09/08/08

Article I           Purpose of Parish Pastoral Council

The St. Mary of the Annunciation Parish Pastoral Council, with the Pastor, form a leadership body whose members are called to exercise the ministry of Christian leadership within the parish community. The Council's purpose is to enable the parish to experience itself as a Roman Catholic community of faith called to proclaim the Good News of God's Kingdom present among us. The Council assists the parish in fulfilling this mission by serving as a community and coordinating structure for all aspects of parish life: worship, service, education, information, evangelization and stewardship. In a relationship of shared responsibility with the Pastor, the Council strives to develop a unified vision among parishioners of St. Mary and provides guidance for the appropriate action necessary to attain this vision.

The Parish Pastoral Council strives to fulfill its purpose by:

·      prayerfully discerning the needs of the parish community.

·      serving as a vehicle for constructive dialogue of the parish community.

·      serving as a consultative body to the Pastor.

·      maintaining a parish mission statement and ensuring its implementation.

·      identifying and calling forth the gifts and talents of the members of the parish community

·      establishing clear and concise goals and objectives based on the mission statement and the emerging concerns and needs of the parish community.

·      becoming aware of the needs and priorities of the Archdiocesan Church.

·      implementing Archdiocesan policies.

Article II         Membership

The Council membership strives to be a broad-based representation of the make-up of the parish community including men and women, youth, elderly and persons with a variety of viewpoints and experiences.

Section 1   Council Membership Includes

a)      The Pastor (or Parish Life Coordinator), Associate Pastor, and Pastoral Associate as ex-officio, non­-voting members.

b)      Seven At-Large voting members, as elected by the church community per Section 3 below. Three of these are annually elected by the entire council to serve as Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson and Secretary as defined in Article III.

c)      One voting member from each of the Commissions listed in Article III, section 3.

Section 2   Eligibility for Council Membership

Any Confirmed, practicing Catholic, who is a registered member of St. Mary Parish, and is at least eighteen (18) years of age, is eligible to serve on the council.

The positions of “Commission Representative” shall be appointed by their respective Commissions.

No member (other than ex-officio staff members) may serve on the Parish Pastoral Council for greater than six consecutive years.

No paid staff of St. Mary Parish or their family members may be a voting member of the Parish Pastoral Council

Section 3   Nominations & Elections

Fiscal Year for the Parish Pastoral Council shall be August 1 – July 31. Given the three year terms of membership, approximately one-third of the Council seats should be re-elected each year.

April……………..……………. Nominations for New Council Members

August…………………………Orientation Session and Election of Officers

Installation of New Members will take place at a designated Mass.

a)      Nominations: The Executive Committee will select at least one member of the parish not currently holding a council position to work with them in gathering nominations. All nominations will be reviewed and approved by the committee.

b)      Voting Eligibility: All parishioners age 16 or over are eligible to vote for all Parish Council At-Large members. The privilege is thus extended to Catholic and Non-Catholic parishioners alike, so long as one member of the voter's family is a registered Catholic member of the parish.

c)      Voting Processes: A brief bio will be submitted by each person that accepts nomination and distributed at all Masses one or two weeks preceding the election. Time will be allotted at all Masses for balloting on the weekend of the election. The Committee, (excepting those on the ballot), will be responsible for tallying the results and notifying the Parish Council, as well as all individuals on the ballot.

      i.  An election will be held for Council seats even in the event that nominees are running unopposed.

      ii.  In the event that the committee is unable to identify nominees, the Pastor may appoint members.  No election will be held, but a bio for each appointee will be submitted and distributed to the Parish.

d)     Term of Office: The term of office of all At-Large members to the Parish Pastoral Council shall be for a three year term. No member may serve on the Parish Pastoral Council more than six consecutive years.

e)      Vacancies on the Council: A vacancy shall be deemed to exist when a member has missed two consecutive regular meetings, or when a member has been removed from service by the Council. Any term of office that cannot be completed by a Council member shall be filled by the person who, in the last previous election, had received the greatest number of votes following those of the elected members. This person shall complete the unexpired term of the member. In the event that the person or persons contacted decline membership, the Parish Pastoral Council shall elect by simple majority an eligible parishioner to serve the remainder of the unexpired term.

f)       Removal from Office: Resignation of any member of the Council may be requested should two-thirds of the Parish Pastoral Council deem it necessary. A member of the Council may be removed from the Council by consensual agreement of all other voting members of the Council.

Article III        Responsibilities

The pastoral council is a consultative body that assists the pastor or parish life coordinator in planning and overall decision-making in all areas of parish life. Although it is not a governing board, the pastoral council participates in policy-making and coordination of parish activities, and deliberates on matters of importance to the parish. The overall focus of council decisions is on the common good of the parish. Members are called to be representatives of the parish as a whole, working to assist in achieving the parish’s mission and serving as a channel of communication throughout the parish.

Section 1   Executive Committee & Duties

At the August meeting, the entire Council membership will elect three of the At-Large members to serve as officers during the fiscal year. These officers and the President comprise the Parish Pastoral Council Executive Committee, consisting of:

a)   President: The Pastor, (or Parish Life Coordinator); presiding by virtue of the office, is the representative of the diocesan church and bears ultimate responsibility for decisions regarding pastoral ministry, properties, and the overall well-being of the parish.

b)   Chairperson: chairs all Council meetings and oversees activities of the Council including distribution of agendas prior to meetings. The Chairperson has the right to be an ex-officio member of all committees.  The outgoing Chairperson shall conduct the August meeting and Orientation.

c)   Vice Chairperson: assumes role of Chairperson in Chairperson's absence, assists in overseeing Council activities, succeeds Chairperson in case of resignation or disqualification. In this event the Council will elect a new Vice Chairperson from the remaining qualified Council members. The Council will then elect, by simple majority a new Council member from parishioners from last balloting results who will complete the balance of the term left by the newly elected Vice Chairperson.

d)   Secretary: maintains written record of minutes of Council meetings and Executive Committee meetings, maintains a Council membership contact list, records attendance (for confirmation of voting quorum), distributes meeting minutes, (denoting specific actions items to the Parish Office Administrator as may be necessary), and archives approved minutes.

The Executive Committee consults prior to Council meetings to establish the meeting agenda and/or discuss special matters as presented by the Pastor requiring decision making outside regular Parish Council meetings.

Section 2   At-large members

Elected At-Large Council members are expected to represent the general interests of the parish and community.

Section 3   Council Commission Representatives

Commissions are subgroups of the parish council responsible for recommending guidelines, developing goals, and coordinating activities in a specific area of ministry. In addition, commissions assist the pastor or parish life coordinator in selecting staff and volunteers in various areas of parish ministry and in participating in performance reviews as appropriate. However, final responsibility for the selection, supervision, and retention of parish staff rests with the pastor or the parish life coordinator. Members of the commission elect a chair, who also serves as a member of the pastoral council (ex officio) and shall submit a brief summary report at least four (4) times per year on the status of goals, objectives and activities of the commission and its committees.

a)      Faith Formation Commission – The Faith Formation Commission sets the policy and direction for the parish faith formation programs, and works with the staff religious education coordinator to ensure that our programs meet parish needs. The commission’s ministry will foster parish growth towards maturity in faith, life-long catechesis, spirituality, and challenge the parish to integrate Catholic beliefs and practice into our daily lives.

b)      Youth & Young Adult Ministry Commission – The Youth & Young Adult Ministry Commission promotes and enables a comprehensive program to serve youth, young adults and their families so as to help develop a loving relationship with Jesus Christ which they will continue to nurture throughout their lives.  Objectives include providing on-going outreach through social, spiritual, and service opportunities in the parish as well as on the Deanery, Archdiocesan, and world-wide level to youth of middle and high school age as well as to their parents. Ministry to young adults continues as young people enter college or the work force. This outreach exists in the forms of campus visits, retreats, Deanery activities, as well as liturgical training and involvement. 

c)      Stewardship Commission - The Stewardship Commission is responsible for promoting the on-going education and formation, among parish members, to be good stewards of God’s creation and the gifts of time, talent and treasure. The commission provides financial resources; maintain and enhance existing physical facilities; develops comprehensive long range plan to provide financial upkeep of existing facilities and cemetery; and oversees implementation of fundraising efforts.

d)   Social Justice Commission – The Social Justice Commission serves the parish and our community as a resource and catalyst in the education of parishioners on the major themes of gospel social teachings, coordination, and facilitating activities to bring about true social change. The commission works with neighboring parishes and community organizations to identify social issues and human needs, and develop broad Christian service action plans to aid in meeting those needs.

e)   Parish and Family Life Commission - The Parish and Family Life Commission supports programs and ministries: to provide support and enrichment to parents and families; to provide programs that brings together the parish family; to provide out-reach ministry to the parish community; to welcome new parishioners; etc.

f)       Spiritual Life Commission – The Spiritual Life Commission enables and promotes the parish’s continued growth as a faith community, supporting the liturgical life of the parish community, and assessing the liturgical needs of the parish. The commission: participates in liturgical planning; promotes fidelity to church norms and archdiocesan policies with respect to sacramental rites; provides opportunities for spiritual growth of parish groups – councils, committees and organizations; encourages prayer and reflection groups in the parish; coordinates parish retreats and renewal programs; promotes, supports, and aides implementation of evangelization programs, ecumenical activities, and vocation-awareness programs within the parish.

g)      Finance Council - The establishment of a parish finance council is mandated by canon law. The council assists the pastor or parish life coordinator in the administration of the temporal goods of the parish. Its actions are governed by universal Church law and by norms issued by the local bishop. A finance council must be closely linked with the workings of the pastoral council.

Section 4   Committee Service

The Council may establish special Committees as deemed appropriate.

Article IV        Council Meetings

Section 1   Meeting Types

a)   Regular - The Parish Pastoral Council will meet no less frequent than every other month. The dates of the meetings for the coming fiscal year are to be determined at the first meeting of the new Council term.  Regular meetings are open to all parishioners. Those wishing to address the Council shall be recognized at the discretion of the Chairperson. 

b)      Special- special meetings may be called at the discretion of the Chairperson or President.

The Parish Pastoral Council shall have the prerogative of inviting special guests at both regular and special meetings.

Section 2   Annual Reflection

An annual reflection will be made at the June meeting to discern recommended goals and objectives for the coming year. These recommendations will be reviewed with the new membership in the Aug or Sep meetings.

Article V          Decision Making

Section 1   Quorum

In order to make a decision, a quorum shall be required consisting of >50% of the Council's voting members.

Section 2   Consensual Agreement

As long as a quorum exists, a simple majority of Council membership is required to make a decision. Parliamentary Procedure voting shall be used for all financial decisions.

Section 3   Ratification

By virtual of the Diocesan appointed position/responsibility, the President shall announce any withholding of ratification and ask that a Council decision be reconsidered for one or more of the following reasons: 1) Church faith, morals, law; 2) Diocesan policy; 3) Pastoral and/or administrative needs of the parishioners

Article VI        Amendments and Revisions

Section 1

This Constitution may be amended and/or revised at any regular or special meeting of the Parish Pastoral Council.           .

Section 2

Amendments and revisions must be presented in writing to all members of the Council prior to the meeting.

Section 3

Amendments are passed by two-thirds of Parish Pastoral Council membership.