Section Two
Foundation: 1983 Code of Canon Law, Canon 537 mandates the establishment of a finance council for each parish. Canon 537 states that “[i]n each parish there is to be a finance council which is governed, in addition to universal law, by norms issued by the diocesan bishop and in which The Christian faithful, selected according to these same norms, are to assist the pastor in the administration of the goods of the Parish…”.

ARTICLE TWO: BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

1. The Council is a consultative body to the Pastor.
2. The Council provides expertise and consultation to the Pastor through financial analysis, planning, budgeting, and policy development.
3. The Finance Council ensures close observance of church and civil law in all financial, business, and administrative matters of the Parish.

Section Two

1. The Council shall assist the Pastor by:

3. developing and monitoring the existence and effectiveness of internal controls over the assets of the Parish.
4. monitoring investments in accordance with diocesan policy.
5. developing a thorough and understandable financial report to be presented to all parishionersannually.
6. overseeing the maintenance of all parish financial records, including but not limited to deeds, titles of ownership, and census information.
7. ensuring that an accurate, detailed inventory of parish assets is maintained, including a complete description and appraisal.
8. studying and making recommendations regarding “acts of extraordinary administration”. Such acts occur infrequently and are defined by Church Law. These acts may include the sale of parish property or a major financial transaction.

1. The Council shall have a minimum of five members.
2. Members are chosen from a group presented to the Pastor for nomination from the Council itself or from the Parish at large.
3. The Pastor shall seek individuals to serve on the Council who are qualified in accounting, finance, property management, and/or business matters.
4. The Pastor shall insure that representation on the Council is balanced and incorporates the followinggroups:
   1. Lay men and women;
   2. Individuals with various expertise;
   3. Individuals of various ages.
5. The Parish Finance Administrator is not a member of the Council but may attend meetings upon the Pastor’s request.

Other Parish Staff:

1. Paid staff members and their immediate family members may not be members of the Council.
2. Other paid staff of the Parish do not generally attend Council meetings unless invited to attend because of their expertise.

Section Two

1. Initial membership of the Council is limited to two successive three year terms.
2. Individuals may subsequently be considered for membership on the Council after a full year’s absence from the Council.
3. Initially terms will be staggered and determined by lot.

ARTICLE FOUR: MEETINGS OF MEMBERS

1. The Finance Council will meet prior to the Pastoral Council scheduled meetings.
2. All meetings are called by the Pastor.
3. A non-council member is responsible for recording the minutes. This individual will be responsible for distributing the minutes to members of the Council within 14 of the Council meeting, as well as postingthem on the parish website after they are approved by the Council.
4. Meetings shall be open to all parishioners except when the Pastor or Finance Council determines thatan issue requires confidentiality and an Executive Session is required.
5. The Council shall meet in regular session a minimum of three times per year.

1. The agenda of the meeting is prepared by the Chairperson and is approved by the Pastor.
2. The Council discusses any and all temporal matters relating to the life of the people in the Parish.

Section Two

1. The Council shall not meet in the absence of the Pastor.
2. “Work sessions”, called by the Chairperson, may take place in the absence of the Pastor.

1. All officer nominations must be approved by the Pastor.
2. The Pastor shall never act as Chairperson of the Council.

1. The Chairperson shall preside at all Council meetings, appoint committee members, and perform such other duties as associated with the office.
2. The Vice-Chairperson shall assume the duties of the Chairperson in the absence of the Chairperson.

1. There may be subcommittees of the Council, identified either by location or by function.
2. Members of subcommittees need not be members of the Finance Council.
3. The Chairperson of the Council shall nominate subcommittee members for approval by the Pastor.
4. Subcommittee members shall nominate the Chairperson of each subcommittee for approval by thePastor.

1. Property
2. Budget and Reporting
3. Development
4. St. Mary’s Central School

Section Three
Subcommittee Reports:

1. Reports of subcommittees are made to the Council at its request.

2. Subcommittee reports shall not form the greater part of the agenda of Council meetings.

Succeeding Council:

1. The Pastoral Council and the Pastoral Finance Council are distinct and separate entities of the Parish, both of which advise the Pastor.
2. The pastoral ministry and goals of the Parish as determined by the Pastoral Council shall be theFinance Council’s guide in determining funding levels for the programs and projects of the Parish.

4. Final approval of the Parish budget shall be with the Pastoral Council which will then recommend the budget to the Pastor.
5. The priorities of the Parish shall be achieved through the mutual cooperation of both the Pastoral Council and Finance Council under the leadership of the Pastor.

ARTICLE NINE: AMENDMENTS

1. The Bylaws may be amended when necessary, and as appropriate, by a two-thirds majority of the members of the Council.
2. Proposed amendments shall be sent to all Members of the Council at least fourteen days prior to the next regularly scheduled meeting of the Council.