Saint Mary of the Assumption
Baltimore (Govans),
Pastoral Council Constitution
(Amended
Article 1. Name
The name of this body shall be the Saint Mary of the Assumption Pastoral Council, hereinafter referred to as “the Pastoral Council,” or “the Council.”
Article 2. Purpose
Section 1. The purpose of the Pastoral Council shall be to:
a. Share responsibility with the Pastor and Parish staff for the mission of the Church in the Parish;
b. Act as a representative voice of the Parish to the Pastor and Parish staff;
c. Provide an open and honest forum of communication and dialogue regarding Parish affairs;
d. Assist the Pastor in the administration of the Parish through recommendations concerning policy directions for the Parish;
e. Work with other religious bodies and with civic, business, and professional organizations for the common good of the community;
f. Participate and cooperate with the Regional Council and with the Archdiocesan Pastoral Council;
g. Be a visible witness of the message and service of our Church to all people.
Section 2. Pursuant to the purpose set forth in Section 1 of this Article, the Pastoral Council shall:
a. Periodically prepare and review a statement of the Parish’s missions;
b. Meet with the various parish organizations on an annual basis to discuss the needs and goals of the Parish and determine priorities among such needs and goals with respect to the allotment of personnel, physical, and financial resources;
c. Do everything necessary to provide for the dignified and reverent celebration of the Liturgy;
d. Review, and it necessary amend, the proposed budgets of all offices and operations supported by Parish funds as prepared by the Finance Council, and based upon this review, recommend to the Pastor an overall Parish Budget;
e. Recommend to the Pastor whether to make the Parish a member of any community organization;
f. Take whatever other action it may deem appropriate to fulfill the purposes set forth in Section 1 of this Article.
Article 3. Operation
Section 1. The Council will provide its recommendations concerning policy directions for the Parish after considered reflection and discussion by the Council members.
Section 2. The Pastor shall communicate to the Council his response to any recommendation made by the Council. If the Pastor feels that he cannot in good conscience accept and carry out a recommendation of the Council, he shall fully and frankly communicate his reservations with regard to the recommendation to the assembled council.
Article 4. Membership
Section 1. The Council will consist of representatives from the Parish staff and Parish membership. There will be three types of membership: automatic, elective, and appointive. The council shall consist of up to twelve elective members and up to four appointive members from the Parish community in addition to the automatic members provided for in Section 2.
Section 2. Automatic members shall include the Pastor, associate priests regularly assigned to the Parish, permanent deacons of the Parish, the School Principal, the Parish Administrator, the Director of Religious Education, and the Music Director. Automatic members shall have the right to fully participate in the Council’s discussions, but shall have no vote.
Section 3. The Pastor may name up to four members of the Parish to be appointive members. Appointive members shall serve for the same term of office as the elected members of the Council and shall have the same rights and responsibilities of elective members, including the right to vote. Such appointments should be made when necessary to meet appropriate Pastoral needs.
Article 5. Elections
Section 1. Any member of the Parish who (a) is at least eighteen years of age by the date of the elections, and who (b) is a registered member of the Parish, shall be eligible for election to the Council.
Section 2. The Pastoral Council will be responsible for establishing and conducting the nomination process for new members. Additionally, the Pastoral Council will be responsible for holding Parish-wide nominations; reviewing the qualifications of the nominees; and selecting the candidates from among the qualified nominees. The number of candidates selected must be at least equal to twice the number of the open Council seats.
Section 3. Once the Pastoral Council has selected the nominees, the slate of nominees will be presented to the Parish in the bulletin with biographies and statements drafted by each candidate.
Section 4. The election will be held the week following publication of the slate of candidates. The election shall be by secret ballot. Persons receiving the highest number of the returned ballots shall be declared elected. In the event of a tie, the Chair and Pastor will toss a coin to determine a winner from among the candidates involved.
Section 5. Elected members shall serve a term of three years.
Section 6. The new Council shall take office beginning the first day of June.
Section 7. In the event that a vacancy occurs among the elected membership during the Council year, the person who received the next highest number of votes in the recent Pastoral Council election shall be asked to fill out the remaining term of the vacating member; and in the event that he or she declines, the remaining candidates shall be similarly asked, in the order of the number of votes which each received. In the case of an appointed member who resigns, the Pastor shall appoint another person to fill out the remainder of the vacated term.
Article 6. Officers
Section 1. The Pastor presides at Pastoral Council meetings. The Pastor may delegate the facilitating of such meetings to duly selected Pastoral Council officers, normally to the Council’s Chair. The Officers may include a Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson, and Recording Secretary.
Section 2. The Officers of the Council shall be elected by the Council and approved by the Pastor. After a Chair has served one year, the Vice-Chair will become Chair. The past Chair will remain on the Council for the following year in order to maintain continuity.
Section 3. The Chair shall facilitate meetings of the Council, and in consultation with the Pastor, shall call such special meetings as may be necessary. The Chair shall render periodic reports to the Pastor and the parishioners on the completed and projected work of the Council and shall perform all other duties customarily performed by the office of Chair. The Chair shall coordinate and prepare the agenda for all regular meetings of the Council, and make the agenda available to the recording secretary for mailing prior to the meeting.
Section 4. The Vice-Chair, in the Chair’s absence or in the event of the Chair’s inability for any reason to carry out the functions of the office, shall assume, during such absence or disability, the duties of the Chair. The Vice-Chair shall also perform such other duties as may be delegated by the Chair.
Section 5. The Recording Secretary shall take minutes of all regular and special meetings of the Council, reduce such minutes to writing, preserve them in a permanent record, and distribute copies of such minutes to all members of the Council at least one week prior to the next regularly scheduled meeting, along with the agenda for that meeting.
Section 6. In the event of any vacancy in any office except that of the Chair, the Pastoral Council shall select one of its members to fill the office until the next regularly-scheduled election. In the event of a vacancy in the office of Chair the Vice-Chair shall automatically succeed and fill out the unexpired portion of the term.
Section 7. Each officer shall, at the expiration of his or her term of office, turn over to his or her successor all books, papers, and other records, pertaining to the office.
Article 7. Committees
Section 1. Any standing or ad hoc committees of the Council shall be determined based upon priorities established by the Council.
Section 2. Any committees shall convene meetings as often and at such times as may be necessary, and shall be prepared to render a report on the work of the Committee at all regular meetings of the Council.
Article 8. Meetings
Section 1. The regular meeting of the Pastoral Council shall be held monthly, except in the months of July and August.
Section 2. The day away meeting held in the month of June shall be known as the annual meeting, and shall be for the purpose of organizing, educating and appointing members to specific committees. Installation of new members and officers, and Council approval of the yearly calendar will also take place.
Section 3. Special meetings may be called by the Pastor, by the Chair, or at the written request of five members of the Council. Except in cases of emergency, at least three days’ notice shall be given of any special meetings.
Section 4. Regular meetings of the Pastoral Council shall be open to all parishioners as observers.
Section 5. A majority of the voting members of the Council shall constitute a quorum.
Article 9. Ratification and Amendments
Section 1. A copy of the Pastoral Council Constitution shall be made available to any parishioner requesting a copy.
Section 2. This Constitution may be amended at any regular meeting of the Council by a two-third’s vote, provided that a copy of any proposed amendment is furnished to members of the Pastoral Council at least one week in advance of the meeting.