Diocese of Scranton

Directives for Parish Pastoral Councils  

A.     INTRODUCTION (Resource Manual Part I, I)

The homily at Bishop Martino’s Installation Mass on October 1, 2003 , the Bishop’s pastoral letter of July 22, 2004 , and the Diocesan Mission Statement present a clear call for the new evangelization of persons and culture in the Diocese of Scranton.  Throughout his writings and homilies, the Eucharist and Evangelization are at the heart of what the Bishop has been sharing with us.  

During the homily at his Mass of Installation, Bishop Martino stated: “Instead of announcing to you a program of action, I prefer today to enter into a period of prayerful reflection with you, and specifically, on our Gospel passage, Luke 5:1-11.  I am inspired to do so by the example of our Holy Father, who presented such a moving reflection on Luke 5:1-11 in his January 2001 Apostolic Letter Novo Millennio Ineunte (“At the Beginning of the New Millennium”).  In this letter, the Holy Father John Paul II tells us that during the Jubilee year 2000 we engaged in many celebrations, but that it all boiled down to one thing: contemplating the face of Christ.  The very same Jesus who spoke to his Apostles in the reading from the Gospel of Luke is present here today ­– really, authentically in Word and Sacrament. Let us contemplate His face as He speaks to US now, not solely to those who first heard His Words almost two thousand years ago.  So, let us prayerfully contemplate His face.”  

With these words, Bishop Martino expressed the spiritual focus that would direct everything to follow in his episcopal ministry in the Diocese of Scranton.  Bishop Martino referred to the Counciliar and post-counciliar documents of Vatican II, and indicated he wanted more than a mere study of their words – he wanted them to become alive and life-giving for the people of the Diocese.  

          In his own words, the Bishop issued a challenge: “How can this Gospel passage be applied today?  Our Holy Father has challenged us to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ among the men and women of today.  He has asked us to evangelize the culture.  What does our Holy Father mean? A culture is the way in which a people relate to God, to one’s neighbors, and to themselves as individuals.  A culture takes root in a given time and given place.  In other words, Pope John Paul II is asking us, HERE in the Diocese of Scranton, as we embark into a new Millennium, to help the people of THIS area to know and love Jesus Christ, to know and love one another in imitation of Him, and to love ourselves with the sacrificial love of Jesus Himself, all as given to us in this Eucharist.  

“However, in order to fulfill this task faithfully, we must take heed of today’s Gospel passage. We must recognize that this task comes not simply from our Holy Father, let alone from within ourselves as a mere impulse.  Rather it is Jesus who chooses us.  It is He who first chooses us.  It is He who directs us, even along paths that in our human weakness may seem strange.  And, when we trust and obey, when we leave everything aside for love of Him and have faith, when we participate in the Church, the community of faith, then and only then the catch will be miraculous.  In other words: ‘Do not be afraid!’  And the world will know hope.  

“Such a depth of faith on our part will only bring vitality to our Catholic family, but this vitality should edify, not frighten, our neighbors who do not share our Catholic faith.  A Catholic who strives to announce the gospel of Jesus Christ in today’s culture indeed proposes teachings and sacraments, but also a loving way of life.  The authentic follower of Christ always proposes, never imposes.  The true follower of Christ does what he or she is called to do, to proclaim in word and deed Jesus, who is the Way, the Truth, the Life, and above all, divine Love.”  

After being in the Diocese for ten months, Bishop Martino was prepared to give more detailed direction for the future as the Diocese continues to implement the Vatican II enrichment of faith.  

In his July 2004 pastoral letter, Bishop Martino stated: “The spiritual and pastoral renewal of the Diocese of Scranton will mean that we need to look at every one of our structures, i.e., our parishes, schools, institutions, buildings and programs.  Are these entities the right ones for the 21st century?  Are these entities currently prepared to announce the Good News of Jesus Christ as Jesus intends them to do?”  

The Bishop began to look at structures to assist him in the governance of the Diocese.  In 2005, he established three vicariates and appointed three Episcopal Vicars; he consolidated diocesan offices under Diocesan Secretaries and Vicars to improve coordination and communication within the diocesan management system.  

Looking next to the parishes, the Bishop mandated Directives for Parish Finance Councils in each parish, and began to schedule ongoing formation for pastors and finance council members.  Then, directives for Parish Pastoral Councils will be provided in every parish of the Diocese. Ongoing formation will also be provided for these Parish Pastoral Councils.  These two consultative bodies are meant to give advice and support to the pastors to promote the mission of the Church and pastoral care of the people.

B.     LOCAL HISTORY  

A quick review of recent diocesan history reveals a number of pertinent facts.  Councils at the parish level were recommended in the Diocese of Scranton with the promulgation of the Acts of Scranton Diocesan Synod II, August 15, 1986 .  It stated (D244) that the Bishop be encouraged to implement Canon 536 of the Code of Canon Law as it related to the establishment of advisory parish councils and assist parishes in that implementation.  Parish councils, later to be called “Parish Pastoral Councils,” were formed in limited number at that time.  

In 1990, the Pastoral Vision statement for the Diocese of Scranton, “The Welcoming Church,” called for some very practical considerations regarding parish leadership.  It encouraged the formation of Parish Pastoral Councils, noting that “The pastoral council will guarantee its effectiveness if it accepts the role of being a prayerful, discerning community of the people.”  

From the lived experience of Diocesan Synod II, RENEW, “The Welcoming Church,” and special listening sessions across the Diocese, guidelines for Parish Pastoral Councils were formulated in the former Office of Parish Ministries.  Those guidelines became the starting point for pastoral council development in many parishes following the Episcopal Visitation Self-Study process.  

In his July 2004 pastoral letter, Bishop Martino wrote, “However, we must do even more.  I want to see our spiritual and pastoral renewal begin and beautifully reinvigorate our grassroots, our parishes.  I will soon mandate a uniform Parish Pastoral Council in every parish.  The Parish Pastoral Council will be the pastor's chief advisory group – please note: ADVISORY group, not board of trustees – in planning for the parish's renewed vigor in evangelizing all the people in the parish's area.  I will also soon be ascertaining that every parish currently has a Finance Council as mandated by Canon Law.  The Finance Council will help the pastor in drawing up the parish's annual budget and the parish's budgetary projections for coming years.  The Finance Council will also witness to me about the parish's ability to fulfill its budget.  

“Once Parish Pastoral Councils and Finance Councils are in place, all parishes will begin a period of Parish Self-Study.  Through this carefully disciplined process, each parish will create a snapshot of how well it is fulfilling – or not fulfilling – sufficiently its mission to announce the Good News in Word, Sacrament and through a serving Community.  Once each parish sees it strengths and weaknesses, its proud accomplishments and its inevitable deficiencies, it can plan with nearby parishes to see if there is a better way to serve ‘the neighborhood of parishes.’  Are joint efforts possible, for example, instead of overlapping separate efforts?  Are our current deanery boundaries the most helpful ones for our evangelization efforts?  

“Once our pastoral planning is accomplished at the various grassroots levels, we will then begin to see the contours of a diocesan pastoral plan.  This will take into consideration the rich diversity of our Diocese throughout its entire 11 counties: the areas of population growth and decline, the economic realities faced by our people, and the new immigrants who deserve a generous Scranton diocesan welcome.  I also envision a Diocesan Pastoral Council of clergy, religious and laity as a means by which I will receive good advice from the grassroots.  In addition, a Diocesan Pastoral Council will enable us all to see that the Catholic Church to which we belong is not just in our parish or neighborhood, but is vibrantly present in 11 Pennsylvania counties.  We will understand in a practical way that the Catholic Church is one, holy, catholic and apostolic – not just someplace else, but right here!”

These new directives for Parish Pastoral Councils respond to Bishop Martino’s call for a “New Evangelization” through the renewal of parish life as announced in his installation homily, his pastoral letter and outlined in the Diocesan Mission Statement issued in February 2005.  

Bishop Martino has taken his direction from Pope John Paul II: “As I wrote in my Apostolic Letter Novo Millennio Ineunte, it is not a matter of inventing a 'new program.'  The program already exists: it is the plan found in the Gospel and in the living Tradition; it is the same as ever.  Ultimately, it has its center in Christ himself, who is to be known, loved and imitated, so that in him we may live the life of the Trinity, and with him transform history until its fulfillment in the heavenly Jerusalem” (Ecclesia De Eucharistia, 60).

In his encyclical on the Eucharist, Pope John Paul II focused our attention on the Eucharist as the source and summit of the life and mission of the Church and parish: “The implementation of this program of a renewed impetus in Christian living passes through the Eucharist.  Every commitment to holiness, every activity aimed at carrying out the Church's mission, every work of pastoral planning, must draw the strength it needs from the Eucharistic mystery and in turn be directed to that mystery as its culmination,” the Pope said.  He further noted: “In the Eucharist we have Jesus, we have his redemptive sacrifice, we have his resurrection, we have the gift of the Holy Spirit, and we have adoration, obedience and love of the Father. Were we to disregard the Eucharist, how could we overcome our own deficiency?”  

The following directives highlight the fact that planning is essential to any pastoral endeavor.  Bishop Martino has emphasized that pastoral and spiritual renewal must be centered on the Eucharist and Evangelization.  He is concerned that pastoral planning will be grounded in the mission of the Church and the parish.  Bishop Martino challenges all to accept the necessity of prayer and the importance of ongoing faith formation for an effective contribution by the Parish Pastoral Council.  These new directives are grounded in Church teaching and in a wealth of pastoral wisdom and experience.  They offer to parishes which have many emerging needs a structure that embraces consultation, collegiality and prayerful discernment.  

C.     THE PARISH (Resource Manual Part I, B. Mission lines 181 – 219))  

          The parish has only one purpose – to continue the mission of Jesus Christ.  Its only goal is to help every member grow to the fullness of holiness through his or her Christian vocation, in other words, to call forth saints.  

            Through Baptism and Confirmation all are called to exercise both their rights and responsibility to participate fully in the life and mission of the Church.  This mission of the Church is rooted in the mission of Christ who commanded everyone – clergy, religious and laity – to “go into the world and proclaim the good news to all of creation” (Mark 16:15 ).  For most Catholics, the parish has provided the parameters within which Christian faith has grown and flourished, serving as the essential component of their experience of the Church and the place where the mission of Christ continues.            

            This vocation of all the People of God, the community of believers in Jesus Christ, to promote the Reign of God on earth permeates the teachings and spirit of the documents of Vatican Council II.  All members of the Church – laity, religious and clergy – according to their proper charisms and roles collaborate in the responsibility for fulfilling its mission.  

“… the laity have an active part to play in the life and activity of the Church.  Their activity is so necessary within Church communities that without it the apostolate of the pastors is generally unable to achieve its full effectiveness” (Decree on the Apostolate of the Laity, 10).  

“In recent years, one of the fruits of the teaching on the Church as communion has been the growing awareness that her members can and must unite their efforts, with a view to cooperation and exchange of gifts, in order to participate more effectively in the Church’s mission. … Contacts with the laity, in the case of monastic or contemplative Institutes, take the form of a relationship that is primarily spiritual, while for Institutes involved in works of the apostolate these contacts also translate into forms of pastoral cooperation.  Members of Secular Institutes, lay or clerical, relate to other members of the faithful at the level of everyday life. … We may say that … a new chapter, rich in hope, has begun in the history of relations between consecrated persons and the laity” (Vita Consecrata, 54).  

“Pastors also know that they themselves were not meant by Christ to shoulder alone the entire saving mission of the Church toward the world.  On the contrary, they understand that it is their noble duty to shepherd the faithful and recognize their service and charismatic gifts that all according to their proper roles may cooperate in this common undertaking with one heart”  (Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, 30).            

The Code of Canon Law defines a parish as “a certain community of the Christian faithful stably constituted in a particular church, whose pastoral care is entrusted to a pastor as its proper pastor under the authority of the diocesan bishop.”  The parish, then, must always be understood in relationship to the diocese, called in canon law “a particular church.”  Communion and subsidiarity, which are always to complement one another, constitute this relationship.  Communion occurs through the Bishop’s efforts ever to further the union of parishioners with one another, of parishes with the Bishop and diocese and of the diocese with the Church universal.  When this is taking place because members of the church, in accord with their roles and abilities, are fully engaged in serving the church, subsidiarity is happening.  

D.     PASTORAL COUNCIL (Resource Manual, Part I, B, Consultative Body, lines 222 – 255)  

          The foundations of pastoral councils rest in the Church’s official documents and in the teachings from Christian antiquity about communion, participation and consultation.  

            The Code of Canon Law gives juridic expression to Vatican Council II’s teaching on the vocation and mission of the People of God and provides structures to accomplish collaborative responsibility on every level of ecclesial administration.  

            Canon 208 speaks of everyone’s responsibility to work together in the building up of the Body of Christ.  

“In virtue of their rebirth in Christ, there exists among all the Christian faithful a true equality with regard to dignity and the activity whereby all cooperate in the building up of the Body of Christ in accord with each one’s own condition and function” (Code of Canon Law, 208).  

            Canon 529 §2 calls for the pastor to develop structures which incorporate the principles of collaborative responsibility and of consultation with the staff and parishioners.  

“The pastor is to acknowledge and promote the proper role which the lay members of the Christian faithful have in the Church’s mission by fostering their associations for religious purposes; he is to cooperate with his own bishop and with the presbyterate of the diocese in working hard so that the faithful be concerned for parochial communion and that they realize that they are members both of the diocese and of the universal Church and participate in and support efforts to promote such communion” (Code of Canon Law, 529 §2).  

This canon emphasizes the pastor’s duty to promote the role of the laity and to do so always in the context of ecclesial communion.

            Canon 536 specifically deals with Parish Pastoral Councils.  

“After the diocesan bishop has listened to the presbyteral council and if he judges it opportune, a pastoral council is to be established in each parish; the pastor presides over it, and through it the Christian faithful along with those who share in the pastoral care of the parish in virtue of their office give their help in fostering pastoral activity.  This pastoral council possesses a consultative vote only and is governed by norms determined by the diocesan bishop (Code of Canon Law, 536).  

In the instruction from the Congregation of the Clergy entitled The Priest, Pastor and Leader of the Parish Community, the following is noted:  

“Like the diocesan pastoral council, the provisions of law foresee the constitution of a pastoral council at parochial level, should such be considered opportune by the Bishop, having heard his council of priests. The basic task of such a council is to serve, at institutional level, the orderly collaboration of the faithful in the development of pastoral activity which is proper to priests. The pastoral council is thus a consultative organ in which the faithful, expressing their baptismal responsibility, can assist the parish priest, who presides at the council, by offering their advice on pastoral matters.  The lay faithful ought to be ever more convinced of the special meaning that their commitment to the apostolate takes on in their parish; hence it is necessary to have a more convinced, extensive and decided appreciation for ‘Parish Pastoral Councils’.  There are clear reasons for such: In the present circumstances the lay faithful have the ability to do very much and, therefore, ought to do very much towards the growth of an authentic ecclesial communion in their parishes in order to reawaken missionary zeal towards nonbelievers and believers themselves who have abandoned the faith or grown lax in the Christian life.” (The Priest, Pastor and Leader of the Parish Community, 23).  

A Parish Pastoral Council, therefore, is established to exercise zeal toward nonbelievers and lax believers, thus gathering a faithful people to the parish.  

It does this through making this goal inform its understanding of the parish’s mission.  In its deliberations the council ever keeps its eye on the future fulfillment of this mission of the parish.  The council determines those needs of the parish to be met if the parish is to accomplish its mission.  It will prioritize with a view toward choosing which ones here and now can be met, and then recommend its findings to the pastor.  

            The Code of Canon Law makes it very clear that a pastoral council is not a legislative body.  It is not a policy-making, decree-issuing, statute-formulating council.  It does not enact, decree, authorize, or regulate; nor does it prohibit, enjoin, correct, or enforce.  It does not pass bills for the pastor to sign or veto.  The pastoral council is not a finance council.  Church law now requires that every parish have a finance council to aid the pastor in the administration of parish goods (Canon 537).  Neither is the pastoral council the grievance machinery of the parish.  Ultimately, the pastor himself remains responsible for the authoritative decisions which he is called to make in the exercise of his pastoral ministry.  Yet, ecclesial communion also presupposes the participation of the faithful, inasmuch as they share responsibility for the good of the Church.            

Pope John Paul II, in an address to the Bishops of New Jersey, stated:  

“Within a sound ecclesiology of communion, a commitment to creating better structures of participation, consultation and shared responsibility should not be misunderstood as a concession to a secular ‘democratic’ model of governance, but as an intrinsic requirement of the exercise of episcopal authority and a necessary means of strengthening that authority” (Address to the Bishops of New Jersey, Ad Limina Visit, 3).  

This observation by the Holy Father about bishops in their dioceses can also be made about pastors in their parishes because the Church, whether diocesan or parochial, is always a communion.  

            In summary, through the Parish Pastoral Council a process is provided by which the family of faith within a parish is brought together to share a vision of the parish’s mission and assume its proper role in the fulfillment of that mission.  It is important that the Parish Pastoral Council be aware of the local culture of the parish and community if it is to effectively foster parish communion and mission.  

E.    IMPORTANT FEATURES OF THE PARISH PASTORAL
      COUNCIL  

1:  ROLE OF THE PASTOR (Resource Manual, Part I Roles within the council lines 319 – 324))

          So integral is the role of the pastor to the parish council that without his presence, there is no council.  When a parish loses its pastor (through death, retirement, transfer, etc.), all activity of the Pastoral Council ceases.  When the new pastor is appointed he may reconvene the old council, if he wishes, or he may decide to form a new council.  This decision belongs to the pastor alone.   If a Parochial Administrator is appointed to a parish either because the parish is vacant or because of the incapacity or ill-health of the pastor, or for some other cause, this Administrator is to reconvene the existing Parish Pastoral Council and will assume the rights and responsibilities of the pastor in relation to the Council.  

2:  THE PARISH PASTORAL COUNCIL AND PRAYER

          The Parish Pastoral Council aims to know and fulfill the mission of the parish.  The parish, however, cannot exist except in relationship to the Diocese.  Communion and subsidiarity constitute this relationship.  

            Council members, if they are going to appreciate accurately the parish and its mission, will need to live out this communion.  Only through a spirituality of communion will they so live.  This spirituality was described by Pope John Paul II:

            “A spirituality of communion indicates above all the heart’s contemplation of the mystery of the Trinity dwelling in us, and whose light we must also be able to see shining on the face of the brothers and sisters around us.  A spirituality of communion also means an ability to think of our brothers and sisters in faith within a profound unity of the Mystical Body, and therefore as ‘those who are a part of me’.  This makes us able to share their joys and sufferings, to sense their desires and attend to their needs, to offer them deep and genuine friendship.  A spirituality of communion implies also the ability to see what is positive in others, to welcome it and prize it as a gift from God: not only as a gift for the brother or sister who receives it directly, but also as a ‘gift for me’.  A spirituality of communion means, finally, to know how to ‘make room’ for our brothers and sisters, bearing ‘each other’s burdens’ (Galatians 6:2) and resisting the selfish temptations which constantly beset us and provoke competition, careerism, distrust and jealousy.  Let us have no illusions: unless we follow this spiritual path, external structures of communion will serve very little purpose.  They would become mechanisms without a soul, ‘masks’ of communion rather than its means of expression and growth” (Novo Millennio Ineunte, 43).  

            Profound, faithful prayer on the part of council members will be necessary for them to develop such a spirituality. Without this prayer and consequent spirituality in the lives of the members, the council’s work cannot be fruitful.

3: DISCERNMENT

          The deliberations of a Parish Pastoral Council begin with and are sustained by a process of discernment and assessment.  Through prayer, study, and listening, the pastor and council identify and prioritize the ways in which the parish is being called to live its specific mission.  

            To insure the proper role of discernment in the apostolate of the Parish Pastoral Council, each meeting is to begin with a period of prayer for twenty minutes followed by a twenty minute period of study.  

            This study may be of sacred scripture as well as of documents of Church teaching.  Thus will fidelity to the mind of Christ and His Church be assured.  

4: CONSENSUS

          After discernment, a Parish Pastoral Council comes to conclusions or decisions, not by Robert’s Rules of Order style majority vote but by consensus.  Consensus is not a win or lose situation.  Rather, it is a method of decision-making grounded in prayer through which the council strives to reach decisions which can be supported by all the members.  Reaching decisions by consensus contributes to the effectiveness of the council’s purpose, namely, to know and promote the fulfillment of the mission of the parish.     

5: PASTOR-COUNCIL RELATIONSHIP

The pastor-council relationship is expected to be collaborative and never adversarial.  The pastor and members of the council are expected to work together for the good of the parish.  

While the Code of Canon Law stipulates that the Council possesses a consultative vote only, this does not mean that the pastor should readily ignore the mind of the council, nor does it mean that he is bound to accept their recommendations.  It does mean, however, that both pastor and council listen carefully to each other and consider both what is being said and why it is being said.  

The pastor-council relationship will require that both pastor and council members exercise the virtues of understanding, patience and forgiveness as they deliberate.  

6: PLANNING AND EVALUATING THE WORK OF THE COUNCIL

          It is possible to become overly concerned with the present and not give sufficient concern to past and future.  Planning, therefore, helps ensure that the important goals get identified.  Evaluation is to ascertain if the goals already established have been accomplished through appropriate pastoral strategies.  

F.     CONSTITUTION (Resource Manual, Part I, C. lines 430 – 514))  

PREAMBLE

One of the first tasks of a newly formed Parish Pastoral Council will be to write a Mission Statement.  A Parish Mission Statement is a concise expression of a parish’s purpose for existence.  It helps the parish identify itself as a community of faith and set broad goals.  It is rooted in the mission of the Universal Church and the Diocesan Mission Statement.  Once written, it should serve as the Preamble to the Constitution and By-Laws (cf.: Resource Manual, pp. 42-54).  

ARTICLE I: PURPOSE

          The purpose of the Parish Pastoral Council is to foster full participation of the entire parish in the life and mission of the parish and of the Universal Church .  The parish faith community participates in this mission by growing in holiness: by worshipping God in Word and Sacrament; and by fostering Christian community by concretely serving those in need, especially the poor.  

ARTICLE II: FUNCTION

          The general function of the Parish Pastoral Council is to advise the pastor in those pastoral matters presented to it by the pastor.  It carries out its function by:  

1.         Providing information to the pastor regarding the needs, concerns, gifts and resources of the whole parish and its members;

2.                  Developing and reviewing a parish mission statement and periodically re-evaluating and revising it;

3.                  Developing a parish pastoral plan;

4.                  Participating in ongoing pastoral planning;

5.                  Recommending policies, procedures and programs which would assist in the implementation of the mission statement and the parish pastoral plan;

6.                  Reviewing and evaluating the effectiveness of programs;

7.                  Reflecting on Diocesan pastoral priorities and recommending how they can be implemented in the parish.  

ARTICLE III: MEMBERSHIP  

Section 1: General Membership

Parish Pastoral Councils are composed of the pastor, parochial vicar(s), permanent deacon(s),  representative parish staff members and lay members of the parish.  Since the Council is to be representative of the entire parish community, the members of the Council ought to reflect the diversity within the parish.  Lay members of the Parish Pastoral Council are to be members in good standing.  The Council shall consist of the following members in addition to the pastor, parochial vicar(s) and permanent deacon(s).  

1.         Parishes with 1,000 or more families – three ex-officio members, six members nominated by the parish at large, and three members appointed by the pastor.

2.                  Parishes with fewer than 1,000 families –  two to three ex-officio members, four to six

members nominated by the parish at large, and two to three members appointed by the pastor.

(The number of ex-officio and appointed members should always equal the number of nominated members on the Parish Pastoral Council.)  

Section 2: Ex-officio Members (Resource Manual, Part I, C)

Besides the pastor, parochial vicar(s) and permanent deacon(s), and according to the size of the parish, there are two to three ex-officio members, one of which must be a member of the Parish Finance Council.  Others may be the Principal of the parish elementary school, the Director of Religious Education, the Director of Worship, the Director of Youth Ministry or other professional staff members.  

Section 3: Nominated Members

A parish-wide process for receiving nominations to the Parish Pastoral Council shall be conducted by a Nomination Committee chaired by the Vice-Chairperson of the Parish Pastoral Council.  According to the size of the parish, there are four to six members nominated by the parish at large (cf.: Resource Manual, pp. 24-29).  

Section 4: Appointed Members

The pastor is to appoint two to three members to the Council according to the size of the parish.  These members should be representative of the community in order to reflect the diversity in the parish community (cf.: Resource Manual, p. 23).  

Section 5: Young Adult Delegate to the Parish Pastoral Council

          A young adult delegate (18-24 years of age) may be appointed to the Parish Pastoral Council.  This individual should be chosen for appointment from a list of young adult nominees submitted by the parish at large.  

Section 6: Multiple Parishes with One Pastor

          Canon 536.1 of the Code of Canon Law states that “if the diocesan bishop judges it opportune after he has heard the presbyteral council, a pastoral council is to be established in each parish over which the pastor presides and in which the Christian faithful, together with those who share in the pastoral care by virtue of their office in the parish, assist in fostering pastoral activity.”   

Although the law states that there is to be one council for each parish, an accommodation is made for those pastors entrusted with the pastoral care of more than one juridic parish.  If such a pastor so chooses, while he must establish a Parish Pastoral Council in each individual parish, he may conduct joint meetings of all of the members of each Council.  If the pastor opts to conduct Council meetings in this manner, the following membership scale is to be adopted:  

            1.         One Parish                 Eight to twelve members (cf.: Article III, Section 1).  

2.         Two Parishes              Six members on each Parish Pastoral Council
                                                            (three appointed

                                                members, including a member of the Parish Finance
                                                            Council;

                                                three members nominated from the parish at large).  

3.         Three or More            Four members on each Parish Pastoral Council (two
                         Parishes                     appointed members, including a member of the Parish
                                                             Finance Council;  two members nominated from the
                                                             parish at large).  

Even with this adjusted membership, it is understood that the pastor maintains the right to conduct separate meetings of the Parish Pastoral Council in each individual parish if so desired.  
 

ARTICLE IV: ORGANIZATION  

Section 1: Pastor (Resource Manual, Part I, C)

The pastor is the President of the Parish Pastoral Council.  He presides by:

1.         Assuring that the scope of the Council’s concerns reflects the entire mission of the parish and of the Universal Church;  

2.                  Assisting and creating among the members of the Council an atmosphere of trust and unity as a witness in strengthening and nurturing the parish faith community;  

3.                  Approving the Council agenda after consulting with the Coordinating Committee (cf.: below);

4.                  Sharing information, listening actively, contributing to the discussion and promoting consensus.  

Section 2: Officers (Resource Manual, Part I, C)

The officers of the Council shall be elected by its members.  They are the Chairperson, the Vice-Chairperson and the Secretary.  

Section 3: Meetings

Parish Pastoral Council meetings are convened by the pastor at least four times a year.  Extraordinary meetings can be held at the request of the pastor.  All meetings require a quorum of members consisting of the simple majority of members.  

All meetings are to begin with prayer for twenty minutes, followed by study for twenty minutes.  Meetings should last no longer than two and one-half hours.  

Section 4: Committees

The following are standing committees of the Parish Pastoral Council:

1.         The Coordinating Committee is composed of the pastor, the Chairperson, the Vice-chairperson and the Secretary.  It is responsible for formulating the Council’s agenda and dealing with Council matters between meetings. (Resource Manual, Part I, C)  

2.                  The Nominating Committee is chaired by the Vice-Chairperson of the Council along with two other members of the Council for the process of receiving nominations from the parish at large for new Council members.  

            3.         Ad hoc Committees are created by the pastor as required.

ARTICLE V: BY-LAWS (Resource Manual, Part I, C lines 515 – 697)

Provided that they do not contradict any of the provisions of the previous articles, by-laws for the operation of the Council may be established by a majority vote of the membership present at any meeting.  By-laws can be amended or repealed in the same manner.  All such by-laws require the approval of the pastor.

ARTICLE VI: AMENDMENTS  

Section 1: Membership Approval

This constitution may be amended by a two-thirds majority of the members.  

Section 2: Notification of Amendment

The entire membership of the Council must be notified of the proposed amendment in writing at least thirty days prior to the meeting.  

Section 3: Approval

All amendments to this constitution shall be subject to the approval of the pastor and the Diocesan Bishop.  

G.     BY-LAWS 

ARTICLE I: MEMBERSHIP  

Section 1: Membership Privileges

            Ex-officio, nominated and appointed members shall all have an equal voice in the decision making process.  

Section 2: Terms of Office (Resource Manual, Part I, C, lines 520 - 529)

          Nominated and appointed members serve a three-year term with the possibility of serving a second term.  Nominated and appointed members may serve only two consecutive terms.  Young adult delegates to the Parish Pastoral Council serve for a period of one year.  

            Normally, not more than one-third of the Council’s membership should be changed at one time.  

            In a newly formed Council, one third of the membership serves a three year term, a two year term and a one year term, respectively.  This determination is made by drawing lots.  Those serving a one-year term in a newly formed Council may serve for two additional consecutive terms.  

Section 3: Nominations (Resource Manual, Part I, C, lines 530 – 548))

          The Vice-Chairperson of the Parish Pastoral Council shall chair the Nominating Committee.  Two other Council members shall be appointed by the Council Chairperson to serve on the Nominating Committee.  

The Nominating Committee shall actively seek nominations from the parish at large.  Once the list of nominees has been reviewed and it has been determined that individual nominees have met the criteria for membership, members of the Nominating Committee shall contact each approved nominee to ascertain their willingness to be considered for membership on the Parish Pastoral Council.  Those willing to stand as nominees will then participate in an information session about the role of Council members to further assist them in their discernment as potential candidates for membership on the Council.
When a final pool of nominees emerges, the pastor along with the existing members of the Parish Pastoral Council select the new members using one of the following processes:  

·                     Selection by the pastor and the existing members of the Parish Pastoral Council.

·                     Election by the parish at large (simple majority).                  

            In the formation of a new Parish Pastoral Council, the pastor shall determine the ex-officio and appointed members first.  These members will then serve as the Nominating Committee with the pastor as chair.  The Nominating Committee will assist the pastor in the selection of new Council members for appointment from the list of nominees (cf.: Resource Manual, pp. 23-30).

ARTICLE II: OFFICERS  

Section 1: Pastor (Resource Manual, Part I, C, lines 549 – 587)

          As President, the pastor shall preside over the Parish Pastoral Council.  

Section 2: Election and Term of Officers (Resource Manual, Part I, lines 552 – 556)

          The elected officers of the Parish Pastoral Council shall be the Chairperson, the Vice-Chairperson and the Secretary.  Officers shall be elected by a simple majority vote.  Terms of office shall be for two years unless their membership expires prior to completion of a two-year term.  Offices shall begin immediately following the election.  

Section 3: Vacancies (Resource Manual, Part I, C, lines 558 - 564)

          If the Chairperson resigns, the Vice-Chairperson shall assume the chair and continue as Chairperson for the balance of the year.  At the next meeting, an interim Vice-Chairperson shall be elected to serve the remaining term.  

            If the Vice-Chairperson resigns, a replacement shall be elected by a simple majority at the next meeting.  

            If the Secretary resigns, the Chairperson shall appoint a replacement from among the Council members.  

Section 4: Responsibilities of Officers (Resource Manual, Part I, C, lines 565 - 587)

          Chairperson

·                     To conduct Council meetings;

·                     To assist the pastor in conducting the Council’s work;

·                     To serve on the Coordinating Committee which formulates the Council’s agenda;

·                     To call special meetings with the approval of the pastor;

·                     To appoint a replacement for a Council Secretary who resigns;

·                     To appoint the Nominating Committee;

·                     To carry out other duties as described in the parish directives.  

Vice-Chairperson

·                     To conduct Council meetings in the absence of the Chairperson;

·                     To assist the Chairperson in the discharge of his/her duties;

·                     To serve on the Coordinating Committee which formulates the Council’s agenda;

·                     To chair the Nominating Committee;

·                     To carry out other duties as described in the parish directives.  

Secretary

·                     To record the minutes of the Parish Pastoral Council and Coordinating Committee meetings and to see that the minutes and the agenda are made available to the Council members;

·                     To maintain attendance and other records;

·                     To handle Council correspondence;

·                     To serve on the Coordinating Committee which formulates the Council’s agenda;

·                     To carry out other duties as described in the parish directives.

Section 5: Duties of the Coordinating Committee (Resource Manual, Part I, C, lines 588 – 591))

            The Coordinating Committee is composed of the pastor, the chairperson, the vice-chairperson and the secretary.  It is responsible for formulating the Council’s agenda and dealing with Council matters between meetings.  

H.    CONCLUSION

          The Diocese of Scranton Directives for Parish Pastoral Councils is meant to be used in conjunction with the Parish Pastoral Councils in the Diocese of Scranton Resource Manual.  The Resource Manual serves as a helpful resource for both new and established Parish Pastoral Councils, providing sample agenda for meetings, a process for the creation of a parish mission statement, suggested sources for the education of council members, and various resource materials. The documents are cross-referenced to facilitate their use in parish settings.  

I.      AMENDMENTS

1.         HOW TO DISOLVE A COUNCIL/ HOW TO DISMISS A DISRUPTIVE MEMBER

Article II- OFFICERS

Section 1: Pastor

            As President, the pastor shall preside over the Parish pastoral Council.  

(Dissolving of a Council)

            If the Pastor comes to the understanding that there is a persistent misunderstanding of the nature of the Parish Pastoral Council, a failure to follow Diocesan Directives for Parish Pastoral Councils or a continuing conflict that renders the Parish Pastoral Council ineffective or destructive of parochial communion, he must consult with the regional Episcopal Vicar to seek ways and means to remedy the situation.

            If all such efforts fail, the Pastor shall consult with the regional Episcopal Vicar and seek permission to dissolve the Parish Pastoral Council. Prayer and educational efforts will then be made with the assistance of the regional Episcopal Vicar to engage in a process to re‑establish a Parish Pastoral Council according to the Directives issued by the Bishop.  

(Dismissal of a member of the Council)

            If the Pastor comes to the awareness that a member of the Parish Pastoral Council is not living in accord with the minimum obligations of a Catholic as described in the precepts of the Church in the Catholic Catechism, or is advocating positions contrary to Church teaching, the Pastor shall consult with the regional Episcopal Vicar.  If all attempts to remedy this situation fail, the Pastor shall once more consult with the regional Episcopal Vicar before removing a member from the Council.  

            If a council member exhibits behavior that is disruptive of communion, promotes conflict or exhibits a failure to understand or comply with the Directives for Parish Pastoral Councils, the Pastor shall consult with the regional Episcopal Vicar. After all attempts to remedy this situation fail, the Pastor shall once more consult with the regional Episcopal Vicar before removing a member from the Council.  

September 21, 2006