St. Joseph Catholic Church - Neptune at 28172 Nature Avenue, Hinton, IA 51024-8553 US - Constitution for the Neptune Parish Pastoral Council

Constitution for the Parish Pastoral Council of St. Joseph Church - Neptune Hinton, IA Preamble The gospel of Jesus Christ is a message of salvation for all persons. The task of spreading this message belongs to all members of the Church. In the parish, Christ’s faithful are gathered together into one, under the headship of the pastor, who represents the Bishop among them, to fulfill their Christian mission. Each parish, then truly represents the diocese and, therefore the Catholic Church throughout the world. Christ's faithful live the life of Christ, prophet, priest, and king in the parish. According to their particular gifts, their state in life, and their office in the Church, they worship God in spirit and in truth. The faithful proclaim the gospel and care for the needs of their sisters and brothers in charity, and they assist the pastor in the pastoral care of God's people and in the administration of the temporal goods of the Church. ARTICLE I: NAME This body shall be known as the St. Joseph-Neptune Parish Pastoral Council. ARTICLE II: PURPOSE Section 1: The major purposes of this Council are to assist the pastor in the pastoral ministry of the parish, to provide an opportunity for parishioners to work more effectively with the pastor, to help plan and coordinate parish activities, and to enable all members of the parish to participate in parish life. Section 2: These purposes shall be achieved by regular meetings, the work of permanent and ad hoc committees, and consultation with members of the parish. Section 3: St. Joseph-Neptune Parish Pastoral Council shall participate in the deanery pastoral council and the diocesan pastoral council, according to the norm of universal law and diocesan statute. Section 4: The council is a consultative body by which the Christian faithful of the parish, together with those who have pastoral authority in the parish “give their help in fostering pastoral activity” (Canon 536, §1). Its work is to be informed and inspired by the vision of the Church, exemplified in the teaching of the Second Vatican Council, and articulated by the Mission statement of the faith community. ARTICLE III: MEMBERSHIP Section 1: This council shall be composed of ex-officio and elected members. All members are to be registered members of St. Joseph-Neptune Parish, 18 years of age or older. They are to be Catholics in good standing with the Church. Section 2: The minimum numbers of members is 5, the maximum 9. Section 3: The ex-officio members are the pastor or his designee and the lay directors of the parish corporation. Section 4: The elected members that comprise the Council will be the chairpersons elected from each of the four standing committees: Parish Life, Liturgy, Finance, and Building & Grounds along with the President from the Parish Altar Society. Each elected member will be responsible to direct their committee and to serve on this Council in order to represent their respective committee along with representing parishioners. Section 5: No committee chairperson may serve more than two consecutive terms. Term limits may be waived by a two﷓thirds vote of the Council. Section 6: In case of a vacancy, the standing committee(s) shall select a new representative to complete the unexpired term or the vacancy may be filled by appointment by the pastor following consultation between the pastor and the members of the Council. Section 7: The pastor may appoint other members at his own discretion, after appropriate consultation with the elected membership. At least one﷓half of the total membership is to be elected by the four committees and the Altar Society. An effort will be made to reflect the composition of the parish including a fair representation of women. Section 8: Three unexcused absences within a year, without calling the Pastor or the President of the Council, will result in a vacancy of that member’s position. Section 9: The membership of the Council shall be made known to all parishioners. ARTICLE IV: OFFICERS Section 1: The pastor of St. Joseph-Neptune Parish presides over the Council, in accordance with Canon 536, §1. He is to maintain openness to the advice given by the Council. The pastor does not vote. He may not be elected to the offices described in this article. Section 2: All the offices are to be held by lay Council members. Section 3: The officers shall be elected from the total membership of the Council, with the exceptions contained in Section 2. Section 4: The president is responsible for the overall supervision and administration of the Council. He/She is responsible for implementation of all policies and actions approved by the Council and pastor. He/She sets the agenda and is responsible for publication of the agenda. He/She conducts all Council meetings with the pastor’s guidance. Section 5: The vice-president fulfills the duties of the president when that person is temporarily absent or unable to perform the duties of the office. The vice-president shall also perform specific duties assigned by the president, the pastor or the Council. Section 6: The secretary is responsible for maintaining accurate minutes of meetings and preparing a summary of discussions for publication. The secretary may issue notices and distribute the agenda and minutes of previous meetings. Agenda and minutes are be sent or given to members prior to the Council meeting. ARTICLE V: MEETINGS Section 1: Deliberations, discussions, decisions of the Council are to be made in a spirit of collaboration, using consensus whenever possible, and framed in an atmosphere of prayer. Section 2: The Council shall exercise its duties in general meetings open for attendance and observation by all the members of the faith community. Those who are not members of the Council may not speak from the floor unless they have been placed on the agenda. Non-Council members who wish to address the Council must speak to the president or his designee prior to the meeting and be placed on the agenda. General meetings are held monthly. Section 3: The Council may meet in closed sessions, if they are required. Section 4: The president or pastor may call special meetings open to all members of the parish. Executive sessions involving only the Council members and the pastor may also be called by the president or pastor. Section 5: A quorum shall be a majority of the total membership. The pastor must be present in order to have a quorum. ARTICLE VI: ELECTIONS Section 1: The term of office to the Council shall be three years except for the Altar Society President. Section 2: The Council year will begin March 1 and end February 28. Section 3: The By-laws of this Constitution shall determine when each committee elects a new chairperson so that only a few members are changed each year. Section 4: The election of officers will take place at the regular meeting in March. ARTICLE VII: COMMITTEES Section 1: Standing committees of the Council shall be: A. Parish Life - responsible for creating a sense of community by involvement in visits to the home-bound, planning parish social functions, youth group activities and representing St. Joseph-Neptune parish at cluster meetings. B. Liturgy - in conjunction with the pastor and/or sacramental minister, responsible for liturgical planning including music, special services, training of servers, lectors, ushers and Eucharistic Ministers. C. Building & Grounds - responsible for the physical maintenance of the properties and cemetery. The Cemetery Committee is a subcommittee with special oversight of the maintenance of the cemetery. D. Finance - oversee the financial health of the parish including budgeting, disbursement of funds and participation in fundraising activities (i.e. DAA - Diocesan Annual Appeal). Section 2: The duties of the standing committees may be altered as the need arises. Section 3: Ad hoc committees shall be established as the need arises. ARTICLE VIII: FINANCES Section 1: Funds required to operate the Council shall be provided from the general parish funds. The Council may undertake special activities to raise funds for its operation or special projects with the approval of the pastor. Section 2: Major financial commitments of the Council must be reviewed by the parish Board of Directors and approved by the pastor as described by the Articles of Incorporation, as required by Diocesan law and Canon Law. ARTICLE IX: VACANCY OF THE PARISH Section 1: If the pastor dies while in office, or if the pastor is transferred and a new pastor is not appointed immediately, the activities of the Council are suspended until a new pastor or an administrator is named by the Bishop. All members keep their offices in the case of such a vacancy of the parish. Section 2: In the event of grave need and when action is required, decisions of the Council may be carried out with the approval of the two lay directors and the Bishop or a duly appointed priest-administrator. Section 3: The new pastor is to reconvene the Council as soon as possible after his appointment to the parish. ARTICLE X: RULES OF ORDER Robert's Rules of Order shall govern the Council in all procedural matters not contained in this Constitution. ARTICLE XI: AMENDMENTS Section 1: This constitution must be approved by the pastor before it goes into effect. Section 2: Notice of the motion to amend must be given at a general meeting. Amendments must be presented two times before a final vote is taken. Section 3: Amendments must be approved by two﷓thirds of the Council membership before taking effect. Section 4: An amendment is not adopted without the approval of the pastor. ARTICLE XII: ADOPTION This constitution shall become effective upon the unanimous approval of the lay members of the Council and the approval of the pastor of St. Joseph-Neptune Parish on the 20th day of January 1999.

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