The College of Eparchial Consultors is one of the most important of the many consultative bodies that assist the bishop in the administration of an eparchy. Canon 271 of the Code of Canons for the Eastern Churches (CCEO) deals with the eparchial consultors. The College of Eparchial Consultors is a body of presbyters, freely appointed by the Eparchial Bishop, from those who, at the time of their appointment, are members of the Presbyteral Council and to whom, in the form and in the case specified by law, is entrusted the task of assisting the Bishop, with the advice or consent, in carrying out the Eparchial acts of greater canonical importance, including the acts of administration of ecclesiastical goods, for the good of the Eparchy. The general law stipulates that there must be such a body in all eparchies. The College of Eparchial Consultors is to be constituted for a five-year period but upon the expiration of the term, they continue in the exercise of their functions until a new College is established. The members of the College of Eparchial Consultors must be not less than six nor more than twelve in number.

If, for any reason whatever, within the determined five-year period there are fewer than the minimum number of members of the College, the Eparchial Bishop is to restore the College by appointment of new members, otherwise the College cannot act validly. The Eparchial Bishop presides over the College of Eparchial Consultors. The Eparchial Bishop appoints a secretary from the members of the College. He is to convene the meeting, with the consent of the Eparchial Bishop and to prepare the agenda and the reports. The members must be invited to participate in the eparchial assembly and must be present there.

In the following circumstances, the Eparchial Bishop requires the consent of the College of Eparchial Consultors:

1. For the alienation of property exceeding an amount of Rupees ten lakhs/one million (Rs 10,00,000) up to twenty-five crores/ two hundred and fifty million (25,00,00,000) (canon 1036 §1, 1-2°; art.214, PLSMC).
2. For the appointment of a parish priest for a determined period of time in special cases (CCEO c. 284 §3, 3°; article 24, 2°, PLSMC).

In the following circumstances, the Eparchial Bishop requires the consultation of the College of Eparchial Consultors:

1. For the appointment of the Eparchial Finance Officer and to remove him during the term of office (CCEO c. 262 §§ 1-2).
2. For the appointment of the members of Eparchial Finance Council (canon 263 §1).
3. For the suppression of juridical persons that the Eparchial Bishop personally erected, unless a higher authority has approved them (CCEO c. 928, 2°).

Additionally, the annual budget and the annual accounts of the Eparchy shall get the approval of the College of Eparchial Consultors (article 210 §3, PLSMC).The functions of the Presbyteral Council shall be fulfilled by the College of Eparchial Consultors when the Eparchial see is vacant (CCEO c. 270 §2).The CCEO emphasizes that the college of consultors has special responsibility even when the administrator takes over the administration of the eparchy in the absence of the eparchial bishop (CCEO c. 255, 750§1, 2°, 363, 2°, 220, 4°).The College also has the right to see the letter of the canonical provision of the coadjutor bishop (canon 214 §2).The College has the right to elect a priest who is to govern the Eparchy when the Eparchial see is impeded and no other provisions mentioned in CCEO c. 233 §1 are present to assume the governance of the Eparchy (c. 233 §2).

Rev. Dr. Joshy Kulathumkal