CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS

OF THE PARISH PASTORAL COUNCIL

NORTH AMERICAN MARTYRS CHURCH

 

PREAMBLE

 

The role of the Parish Pastoral Council is, through ongoing pastoral planning, to maintain the integrity of the Parish mission and the goals and objectives related to it. The mission of North American Martyrs Parish is “We, the Catholic community of North American Martyrs Church, are parishioners with a unique collection of God-given talents and gifts. Our mission is to promote the message of Christ. We are committed to our Christian values, building a community, and responding to the needs of others. Empowered by the Holy Spirit, we are called to reflect the life and love of Jesus by strengthening the faith of our Parish families and reaching out to our neighbors as we assist each other in our life-long journey towards salvation.”

 

In the pursuance of these goals, we invoke the Divine Assistance and the intercession of our patrons, the North American Martyrs.

 

We declare our allegiance to and affirm our communion with the Vicar of Christ, our Holy Father, the Bishop of the Diocese of Pittsburgh, and his chosen representative, our Pastor.

 

It is our earnest hope and prayer that this Parish Pastoral Council shall always reflect the apostolic mandate of Christ and the will of His Church.

 

ARTICLE 1

 

NAME

 

The names of the organization shall be the Parish Pastoral Council of the North American Martyrs Church, hereinafter referred to as “Pastoral Council” and the “Parish.”

 

ARTICLE 2

 

PURPOSE AND POWERS

 

              I.      To serve as an advisory and consultative body to the Pastor on all matters pertaining to the spiritual well being and growth of the Parish.

 

           II.      To define the major policies necessary to the spiritual welfare of North American Martyrs Parish and to provide for their implementation. This authority shall include all matters of worship and religious education.

 

 

ARTICLE 3

 

MEMBERSHIP

 

The Pastor assigned to North American Martyrs Parish and selected Pastoral Council members.

 

ARTICLE 4

 

NOMINATION, ELIGIBILITY, SELECTION, AND TERMS OF MEMBERS

 

              I.      The Pastor of North American Martyrs Parish shall serve during the tenure of his assignment to the Parish.

 

           II.      The remainder of the Pastoral Council membership shall consist of not less than eight (8) or more than twelve (12) lay people who must be at least eighteen (18) years of age, and must be a member of the Parish and must be selected in accordance with these by-laws.

 

    1. All Pastoral Council members selected to begin their terms in February 2006 shall serve for a term of three (3) years.

 

    1. A member, after serving one full three (3) year term, can serve only one more three (3) year term that is consecutive with the first.

 

    1. Once a member of the Pastoral Council has served his/her term, three (3) years must pass before they are again eligible to be selected for the Pastoral Council.

 

    1. Each year members will be selected to maintain a Pastoral Council of eight (8) to twelve (12) members.

 

    1. Candidates for the Pastoral Council will be identified by the parishioners of the Parish. Nominations will be solicited from the parishioners at the masses during a selected weekend.

 

    1. Candidates will be reviewed by a Selection Committee. The Selection Committee, appointed by a consensus of the Pastoral Council, shall consist of:

                                                               i.      The Pastor as chairman

 

                                                             ii.      Two lay members of the Pastoral Council

 

    1. Individuals identified as potential Pastoral Council members will be forwarded to the full Pastoral Council. The Pastoral Council will select new members from these individuals by full consensus.

 

    1. The new members of the Pastoral Council shall be installed, at a Mass, during the month of February. The term of office shall begin upon installation.

 

ARTICLE 5

 

VACANCIES

 

I.                    Clergy Member. A vacancy occurring here shall be filled by virtue of the assignment of a new Pastor by the Bishop.

 

II.                 Lay Members. Vacancies occurring due to death, resignation, or removal among lay members, will be handled as follows:

 

a.      If there are eight (8) or more members on the Pastoral Council, vacancies need not be filled. If it is decided to fill the vacancy (vacancies), then proceed to Article 5(II)b.

 

b.      If there are seven (7) or fewer members on the Pastoral Council, selection can be made from the last set of nominees from the parishioners. If there are no remaining nominees to select from, a special selection will be held along the policy for a regular selection (see Article 4).

 

c.      A person selected to finish an unexpired term, will finish that term and will be eligible to serve one additional consecutive three year term.

 

III.               Resignation:  The position of a member shall be automatically vacated when any member submits his (her) resignation in writing to the Pastor.

 

IV.              Removal:  Any lay member of the Pastoral Council may be removed for cause by consensus of all remaining council members at any regular or special meeting.

 

V.                 A full hearing must be given to any member proposed for removal. This hearing shall occur at the Pastoral Council meeting where removal action is being considered. The member in question shall receive at least thirty (30) days notice of the impending action. At this time, the member may waive the hearing. The member in question will be asked to attend the meeting.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE 6

 

MEETINGS OF THE PASTORAL COUNCIL

 

I.                    Regular Meetings: regular meetings of the Pastoral Council shall be held at least quarterly.

 

II.                 Special Meetings: special meetings of the Pastoral Council may be called as follows:

 

a.      At the discretion of the Pastor

 

b.      Upon written request of a simple majority of lay members

 

III.               Notice: written notice of the time and place of all regular and special meetings of the Pastoral Council shall be published in the Parish Bulletin and posted on the Parish Website at least seven (7) days prior to the date of the meeting.

 

IV.              Open Meeting: all regular meetings shall be open to any member of the Parish. Attendees who are not members of the Pastoral Council do not have a vote. An agenda will be prepared and made available in the parish office.

 

V.                 Quorum: at any meeting of the Pastoral Council, a majority of all members shall constitute a quorum. A quorum is required for all regular and special meetings.

 

VI.              Voting: the disposition of all questions and matters proposed for consideration of the Pastoral Council at a meeting of the Pastoral Council shall be determined by consensus.

 

VII.            Giving Notice: all notices shall be filed in the Parish Office. The notices will be available to any parishioner. A copy can be provided to anyone making such a request.

 

ARTICLE 7

 

OFFICERS

 

I.                    Presider: The Pastor leads the process of discernment, expression, and fulfillment of the Parish’s mission. He attends all meetings of the Pastoral Council and participates in the discussion and decision making process. Prior to the group’s arriving at a decision, the Pastor is obligated to raise questions or objections relating to issues that could affect the outcome of the decision. When a decision is reached, the Pastor ratifies the decision.

 

a.      sets agenda with the facilitator and recorder

b.      sees that the council performs its duties

c.      sees to the ongoing development and training of council members

d.      gives the council direction and assistance when necessary

e.      accountable for the quality of the decisions of the council

 

II.                 Convener:  The Convener is responsible for reserving the meeting space, preparing whatever materials are needed for the meeting, and generally makes sure that the environment is conductive for the meeting and that the necessary practical preparations have been made. The convener works with the recorder to ensure that members are adequately informed and reminded of the meeting date and time.

 

a.      provides last call to remind members of meeting

b.      prepares resources for the meeting

c.      arranges the room

d.      hospitality- greets members, light refreshments

 

III.               Facilitator:  The facilitator designs and oversees the process of each council meeting, assisting the group with planning, decision-making, and problem solving. The facilitator is not a chairperson to whom comments are addressed, but rather someone who assists the group in fulfilling its tasks and responsibilities.

 

a.      prepares the agenda with the presider and recorder

b.      focuses the group on a common task

c.      encourages everyone to participate

d.      neutral, does not evaluate the ideas of other members

e.      servant of group, not authority leader

f.        contributes his (her) ideas only after stepping aside from role

g.      suggests alternatives

h.      helps arrive at a win/win solution

 

IV.              Recorder: The Recorder keeps track of the progress of each meeting and records official decisions for reference. The recorder is responsible for any council correspondence or other clerical task, including disseminating the agenda and meeting reminders to the Pastoral Council in advance of each meeting. The recorder may also be the designated contact with the media and/or diocesan or local newspapers for publicity on newsworthy Pastoral Council items.

 

a.      prepares the agenda with the presider and facilitator

b.      keeps a record of basic information, not a detailed set of minutes

c.      neutral, does not evaluate the ideas of other members

d.      contributes his (her) ideas only after stepping aside from role

e.      provides a copy of record within two (2) weeks of the meeting

f.        disseminates important information to members between meetings

 

By definition, the presider is the Pastor of the Parish. The other positions of the officers of the Pastoral Council may rotate among the other members of the Pastoral Council. The frequency of rotation and the process of appointing these positions is to be determined by the members of the currently serving Pastoral Council.

 

 

ARTICLE 8

 

TEAMS

 

There shall be five (5) standing teams. These teams shall be as follows:

 

I.                    Agenda Team  

II.                 Transition Team                                

III.               Spiritual Formation Team

IV.              Worship/Vocations Team

V.                 Religious Education Team

 

I.                   Agenda Team:

 

The Agenda Team consists of the Pastor, facilitator, and recorder. Prior to the next meeting, these individuals formulate the meeting’s agenda and discuss practical arrangements for the meeting. They then communicate this information to the convener, and the recorder sends the agenda and any other necessary materials to the Pastoral Council members.

 

II.                Transition Team:

 

The Transition Team is responsible for initial and ongoing training and education of Pastoral Council members and for coordinating the selection of new members when transitions occur. This team is responsible for orienting new parish staff members to the parish mission and to the goals and objectives of the pastoral plan. When a transition occurs in the person of the Pastor, the transition team provides an orientation to the mission for the newly assigned clergy.

 

III.             Spiritual Formation Team:

 

The Spiritual Formation Team plans programs of spiritual enrichment for Pastoral Council members. This team is responsible for the preparation of the prayer/study segment of each meeting. It may plan an annual retreat or evening of reflection for the Pastoral Council members as a means of ongoing spiritual formation.

 

 

IV.              Worship/Vocations Team:

 

The Worship/Vocations Team is responsible for planning for the continued spiritual growth of the members of the Parish. This may be accomplished through retreats, nights of reflection, and parish missions. This team also is involved with promoting vocations among parishioners.

 

 

V.                 Religious Education Team:

 

The Religious Education Team is responsible for coordinating Pastoral Council interests in religious education with the CCD program, youth groups, NAM School, adult education, and the Director of Religious Education.

 

VI.              Other Teams:  

 

The Pastoral Council may by resolution provide for such other standing or special teams as it deems desirable and discontinue the same as needed. Each such team shall have such powers and perform such duties as may be assigned to it by the Pastoral Council. If provisions are made for any such teams, the members thereof shall be appointed by the Pastoral Council and shall serve until dismissed by the Pastoral Council.

 

ARTICLE 9

 

PROCEDURES

 

I.                    Restrictions on Power of the Pastoral Council: Recommendations of the Pastoral Council shall not conflict with Civil and/or Church Law, Theology of the Church, or Diocesan policy.

 

II.                 No individual member of the Pastoral Council, except the Pastor, or committees shall have power to enter into legal contracts on behalf of the Parish.

 

ARTICLE 10

 

COMPENSATION

 

I.                    No member shall receive any salary or compensation for his (her) services as a member of the Pastoral Council.

 

II.                 Expenses involved in the operation of the Pastoral Council shall be obtained from Parish funds.

 

 

ARTICLE 11

 

AMENDMENT OF THE BY-LAWS

 

              I.      These By-Laws may be amended by a consensus. At least two-thirds of the members of the Pastoral Council must be available at the meeting for the vote to be taken.

 

           II.      Amendments may be proposed by a member of the Pastoral Council or by an ad hoc committee that has been charged with reviewing and updating the By-Laws. Proposed changes to the By-Laws will be made available to Pastoral Council members at least seven days before a vote is to be held. Notification of the meeting is to be made by an announcement in the Parish Bulletin and by posting it on the Parish website.

 

         III.      For all questions of interpretation or construction of the By-Laws, the decision of the Pastoral Council, once made, shall be final and binding, unless rescinded by the Pastoral Council itself at another meeting.

 

Roberts’ Rules of Order shall govern in all cases except where they conflict with the articles of the Constitution and By-Laws.

 

 

 

New By-laws presented on 12 September 2005.

Corrections and amendments to By-laws made at Pastoral Council Meeting on 2 October 2005.

By-laws accepted with corrections at that meeting.