THE CONSTITUTION OF THE PARISH COUNCIL
Saint Frances de Chantal - Bronx, New York

ARTICLE I - NAME

This organization shall be known as the Parish Council of the the Church of St. Frances de Chantal, Bronx, New York.

ARTICLE II - PURPOSES

This Parish Council shall be a consultative body charged with but not limited to:
 

• Being a Christian community and model for other organizations - ministering with the pastor for the good of the parish.

 

• Identifying the needs of the people and attempt to meet them.

ARTICLE III - MEMBERSHIP

This Parish Council shall have a membership of approximately 10 persons, who serve ex-officio  because of their responsibilities in the parish, or because they have been chosen by the selection process, as noted in Addendum 1.
 

• Ex-officio members include: the pastor, assistant(s) to the pastor, deacon(s), director of religious education, pastoral minister, youth minister, music director, member of the Parish Finance Council, the school principal and the former chairperson of the Parish Council.

 

• 12 members are chosen by the selection process.

 

• Up to 4 members may be appointed annually by the pastor to reflect the makeup of the parish and to include any needed expertise or experience.

 

• Any non-ex-officio member of the Parish Council may be removed by a two thirds vote of the members for reasons of either absence or misconduct. Absence from three consecutive regular meetings of the Parish Council, without just cause, shall be sufficient reason for removal of a member from the Parish Council.

ARTICLE IV - ELIGIBILITY FOR OFFICE

Membership on this Council shall be open to registered parishioners who participate in the prayer life of this parish and who are 18 years of age or older.

ARTICLE V -TERM OF OFFICE

Ex-officio members serve for as long as they are in their positions. Selected members serve a three year term, and appointed members may serve up to three year term renewable once.  After two consecutive terms, members must leave the Council for at least one year.

ARTICLE VI - SELECTION/APPOINTMENT PROCESS

1. Each year in May, four persons shall be selected to the Parish Council through the selection process and up to 5 may be appointed by the pastor.


2. Among the purposes of the selecting members is to involve the congregation more fully and to respect its choices. Among the purposes of appointing members is to have adequate representation of all ages, areas of the parish, and ethnic groups, and to include Council members with special expertise or experience that might be valuable.


3. If additional openings occur (for example, if a member resigns after one year) replacements may be appointed at that time for the balance of the term. That balance is considered a term of office, even if only for one year.

ARTICLE VII -OFFICERS OF THE COUNCIL


1. This Council shall have three officers: Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson and Recording Secretary.

2. Selections of the Council officers shall be held every year a the last meeting of the Council in June.

3. Officers serve a one year term, renewable once for that office. The officers form an Executive Committee which, with the pastor, plans the agendas.

4. The duties of each officer shall include the following:


a. The Chairperson conducts all meetings.

b. The Vice-Chairperson assists the Chairperson as needed, and performs the duties of the Chairperson in his/her absence.

c. Recording Secretary keeps the minutes of all meetings.


ARTICLE VIII - MEETINGS


1. This Council shall meet monthly from September to June on the first Tuesday of the month at 7:00pm.  All meetings will end by 8:00pm.

2. Meetings are open to all parishioners. Non-members who wish to speak at a meeting must be recognized by the Chairperson.


ARTICLE IX -VOTING AT MEETINGS


1. All members have the right to vote, although they may abstain.

2. On matters that require a formal vote, one-half plus one of the membership being present constitutes a quorum.

3. When possible, matters shall be decided by consensus.


ARTICLE X - COMMITTEES


1. This Council shall have an Executive Committee, composed of the pastor and three officers, which are responsible for making meetings agendas.

2. Other committees and their tasks may include:

a. Education Committee, which responds to the educational needs of the parish, including our school, religious education programs, adult education and special education.

b. Liturgy Committee, which promotes and coordinates matters of worship and spiritural development.

c. Social Ministry Committee, which organizes actions on issues of peace, justice, and advocacy for the poor.

d. Social Activities Community, which promotes community-building events and assists with public relations for the parish.

e. Parish Outreach Committee, which promotes two-way communication between the Council and parishioners and the Council and other parish organizations.


3. Temporary committee for special purposes (i.e, ad hoc committees) may be named by the Council Chairperson as needed.

4. Each committee shall be composed of St. Frances de Chantal parishioners and at least two members of the Council.

5. The chairperson of each committee shall be selected by the Council. The vice-chairperson shall be a member with a term that does not expire at the end of the current year. The vice-chairperson shall become chairperson of the committee the following year, subject to the selection by the Council.

ARTICLE XI - ADOPTION/ADMENDMENTS

1. This Constitution becomes effective when approved by two thirds of the Council members, and with the approval of the pastor.

2. This Constitution can be amended by following the same process.

3. Each new member of this Council shall be given a copy of this Constitution.