Wis. Stat. § 187.17 — WI Code / Chapter 187 / Section 187.17
Eastern Orthodox Church.
Status: in_force

(1) Definition. As used in this section, the term “Eastern Orthodox Church,” also known as the “Greek Orthodox Church” includes the following established and operating jurisdictions of that church:

(a) The jurisdiction of the Orthodox Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople exercised in the Americas including the United States and possessions, by its duly authorized exarch, metropolitan, archbishop or bishop;

(b) The jurisdiction of the apostolic Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch, exercised in the Americas including the United States and possessions, by its duly authorized exarch, metropolitan, archbishop or bishop;

(c) The jurisdiction of the Patriarchate of Moscow, exercised in the Americas including the United States and possessions, by its duly authorized exarch, metropolitan, archbishop or bishop;

(d) The jurisdiction of the Patriarchate of Alexandria, exercised in the Americas including the United States and possessions, by its duly authorized exarch, metropolitan, archbishop or bishop;

(e) The jurisdiction of the Patriarchate of Yugoslavia (Serbia), exercised in the Americas including the United States and possessions, by its duly authorized exarch, metropolitan, archbishop or bishop;

(f) The jurisdiction of the Patriarchate of Jerusalem, exercised in the Americas including the United States and possessions, by its duly authorized exarch, metropolitan, archbishop or bishop;

(g) The jurisdiction of the autonomous churches which operate in Greece, Yugoslavia (Serbia), Rumania and Bulgaria exercised in the Americas including the United States and possessions, by their duly authorized exarch, metropolitan, archbishop or bishop;

(h) The jurisdiction of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the United States of America, exercised in the Americas including the United States and possessions, by its duly authorized exarch, metropolitan, archbishop or bishop.

(2) Governing body. The governing body of the Federated Eastern Orthodox Jurisdictions in America shall consist of trustees of the ecclesiastical heads, also known as hierarchs, the chancellor and the secretary of said federation and not more than 8 additional trustees, communicants of the Eastern Orthodox faith.

(3) Application for incorporation. An unincorporated church, congregation, parish or society of the Eastern Orthodox faith, may apply to the appropriate hierarch, bishop or administrator for permission to incorporate under this chapter. Upon receiving such permission, such body may proceed to incorporate pursuant to s. 187.01 .

(4) Government of local churches.

(a) Every church, congregation, parish, society or committee incorporated pursuant to sub. (3) shall recognize and be subject to the jurisdiction and authority of the duly appointed and canonical hierarch, bishop or other administrator; shall accept, secure or receive the sacramental, pastoral or ministerial services of such clergy only as are so certified to be of lawful and canonical status or authority in the Eastern Orthodox Church; shall retain or secure as pastors only such clergy as have, in addition, the permission of the hierarch, bishop or administrator certified to be appropriate; and shall in all respects conform to, maintain and follow the faith, doctrine, ritual, communion, discipline, canon law, traditions and usages of the Eastern Orthodox Church.

(b) Any action of the trustees or parish committees regarding the calling, appointment, removal or compensation of parish clergy shall be subject to approval in writing by the appropriate bishop or administrator exercising jurisdiction.

(c) The trustees of every such incorporated or reincorporated body shall have the custody and control of all the temporalities and property, real and personal, belonging to the corporation together with all revenues therefrom and shall administer the same strictly in accordance with the bylaws of the corporation and the rules, regulations and usages of the orthodox jurisdiction or ecclesiastical governing body to which such church is subject.

(5) Application. This section applies to all churches, congregations, societies, parishes, committees and other local organizations governed by jurisdictions, bishoprics, dioceses, missions of any orthodox patriarchate, synod or national church of the Eastern Orthodox Church of the patriarchates set forth in sub. (1) (a) to (g) .