PPC Covenant

St. Charles Borromeo Church
Parish Pastoral Council
Covenant Statement

Adopted 5/20/1997
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The Parish Pastoral Council (PPC) are members of the faith community who serve the parish in a ministry of leadership. It consists of people who are committed to the life of the parish. This body seeks to build, strengthen, and nourish faith. It serves as a model of Christian community and leadership to the rest of the parish family, empowering its members and the members of the parish community to contribute to and take ownership of the life of the parish. It is a ministry of assessing and studying our parish needs and setting direction. The PPC is committed to fostering communication among all members of the parish. At all times, we are challenged to actively involve in the decision making process those who will be affected by an action. After prayerful study and open discussion, this body advises and affirms and endorses policy decisions regarding the welfare of the whole faith community.

Leadership Definitions

Pastor

The Pastor receives from the bishop the responsibility to be his presence in the community and to share the shepherding roles of teaching, sanctifying, and leading in a specific parish. The Pastor is the spiritual leader of the parish. He is charged to lead the parish in good stewardship according to the laws of the universal church and represents the parish in all legal matters. The effectiveness of this leadership is enhanced when the normal process consists of open dialogue, shared decision making, and appropriate action among the pastor, the parish staff, and the parish pastoral council as a representative body of the parishioners.

Parish Pastoral Council

The members of the Parish Pastoral Council, by reason of their baptism, are called to be attentive to all that envelops the human family. The goal of the PPC is to serve the needs of the parish, develop a common vision and purpose, actively advocate for the poor and the powerless, and extend our Christian commitment to the neighborhoods and communities around us. The PPC engages in open dialogue and shared decision making with the pastor, the parish staff, and the other parish groups and committees.

Parish Pastoral Council Membership

18 members:

Pastor
2 appointed parish staff members
Principal of the Northwest Quadrant School at St. Charles
12 selected adult members representing the people of the parish
2 selected youth members

The Pastor, two (2) Parish staff members selected by the Pastor, and the Principal of the Northwest Quadrant School at St. Charles shall each have one vote in Council matters. Each staff member shall serve as a Council member for one year and also serve as a liaison to one or more active committees and/or ministries.

There shall be twelve (12) adult members selected from the general parish community. Each member shall have one vote and shall also serve as a liaison to one or more active committees in the parish during their term(s). Selected adult members serve for three (3) years: 1 year for orienting, learning, and serving; 2 years for effective serving, participation, and sharing responsibilities. The terms should be arranged such that four (4) terms expire each year. This should assure continuity of effort. Each selected adult member may serve no more than two (2) consecutive terms, but shall have the option of renewing for a second consecutive term without being required to undergo the selection process. Anyone completing his/her term(s) of service is ineligible for reselection for a period of two (2) years.

The Council membership shall include two (2) Confirmed youth members selected from the general parish community. Each youth member shall have one vote and shall also serve as a liaison to one or more active committees in the parish during their term(s). Youth members serve a term of two (2) years which should be staggered such that one (1) term expires each year. Each youth member may serve no more than two (2) consecutive terms, but shall have the option of renewing for a second consecutive term without being required to undergo the selection process.

Parish Pastoral Council members should be:

Rooted in faith - with a growing relationship with Jesus Christ.

Rooted in the parish family - actively seeking communication with parishioners and ministries for effective input.

Responsible, accountable, and committed - being prepared for and attending meetings regularly, accepting given roles, sharing responsibilities, being sensitive to the needs of the parish community as a whole, aiding in formation and continuing development of the PPC.

Selection of New Members

The new member selection process shall be managed by the Parish Council.

Candidates for Parish Council will be received via a call to the parish at large. Announcements will be made during mass and in the bulletin on two successive weeks in January. We also suggest that 3-5 years of service as a prerequisite of joining council with a wide definition of what constitutes Parish service (Lectors, Eucharistic Ministers, Committees, etc.). Youth representatives would not have this prerequisite.

New Parish Council members will be selected by drawing lots of all valid candidates. After the existing vacancies are filled, the names of the remaining candidates are drawn and placed, in order, on a list of alternates. This list will be used to fill unexpected vacancies and remains valid until the next selection process begins. The selection will be made by Parish Council at the meeting in April.

New council members shall begin attendance in May each year. New members would not officially begin their terms until the meeting in September (i.e., become voting members). Outgoing council members shall serve through the June meeting of that year.

Vacancies

If one of the selected members should become unable to continue service on the Council, that vacancy will be filled from the alternates list, beginning with the first person on that list. Should there be no remaining alternates, the Executive Committee and a representative of the Nominating and Education Committee will select a suitably qualified person to fill the vacancy. In either event, such new members will serve the remainder of the vacated term and will also have the option of serving one additional subsequent term.

Officers

The Parish Pastoral Council shall have three (3) elected officers:

Chairperson
Vice-Chairperson
Secretary

Nominations and elections are to be performed separately for each office.
Nominees for office must have served on Council for at least six (6) months.
New council officers shall be elected and installed at the meeting in April. The new officers shall preside at the Council meeting in May.
Officers may succeed themselves only once.
Should an office be vacated mid-term, a normal nomination and election for that office should be performed at a subsequent Council meeting.

Roles and Responsibilities

Each PPC member is expected to attend all PPC meetings. A member who is unable to attend a meeting must contact one of the officers to be excused from that meeting. In the event of excessive unexcused absences, the Council may request that member to resign from Council.

Each PPC member will act as a contact person to the various parish groups and committees. They will make themselves known as the contact person to their group and will be the communication link between the group and the PPC. Each contact person should be open to becoming knowledgeable and informed about the workings of their group. It is the contact persons responsibility to follow up on all matters brought up by or to the PPC concerning the groups they represent.

The PPC will convene periodic informational meetings. Parishioners then have a chance to experience the activities and projects first-hand.

The PPC will train new members so that effective consultation and policy setting can be continued.

The PPC should make every attempt to inform and involve members of the general Parish community.

Operation of the Parish Pastoral Council

Meetings should be the role model of Christian community, pointing the direction for the rest of the parish, including quality time for prayer, scripture reading, and shared faith experiences.

Parish Council shall have at least ten (10) scheduled meetings throughout the calendar year. Additional or make-up meetings can be scheduled at the discretion of the Council.

Members should receive an agenda, reports, and study materials in advance of each meeting to permit thoughtful study and consideration.

Each meeting should include:

Shared prayer time and experiences in faith.

Discussion and action on major agenda time [sic] with decisions made by consensus whenever possible.

Comments on reports published by various ministries, including questions and feedback from previous meeting(s).

Copies of the approved minutes of business meetings shall be made available to any interested person.

All regularly scheduled meetings are open to anyone interested.

Standing Committees

The three Standing Committees of the PPC will be:

Executive Committee: The Pastor and PPC Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson and Secretary. For continuity purposes, the past PPC Chairperson has the option to be a member of the Executive Committee. This Committee is responsible for agenda preparation, conducting the PPC meetings, calling special meetings as needed, and, along with a member of Nominating and Education, filling vacancies on the PPC.

Nominating and Education: This Committee is responsible for the annual selection process and to assist in the replacement of those members who leave the PPC before the completion of their terms. The Committee is also responsible for on-going recruiting and training.

Covenant and Bylaws: This Committee is responsible for on-going review and modification of the Covenant Statement and Bylaws. The Committee will be responsible for presenting to the PPC the revised statement for approval and ratification as required.