Parish Pastoral Council - Constitution

The Parish Mission statement and Vision

In common with other parish groups, the Parish Pastoral Council will strive to fulfil and implement the Parish Mission Statement

The goal of the Parish Pastoral Council is to offer practical planning and to implement strategies facilitating the development of the parish as it grows and changes in the future, in accordance with the Parish Vision Statement.

Membership of the Pastoral Council

Currently the Parish Pastoral Council will be composed of 2 Parish Clergy, ex officio, and fifteen elected parishioners.

The composition of the PPC aims to reflect the make up of the Parish.

	It will remain a prerogative of the Parish Priest in collaboration with the PPC to determine the selection process of new members for the council.
	Each member of the PPC shall serve for five years and then be eligible to stand for a second term. Hence there will be an election every five years.
	If members resign mid-term the Parish Priest in consultation with the Chairperson shall appoint a replacement for the remainder of that term.
	At the end of any five year period the 5 longest serving members will automatically stand down as having completed their service.
	However not more than five new members shall be appointed (elected) at any one time.
	A quorum shall consist of seven members.
	The committee will have the power to co-opt other persons for particular advice or in special situations. Such co-opted members will attend meetings as necessary but will not have voting powers.
	If someone with special expertise were needed, the PP in conjunction with the Chairperson may co-opt. Co-opted members will not have a vote.
	A member who is unable to make three consecutive meetings should be approached by the PP or the Chairperson with a view to discussing his or her membership of the Council.

Officers of the Council

Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson

The Council will elect a chairperson and deputy chairperson who will serve for two years. This term of office can be renewed for a further one year only, if necessary.

Secretary

The Secretary should be appointed for two years and be responsible with the Chairperson and the Parish Priest for all communications of the PPC, including setting the Agenda for meetings, taking and circulating minutes.

Note: In special circumstances the Parish Priest and Chairperson may appoint a non-member as Secretary for one year: the appointed person has no vote.

Election Procedure

Nominations for officers of the council must be submitted to the existing Chairperson, or to the Parish Priest, and must be signed by the nominee and seconded by someone from another household.

The Meetings

There will be six meetings a year, which will take place on the first Tuesday of the relevant month or as near as possible.

There will be an open meeting with the parish. In an emergency situation the Chairperson together with Parish Priest can call a special meeting.

The PPC shall also meet for a day of reflection and recollection once per year.

An agenda will be circulated to members prior to a meeting. Any business for inclusion on the Agenda must be received by the Secretary at least a week before the meeting. Notice of items to be raised under A.O.B. must be given before the meeting commences.

Meetings will commence promptly.

Meetings will open and close with a prayer.

The Chairperson will ensure that all the business of the meeting will be completed within an hour and a half.

Minutes will be circulated for approval within seven to fourteen days of the end of the meeting.

All deliberations of the Parish Council will be held to be confidential. (See note 2.)

It will be important that the minutes and decisions of the PPC are communicated to the Parish as soon as possible after each meeting.

Parishioners' queries will be acknowledged within a period of eight weeks

The work of the Council should be divided up into Committees with specific remits. Every member to be assigned to at least one and to a maximum of two and each committee to consist of at least three members. The committees may co-opt other parishioners to assist them in their work as a committee. Each committee to hold meeting with agendas and minutes which should be copied for all members of the council when they report back to the full meeting: they should aim to meet at least once between Council meetings.

All legitimate expenses incurred by the committee will be covered by the Parish. Ordinary expenses such as posting etc will be done directly through the parish office, extra-ordinary expenses discussed with the Parish Priest.

The committee wilt have the sole right to add to or amend the said constitution, but only by due deliberation of the whole committee, and provided that such changes do not contravene civil or canon law.

Members’ names will be posted on the parish bulletin board.

Members can then be contacted through the Parish Office.

Revised April 2008

Notes:

Future membership of the PPC: The procedure for the selection of new members shall be found in the Parish Pastoral Council Elections Paper
There is a difference between the deliberations and the decisions and general minutes.