Constitution

ARTICLE I. NAME

The name of this body shall be the Our Lady of the Chesapeake Pastoral Council, hereinafter referred to as "the Council."

ARTICLE II. PURPOSE

Section 1. The purpose of the Council shall be:

1. To accept responsibility as a collaborative and consultative body with the Pastor for the life and mission of the Church in the parish;

2. To assist the Pastor in the ministerial development of the parish through recommendations and active cooperation in the setting of broad policy directions for the parish;

3. To provide an open and honest forum of communication and dialogue regarding parish affairs among Pastor, staff, religious, and laity;

4. To collaborate with other religious and civic groups in working for the common good of the community;

5. And to participate, through active cooperation with the Regional Council and the Archdiocesan Pastoral Council, in the total life and mission of the Church within the Archdiocese.

Section 2. Pursuant to the purpose set forth in Section 1 of the Article, the Council shall perform the following functions as recommendations to the Pastor:

1. It shall annually review the statement of the parish’s mission.

2. It shall prepare, through long- and short-range planning, a statement of needs and goals of the parish and, in union with the Pastor, determine priorities among such needs and goals with respect to the allotment of personal, physical, and financial resources.

3. It shall review and recommend, with emendations at its discretion, the proposed budgets of all offices and operations subsidized by parish funds, and shall prepare and recommend to the Pastor therefrom an overall annual parish budget.

4. It shall render to all parishioners from time to time, but at least annually, a full written report on the parish’s spiritual, material, and financial condition.

ARTICLE III. OPERATION

Section 1. The Council shall submit its recommendations to the Pastor in the form of conclusions resulting from the considered reflection and discussion by the Council.

Section 2. The Pastor shall communicate to the Council by the next regularly scheduled meeting, a response to its recommendation(s).

Section 3. Ordinarily, the Pastor’s determination regarding any recommendation by the Pastoral Council is final.

(Note:  Full text of Articles IV through XII available at the Pastoral Center)

ARTICLE IV. MEMBERSHIP

ARTICLE V. APPOINTMENTS

ARTICLE VI. OFFICERS

ARTICLE VII. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

ARTICLE VIII. COMMITTEES

ARTICLE IX. COMMITTEE DUTIES

ARTICLE X. MEETINGS

ARTICLE XI. AUTHORITY AND DECISION MAKING

ARTICLE XII. RATIFICATION AND AMENDMENTS