial authorities with the consent of the priests.
In missions, where at first there will be only field churches, having a churchwarden is at the discretion of the missionary.
52) Each church and mission must have income and expenditure books for recording church property, and keep them in proper order. Keeping books and compiling statements is the responsibility of the churchwarden under the close supervision of the clergy. But where there is no warden, or the warden cannot perform this, this duty is imposed on the clergy alone.
53) Where there is no warden, the property of the church is the full responsibility of the clergy, who are subject to all liability in the event of loss or neglect.
54) Without the knowledge and permission of the dean, no one can make significant expenditures on church capital.
55) Every church and mission must have:
a) Parish registers, which must be kept in all correctness in the form that will be approved by the diocesan authorities.
b) Spiritual lists of all Christians belonging to that parish. In missions, when listing, indicate (at least approximately) how many are still unenlightened and how many are ready to receive Baptism.
c) A search book for concluding marriages, in which to enter in the usual form the marriages of Europeans with natives and Creoles (i.e. children born from a European and a native woman). Marriages of foreigners can only be entered in the registers of births for the time being.
56) They should also have a special notebook for entering in it all reports and relationships that may be needed for various certificates and for evidence.
57) In order that the authorities could see the successes and labors of each of the priests and missionaries and therefore value them, each of them is obliged to keep a journal in which all actions concerning their duties are recorded, as well as what is worthy of attention. And such a journal is to be presented annually to the dean, who, with his notes, will forward it to the diocesan authorities.
58) In those parishes where (in places remote from the church) chapels are located, their management in all respects must be under the supervision of the priest of that parish, and their property must be classified as church property by a special article.
On relations with local authorities
59) The dean of American churches is the immediate superior over all churches and missions; and therefore a) for everything exceeding the authority of the priest and missionary, and for any misunderstanding or doubt, demand permission, instructions and advice from the dean, officially or privately, depending on the nature of the case; b) none of the church clergy can relate about this, or about anything else (except for matters subject to secrecy and the matters mentioned below) to anyone other than the dean.
60) The dean, being the immediate superior of the colonial clergy, is also the trustee of the churches and missions in all respects, and therefore all statements, reports, requirements for churches, etc. must be submitted to the dean with the general signature of the clergy and church ministers, and where necessary, also the warden.
61) Since the maintenance of the churches will be mostly at the expense of the American Company, then the satisfaction of demands can only be from it; and therefore, after drawing up the statements, reports and demands following the dean, the warden has the duty (once a year) to draw up a general statement of all the property of the church and submit it on his behalf to the nearest local authorities (for information and various considerations), with his signature and the testimony of the priest, and at the same time – and demands regarding the improvement of the church, etc. And where there is no warden, the clergy and church ministers themselves must report this.
62) All relations with the colonial authorities, if such happen, should be done only through the dean; communications with the local authorities, such as: requests for travel allowances, or the like, should be done by each priest on his own behalf, and by the clergy through the priests. But if their just demands are not fulfilled by the local authorities or are not fulfilled properly, then let the dean know about it, but with all fairness, under fear of punishment.
Here it is not at all mentioned that you must also fulfill all the instructions that will be given, because it goes without saying that all general and particular decrees concerning churches, and moreover not inconsistent with local institutions and circumstances, must be fulfilled in all their force and accuracy; in doubtful cases, submit for resolution.
Remember that you are in a place where you can more quickly than many receive rewards, both heavenly – future, and earthly – present. Heavenly rewards are in the hand of the Great Rewarder, Who will always see your deeds, intentions, and the spirit in which you act; as for earthly rewards, attention will be paid to the number of those you convert, but more to your zeal and zeal in the execution of your work. Translating something from the sacred books into the language of your parishioners and teaching at least 50 people to read from them will be sufficient proof of your zeal and a merit worthy of the highest awards that the clergy are awarded.
Source in Russian: Works of Innocent, Metropolitan of Moscow / Coll. Ivan Barsukov. Book 1-3. – Moscow: Synod. type., 1886-1888. / Book 1. – 1886. – VI, 494, [3], p. / Instructions for a priest appointed to convert non-believers and guide those converted to the Christian faith. 239-263 p.
