The name of this organization shall be
Immaculate
Conception Parish Council,
hereinafter referred
to as the "Council."
Section
1.
The Council shall be a vehicle for fulfilling
the pastoral mission of the parish. It
does this by fostering growth within the parish family and the sharing
of
spiritual gifts and talents; by encouraging positive relationships
among all
members of the parish, and by collaborating with other parishes and the
wider
community.
Section
2.
The Council, shall be involved in planning to
meet the needs of parish, the archdiocese and the broader community,
with a
vision for the future and a strong basis in stewardship.
Section
3.
The Council, after prayerful discernment,
shall advise the pastor (or parish administrator or director) and
develop
policies to support those activities and programs which foster the
spiritual,
intellectual, moral and temporal well-being of the parish, and shall
make a
contribution to archdiocesan goals and policies.
ARTICLE III: SCOPE
Section
1.
The Council shall be the policy formulating
body in all matters of the parish, including but not limited to
spiritual,
educational, social and financial concerns, except to the extent
limited by
faith and morals, church or civil law or archdiocesan policy/norms.
Section
2.
In
any case where any member of the Council interprets an action of the
council or
any of its committees to be outside the limits set forth in Section 1,
such
member shall present such interpretation no later than the next meeting
of the
Council and ask for reconsideration.
Pending consideration, the effect of the action shall be
suspended.
Section
3.
In
any case where reconsideration has failed to resolve the matter, any
Council
member may then take the matter to the Office of the Archbishop or one
appointed by him, for clarification or arbitration.
Any decision resulting from such an appeal
shall be final. In the meantime, the
effect of the action shall remain suspended.
ARTICLE IV: MEMBERSHIP
Section
1:
The Council shall be comprised of 12 members,
all of whom must be baptized, practicing Catholics, at least 18 years
old,
registered members of the parish, and participants in the parish
worship life,
especially Mass and the sacraments.
Section
2. The Council shall have the following
ex-officio members: the pastor (or parish administrator or director)
and the
two lay trustees. Ex officio members
participate fully and equally in all Council decisions.
Section
3.
Twelve at-large members shall be selected from and by the membership of
the
parish 18 years of age or older.
Section
4.
The term for at-large members shall be three
years and shall be limited to two consecutive terms.
The new members shall begin their terms with
the conclusion of the annual transition meeting.
Section
5:
One youth representative who is at least 14 years of age but not yet 18
shall
be selected annually from and by the youth members of the parish.
Section
1.
The officers of the Council shall be a
chairperson, a vice-chairperson and a secretary. They
shall be selected by and from the
Council at the annual transition meeting.
They shall serve for a one-year term beginning with the
conclusion of
the transition meeting. Ex officio
members of the Council are ineligible to serve as Council officers or
committee
chairpersons.
Section
2. The council chairperson shall serve as the
parish delegate to the Archdiocesan Pastoral Council district assembly.
The
Council vice-chairperson or secretary may be delegated to perform this
function.
Section 1. Regular
Parish Council meetings shall be held monthly.
Section
2.
Special meetings may be called by the
chairperson, pastor (or parish administrator or director) or a quorum. A quorum consists of two-thirds of the
members and includes the pastor (or parish administrator or director).
Section
3. A transition meeting shall be held at the
next regular Council meeting following the annual selection of Parish
Council
members. At this meeting the newly
selected members shall join the existing Council for the purpose of
selecting
Council officers for the following year.
Section 1. The pastor (or parish administrator or
director) presides at the Council by:
A.
Attending
all council
meetings.
B.
Making
certain that the scope of the council's concerns reflects the entire
mission of
the Church;
C. Enabling the council to build a community of
faith and an atmosphere of trust among council members,
D. Making certain that parish council members have
adequate training;
E. Assisting in
formulating the Council agenda;
F. Sharing in
the dialogue that leads to the formulation of policy;
G. Serving as chief
administrative officer of the parish; and
H. Executing the
policies formulated by the Council.
If the pastor (or parish
administrator or director) judges that the decision is contrary to
Church
teaching or discipline, or violates a diocesan norm, the pastor (or
parish
administrator or director) may withhold implementation, giving to the
Council
the reasons. In such case the Council
may appeal to the Office of the Archbishop or one appointed by him for
clarification or arbitration. Any
decision resulting from such an appeal shall be final.
In the meantime, the effect of the action
shall remain suspended.
Section 2:
The
pastor (or parish administrator or director) does not chair Council
meetings.
Section 3:
Before requesting a
proxy from the archbishop, the pastor (or parish administrator or
director)
will consult with the council. The
consensus of the council shall be represented in the request for proxy.
The Council's manner of operation shall be communal discernment, which includes prayerful reflection, gathering of information, dialogue and sharing of conclusions. The usual method of reaching decisions shall be consensus.
ARTICLE IX: STANDING
COMMITTEES/Commissions
Section 1. The
Council shall have the following standing Committees/Commissions:
·
Prayer
and Worship
·
Christian
Formation
·
Human
Concerns
·
Finance/Administrative
Services.
·
Evangelization/Stewardship
·
Vocations
·
Communications
Section 2. Council
Committee Liaison
The Council shall select from its at-large members a liaison to each of its standing committees at the annual transition meeting following the selection of new officers. Liaisons shall serve for a one year term beginning with the conclusion of the transition meeting. Ex officio members of the Council are ineligible to serve as liaisons.
This constitution may be
amended at any regular or special meeting by consensus or a two-thirds
vote of
the Council and thereafter by approval of a majority of the
parishioners
participating in the parish approval process.
Date of
Approval by the
Archdiocese: ______________________________
Date of
Approval by the
Parish:
_____________________________
Date of
Most Recent
Amendment: _____________________________
Date of
Next Full Review:
_____________________________