I. Basic Provisions:
The Advisory Council of the Heads of Protestant Churches in Russia (hereinafter referred to as the Advisory Council or ACHPCR) was established on January 23, 2002, and the ratification of the declaration on the establishment of the Advisory Council took place at its second meeting on February 20, 2002. The current version of these provisions was adopted on __________.
The ACHPCR consists of Co-Chairs, Members, Honorary Members, and Observers, who are elected to the Council in accordance with the procedure provided for in the Regulations of the ACHPCR and other documents of the Advisory Council. The supreme body of the ACHPCR is the session of the Advisory Council, chaired by one of the Co-Chairs.
Between sessions, the ongoing work of the Council is carried out by the Secretary, the Expert Council (hereinafter EC), and various working groups.
The Advisory Council of the Heads of Protestant Churches in Russia does not have broad powers, as it is advisory in nature. According to the Declaration and Regulations, the Advisory Council may adopt recommendations and binding decisions, the implementation of which is ensured by the full agreement of all members of the ACHPCR.
Each voting member of the Advisory Council has one vote.
Decisions on procedural issues are taken by the Advisory Council if they receive votes from at least two-thirds of its members.
Substantive decisions are considered adopted if they receive votes from at least two-thirds of the members. However, if any of the Co-Chairs votes against (a veto), the decision is deemed rejected. The activity of the Advisory Council is based on the principle of unanimity among the Co-Chairs of the Advisory Council.
II. Composition:
The ACHPCR includes:
Membership in the ACHPCR:
When joining the ACHPCR, a union or other association receives observer status. This Union has the right to apply for the status of a member of the ACHPCR. A Union that has acquired the status of a member of the ACHPCR may file an application to be included in the Co-chairs. This issue is considered at a meeting of the ACHPCR. When including the Union in the Co-Chairs, the Union signs an act of accession to the ACHPCR declaration.
For the work of the Expert Council of the ACHPCR, one representative from each Union member of the ACHPCR should be elected, and other authorized representatives from Unions or other associations within the ACHPCR may also be involved. Additionally, other individuals and organizations may be invited to participate as experts.
At ACHPCR meetings, Co-Chairs may be represented by three (3) representatives, members by two (2), and observers by one (1). Other participants of the meetings are invited upon agreement by all Co-Chairs.
Co-Chairs:
Members:
Observers:
Honorary Members:
Secretary:
Elected by the Advisory Council without specifying the term of election.
Expert Council (EC):
The main tasks of the Expert Council are:
III. Goals and Objectives
The Advisory Council of the Heads of Protestant Churches in Russia sets the following goals for itself:
IV. Organizational Contributions
To support the organizational work of the Advisory Council, all Unions that are part of the ACHPCR of Russia as Co-Chairs and Members must make an annual organizational contribution (the amount of which is determined at the ACHPCR meeting).
The Advisory Council elects a responsible person to collect and manage organizational contributions from ACHPCR members.
The Advisory Council of the Heads of Protestant Churches in Russia (hereinafter referred to as the Advisory Council or ACHPCR) was established on January 23, 2002, and the ratification of the declaration on the establishment of the Advisory Council took place at its second meeting on February 20, 2002. The current version of these provisions was adopted on __________.
The ACHPCR consists of Co-Chairs, Members, Honorary Members, and Observers, who are elected to the Council in accordance with the procedure provided for in the Regulations of the ACHPCR and other documents of the Advisory Council. The supreme body of the ACHPCR is the session of the Advisory Council, chaired by one of the Co-Chairs.
Between sessions, the ongoing work of the Council is carried out by the Secretary, the Expert Council (hereinafter EC), and various working groups.
The Advisory Council of the Heads of Protestant Churches in Russia does not have broad powers, as it is advisory in nature. According to the Declaration and Regulations, the Advisory Council may adopt recommendations and binding decisions, the implementation of which is ensured by the full agreement of all members of the ACHPCR.
Each voting member of the Advisory Council has one vote.
Decisions on procedural issues are taken by the Advisory Council if they receive votes from at least two-thirds of its members.
Substantive decisions are considered adopted if they receive votes from at least two-thirds of the members. However, if any of the Co-Chairs votes against (a veto), the decision is deemed rejected. The activity of the Advisory Council is based on the principle of unanimity among the Co-Chairs of the Advisory Council.
II. Composition:
The ACHPCR includes:
- Co-Chairs (with decisive vote and veto power);
- Members (with voting rights);
- Observers (with advisory vote, which includes the right to speak at plenary meetings, but their vote is not counted during voting);
- Honorary Members (with advisory vote);
- Secretary (with advisory vote);
- Coordinator of the Expert Council (with advisory vote).
Membership in the ACHPCR:
When joining the ACHPCR, a union or other association receives observer status. This Union has the right to apply for the status of a member of the ACHPCR. A Union that has acquired the status of a member of the ACHPCR may file an application to be included in the Co-chairs. This issue is considered at a meeting of the ACHPCR. When including the Union in the Co-Chairs, the Union signs an act of accession to the ACHPCR declaration.
For the work of the Expert Council of the ACHPCR, one representative from each Union member of the ACHPCR should be elected, and other authorized representatives from Unions or other associations within the ACHPCR may also be involved. Additionally, other individuals and organizations may be invited to participate as experts.
At ACHPCR meetings, Co-Chairs may be represented by three (3) representatives, members by two (2), and observers by one (1). Other participants of the meetings are invited upon agreement by all Co-Chairs.
Co-Chairs:
- Euro-Asian Division of the Seventh-day Adventist Church;
- Russian Church of Christians of Evangelical Faith Pentecostals;
- Russian United Union of Christians of the Evangelical Faith (Pentecostals);
- All-Russian Fellowship of Evangelical Christians;
- Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ingria.
Members:
- Evangelical Christian Missionary Union;
- West-Russian Union of the Seventh-day Adventist Church;
- Russian United Methodist Church;
- Union of Christian Presbyterian Churches;
- Evangelical Lutheran Church of Russia.
Observers:
- Council of Christian Evangelical Churches of Russia;
- Russian Association of Missions of Christians of Evangelical Faith;
- Russian Union of Evangelical Christians Baptists.
Honorary Members:
- Alexander Trophimovich Semchenko (In accordance with the provisions on honorary members).
Secretary:
Elected by the Advisory Council without specifying the term of election.
- By virtue of office, a member of the Advisory Council with advisory vote.
- Responsible for preserving all documents of the ACHPCR.
- Keeps minutes of all meetings of the ACHPCR.
Expert Council (EC):
The main tasks of the Expert Council are:
- Preparation of draft agendas for ACHPCR meetings;
- Work on official ACHPCR documents;
- Development of recommendations for the development of the ACHPCR.
III. Goals and Objectives
The Advisory Council of the Heads of Protestant Churches in Russia sets the following goals for itself:
- Coordination of joint activities and development of recommendations in the field of modern interfaith and interreligious relations, searching for new approaches to strengthen civil peace, prevent conflicts on ethnic and religious grounds, and achieve public consensus;
- Facilitating bilateral and multilateral interfaith consultations and carrying out other forms and types of activities aimed at promoting cooperation between Christian communities and churches;
- Developing a unified position in relations with religious associations and the state;
- Supporting social development, charitable activities, and social services;
- Developing proposals to improve existing legislation concerning the activities of religious associations;
- Developing relationships with government departments and institutions, the media, non-governmental and religious organizations, and associations for joint spiritual-enlightenment activities, integrating high spiritual principles aimed at improving the moral climate in society;
- Protecting the rights and religious freedoms of believers.
IV. Organizational Contributions
To support the organizational work of the Advisory Council, all Unions that are part of the ACHPCR of Russia as Co-Chairs and Members must make an annual organizational contribution (the amount of which is determined at the ACHPCR meeting).
The Advisory Council elects a responsible person to collect and manage organizational contributions from ACHPCR members.