Organization within a Parish

[samyt]

I have been a member of the Catholic Faith for many, many years. However, I have not always been a practicing Catholic. I wandered away for some years, out of anger and depression due to a marital issue. However my husband & I have worked things out for the most part and are striving to be better Catholics. We have gotten very involved in our small parish in our small town.

** Which brings me to a question and a search for information
Our parish itself has been in discord for a few years and many of us along with our new pastor are working to become a family again. I am searching for any info regarding how the chain of command within a parish should work. (Parish Council, Finance Council etc.) ANYONE???

 

[Phemie]

I have been a member of the Catholic Faith for many, many years. However, I have not always been a practicing Catholic. I wandered away for some years, out of anger and depression due to a marital issue. However my husband & I have worked things out for the most part and are striving to be better Catholics. We have gotten very involved in our small parish in our small town. ** Which brings me to a question and a search for information
Our parish itself has been in discord for a few years and many of us along with our new pastor are working to become a family again. I am searching for any info regarding how the chain of command within a parish should work. (Parish Council, Finance Council etc.) ANYONE???

A parish is required by Canon Law to have a Finance Council. This council should be comprised of people who know money and are able to advise the pastor – advise being the operative word. The pastor is still the final say since he’s the one who has to answer to the bishop. The finance council should be able to see the financial position of the parish, determine how much money the parish needs to function (programs, repairs, utilities, salaries) and come up with a plan to acquire the money necessary to allow that to happen.

A Pastoral Council is not required by Canon Law although a diocese may require it. Again, it has an advisory role only. A good parish council knows its function, which is not to tell Fr. how to say Mass or how baptisms should happen or what the choir should be singing. It’s to determine what the parish needs to fulfill its evangelization role and its mandate help the parishioners get to Heaven. Once it knows what the parish’s needs are they have to figure out a way to make that happen. Some parish councils are 100% elected, some are all ‘committee heads’ and some are a combination of both.

 

[Newbie2]

Our parish council has 1 representative from the Worship, Stewardship (finance), Activities, Christian Service, and Education commissions plus 4 At-large elected members. The pastor and deacon as well as a representative from the youth group make up the rest of the members.

Within each commission are committees which do the planning and “doing” within the parish.

We’ve always had harmony on our Pastoral Council, at least in the 15 or so years I’ve been around.

 

[puzzleannie]

I . I am searching for any info regarding how the chain of command within a parish should work. (Parish Council, Finance Council etc.) ANYONE???

the chain of command is Rome, the local bishop, and the pastor. Laity may serve in paid or volunteer capacity but they are not ever part of this chain of command.

in this country every parish is required to have a finance council which assists the pastor in implementing proper accounting controls and managing the material needs and assets of the parish, and it should include parishioners who by training and character are capable of so doing. Parishes may also have Parish councils, which are advisory in nature, not pastor, and not administrative, and its members should be representative of the parish as a whole and chosen for their ability to represent adequately the needs of the parish to him. each diocese has rules for establishing such councils and selecting members. Repeat, these lay bodies are advisory only, and do not carry any pastoral authority.

 

[MrS]

the chain of command is Rome, the local bishop, and the pastor. Laity may serve in paid or volunteer capacity but they are not ever part of this chain of command.

.

Good Point.

The councils in the parish should have clear bylaws as to how they operate.

But they operate as councils… advisary in nature. The Pastor has first and last say, and is responsible to the bishop for the proper management of the parish entrusted to his care.

 

[quiet52]

The pastor is the “commander” of the parish but other than that, I don’t like the “chain of command” nonsense among lay leaders. The parish is not a military organization.

There are lay leaders in many parishes with a strong “chain of command” mentality – acting as a dictator in their particular area of ministry. I won’t say that this never “works,” but my experience is that egos trip over each other, helpers become quickly disillusioned with the people management, personality (sometimes kowtowing) is deemed more important than competence and effectiveness, there is a sense of the impersonal rather than of family, and the volunteer turnover rate is high.

The Church is to be a reflection of God’s love. Parish lay leaders, in cooperation with their pastors, should remember this as they serve. As to structuring the parish council and the ministries, there’s no one “right” way, but without love, collaboration and a mission to serve, there can be plenty of “wrong” ways.