Pastoral Council

If you are unable to attend, please notify church office, 776-1532.

Please give your notes to Sandy Perkins. Thank you!

MINUTES FROM PASTORAL COUNCIL MEETINGS ARE AVAILABLE IN THE LIBRARY FOR ALL WHO WISH TO REVIEW THEM.

PASTORAL COUNCIL MEETINGS ARE OPEN TO ALL PARISHIONERS TO ATTEND. IF YOU WISH TO SPEAK AT THE MEETING, PLEASE CONTACT THE CHAIR OF THE COUNCIL IN ADVANCE TO BE PLACED ON THE AGENDA.

St. Stephen the First Martyr Pastoral Council

Guidelines

MISSION STATEMENT

We, the parishioners of Saint Stephen the First Martyr, a Roman Catholic community of faith, spirit-filled and empowered by our Baptism, are called to live the Gospel of Jesus Christ. United by our worship, our commitment to continued faith development and our love for one another, we live our Catholic faith by dedicating ourselves to the enrichment of our community and the greater glory of God.

                                                                                                            PARAGRAPH I
The name of the organization shall be the Pastoral Council.

                                                                                                           PARAGRAPH II
The purpose of the Pastoral Council will be to advise the pastor on all matters of parish life. Specific objectives include:
• To implement and restate, when necessary, the mission of Saint Stephen’s Parish.
• To set goals annually in fulfillment of the mission and to formulate plans to meet them.
• To monitor the execution of Parish plans and programs and to evaluate their effectiveness.
• To encourage, facilitate, support and provide liaison with parishioners and parish organizations and activities.
• To work in union with the Pastor and the Parish Finance Council to oversee financial and physical resources, consistent with the mission and goals of the Parish.

                                                                                                           PARAGRAPH III
There will be nine elected representatives on the Pastoral Council. The pastor will appoint three additional members. All representatives, elected or appointed, are full members, thus ensuring a broad representation. The Finance Committee chairperson is an ex-officio member of the Parish Pastoral Council.

The elected members hold office for a three-year term, with annual elections replacing three members each year. An elected member whose term expires may not be considered a candidate for reelection until at least one year has passed since the member last served. Appointed representatives serve for one year and may be reappointed annually.

                                                                                                         PARAGRAPH IV
The elected and appointed members of the Pastoral Council will be chosen through a parish wide election conducted during the month of June. Nominations for candidates will be solicited during the months of April and May. Those nominating candidates for the pastoral council will secure their consent and provide a biographical sketch of their nominees. These biographies will be made available to the parish prior to the election.

During the parish wide elections, each parishioner may choose only three nominated candidates.

Following the election, but before July 1, the pastor will select his appointed members.

                                                                                                         PARAGRAPH V
The new members will assume office at the first meeting of the parish’s fiscal year that begins on July 1. At this meeting, the following officers will be elected:

• Chairperson
• Vice Chairperson
• Secretary
• Assistant Secretary

The outgoing Pastoral Council chairperson will conduct the election of the officers as the last item of business. The new officers will assume their respective roles immediately following the first meeting of the fiscal year.

It will be the duty of the secretary to take minutes of each meeting, and these minutes will become a part of the official records of the parish.

In the event that it is deemed necessary, the pastor will appoint parishioners who have appropriate skills and training to serve on specialized committees. At the present time, the following committees are active:

• Stewardship and Adult Education
• Finance
• Liturgy
• Cemetery

In the absence of the pastor, no Pastoral Council meeting will be held without the pastor’s prior approval.

                                                                                                          PARAGRAPH VI
The Pastoral Council will make decisions and recommendations using the consensus method. In the event that consensus cannot be achieved, the Council will defer to the pastor.

                                                                                                          PARAGRAPH VII
The guidelines of the Pastoral Council may be amended by consensus of the membership at any meeting.

These guidelines were revised and adopted on March 11 2008.

The Saint Stephen Pastoral Council, is a twelve-person advisory board to the Pastor elected (3 year terms) and appointed (1 year terms) from among registered parishioners. Annual nominations and elections occur during the months of May & June respectively. Saint Stephen’s seeks candidates that will help the Council represent the diverse liturgies and people in our church.

The Pastoral Council is a singular way to get involved with the life of the church, where a member participates in the inner workings of a dynamic, challenging Parish blessed with abundant talent and treasure. A member has a unique opportunity to contribute to critical services, like education and outreach, or to help develop the worship experience for the benefit of all parishioners.

Many have asked, “What is the function of the Council in the life and direction of Saint Stephens? What does the Pastoral Council do? What are the requirements for serving on the Council? Who is on the Council? First and foremost, the Pastoral Council seeks to follow and be guided by our Parish Mission Statement and the annual Parish Plan.

· To implement and restate, when necessary, the mission of Saint Stephen’s Parish.

· To set annual goals in fulfillment of the mission and to formulate plans to meet them.

· To monitor the execution of Parish plans and programs and evaluate their effectiveness.

· To encourage, facilitate, support and provide liaison with parishioners and parish organizations and activities.

· To work in union with the Pastor and the Parish Finance Council to oversee financial and physical resources, consistent with the mission and goals of the Parish.

Each Council member provides a valuable conduit between parishioners and the Pastor in the furtherance of the Parish Mission. The Pastoral Council meets ten times a year on the third Tuesday of the month. The Pastor and members of the Parish staff attend while the council discusses issues and hear reports about current issues and projects within the Parish. In addition to attending the monthly meetings, Pastoral Council members serve as liaisons to the working committees of the Pastoral Council. Our Pastoral Council Liaisons are Liturgy; Education; Outreach; Facilities/Finance and Hispanic.

The principal requirements for candidates are a heart for service and a willingness to give of one’s time. Any Roman Catholic who is leading a life in harmony with the church, is at least sixteen (16) years of age, a member of the Parish and has received the Sacrament of Confirmation is eligible for election to the council.

The current Pastoral Council includes members who recently joined our parish as well as longtime parishioners. Their professional backgrounds range from business to education to federal service. Their roots represent a wide geographical footprint of the United States and beyond. Each member has a commitment to Saint Stephen’s parish community. Three parishioners are elected each year to replace those members whose three-year terms are expiring. An additional three are appointed by the pastor for one-year terms. Pictures and names of current members are located in the hallway adjacent to the gathering space.

Meetings take place in Room 125 and begin at 7:00 p.m. on the third Tuesday of each month. Please submit items to be considered for the agenda to the Parish Council President one week prior to the scheduled meeting for their discussion and review. The Pastoral Council minutes are available for review in the parish library. Minutes are formally approved at the following Pastoral Council meeting.

The primary purpose of the Council is to accept responsibility, as a collaborative and consultative body, with the pastor for the life and mission of the Church in the parish. Known as our “Four Pillars,” the areas in which that collaboration occurs are:

Last modified: March 02, 2010 v745