BYLAWS of
St. Augustin Parish Pastoral Council


Article I
Name.

The official name of this body shall be, “St. Augustin Parish Pastoral Council of the Diocese of Des Moines,” hereinafter called the “Parish Council” for the sake of brevity.

Article II
Purpose.

The purpose of the Parish Council is to be the representative body of St. Augustin Parish to raise pastoral issues and advise the pastor in determining priorities, establishing plans and setting goals for the parish.

Article III
Function and General Principles.

Section 1. Scope. The Parish Council fulfills its purpose in the following ways:

a. By responding to the needs of the St. Augustin parishioners for nurture and mission as the Body of Christ. In addition, the Parish Council will be responsive to the needs of other parishes in the Diocese of Des Moines, of the universal Church and of the greater Des Moines community in general.
b. By a prayerful process that includes the setting of goals and objectives on an annual basis and or periodic based upon an assessment of the varying needs of the parishioners.

Section 2. Authority. At all times the guidelines, authority and function of the Parish Council are subject to the teachings of the Sacred Scripture, the revised Code of Canon Law, solemn pronouncements of the Holy Father and the directives of the Bishop of Des Moines, both as now set forth or as in the future may be enacted, revised or proclaimed.

The Parish Council will act only with the approval of the Pastor. Ordinarily this approval occurs in the normal course of discussion within Parish Council meetings. When, in the judgment of the pastor, the Parish Council is departing from the norms of Church law, the teachings of the Church or policies of the Diocese of Des Moines, he is obliged to clarify points of law and policy for the Council, and, when necessary, withhold approval.

The pastor is the administrator and chief executive officer of the parish. The other members of the Parish Council represent the parishioners in identifying the needs of the parish. Both should recognize their shared responsibilities and distinct, yet mutual roles in fulfilling the mission of the parish. They should work together to discern God’s will for St. Augustin Parish. In the final analysis, however, administration of the parish and its affairs is the prerogative of the pastor.

This style of leadership requires a spirit of openness and trust, a bond of mutual respect, a solid grounding in facts and prayerful reflection on the Church’s mission in St. Augustin Parish. It requires an understanding of the proper roles of the pastor and the Parish Council. The pastor, as the pastoral leader and executive officer of the parish, is the key person on the Parish Council. The other Parish Council members together complement the pastor by serving in an advisory role.

Article IV
Membership

Section 1. Elected Members. Nine laypersons elected by the parishioners shall serve as Parish Council members.

Section 2. Ex Officio Members. The following officeholders shall be ex officio members of the Parish Council: the pastor, all associates pastors, and one parish trustee appointed by the pastor to serve on the Parish Council.

Section 3. Eligibility. All parishioners age 17 or older, or who are high school juniors or seniors, on the date of election or appointment are eligible to be members of the Parish Council.

Section 4. Unexcused Absences. In the event of continued unexcused absences by a member, the pastor may declare that member’s position vacant.

Article V
Parish Representatives

The Parish Council shall appoint Parish representatives as required by Diocesan directives, as well as other representatives at its discretion, for a term of no more than three years. Parish representatives may be nominated by any member and must be approved by a majority vote of the Parish Council. Any parishioner who is eligible to serve on Parish Council is eligible to serve as a Parish representative. No person may be appointed to consecutive terms as a Parish representative. Each Parish representative may deliver a written report of significant activities prior to any Parish Council meeting to the Chairman who has discretion to place the report and/or the representative on the agenda.

Article VI
Quorum and Voting

Only ex officio and elected members of the Parish Council may vote. A majority of voting members shall constitute a quorum. If a quorum is not present, the meeting shall not be called to order but shall be cancelled.


Article VII
Officers

The officers of the Parish Council shall be a Chairman, Vice Chairman and a Secretary chosen annually by the Parish Council from among the elected members.

Article VIII
Tenure of Office

Section 1. Tenure. Members shall be elected for a period of three years.

Section 2. Consecutive Terms. Elected members who serve a full three-year term may serve an additional consecutive term on the Parish Council.

Article IX.
Nominations

Section 1. Parish Council Nominations. Candidates for election to the Parish Council shall be nominated by a committee consisting of the Chairman (non-voting), the pastor and three additional members of the Parish Council. This nominating committee shall be responsible for obtaining candidates for Parish Council. The number of candidates shall be at least two more than the number of positions open. Candidates may be obtained by requesting nominations from the parishioners, from volunteers, by recruiting or whatever other means deemed appropriate.

Section 2. Officer Nominations. Candidates for officers of the Parish Council shall be obtained by the same nominating committee from among its elected members. Other members not on the committee shall also have the right to nominate candidates for office.

Article X
Elections

Section 1. Date. Election to the Parish Council shall be held annually in May.

Section 2. Balloting. Elections shall be by secret ballot.

Section 3. Publicity. The candidates shall be made known to the parish at large and the parish at large shall be offered an opportunity to cast ballots for each open position on one weekend at a time scheduled conveniently around the regular Saturday evening and Sunday masses.

Section 4. Most Votes. Those candidates obtaining the highest number of votes will fill the open positions. If there are positions with terms of office less than three years, the longer tenures shall go to candidates with the most votes.

Section 5. New Members. New members shall take office at the first Parish Council meeting following the annual election of members.

Section 6. Officer Elections. Officers shall be elected by the Parish Council annually on the first meeting following the annual election of members and shall take office immediately following the close of that meeting.

Section 7. Vacancies. When a vacancy or vacancies occur, among the elected members, the position or positions shall be filled by the person or persons who in the most recent election received the highest number of votes among those not elected. In the case of unavailability, the vacancy may be filled by discernment of the elected.

Article XI
Meetings

Section 1. Frequency. The Parish Council will hold meetings monthly, unless by consensus they agree not to meet on one or more months.

Section 2. Open Meetings. All Parish Council meetings shall be open meetings.

Section 3. Executive Committee. When urgent items arise that must be dealt with outside the regularly scheduled meetings, the Executive Committee (pastor, Chairman, Vice-Chairman and Secretary) are to dispose of these matters.

Section 4. Parliamentary Authority. Meetings shall be conducted in accordance with the Standard Code of Parliamentary Procedure, Third Edition, by Alice Sturgis. The Standard Code shall be the authority in settling matters not otherwise addressed by these Bylaws.

Article XII
Committees

The Parish Council may appoint committees from among its members at its discretion for a term expiring no later than the end of the current Parish Council year. Committee members shall be nominated by the Chairman and approved by the Parish Council. Each committee may prior to any Parish Council meeting deliver a written report of significant activities to the Chairman who has discretion to place the committee report and/or the representative on the agenda.

Article XIII
Parish Organizations.

Section 1. Communication. The Parish Council may request any parish organization communicate its needs and objectives to the Parish Council for consideration. Parish organizations may prior to any Parish Council meeting deliver a request for consideration to the Chairman, who has discretion to place the report and/or a representative of that organization on the agenda.

Section 2. Leadership Council. The Parish Council, with the approval of the pastor, may from time to time convene a Leadership Council to discuss specific items of concern to the entire Parish. A Leadership Council shall consist of the Parish Council and all current presidents of parish organizations or their designated representatives.

Article XIV
Finances

Section 1. Funding Requests. The Parish Council shall attempt to identify the financing needs of the parish. If needs requiring sufficient funding are identified, the Parish Council may submit a funding request to the Finance Council, the St. Augustin Foundation or other parish organization.

Section 2. Finance Council. The Parish Council shall appoint annually from among its members a voting representative to the Finance Council.

Article XV
Parish Council Research and Education

Parish Council members should be well-informed about the teachings of the Catholic Church, the policies of the Des Moines Diocese and the needs and concerns of St. Augustin parishioners. Members may be required to participate in programs to achieve these purposes. In addition, the Parish Council may from time to time employ surveys and other methods to ascertain the needs and concerns of parishioners.

Article XVI
Amendment of Bylaws

Amendments to the bylaws may be voted upon only after the proposed amendment has been available for discussion at two consecutive meetings. A vote may be taken after discussion at the second meeting. Amendments require two-thirds vote of eligible members present.


Adopted November 1, 1997
Amended and Adopted November 21, 2006


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