CONSTITUTION OF
ST. PAUL PARISH COUNCIL
We, the people of
St. Paul Parish, are
gathered in the
name and in the Gospel
of Jesus Christ in
order to build the
kingdom of God in
our midst.
Empowered by the
Spirit, we commit
ourselves to
becoming a welcoming
community in
collaboration with our
neighbors.
We will pray
together. We will study
the meaning of our
faith for today. We
will respond to
human need with service
and sacrifice. We
will share our gifts
and talents in and
beyond this community.
We, the members of St. Paul Parish Council, accept and subscribe to the following constitution and bylaws in accordance with which all spiritual and material affairs of our parish that fall within our domain shall be governed.
ARTICLE I: NAME
The name bf this organization shall be St. Paul Parish Council, hereinafter referred to as the Council.
ARTICLE 11:
PURPOSES
Section 1: The parish council, a body of parishioner-representatives, serves in a consultative role to the pastor. As such, it exists as a wisdom group commissioned to discern, proclaim, and manifest the presence and action of the Spirit within the parish community.
Section 2: The Council shall be a vehicle for fulfilling the pastoral mission of the parish by nourishing growth among the parish family, by sharing of spiritual gifts and talents and by encouraging meaningful relationships among all members of the parish (clergy, religious and laity) and between the parish and community.
Section 3: The Council, after prayerful deliberation, shall be involved in the planning, operating, maintaining and financing of the parish, with a vision for the future and a strong basis in stewardship.
Section 4: The Council shall initiate and support those activities and programs which foster the spiritual, intellectual, moral and temporal wellbeing of the parish and shall make a contribution to archdiocesan goals and policies.
ARTICLE 111: 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 reconsideration, the effect of the action shall be suspended.
Section 3: In any case where reconsideration has failed to resolve a 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. 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, and members of St. Paul Parish. All members of the Council are voting members.
Section 2: The Council shall have the following ex-officio members: pastor and two lay trustees.
Section 3: Nine (9) members shall be discerned from those nominated by parish members 18 years of age or older.
Section 4: The term for members shall be three years, limited to two consecutive terms at a time. The members discerned each year shall begin their terms on July 1" following selection.
Section 5: Two cluster representatives should be selected by the Council and shall serve as liaison between the Council and the cluster group for a term of one year. At least one of the two should be a Council member.
ARTICLE V:
OFFICERS
The officers of the Council shall be a chairperson, a vice chairperson and a secretary. They shall be selected from and by the Council after the annual discernment and shall serve for a one-year term beginning July 1st.
ARTICLE VI:
RELATIONSHIP OF PASTOR TO COUNCIL
Section 1: The pastor presides at the Council:
a) attending all Council meetings;
b) by making certain that the scope of the Council's concerns reflects the entire mission of the Church:
c) by enabling the Council to build a community of faith and by an atmosphere of trust among Council members;
d) making certain that Council members have adequate training;
e) by assisting in formulating the Council agenda;
f) by sharing in the dialogue that leads to the formulation of policy;
g) by serving as chief administrative officer of the parish; and
h) by executing the policies formulated by the Council.
Section 2: For acts of extraordinary administration, a proxy must be obtained by the Archbishop according to a formula specified by him.
ARTICLE VII:
MEETINGS
Regular Council meetings shall be held monthly. Special meetings may be called by the chairperson or pastor, or by a quorum. A quorum consists of a majority of the members.
ARTICLE VIII:
MANNER OF OPERATION
The Council's manner of operation shall be communal discernment which includes prayerful reflection, gathering or information and shared wisdom. The usual method through which the Council implements discernment is consensus; if not possible, then b majority vote.
ARTICLE IX:
STANDING COMMITTEES
The Council shall have the following standing committees:
1. Prayer and Worship
2. Christian Formation
3. Human Concerns
4. Buildings and Grounds
5. Finance
6. School Advisory Board
7. Stewardship
ARTICLE X:
AMENDMENTS
This constitution may be amended at any regular or special meeting by a two-thirds vote of the Council and thereafter by a majority of parishioners present at the annual or special meeting of the parish. Such amendments become effective when approved by the Office for Parish Council Leadership Development.
CONSTITUTION ADOPTED: May, 1988
AMENDED: December, 2004, December, 2006