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ARTICLE I: THE NAME

The full name shall be: The Ecumenical Society of St John Chrysostom: The Australasian Chapter of St. Francis and St. Seraphim
The Society of Saint John Chrysostom is an ecumenical group of clergy and lay people which promotes Eastern Christianity and Ecumenical Dialogue between the Eastern and Western Churches. In the United States it sponsors the Eastern Churches Journal and the annual Orientale Lumen Conference. In Britain it publishes the journal Chrysostom and organises meetings and study groups. It has been in existence since 1997 in the United States and for over 70 years in Great Britain. The Society in Australasia was inaugurated at its first General Meeting during the international ecumenical conference Orientale Lumen: Australasia and Oceania in Melbourne 9-12 July 2000.
Saint John Chrysostom was born in Antioch around the year 349, and after an extensive education embraced a life of asceticism. He was the Archbishop of Constantinople from approximately 397 to 407, during a period of great reform and renewal among the clergy and faithful of the Byzantine Roman Empire. Twice he was forced into exile by enemies and the imperial court, and died at Comana in Pontus, Asia Minor. Because of his exceptional preaching and his striving to explain Christian doctrine, he is called Chrysostom, or Golden Mouth. The Divine Liturgy attributed to him is the most celebrated among all the Byzantine Churches today. His sermons are studied today for their theological and pastoral content. An especially famous one, which begins ‘Let all pious men and lovers of God,’ is read in its entirety on Pascha (Easter) in the Byzantine Church.

ARTICLE II: THE AIMS OF THE SOCIETY

The aims of the society shall be:
To work and to pray that all people, but particularly Catholic and Orthodox Christians, may speedily attain the fullness of unity which Jesus Christ desires in one Holy Church.
To provide a forum in which Catholic and Orthodox Christians can work to understand the inner spirit of their sister Church through a respectful study of its history, worship, theology and pastoral practice.
To explore, through a free exchange of views, all that Catholic and Orthodox Christians hold in common, such that real discrepancies incompatible with full communion might be faced lucidly in the light of Holy Tradition. [1]
To study and to propagate the work of the various theological dialogues in which the Orthodox Churches are engaged, such as the Catholic-Orthodox, Anglican-Orthodox and Lutheran-Orthodox dialogues.
To make Orthodox and Oriental Christian history, worship, spirituality, and theology better known and appreciated in Australian life and amongst other Australian Christians.
To explore and promote opportunities for practical collaboration between Catholics and Orthodox, such as disinterested, open-hearted, mutual pastoral care.
To develop educational programs which present information about the Eastern Churches.
To organise and conduct pilgrimages and conferences that encourage ecumenical dialogue.
To contribute to fund-raising activities which support Eastern Christian communities and other programs in need of financial aid.
To publish books, brochures, and other information which help explain Eastern Christianity.
[1] Pope John Paul II, L'Osservatore Romano, 16 - 23 August, 1982.

ARTICLE Ill: MEMBERSHIP

1. Any Christian of goodwill may join the society.
2. A person becomes a member of the society when they are informed by the executive, or by someone acting on its behalf, that they are a member.

ARTICLE IV: ADMINISTRATION

1. The ultimate authority in this association shall reside in the members duly assembled in the General Meeting, for which a month’s notice has been given. Ten members or one-third of the membership, whichever is the less, shall constitute a quorum.
2. Between general meetings this society shall be governed by an executive board consisting of a president, vice-presidents, and a secretary.
3. There shall also be a treasurer. The treasurer need not be a member of the executive board; nor be a member of the society. That person is appointed by the executive board.
4. The executive board shall meet at least at the time of the annual general meeting. The president may call meetings of the executive board at other times.
5. The duties of the president shall be:
(a) to act as the chief executive officer of the society;
(b) to preside at general meetings and at meetings of the executive board.
6. The duties of the vice-president shall be:
(a) to assist the president in his/her duties;
(b) to act as substitute for the president in the latters absence from the general meeting or from a meeting of the executive board.
7. The duties of the secretary shall be:
(a) to record the minutes of the meetings of the executive board and to keep the records and papers of the society;
(b) to conduct the correspondence and ordinary administrative affairs of the society according to the instructions of the executive board;
(c) to issue official communications to members at the direction of the president;
(d) to record the minutes of general meetings.
8. The duties of the treasurer shall be:
(a) to receive the goods of the society and to make disbursements as provided for in the by-laws, by the executive board, or by a general meeting;
(b) to submit to the annual general meeting a financial statement of the income and expenses of the society;
(c) to submit on request a financial statement to the members of the executive board.
9. The president, vice-president and secretary shall be elected by secret ballot at the annual general meeting; they shall take office at the end of the business meeting at which they are elected and shall serve for approximately one year.
10. If the position of president falls vacant between annual general meetings, the vice-president shall become the president; if the position of vice-president or secretary becomes vacant, the president shall, after consulting the other members of the executive, choose someone to fill the vacancy.

ARTICLE V: ACTIVITIES

1. A general meeting of the society shall be held annually. The meeting shall usually consist of a section or sections devoted to theology, liturgy, history or pastoral practice, and a section devoted to the business of the society.

ARTICLE VI: CHANGES OF THE CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS

1. Motions to change the constitution should be in the hands of the president at least a month before a general meeting, and such motions shall require a two-thirds majority.
2. Motions to add, delete or change by-laws may be moved without notice at a general meeting and require a simple majority.

VII: BY- LAWS

1. Members of the society shall pay an annual fee of $ 20
2. The society shall hold at least three meetings per year, the first of these meetings being the annual general meeting.
3. Upon the adoption of the Constitution and By-Laws, the Metropolitan of the Antiochian Orthodox Church in Australia and New Zealand and the Melkite Greek-Catholic Eparch of Australia and New Zealand will be invited to be the joint patrons of the society.