Our Lady of Guadalupe - Pastoral Council Norms

Pastoral Council Norms Pastoral Council
	Mission Statement Purpose and Scope Membership/Term of Office Selection Orientation Removal of a Council Member Officers Relationship of Pastor to Council Meetings and Quorum Operating Method Committees Amendments to Council Norms
Mission Statement We, the Pastoral Council of Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, are people of faith, rich in heritage and prayer. We are witnesses to God’s love in our community, committed to living and sharing the discipleship of Jesus. This is accomplished through Eucharistic celebration, social justice, the sharing of our gifts and by being a source of hope. We serve our parish by living the Gospel. We celebrate our sense of family through liturgy, ministry and family-based education. We evangelize in our homes, our neighborhoods and our work places. We welcome those in need. Top of Page Purpose and Scope Our purpose is to discern and express the collective vision of our community—our beliefs, hopes, joys, needs, sorrows, concerns, gifts—in pursuit of the mission of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Without serving any special interest groups, we are called to read and reflect the “signs-of-the-times” to those planning and/or implementing pastoral policies and activities in our parish. The Council exists to share its experience and counsel with our Pastor in formulating decisions regarding the life of our faith community. The members of the Council seek through prayer, reflection, dialogue, study and research to provide counsel. We actively seek consultation and dialogue with our fellow parishioners. We invite all the members of our parish community to share with us their dreams, concerns and experiences. With these blessings, we are called to perceive, deliberate and offer the resulting consensus to our Pastor. Top of Page Membership/Term of Office The Pastoral Council will consist of twelve (12) members and the Pastor. The parish Deacon may serve as an ex-officio member with full voting rights.
Members of the Pastoral Council will:
•	Be a baptized Catholic
•	Be a registered member of the parish in good standing
•	Demonstrate a commitment to the parish
•	Commit the time and energy necessary to participate fully in all Pastoral Council activities
•	Be familiar with the parish and its activities
•	Be at least sixteen (16) years of age
Membership terms are for three (3) years. Members will serve staggered terms. A member may serve a total of two terms. The terms may be continuous. A member is required to serve until his/her replacement has been approved by the Council. Top of Page
Selection The Pastor may appoint up to four members. Four members may be selected by the Nomination Committee representing the following parish ministries: Youth, Education, Social Services, Social Justice and Liturgy, one member must be from Social Justice. Four members will be selected by the Nomination Committee from the parish as a whole. The Nomination Committee will consist of three members, two from the Council and one appointed by the Pastor and will work in consultation with the Pastor. The candidates selected by the Nomination Committee are subject to approval by the Council. If a member leaves the Council for whatever reason, the Pastor will appoint a new member for the remainder of the vacant term insuring proper representation on the Council. Top of Page
Orientation Upon appointment to the Council new members shall, at a minimum, become familiar with the parish and Council activities by:
•	Reading the meeting minutes for the previous year of the Council
•	Reading the financial statements for the previous year of the parish
•	Attending a training session within the first month of appointment to the Council
•	Reading the Council Norms
•	Being assigned to a committee of the Council
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Removal of a Council Member A Council member may be removed for failure to uphold their responsibilities which include but not limited to:
•	attend meetings regularly
•	support all decisions of the council
•	work toward making sure that the council speaks as a united body
•	keep in confidence the discussions and materials of executive sessions
Upon determination that a problem may exist, the Chair will appoint a Review Committee of not less than three Council members to investigate. The Review Committee may attempt to resolve the problem with the Council member in question. If the Review Committee is unable to resolve the problem with the Council member in question, the Review Committee will present its findings to the Pastor. Based on the information submitted by the Review Committee, the Pastor may attempt to resolve the problem with the Council member in question. This process should occur within thirty (30) days. If the Pastor is unable to resolve the problem, the matter will go before the whole Council for consideration. Both the Review Committee and the Council member in question will have the opportunity to make a presentation to the Council. Due to the seriousness of this matter, the Council will meet in executive session and will weigh the issues carefully and with due consideration. Council members will vote by secret ballot. The vote of the Council will be final. Top of Page
Officers Chair: A Chairperson will be selected by the Pastor and will perform the following duties:
•	Chair meetings of the Council
•	Coordinate and facilitate the work of the Council
•	Post the agenda in a place convenient for inspection by members of the parish at least one week prior to a Council meeting
•	Distribute agendas and any supporting documentation to members prior to Council meetings.
Vice-Chair: A Vice-Chair will be selected by the Council and will assume the duties of the Chairperson during his or her absence. Recorder: A recorder will be selected by the membership and will perform the following duties:
•	Prepare and distribute meeting minutes to Council members
•	When appropriate prepare a brief summary of Council activities and actions for publication in the parish bulletin or other means of communication that would be appropriate.
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Relationship of Pastor to Council The Pastor serves as the chief governing person of the parish and is accountable to the Bishop. Through a process of prayerful discernment, open to and respectful of each other, the Council and the Pastor will strive to reach consensus on all matters relating to the vision of the parish. Top of Page
Meetings and Quorum The Council will meet monthly, unless decided otherwise by a majority of the Council members. Additional meetings may be called at the discretion of the Chair. Meetings, unless otherwise noted, will take place in the parish residence and be open to all parishioners. Participation in the discernment process during meetings is reserved for Council members. Any parishioner may request, or be invited by the Council, to address any item posted on the agenda. The Council may meet in executive session in order to consider matters of a confidential nature. Executive session meetings will be posted as regular meetings. A simple majority of active Council members will constitute a quorum necessary to conduct business. An inactive member includes, but is not limited to, a sabbatical, resignation or leave of absence. Top of Page
Operating Method Council members should utilize a process of prayerful discernment that includes the open honest dialogue regarding issues before them. They should seek to reach a consensus on all issues before them. In the event a consensus cannot be reached, Council members should take a period of 48 hours to reflect on the matter before them in an attempt to come to a consensus. If the Council is not able to reach a consensus on an issue, the matter may be resolved by a simple majority vote. Top of Page
Committees The Council may establish standing and special committees in order to perform its duties. Members of the parish who are not members of the Council may be appointed to serve on standing and special committees created by the Council. The chair of any standing or special committee formed by the Council must be a member of the Council and be accountable to the council norms. The specific duties and responsibilities of any standing or special committee formed by the Council must be recorded and made a permanent part of the Council’s record. The Council may appoint an Executive Committee chaired by the chair of the Council to perform the duties of the Council if it would be more expedient than calling regular meetings. Top of Page
Amendments to Council Norms The Council Norms shall be reviewed annually during the first regular meeting of each calendar year. The Norms should be amended as required. If a need arises the Norms may be amended at any time. Any Council member may propose amendments to the Norms. Consensus is required before any amendment is enacted. Adopted 10/26/2000 Amended 11/14/2002 Amended 03/13/2003 Amended 09/09/2004 Top of Page