Approved Parish Council By Laws

ARTICLES OF ORGANIZATION OF

ST. STEVENS CHURCH

SUN LAKES, ARIZONA

PREAMBLE and COUNCIL Mission Statement

WE THE PEOPLE OF ST. STEVENS CHURCH, consistent with the provisions of Canon 536 of the Code of Canon Law, under the leadership of the Diocesan Bishop and Parish Pastor REAFFIRMING OUR BELIEF IN THE HOLY CATHOLIC CHURCH OF OUR LORD, JESUS CHRIST, UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, DO HEREBY ESTABLISH THIS CHURCH COUNCIL OF ST. STEVENS SO THAT ALL OF THE MEMBERS OF OUR CONGREGATION CAN SHARE IN THE ADVANCEMENT OF THE MISSION OF GODS CHURCH IN OUR MIDST AND RESPOND TO THE SPIRITUAL NEEDS OF ITS PEOPLE.

ARTICLE I: PURPOSE

• 1.        TO FURTHER THE MISSION OF THE CHURCH, THAT IS, TO TEACH, SANCTIFY AND GUIDE THE PEOPLE OF GOD WITHIN OUR PARISH, AND AS ONE FAMILY UNIT BEING MINDFUL OF THE NEEDS OF THE UNIVERSAL CHURCH.

• 2.        The Parish Pastoral Council is an advisory body to the Pastor with consultative vote only and functions in accordance with any norms that are established by the diocesan Bishop. The primary mission of the Council is to advise the Pastor on matters of parish policy, planning and other items at the request of the Pastor. The administration of the parish and the execution of parish policies are the responsibility of the Pastor and the parish staff.

• 3.        TO FOSTER COMMUNICATION AND DIALOGUE AMONG THE CLERGY, RELIGIOUS AND LAITY, AND AMONG THE VARIOUS ORGANIZATIONS, SO THAT COMMON PROBLEMS AND OBJECTIVES CAN BE ADEQUATELY DISCUSSED.

Article Ii: DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The principal responsibilities of the Council are:

• 1.                    To assist in the process of ongoing pastoral planning and the development and updating of the parish pastoral plan by developing goals and objectives and the assignment of priorities for the future of the parish.

• 2.                    To engage in an annual review and evaluation of the progress that is being made to implement the parish pastoral plan.

• 3.                    To provide guidance to the pastor in developing parish policies that will be executed by the parish staff.

• 4.                    To serve as an instrument of communications, bringing issues of concern to the attention of the pastor.

• 5.                    To serve as liaison to staff, organizations and ministries bringing regular information to the council

• 6.                    To be actively involved in the life of the parish community and to be available to parishioners to receive comments and suggestions about parish ministries, policies and programs.

• 7.                    To make prayer for the parish an integral part of their personal and communal lives.

• 8.                    To work to demonstrate and inspire enthusiasm within the parish community by their example of leadership.

• 9.                    To promote positive communications and understanding among parish organizations, consistent with the guidance of the Pastor.

• 10.                 To work toward consensus as a model in decision-making, to promote the unity and mutual good of the Council and parish.

• 11.                 To review the annual Capital Expenditure Plan prepared by the Parish Finance Council and make any recommendations to the Pastor and Finance Council.

• 12.                 To propose programs and ministries that respond to needs within the parish community.

Article III: RELATIONSHIP OF THE COUNCIL WITH THE PASTOR

As noted in Canon 536, 2, the pastoral council possesses a consultative vote only and is governed by the norms established by the diocesan bishop. While ultimately responsible for the spiritual and temporal affairs of the parish, the Pastor:

• 1.                    Assists in the formation of and gives approval to the Council agenda.

• 2.                    May call special meetings of the Council.

• 3.                    Seeks the guidance of the Council in matters of parish planning and other matters affecting the life of the parish.

• 4.                    Does not vote when seeking advice from the Council on issues brought before it.

• 5.                    Provides formational opportunities to assist Council members to understand and exercise the responsibility that is entrusted to them.

Article IV: Relationship with Financial Council

• 1.        Financial Council is a separate entity From Pastoral Council and is not a voting member on PASTORAL COUNCIL matters

• 2.        projects proprosed by Pastoral Council which Have Financial impact to the Parish will be forwarded to them for Evaluation and recommendation.

• 3.        PASTORAL COUNCIL will review the annual Capital Expenditure Plan for conformance with the annual Pastoral Plan

ARTICLE V: MEMBERSHIP

• 1.        Qualification for membership
•           Registered member of st stevens parish
•           Maintain primiary residence in the parish community
•           regularly attend services AT sT sTEVENS.
•           agree to actively participate in council business for up to three years.

• 2.        MEMBERSHIP IN THE COUNCIL SHALL BE MADE UP two groups: Selected and appointed, ALL OF WHOM SHALL HAVE THE RIGHT TO VOTE

•           THE PARISH MEMBERSHIP SHALL select four (4) REGISTERED MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH. each year the last Sunday of april. THEY SHALL BE selected FOR A three YEAR TERM OF OFFICE.

•           THE PASTOR SHALL APPOINT MEMBERS TO THE COUNCIL with the same qualifications as selected members OF THE CHURCH. THEY SHALL BE APPOINTED to fulfill the remaining term OF OFFICE of the REPLACED selected member.

•           pARISH oRGANIZATIONS AND mINISTRIES ARE ENCOURAGED TO ACTIVELY PARTICIPATE IN PARISH cOUNCIL MEETINGS TO OFFER ADVICE AND ENGAGE IN DISCUSSION.

•           Parish Staff and Clergy ARE not official members of the Council BUT members of the parish staff and /or clergy may be requested to attend Council meetings to report on the status of parish programs and ministries for which they are responsible. They may also be invited to give informational reports, as requested by the Council. It will be the discretion of the Pastor to require staff MEMBERS AND/OR CLERGY to participate in Council meetings

• 3.        MEMBERSHIP IN THE COUNCIL REQUIRES ATTENDANCE AT ALL REGULAR COUNCIL MEETINGS. THEREFORE, ABSENCE OF ANY SELECTED OR APPOINTED MEMBER FROM TWO CONSECUTIVE REGULAR COUNCIL MEETINGS WITHOUT HAVING NOTIFIED THE PRESIDENT IN ADVANCE AND HAVING A VALID REASON, SHALL BE GROUNDS FOR EXPULSION ON MOTION BY TWO-THIRDS OF THE COUNCIL.

ARTICLE VI: METHOD OF SELECTION

• 1         THE COUNCIL PRESIDENT SHALL APPOINT A COUNCIL MEMBER AS CHAIRMAN OF THE NOMINATING COMMITTEE WHO WILL CHOOSE A COMMITTEE OF QUALIFIED MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL. THE NOMINATING COMMITTEE SHALL PUBLICIZE THAT NOMINATIONS ARE OPEN AND PREPARE A SELECTION SLATE CONSISTING OF NOT MORE THAN EIGHT (8) QUALIFIED MEMBERS OF THE CONGREGATION. THE LIST OF NOMINEES SHALL THEN BE SUBMITTED TO THE PASTOR FOR HIS APPROVAL AND REVIEW. THE NOMINATING COMMITTEE SHALL THEN PLACE NOMINEES NAMES IN A CONTAINER FOR A LOTTERY SELCTION PROCESS AT A REGULAR MASS SERVICE THE LAST sUNDAY IN APRIL.

• 2         THE COUNCIL SHALL ARRANGE FOR PULPIT AND BULLETIN ANNOUNCEMENTS AND WILL ACQUAINT CHURCH MEMBERS WITH THE QUALIFICATIONS OF THE CANDIDATES.

• 3         IN THE EVENT THAT AN UNQUALIFIED CANDIDATE IS SELECTED, THE COMMITTEE ON ELECTIONS SHALL DISQUALIFY SUCH CANDIDATE AND REQUEST THAT ANOTHER QUALIFIED CANDIDATE BE APPOINTED

• 4         ANY MEMBER OF THIS COUNCIL MAY BE RE-APPOINTED OR STAND FOR RE-SELECTION TO ONE ADDITIONAL CONSECUTIVE TERM OF OFFICE.

• 5         IN CASE OF A VACANCY ON THE COUNCIL FOR ANY REASON, THE COUNCIL SHALL REQUEST THE pASTOR, AT ITS NEXT REGULAR MEETING, TO SELECT A QUALIFIED CHURCH MEMBER FOR THE UNEXPIRED TERM.

• 6         THE COUNCIL PRESIDENT WILL BE ELECTED BY THE MEMBERS AT THE DECEMBER MEETING FOR A TERM OF ONE YEAR, AND SUBSEQUENTLY CAN BE RE-ELECTED FOR AN ADDITIONAL CONSECUTIVE TERM OF ONE YEAR.

• 7         A COUNCIL VICE PRESIDENT IS ELECTED BY A SIMPLE MAJORITY OF THE MEMBERS AT THE DECEMBER MEETING OR ANY REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING FOR A TERM OF ONE YEAR OR LESS, TO COINCIDE WITH THE TERM OF THE PRESIDENT.

Article VII: OFFICERS

The officers of the Parish Pastoral Council shall be: the Pastor, the President, and the Vice President. Together, along with one member selected by the members of the Council at large, they form the Executive Committee.

• 1.                    The Pastor:

• a.                   Sets the agenda for each Council meeting in consultation with the President of the Council.

• b.                   Must approve any action affirmatively voted upon by the members of the Council before it becomes effective.

• c.                   Will provide Council members with the reason(s) why he has chosen not to accept any action item recommended to him by a majority of the Council members no later than the next schedule meeting.

• d.                   May call special meetings of the Council or Executive Committee, as needed.

• e.                    Is responsible for oversight of policies that have received an affirmative vote of the Council membership and have been approved by him. Implementation of approved policies may be delegated by the Pastor to an appropriate member of the parish staff.

• 2.                    The President:

• a.                   Presides at all Council and Executive Council meetings.

• b.                   Prepares the agenda for Council meetings in conjunction with the Pastor.

• c.                   Appoints chairpersons for any committees that are established by the Council.

• 3.                    The Vice President:

• a.                   Presides at Council and Executive Council meetings in the absence of the President.

• b.                   Succeeds to the Office of President should that Office become vacant during a Calendar year. The Council will then elect from among its members a person to complete the term of the Vice President.

Article VIII: THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

The Executive Committee of the Council shall act in the place of the Council in cases of extreme necessity, as determined by the Pastor, when a matter must be addressed and the entire Council cannot be reasonably called into special session in time to resolve the issue, or when there is not a quorum at a regularly scheduled Council meeting and a matter needs to be resolved immediately, rather than being tabled until the next meeting or a special meeting can be held. All actions taken by the Executive Committee must be reported to the Council, at its next regular meeting.

ARTICLE IX: MEETINGS

• 1.        THE COUNCIL SHALL MEET MONTHLY AT A TIME DESIGNATED BY THE COUNCIL PRESIDENT AT ITS JANUARY MEETING. UNLESS OTHERWISE DECIDED BY VOTE OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS. ADDITIONAL SPECIAL MEETINGS MAY BE CALLED AT THE DISCRETION OF THE PASTOR AND COUNCIL PRESIDENT.

• 2.        THE FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS AT EACH MAY MEETING SHALL BE THE SEATING OF THE NEWLY SELECTED MEMBERS. NEW OFFICERS, ELECTED BY THE COUNCIL, SHALL TAKE OFFICE IN JANUARY.

• 3.        QUORUM FOR PURPOSES OF VALIDLY CARRYING ON THE BUSINESS OF THE COUNCIL SHALL CONSIST OF A SIMPLE MAJORITY OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS.

• 4.        A SIMPLE MAJORITY VOTE OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERSHIP PRESENT IS REQUIRED FOR THE PASSAGE OF ANY PROPOSAL. NO DECISION OF THE COUNCIL SHALL BECOME EFFECTIVE UNTIL PROMULGATED BY THE PASTOR. APPROVAL, IN WRITING, OF THE WRITTEN MINUTES SHALL BE CONSIDERED PROMULGATION.

• 5.        A SECRETARY NEED NOT BE A MEMBER OF THE COUNCIL BUT SHALL ATTEND AND RECORD THE MINUTES OF ALL MEETINGS OF THE COUNCIL.

• 6.        ROBERTS RULES OF ORDER REVISED SHALL GOVERN THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE COUNCIL MEETINGS.

ARTICLE X: COMMITTEES

1 THE FOLLOWING STANDING COMMITTEES SHALL

THEREFORE BE FORMED:

•           Respect for Life Committee: Shall be concerned with respecting the Value of life from Conception thru natural death and shall promote and support programs that work toward respect for life

•           LONG RANG PLANNING COMMITTEE: SHALL DEVELOP AND MAINTAIN THE 5 YEAR PLAN FOR THE SPIRITUAL AND SOCIAL NEEDS OF THE PARISH.

•           COMMUNICATIONS COMMITTEE: SHALL ESTABLISH CONTACT AND MAINTAIN RELATIONSHIP WITH NEWS MEDIA AS AN INFORMATION OUTLET ON CHURCH ACTIVITIES SHALL ASSIST ALL COMMITTEES AND ORGANIZATIONS IN PUBLISHING THEIR ACTIVITIES; SHALL PREPARE COUNCIL ACTIVITY INFORMATION FOR CHURCH BULLETIN.

•           Building and Architectural Committee will be responsible for investigating and developing plans to improve or modify the parish COMPLEX WORKING closely with the Parish Business administrator and Financial Council for funding.

•           pOLICIES AND PROCEDURES COMMITTEE SHALL BE ESTABLISHED TO ADAPT AND WRITE POLICIES FOR THE PARISH. tHE COMMITTEE SHALL WORK CLOSELY WITH CLERGY, STAFF AND FINANCE COUNCIL FOR THE ORDERLY CONDUCT OF PARISH BUSINESS.

2 AD HOC COMMITTEE: PERMISSION IS HEREBY MADE FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT BY THE PASTOR OF OTHER SPECIAL COMMITTEES AS THE NEED DICTATES.

3 THE AD HOC COMMITTEE CHAIRMEN SHALL BE APPOINTED BY THE PASTOR WITH THE APPROVAL OF THE COUNCIL.

ARTICLE XI: AMENDMENTS

• 1         AMENDMENTS TO THESE ARTICLES MAY BE PROPOSED, IN WRITING, AT ANY REGULAR MEETING OF THE COUNCIL, BY ANY MEMBER OF THE COUNCIL.

• 2         UPON PROPOSAL, AND AFTER DISCUSSION OF ANY SUGGESTED AMENDMENT TO THESE ARTICLES, A SIMPLE MAJORITY VOTE OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS SHALL DEFER THE SUGGESTED AMENDMENT TO THE SECOND READING. THE SECOND READING SHALL TAKE PLACE AT THE NEXT REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING, AFTER ALL ABSENT COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED IN WRITING, OF THE EXACT NATURE AND TEXT OF THE SUGGESTED AMENDMENT. AT THAT TIME, A SIMPLE MAJOIRTY VOTE OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT SHALL RATIFY ADOPTION OF THE AMENDMENT.

REVISION: 9/11/2007

PARISH COUNCIL