{"id":807,"date":"2026-07-07T08:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-07-07T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/minhlydao.org.vn\/en\/?page_id=807"},"modified":"2026-07-14T07:56:20","modified_gmt":"2026-07-14T07:56:20","slug":"charter-part-3","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/huyencong.minhlydao.org.vn\/index.php\/en\/introduction\/charter-part-3\/","title":{"rendered":"Charter, Part 3"},"content":{"rendered":"

CONDITIONS, STANDARDS, AUTHORITY, AND PROCEDURES FOR ORDINATION, APPOINTMENT, ELECTION, TRANSFER, REMOVAL, AND DISMISSAL OF CLERGY \u2014 DISSOLUTION\/ESTABLISHMENT OF AFFILIATED ORGANIZATIONS \u2014 MEETINGS, ASSEMBLIES \u2014 AMENDMENT AND PROMULGATION OF THE CHARTER<\/strong><\/p>\n

CHAPTER VIII. ORDINATION, APPOINTMENT, AND ELECTION OF CLERGY<\/h2>\n

Articles 60\u201364: Senior ranks<\/strong> \u2014 Dinh Phap (the highest-ranking clergy, of the rank of Sieu Tinh Su or above, serving for life, entrusted with the true transmission of the doctrine and the bestowal of spiritual initiation); Tong Ly (of the rank of Vinh Tinh Su or above, assisting the Dinh Phap and leading the Institute for the Preservation of the Doctrine and the Executive Institute); Hiep Ly (of the rank of Vinh Tinh Su or above, expounding the precepts and virtues, and presiding over the Executive Institute); Chu Tri, the Abbot (of the rank of Khiet Tinh Su or above, leading internal governance, external relations, and the discipline of the clerical ranks); the Chuong Ly \/ Chairwoman of the Women’s Order \/ Vice-Chairwoman of the Women’s Order (senior female clergy, responsible for worldly affairs and for the transmission of the esoteric practice reserved for women). All are elected by the Council of the Holy Church, installed at an altar ceremony in the Main Sanctuary with a memorial petition offered to Heaven, and serve for life.<\/p>\n

Articles 65\u201371: Clerical ranks, believers, and disciples<\/strong><\/p>\n

There are three tiers of clerical rank: Tung Su (believers and disciples), Chanh Su (ordained teachers, giao su), and To Su (patriarchal teachers). The faithful consist of Thien Tin (devoted followers who have not yet formally joined) and Tin Do (believers who have undergone initiation, aged 18 or older, sponsored by two existing believers). Believers have the right to stand for election and to vote for the Board of Administration, and are obligated to observe the Charter.<\/p>\n

The cultivation ranks (clerical hierarchy) follow the Noble Eightfold Path (Bat Chanh Dao) and comprise 8 levels: Huong Tinh Su\/Co, Chi Tinh Su\/Co, Tam Tinh Su\/Co, Thanh Tinh Su\/Co (the disciple ranks); Khiet Tinh Su\/Co, Vinh Tinh Su\/Co, Sieu Tinh Su\/Co (the teacher ranks, who renounce the world to enter monastic life, observe a permanent vegetarian diet, and keep the precepts of purity); and Giac Tinh Su (the rank of Patriarch). Promotion from Huong Tinh to Thanh Tinh is nominated by the local community and reviewed by the Institute for the Preservation of the Doctrine before submission to the Council of the Holy Church; promotion from Khiet Tinh to Sieu Tinh requires passing an examination (covering doctrine, religious method, canon law, conduct, and merit). The rank of Patriarch is filled through nomination or candidacy among the Sieu Tinh Su, requiring a vote of confidence from more than half of the teacher-rank clergy.<\/p>\n

Those who undergo initiation are given a Dharma name (for believers) or a Holy name \u2014 called Thien An, a Mandate of Heaven (from the rank of Chi Tinh Su\/Co upward, referred to as disciples); Holy names follow the lineage sequence (Tich Dao): Minh, Khai, Tuong, Dai, Dao, Ly, Hieu, Dat, Tham, Uyen.<\/p>\n

Articles 72\u201380: Authority of appointment<\/strong><\/p>\n

The appointment of the Head\/Deputy of Bac Nha Tinh Duong, the Director\/Deputy Director of Long Hoa Academy, the Manager\/Deputy of the Overseas Long Hai branch, the Heads\/Deputy Heads of the Nine Departments, the Manager\/Deputy of local branches (Chi dao), and the Head\/members of religious establishments all follow the same principle: nomination or selection by the level below, submission to the level above (the Institute for the Preservation of the Doctrine or the Executive Institute) for review, and confirmation by the Council of the Holy Church. Each new term of the Board of Administration is nominated by the Executive Institute and elected by secret ballot at the General Assembly of Disciples of the entire faith (election requires more than half the votes of confidence of the official delegates present); the Chair\/Vice-Chair of the Board of Administration are elected by the newly elected members at their first meeting of the term.<\/p>\n

Articles 81\u201384: Discipline and commendation<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Council of the Holy Church holds the authority to decide on the ordination, appointment, transfer, removal, and dismissal of clergy (based on proposals from the Institute for the Preservation of the Doctrine, the Executive Institute, or the local levels). Violations of the Charter or canon law are addressed according to their severity; violations of the law are referred to State authorities for handling in accordance with regulations. Clergy and disciples of merit and achievement are commended, recorded in the Golden Register, and promoted in rank; those who have been disciplined may, upon sincere repentance and demonstrated merit, be reinstated to their clerical rank.<\/p>\n

CHAPTER IX. ESTABLISHMENT, DIVISION, MERGER, AND DISSOLUTION OF AFFILIATED ORGANIZATIONS<\/h2>\n

Articles 85\u201397:<\/strong> These articles set out the conditions and authority for: establishing a new local branch (Chi dao) (requiring at least one Thanh Tinh Su\/Co and more than 50 believers, with a sacred shrine); dividing a local branch (requiring more than 100 persons, sufficient assets, and a new sacred shrine, with the consent of the community); merging or consolidating branches (when there is a shortage of leadership personnel or when activity has been ineffective for 5 years or more); and dissolving the Management Board of a local branch, the Board of Administration, or a religious establishment (in cases of violation of the Charter or canon law, serious loss of internal unity, or serious violation of the law, upon the proposal of more than two-thirds of the relevant clergy\/members). The authority to decide on dissolution rests with the Council of the Holy Church, based on the review of the Executive Institute; the dissolution procedure must fulfill all asset-related obligations in accordance with the law on religion and civil law.<\/p>\n

CHAPTER X. MEETINGS, ASSEMBLIES, AND RESOLUTION OF INTERNAL DISPUTES<\/h2>\n

Articles 98\u2013103:<\/strong> The General Assembly of Disciples of the entire faith is held once every 5 years to review the previous term, adopt new directions, elect the Board of Administration, and amend the Charter. The Council of the Holy Church meets once a month (and in extraordinary session when necessary); affiliated organizations meet monthly; local branches (Chi dao) and religious establishments hold an annual meeting once a year; the Annual Conference of the entire faith is held once a year, presided over by the Dinh Phap\/Tong Ly\/Hiep Ly\/Chu Tri. A meeting or assembly is valid when more than half of the delegates are present; a resolution is valid when adopted by more than half of the delegates present. Internal disputes are resolved by the level above that at which the dispute arose, in the spirit of Equality \u2013 Cooperation \u2013 Harmony, with priority given to conciliation before referral to the competent authority for decision.<\/p>\n

CHAPTER XI. RELATIONS AMONG ORGANIZATIONS<\/h2>\n

Articles 104\u2013106:<\/strong> The Council of the Holy Church, the Institute for the Preservation of the Doctrine, and the Executive Institute hold the authority to guide and direct Long Hoa Academy, the Overseas Long Hai branch, Bac Nha Tinh Duong, the local branches (Chi dao), and religious establishments in accordance with the Charter and the law; these organizations are obliged to comply strictly. The Institute for the Preservation of the Doctrine and the Executive Institute operate on the principle of “one as though two, two as though one,” under the direction of the Council of the Holy Church. The Board of Administration represents Minh Ly Dao in maintaining relations with government authorities, the Fatherland Front, fellow religions, and other organizations and individuals, in the spirit of equality, cooperation, and harmony, without interfering in one another’s internal affairs.<\/p>\n

CHAPTER XII. AMENDMENT AND PROMULGATION OF THE CHARTER<\/h2>\n

Article 107: Amendment of the Charter<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Executive Institute proposes and submits a draft amendment for the approval of the Council of the Holy Church; the amendment becomes official once it is adopted by a vote of more than two-thirds of the disciples present at the General Assembly of Disciples of the entire faith, and registered with the competent State authority.<\/p>\n

Article 108: Promulgation of the Charter<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Charter of Minh Ly Dao Tam Tong Mieu consists of a preamble, 12 Chapters, and 108 Articles, amended in accordance with the Law on Belief and Religion at the Fourth General Assembly of Disciples of Minh Ly Dao – Tam Tong Mieu, term 2023\u20132028, and takes effect once approved by the competent State authority.<\/p>\n

Note: This is a summarized version based on the content published at tamtongmieu.minhlydao.org.vn\/; the official Charter document holding legal force is the version approved by the competent State authority and kept on file at the Holy Church.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

CONDITIONS, STANDARDS, AUTHORITY, AND PROCEDURES FOR ORDINATION, APPOINTMENT, ELECTION, TRANSFER, REMOVAL, AND DISMISSAL OF CLERGY \u2014 DISSOLUTION\/ESTABLISHMENT OF AFFILIATED ORGANIZATIONS \u2014 MEETINGS, ASSEMBLIES \u2014 AMENDMENT AND PROMULGATION OF THE CHARTER CHAPTER VIII. ORDINATION, APPOINTMENT, AND ELECTION OF CLERGY Articles 60\u201364: Senior ranks \u2014 Dinh Phap (the highest-ranking clergy, of the rank of Sieu Tinh Su […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":800,"menu_order":7,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-807","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/huyencong.minhlydao.org.vn\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/807","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/huyencong.minhlydao.org.vn\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/huyencong.minhlydao.org.vn\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/huyencong.minhlydao.org.vn\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/huyencong.minhlydao.org.vn\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=807"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/huyencong.minhlydao.org.vn\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/807\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1520,"href":"https:\/\/huyencong.minhlydao.org.vn\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/807\/revisions\/1520"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/huyencong.minhlydao.org.vn\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/800"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/huyencong.minhlydao.org.vn\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=807"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}