By-Laws
ARTICLE 1 - NAME
The name of this organization shall be the Pastoral Council of St. Mary's Parish, Odessa, Texas.
ARTICLE 2 - PURPOSE
Section 1
The Council, in a consultative manner, exercises a vital role in the decision-making process for the parish. The Pastor retains the ultimate decision-making responsibility within the parish (c. 536§2)
Section 2
The Council, under the leadership of the Pastor, shall evaluate the spiritual and temporal needs of the parish activities in a manner that will best serve the interest of the people of the parish.
Section 3
The Council shall foster unity within the parish by developing and implementing a unified program of renewal according to the Second Vatican Council and the teaching and discipline of the Church which will promote the common good of the parish.
Section 4
The Council shall encourage participation by all members of the parish in the spiritual and apostolic life of the parish; provide a forum for constructive dialogue among all members of the parish and between the parish and the community at large; and promote programs and activities of both the Diocese and the Council itself.
Section 5
The Council shall support diocesan and activities by encouraging participation of the parish members.
Section 6
The Council shall exercise the vision necessary in order to plan and provide for the growth.
ARTICLE 3 - MEMBERSHIP
Section 1
The Council shall be composed of the Pastor and nine (9) members, the majority of whom will be elected by the Parish. The pastor may appoint up to 1/3 of the members in addition to the ex officio members. The Pastor should appoint those needed to expand the qualifications of the membership in order to carry out effectively the functions of the Council.
Section 2
The Pastor, parochial vicar, and deacon are ex officio members of the Council. They shall not vote nor hold office in the Council.
Section 3
All registered members of the Parish, eighteen years of age or older, shall be eligible to serve on the Council.
Section 4
A member of a Council may be removed by the Pastor for a weighty reason.
Section 5
A member may resign his/her seat on the Council by submitting a written resignation to the secretary or presenting an oral resignation to the Council.
ARTICLE 4 - ELECTIONS
Section 1
At the November Meeting, the Council shall determine the number of vacancies that need to be filled with an election; Two vacancies if the Pastor appoints new member, or three vacancies if the Pastor defers to the election to fill all three vacancies. Thereupon, the Council shall request nominations from the nominating committee for nominees to fill the appropriate number of expiring terms. The Council shall encourage nominations representing a cross-section of the parish.
Section 2
The election shall be held the first two weekends in January by ballot furnished to each member of the parish eighteen years of age or older as of the date of the election.
Section 3
Each member of the Council, whether elected by the parishioners or appointed by the Pastor, shall serve a term of three years. Term shall be staggered. The term of office for new members shall begin with the January meeting.
Section 4
The Council shall fill any vacancies in the elected membership of the Council by appointment of a new member (s) from among the parishioners with the approval of the Pastor. The Pastor shall fill any vacancies in the appointed membership of the Council by appointment of a new member (s). The term of the new member (s) shall be the remaining unexpired term of the vacating member(s).
Section 5
A member of the Council can serve two consecutive terms after which one year must pass before a member can again serve.
Section 6
New members will receive a copy of these by-laws at the first meeting they attend so that they may become familiar with the operation of the Council.
ARTICLE 5 - OFFICERS AND DUTIES
Section 1
At the January meeting, the Council members shall elect from among its members, by a majority vote, a President, a Vice - President, and a Secretary. Council members are not eligible to office until they have served on the Council for one year.
Section 2
Officers are to serve for a term of not more than one year.
Section 3
The Pastor shall preside at all Council meetings (c. 536). The President shall chair all Council meetings and is chairman of the Executive Committee, and is an ex officio member of the Finance Council.
Section 4
The Vice - President shall facilitate Council meetings in the absence of the President.
Section 5
The Secretary shall keep the minutes of the Council meetings.
ARTICLE 6 - MEETINGS
Section 1
Regular monthly meetings at which the Pastor presides shall be held as needed, or at least quarterly. The Council may not meet in the absence of the Pastor. Special meetings may be called by the Pastor or Executive Committee with the Pastor's approval.
Section 2
Notice of a meeting and a written agenda shall be provided for all Council members at least seventy-two (72) hours prior to a meeting except in emergencies.
Section 3
At any meeting, a quorum for the transaction of business shall be sixty (60) percent of the total voting membership of the Council. Six (6) members shall constitute a quorum where the Council membership is nine (9).
Section 4
All meetings shall be open to members of the parish unless designated as closed. Executive or closed sessions may be called to discuss confidential matters.
Section 5
Anyone may address the Council who has contacted a member of the Executive Committee and has had the petition approved prior to the posting of the notice of the meeting.
ARTICLE 7 - COMMITTEES
Section 1
There will be two (2) Standing Committees - Executive Committee and the Nominating Committee.
Section 2
The Executive Committee shall be composed of the Pastor and the Council's three (3) officers.
The Council President shall chair this committee. This committee shall have general supervision of the Council's affairs between meetings and shall be responsible for:
1. Setting the time and place of meetings.
2. Preparation of agendas for the meetings,
3. Calling executive sessions of the Council,
4. Making recommendations to the Council, and
5. Performing other duties as specified in the by-laws.
Section 3
The Nominating Committee shall be composed of three (3) Council members, appointed by the President, who will contact the various parish organizations to solicit recommendations for candidates for election to the Council. Nominations will also be accepted from the parish at large. The Council president shall appoint the chair of this committee. The committee shall meet in November of each year to prepare a list of nominees for the election to be held in January.
Section 4
The President, with the Council's approval, shall appoint committees as necessary to carry out the business of the Council. These may be either standing or ad ho committees. The President and the Pastor shall be ex officio members to these committees.
ARTICLE 8 - AUTHORITY
The Council may fix its own rules of procedure. In the absence of such rules, Robert's Rules of Order, Revised, and the Pastoral Council Policies of the Diocese shall apply.
ARTICLE 9 - AMMENDMENTS
These by-laws may be amended at any meeting of the Council by a two-thirds vote of the members present and voting. Notice of the proposed amendment must have been provided in writing to all members at least seven days prior to the meeting at which it is considered for adoption.
In the event of a conflict between these by-laws and the guidelines for parish councils as set forth in the Diocesan Pastoral Manual, the guidelines of the Diocesan Pastoral Manual shall prevail and supersede these by-laws.
Code of Canon Law: New English Translation. (1998). (p. 177). Washington, DC: Canon Law Society of America. can. 536
§ 1.t 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 pastoral care by virtue of their office in the parish, assist in fostering pastoral activity.
§ 2.t A pastoral council possesses a consultative vote only and is governed by the norms established by the diocesan bishop.
Pastoral Manual - PG A4, Section 2, Nature and Role.§ E, § G & § H.
§e. The Pastor assigned to a parish/mission shall retain the ultimate decision-making responsibility within the parish.
§g. The Pastor, before disapproving an action taken by the Council, shall clearly indicate his reasons to the Council.
§h. If two-thirds of the total voting membership of the Council disagree with the Pastor's veto on an action of the Council, recourse may be made to the Bishop.
Pastoral Manual -PG A4, Section 3. Membership, § C & D.
§c. The majority of the parish/mission council shall be elected.
§d. Any members appointed by the Pastor may be up to one-third of the voting membership, but shall not be more than three (3). They shall be voting members. The Pastor should appoint those needed to expand the of qualifications of the membership in order to carry out effectively the functions of the Council.