INDEX

For The BY-LAWS

of the

PASTORAL COUNCIL

of the

CHURCH OF ST. MADELEINE SOPHIE

 

ARTICLE 1 NAME

ARTICLE 2 MISSION OF THE COUNCIL

ARTICLE 3 DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

ARTICLE 4 MEMBERSHIP ON THE COUNCIL

ARTICLE 5 OFFICERS

ARTICLE 6 RESPONSIBILITIES OF PASTORAL COUNCIL MEMBERS

ARTICLE 7 MEETINGS OF THE COUNCIL

ARTICLE 8 RATIFICATION AND POWER TO AMEND OR CHANGE THE BY-LAWS

 

APPROVED: October 5, 1998

 

AMENDED:

                    March 1, 1999    (Article 4 - Section 2b)

                    April 8, 2002   (Article 4 - Section 2c)

                                                (Article 5 - Section 1)

                                                (Article 7 - Section 1)

                     June 3, 2002 (Article 4 - Section 1)

                                                (Article 4 - Section 2)

                                                (Article 4 - Section 3)

                                                (Article 5 - Section 5)

 

By-Laws

Of the

Pastoral Council

Of the

Church of St. Madeleine Sophie

ARTICLE ONE - NAME

This organization shall be known as the PASTORAL COUNCIL of the CHURCH OF SAINT MADELEINE SOPHIE, hereinafter referred to as THE COUNCIL.

 

ARTICLE TWO - MISSION OF THE COUNCIL

The Pastoral Council is a body rooted in prayers and the mission of Christ, existing to provide and foster leadership within the Parish Community. The mission of The Council shall be to help the Pastor in fostering pastoral activity.

(CF Canon Law of the Church #536A)

The parish council is that coordinating and unifying body which seeks to harmonize the efforts of the parish with those of the Church universal and the diocesan Church, and which strives to give the members of the parish the ability to exercise their gifts and talents so that the parish itself is a truly vibrant expression of God's loving, healing, liberating and redemptive presence among us. The parish council is a practical means of achieving the full participation of the whole parish in its mission. It does this by giving all a voice and by encouraging, guiding and enabling the various aspects of the parish's life. The parish council, then, is both a ministry and a sign of what an authentic Christian community is all about.

The parish council, in other words, is meant to be a partnership on the part of the pastor, the parish staff and the parish representatives, which gives witness not only to what the parish is, but especially to what the parish is called to be. (adapted from "We Are His Priestly People: A Pastoral Letter" by Bishop Howard Hubbard; p.12)

This partnership is in the form of advice and practical assistance in implementing the fourfold purpose of the parish:

1. PRAYER AND WORSHIP - the essence and the practice of our relationship with God.

2. CHRISTIAN SERVICE - to reach out to parish members, offering help to those in need and to the

community at large.

3. FAITH FORMATION - to nurture the spiritual development of all parishioners as well as others in the

teachings of the Catholic Church.

4. CHURCH ADMINISTRATION - is the stewardship of the parish resources, and fostering the

stewardship responsibilities of all parishioners, to fulfill the above purposes in the community.

In its consultative capacity, The Council makes recommendations, fosters cooperation in the consideration of alternatives, and helps to implement the decisions reached.

 

ARTICLE THREE - DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

It is the duty of the Pastoral Council to set long term goals in keeping with our mission, and to identify strategies to achieve these goals. Responsibilities include the need to:

1) prayerfully reflect upon the needs of the parish in light of the overall mission of the parish

2) assist the pastor in directional and strategic planning

3) work in consultation with the parish membership, leadership, and staff during the planning process

4) ensure that systems are in place to evaluate the impact and effectiveness of goals, priorities, policies, and resource allocations

5) initiate and oversee recurring planning cycles resulting in new priorities and goals every three to five years

 

ARTICLE FOUR - MEMBERSHIP ON THE COUNCIL

Section 1 - Who will serve on the Council:

The Pastoral Council will be comprised of -

One Staff Person and One Representative from the following areas:

Prayer & Worship - (representative being from the Liturgy Team)

Christian Service - (representative being from the Christian Service Committee)

Faith Formation - (representative being from the Faith Formation Board)

Church Administration - (representative being from the Finance Council)

Pastor

Associate Pastor(s)

Parish Deacon(s)

Parish Trustee(s)

Three elected at large parish representatives

One elected at large youth representative

Three at large parish representatives selected via a process of discernment

 

All parishioners are invited and welcomed to attend any meeting of the Council.

Section 2 - How selected for membership:

Representatives:

a) Each year, the coordinating body responsible for two of the four areas noted in ARTICLE FOUR,

Section 1, will choose its representative for a 2-year term by the June meeting of the Council. The convening of the coordinating body will be the responsibility of the appropriate staff member.

b) At the April meeting of the odd numbered years the Pastoral Council will be informed that nominations for four

"at large" representatives are open. All parishioners will likewise be notified from the pulpit and through the church bulletin. Any interested parishioner, including those currently serving on the Council whose terms are expiring, are eligible for election to a two-year term.

c) In even numbered years, three at large representatives will be selected utilizing a discernment process. All

parishioners will be notified from the pulpit and through the church bulletin. Any interested parishioners,

including those currently serving on the Council whose terms are expiring, are eligible to participate in this

process of selection to a two-year term.

d) In the event that a vacancy shall occur:

in an "at large" representative position, the Pastor may appoint a replacement to complete the balance of the unexpired term.

in a ministry area representative position, the appropriate coordinating body will select a replacement to complete the balance of the unexpired term.

Section 3 - Conduct of elections:

Three members of the Pastoral Council shall constitute an Election Committee and be responsible for conducting and overseeing the elections/selections noted in Section 2 above.

In odd numbered years, the list of all nominees for at large representatives will be published in the parish bulletin prior to the election which shall be held, by written ballot, by the last Sunday of May.

In even numbered years, the parish community will be invited to participate in a discernment process to select three at large representatives.

The results of the election/selection shall be published in the bulletin. New members shall meet jointly with the existing Council at its regular June meeting. Such new members shall assume full office at the first regular Fall meeting.

The conduct of the election/selection processes, the counting of the ballots and the notification of new members shall be the responsibility of The Council's Election Committee.

In the absence of the Representative, a designated alternate will have full rights and responsibilities of the Representative.

Section 4 - Secretary to the Council:

The Secretary will be provided by the parish staff, and:

1. Shall keep accurate minutes of all Council meetings

2. Shall handle all Council-related correspondence

3. Shall maintain a record of Council meeting attendance

4. Shall maintain the official list of Council members and officers and shall compile prior to the first Fall

meeting a calendar year schedule of Council meetings and events and bring to the attention of the Council

each month an indication of what is to be done that month

5. Shall submit copies of the minutes of Council meetings, the agenda of the next meeting and notice of the

next meeting to all Council members, at least 5 days in advance of the meeting

6. Shall maintain an updated copy of the by-laws and provide copies of the same to all members

7. Shall be responsible for notifying any newly elected member of the Council of the date and time of the next

meeting and for introducing such new member to THE COUNCIL

Section 5 - Decision Making by The Council:

A critical component in the workings of the Pastoral Council is "decision making by consensus. Consensus is not reached by a majority vote and is not a win/lose situation. Rather it is a process of decision making in which members of a group work to reach substantial, though not necessarily unanimous, commitment on an issue. The council reaches consensus on a matter when all members of a council can live with the decision. This shared ownership of the council's determination is essential if the council and parish are to be effective in the fulfillment of the mission. Decision making by consensus gives witness to shared leadership and the building of community that are the most basic parts of parish visioning and mission." (from "Called to Lead: Guidelines for Councils and Planning"; p.9; Published by the Office of Pastoral Planning, Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany; June, 1997)

 

ARTICLE FIVE - OFFICERS

Section 1:

At the June Council meeting, the newly constituted Council will hold an election, by written ballot, for the

positions of Chair and Vice-Chair. The vote for each office shall be taken individually, thus permitting candidates

not elected to be nominated for the next subsequent office. No member of the parish staff may hold either office.

Section 2:

Council officers are to be elected for one year and are eligible to succeed themselves in that office only once.

Section 3:

The Officers of THE COUNCIL shall have the following duties:

a) The Chair:

1. Presides at all meetings

2. Presents all decisions and reports of THE COUNCIL to the Pastor

3. In conjunction with the Pastor, develops agenda for Pastoral Council meetings

4. Acts as ex-officio member of all parish committees and organizations

5. Appoints special committees

6. Calls special meetings

b) The Vice-Chair:

1. Performs the duties of the Chair in his/her absence and serves out the term of that office if it shall

become vacant

2. Directly assists the Chair as prescribed by the Chair of THE COUNCIL

Section 4:

In the event that a vacancy shall occur in the office of Vice-Chair, THE COUNCIL shall elect a replacement

without undue delay.

Section 5:

Within 30 days of the June meeting, the outgoing Chair will meet with the incoming Chair for the purpose of reviewing the previous year's council activity, as well as to transfer any relevant materials. At least 30 days prior to the September meeting, the incoming Chair will meet with the Pastor for the purpose of discussing the upcoming year.

ARTICLE SIX - RESPONSIBILITIES OF PASTORAL COUNCIL MEMBERS

Section 1: Attend all scheduled meetings of the Pastoral Council. (If unable to attend, member should so notify the

secretary in advance of the meeting.) In the event of the absence of a representative, an alternate may be

designated to attend the meeting.

 

Section 2: Representatives of a specific area will submit a written report to the secretary two weeks prior to scheduled

meetings. Said reports will then be attached to meeting agenda.

 

Section 3: It shall be the responsibility of area representatives to communicate to their membership any information and

discussion from Pastoral Council meetings which may be pertinent to their area.

 

ARTICLE SEVEN - MEETINGS OF THE COUNCIL

Section 1: The Pastor and Chair of the Council will decide on regular meetings of THE COUNCIL. Ordinarily,

meetings will be held monthly from September through June, with the exception of December. Dates, times and places of the meetings will be determined by the Pastor and the Chair of the Council.

Section 2: Special meetings may be called by the Pastor or the Council Chair as needed.

Section 3: All regular meetings of THE COUNCIL shall be open to any parishioner of the Church of St. Madeleine Sophie, and notice of meetings shall appear in the parish bulletin in advance.

Section 4: A quorum of THE COUNCIL membership being necessary for the official conduct of the business of THE

COUNCIL, a quorum is hereby designated as a majority of the members of THE COUNCIL, and the acts of

those present shall be the acts of THE COUNCIL.

 

Section 5: Interested members of the parish, or any other persons, may petition the Pastor or the Chair for the right

to address THE COUNCIL. Such a petition must be submitted in writing to the Pastor or Chair of the

Council prior to the meeting, with the topic to be presented clearly explained.

 

Section 6: Minutes of all regular COUNCIL meetings are presented to, and approved by, The COUNCIL with any

necessary additions and corrections. Once approved, they will be posted or available on the Church bulletin boards and in hospitality areas.

ARTICLE EIGHT - RATIFICATION AND POWER TO AMEND OR CHANGE THE BY-LAWS

Section 1: The By-Laws of THE COUNCIL as originally adopted may only be changed by amendment. Such

amendments must be approved by consensus of the total membership of The Council.

Section 2: Any proposed changes in the By-Laws must be submitted to a regular meeting of THE COUNCIL, no later

than June 1st. The proposed changes should be discussed and consensus reached prior to any implementation,

which cannot occur any sooner than the second meeting following submission.

 


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