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Saint Peters' Parish Council Constitution Saint Peter's Mission Statement We, the Parish Family of St. Peter's, recognize that we are on a spiritual journey. Under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, we grow as a People of God through Eucharistic celebration, sacramental prayer, apostolic service, continuing faith formation, and renewal. Aware of our responsibilities to each other, we strive to imitate Jesus through compassion, mercy, and love. We seek to be faithful stewards providing a heart and home for the many people of this community. Article I - Name This organization will be called "The Parish Council of Saint Peter's Roman Catholic Church, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia", hereinafter called the "Parish Council". Article II - Nature and Purpose The Parish Council is an institution that brings together lay and religious persons who, together with their Pastor, work jointly to build the parish as a living Christian community. The primary purpose and responsibility of the Parish Council is to guide and determine the direction of the parish by providing leadership, leading pastoral planning, initiating and directing policies which flow out of the parish’s mission. This governance is to be visionary, direction-setting, and policy formulating – focusing on the big picture rather than administration. Day-to-day management of operations and the implementation of policies will be the role of staff, committees, and volunteers. Parish Council members care about parish life in other communities of the diocese, share in the concerns of the Church universal, and strive to bring the Gospel message to all people and places in their neighborhood. Article III - Function The four functions of this Council are: Spiritual Leadership To articulate the mission and vision of the Parish. To assure that the mission is fulfilled. To be a model of a prayerful community for the rest of the Parish. Parish Governance To determine the direction of the Parish based on its mission. To advise the Pastor on all matters regarding the development of the Parish as a true Christian community in fidelity to the teachings of Christ. Policy Formulation To create and monitor the implementation of Parish policies which will fulfill the mission of the Parish. Planning and Review To assess the needs and the available resources of the Parish. To determine options and priorities of the Parish. To evaluate services and programs of the Parish. To ensure that Parish committees are functioning to meet the specific pastoral and temporal needs of the Parish, and to coordinate the work of these committees as required. To set goals for the Parish and review the progress made in achieving these goals. Article IV - Eligibility, Membership, Terms and Vacancies All members in good standing of the Parish, who are Confirmed, are eligible to serve on Parish Council. Parish Council is comprised of ex-officio members and 10 to 15 active parishioners appointed and elected. The members of Council will include: Ex-Officio Members: The Pastor and Pastoral Assistants. Members of the Parish Staff designated by the Pastor. Appointed Members: Delegates are appointed by each standing committee, approved by the Pastor, comprising but not exclusively: Finance, Liturgy, Religious Education, and Property Management Elected Members: 8 Members-at-large, elected by the parishioners at a Parish Assembly, four of which are elected annually. Term and Vacancies : All appointed and elected members shall serve for a two year term. Members may re-offer for a second consecutive two year term. Following a second term, a member will not be eligible for reappointment until one year has passed. If a member-at-large misses two consecutive meetings, the Chair shall contact the member to determine if a vacancy has occurred. Should any vacancy occur, the Pastor may recommend to Parish Council a replacement member to fulfill the term of the member. Article V - Nominations and Elections Appointment and duties of the Nominations Committee: Annually, in March, the Council shall name a Nominating Committee of not less than three (3) members, and designate one of those persons to chair the Committee. The Pastor shall be an ex-officio member of the Nominating Committee. The Nominating Committee shall determine the number of vacancies that exist and extend a general invitation to all parishioners to serve as a member of Parish Council. The Nominating Committee shall prepare a list, of not less than the number of positions available, of eligible parishioners taking into consideration that the Parish Council is representative of the entire parish community. The Nominating Committee shall present to Council, at its April Meeting, a list of nominations. With Council’s approval, the list of nominees will be brought forward to the Parish for election. Elections A ballot will be prepared containing the names of those nominated for Parish Council and the number of positions available. The ballots shall be distributed to each parishioner in attendance at masses the last week-end in May. Each parishioner must mark their ballot for not more than the number of positions available. Those nominees receiving the highest number of votes will be elected and the results will be announced at the Parish Assembly. If no election is necessary, the nominees shall be acclaimed at the Parish Assembly. Article VI - Committees The Standing Committees of the Parish shall include: The Finance Committee ; The Liturgy Committee; The Religious Education Committee; The Property Management Committee. The Parish Council may establish Ad Hoc Committees, as may be required. The Chair of any Ad Hoc Committee will serve as a member of Parish Council during the term of the Ad Hoc Committee. Article VII - Officers The Officers of the Parish Council shall be the Pastor, the Chairperson, the Vice – Chairperson and the Secretary. Election and Term of Office The chairperson, vice-chairperson and secretary shall be elected at the first regular meeting of Parish Council following the election of Members-at-large by the Parish Assembly. The Pastor shall assume the chair and call for nominations for each of the positions and the vote will be by secret ballot. The person receiving the greatest number of votes shall be elected. In the case of a tie, a simple draw will be made. Terms shall be for one year. In the event the position of Chairperson becomes vacant, the Vice Chairperson shall fill the position. All other vacancies will be filled by recommendation of the Pastor and ratified by Council. The chairperson, vice-chairperson and secretary shall be elected at the first regular meeting of Parish Council following the election of Members-at-large by the Parish Assembly. Article VIII - Duties of Officers and Members The Pastor shall: Guide the Parish Council in all its deliberations to ensure its effective operation. The Chairperson shall: Conduct all meetings of Parish Council, encouraging all members to participate actively. Prepare the agenda for each meeting of the Parish Council in consultation with the Officers. The Vice-Chairperson shall: Fulfill all the duties of the Chairperson in his/her absence. The Secretary shall: Record and keep a permanent record of all Parish Council proceedings; Keep a permanent record of correspondence and documentation of the business affairs of the Parish Council; Place a notice of meetings of Parish Council in the parish bulletin on the Sunday immediately prior to the meeting; Provide all Parish Council members with minutes of meetings and an agenda for upcoming meetings in a timely manner. Members shall: Serve as liaison between the parish community and Council. Serve as an advisory body to the Pastor and other Council members. Be Leaders in the Church Community. Article IX - Meetings The Parish Council shall meet monthly from September to May, as required, but shall, in any event, meet at least four times annually. A majority of members shall constitute a quorum and a quorum shall be required for the conduct of a meeting. The Parish Council shall reach their decisions by consensus. In some cases the Chairperson or Pastor may deem it appropriate to call for a vote and in such cases a two-thirds majority shall be required for a decision. At the Pastor’s discretion, it may be required that the entire Parish Council be polled before a decision is made. Special meetings may be called by the Pastor or Chairperson. Procedure may be used to obtain opinions and guidance on proposed or contemplated actions or ideas brought before the Parish Council. This would be an informal discussion that would indicate the Council’s inclination on matters that may later be formally proposed and voted on. Any parishioner may attend a Parish Council meeting. They may not participate in votes. Any person may address the Parish Council, at a meeting, providing they have prior approval from the Pastor and the Chairperson. Article X - Amendments to Constitution Any Parish Council member or parishioner in good standing may propose to the Chairperson, in writing, an amendment to the constitution of the Parish Council. The Chairperson must include the proposed amendment on the next meeting’s agenda. A proposed amendment must be acted upon at three consecutive Parish Council Meetings. The amendment is proposed at the first meeting, discussed at the second meeting and voted upon at the third meeting. An amendment will require a two-thirds affirmative vote of members present and voting shall be by show of hands. Amended bylaws of the Saint Peter’s Parish Council, approved on April 27, 2004.

 

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