Pastoral Advisory CouncilSAINT JOSEPH PARISH PASTORAL COUNCIL CHARTER
Revision 6-20-07
ARTICLE I: MINISTRY
The most serious task of the Council is to ask of any important matter, "Is this of the Gospel? Does this advance the spirit of Jesus?" The Council's ministry is to discern answers to these questions in order to advise the Pastor and staff in their ministry. The Council's ministry is also to advise the Pastor and parish staff regarding the general policies that guide the programs, ministries, organizations and services of the parish.
The Council, along with the parish staff, is responsible for preparing and periodically reviewing the parish mission statement; for developing and maintaining a long-range plan to implement the mission; and for communicating such plans to the Parish Assembly Council. The Council also reviews and discusses the needs and issues raised by the Assembly Council and votes on any decisions made concerning these needs and issues. The Council utilizes the "consensus" form of decision making rather than parliamentary procedure. The Council is committed to the spiritual growth of the entire Council, its individual members, and the wider parish community.
ARTICLE II: PURPOSE
The Parish Pastoral Council is consultative body acting in an advisory capacity to the pastoral leader. The Council is called upon to read and reflect both the "signs of the times" and "the wisdom of the past" to those planning or implementing pastoral activities in the parish. Further, the Council is called to unite the parish community by expressing its collective wisdom concerning pastoral plans and activities. It reviews, discusses and makes decisions concerning the needs and issues raised by the Parish Assembly Council. The Council will strive to ensure that the parish operates in an open and ethically accountable manner in its business practices. Together with the pastoral leader, the Council promotes the following of Jesus as Prophet, Priest and Servant-King.
A. The Council provides a vehicle whereby the laity of the parish share with the pastoral leader the responsibility for shaping and guiding the mission of the parish through open and constructive communication.
B. The Council seeks to build a community of faith to help make the church present and functioning within the parish's locale.
C. The Council calls forth charisms, gifts given by the Holy Spirit to individual members of the faith community, for the common good.
D. The Council facilitates the formulation of a parish mission statement and promotes development of clear, concise policies, goals and objectives based on this statement.
E. The Council explores the need for activities/programs which promote the
spiritual, educational and temporal well-being of the parish.
F. The Council helps the parish to identify with the broader church on the diocesan, national and universal levels.
G. The Council acts as a stabilizing force in the parish at times when it is particularly affected by change and/or transition.
H. The Council continues to serve unofficially during times of transition in pastoral leadership.
1. Throughout such transitions the Pastoral Council collaborates with the Assembly Council and members of the parish staff to provide continuity until such time as a new pastoral leader is assigned.
2. Once appointed the new pastoral leader either reconfirms the unofficial Council, or calls for creation of a new Council.
I. The Council reviews, discusses and makes decisions on needs and issues raised by the Parish Assembly Council.
ARTICLE III. MANNER OF OPERATION
A. The Council's ordinary manner of decision-making, whether as a committee of the whole or through its Council structure, is by consensus rather than by vote.
B. The Council conducts itself in a collaborative mode with individuals and groups in the parish. This collaboration is especially essential in the Pastoral Council's interaction with the Parish Assembly Council. For each Council to fulfill its responsibilities effectively, mutual understanding and support is vital between the two.
C. Pastoral Council Membership & Terms of Service
1. The Pastoral Council is comprised of nine (9) members who are baptized, confirmed, registered, participating and contributing Catholics. The members are: the Pastor, the Parochial Vicar, the Deacons, the Director of Faith Formation, a Senior Representative, a Youth Representative, and two Members-at-Large. Members ordinarily are selected by a nominating committee and affirmed by the Pastor. The Pastor may choose to appoint additional members to the Pastoral Council.
2. Service on the Council is a special ministry to the parish requiring an understanding of and commitment to the church in accord with the Second Vatican Council, willingness to stay current with developments in the diocesan and universal church and a capacity for consensual decision-making.
3. Should a member of the Council fail to attend three (3) consecutive
meetings of the Council, His/her membership shall be terminated and a new member shall be nominated and elected to fill the vacancy
ARTICLE V: ROLES , SELECTION, and TERM OF COUNCIL MEMBERS
A. Role of the Pastor: The Pastor presides at Council meetings in much the same way he presides at the Mass - he is present and participates in the activity, but he does not perform every function. The Pastor is called to consultation by the teaching of the universal Church. In this call he may:
1. Seek counsel from the Council on pastoral matters affecting the life of the parish;
2. Experience and participate in the interaction that follows;
3. Be open, respectful and receptive to the voice or voices of parishioners;
4. Weigh seriously and respond appropriately to the collective wisdom or consensus of the Council;
5. Make every effort to insure that the membership of the Council is truly representative of the whole parish community;
6. Assist in the proper formation, training and orientation of all Council members;
7. Insure that the Council's concerns reflect the whole Church and its mission;
8. Facilitate Council members building their own community of faith, trust and respect;
9. Assist in the preparation of the Council agenda; and
10. Support, encourage, and work diligently toward implementation of any diocesan directives.
The Pastor should consider carefully the recommendations of the Council and provide proper explanation to the Council when acting contrary to its recommendations. The Pastor must withhold acceptance when Council recommendations are in conflict with church teachings or discipline, or matters contrary to diocesan policy.
B. Role, Selection, and Term of Pastoral Council President:
1. The President shall assist the Pastor in facilitating the work of the Council. He/she is selected/elected by and from the Council at the first meeting of the new Council year when an officer's term has expired. Ordinarily a President will serve for at least two consecutive years.
2. The duties of the Pastoral Council President include but are not limited to the following:
a) Assisting the Pastor in setting agendas for meetings;
b) Conducting the meetings in a consensual manner;
c) Facilitating communication between the Pastoral Council and the parish-at-large;
d) Assisting the Pastor in scheduling open forums when concerns about specific issues deeply affect the parish as a whole;
e) Discussing with the Pastor the continuing membership of any Council member with repeated absences;
f) Reporting decisions and activities of the Pastoral Council to
the Assembly Council and reporting like activities of the
Assembly Council to the Pastoral Council.
C. Role, Selection, and Term of Pastoral Council Secretary:
1. The Secretary shall assist the Pastor and President in facilitating the work of the Council. He/she is selected/elected by and from the Council at the first meeting of the new Council year when an officer's term has expired. Ordinarily a Council officer will serve for at least two consecutive years.
2. The duties of the Pastoral Council Secretary include but are not limited to the following:
a) The Secretary shall conduct meetings in the absence of the President and assists the chair in the performance of his/her duties.
b) Take minutes, circulating them promptly following the meeting;
c) Maintain record of attendance and bring to the attention of the chair the name of any Council member with repeated absences;
d) Keep a current record of the names, addresses, telephone numbers and terms of Council officers and members;
e) Assist the Chair in attending to Council correspondence.
D. Responsibilities, Term and Selection of Council Members:
1. Each Council member is called to participate in prayer and study and be prepared to give time and attention to the work of the Council. Each Council member is expected to interact with the other members with an openness that promotes respectful dialogue and careful listening dedicated to advancing the common good of the parish.
2. Pastoral Council members serve a two-year term with each term
beginning in the month of September of each calendar year.
Provision should be made for rotation of terms so that there are new
members joining the Council each year with some experienced
members remaining.
3. Every year, a parish-wide nominating process will begin during Lent.
Any parishioner who meets the qualifications outlined above and is
interested in serving on the Council will be required to attend an
information and discernment meeting. The purpose of this meeting is to
provide prospective Council members with an understanding of the
role, function and expected work of the Council. Additionally, it allows
the prospective members an opportunity to prayerfully consider
whether they are being called to serve in the ministry of the Council. All
prospective members who conclude that they are being called to serve
on the Council will have their names placed in the final pool of
candidates. The final selection of members from this final pool of
candidates will be made by a nominating committee composed of the
Pastor and a committee of the Pastoral Council. They will be
presented by the committee at the next convened meeting of the
Pastoral Council and elected by the full Pastoral Council.
4. Vacancies will be handled in a similar manner to the election of new members
ARTICLE VI: MEETINGS
A. Frequency
The Parish Pastoral Council will meet regularly on a bi-monthly basis except that no meetings will be held in either July or August. The Council President assists the Pastor in determining meeting frequency, in setting the place, dates and times of meetings. Special meetings may be called as necessary. Attendance by other than Council members will be by the Pastor's invitation only
B. Agenda Items would ordinarily include:
1. Communal prayer (place on the agenda may vary);
2. Faith Sharing;
3. Correction/approval of minutes of previous meeting;
3. Items for information, discussion, action;
4. Reception of written reports with opportunity for questions;
5. Opportunity for proposal of future agenda items by members;
5. Brief evaluation of meeting by members.
C. Meeting duration: Agendas should be planned so that meetings can be concluded within two and one half hours.
ARTICLE VII: APPROVAL/AMENDMENTS
A. Pastoral Council Constitutions are submitted to the Pastor for approval.
B. Suggested changes in an approved Charter may be submitted in writing to the Pastoral Council. Copies of the proposed changes are distributed to the Council prior to the first meeting at which the changes are to be discussed.
C. When a second reading and discussion of proposed changes has taken place at the next regular meeting of the Council, action may follow.
D. A proposed change requires the consensus of the Council members present. After receiving this endorsement, suggested changes are submitted to the Pastor for approval.
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