Further data collection, implementation of decrees, and oversight of preaching

Based on the recommendations of the Diocesans Affairs Committee:

·      Based on the guidance of His Holiness the Pope, the Holy Synod has decided to request that its members send in the details of the Priests of the Dioceses, and the personal affairs, births, baptisms and deaths.

·      The Synod decided that the Book of Holy Synod Decisions (in the Era of His Holiness Pope Shenouda III) should be taught in Priest meetings, branches of the Clerical College, and in specialist institutes. This is necessary because there are decrees issued by the Holy Synod which [members of] the congregation say they do not know. Everyone should know them [the decrees].

·      The recommendation of the Committee to follow-up the implementation of the Holy Synod decrees, was also accepted.

·      The recommendation of the Committee to prepare preachers for church halls and marquees for wakes, was accepted. This is in order to take advantage of this opportunity to care for and service the congregation of the Church. It was also agreed to prevent non-Orthodox people from preaching in church halls and supervise what happens in halls and the abovementioned marquees. His Holiness the Pope recommended that at least we should have recorded tapes to play for condolences to avoid sneaking strangers from preaching.

·      The recommendation of the Committee regarding the legalisation of the relationship that protects church ownership in the properties owned by churches in which church servants or Priests reside, is accepted. There are many Dioceses that do not have property deeds.