Criteria For Membership

The emphasis for membership is on expertise either in members of the financial or legal matters.  All members must be Catholic and may be male or female.  Parish employees may not serve on the council.  They may, however, assist the council in a parish staff capacity.

The council cannot include anyone who could have a conflict nor can any close relative of the pastor/parish life administrator be a member of the council.

Rights and Duties

The finance council has specific rights and duties, which are: 

1.  Council should play an active role in the preparation of the budget and financial report of the parish submitted to the Bishop`s office in accordance with the forms issued by the Department of Finance of the Diocese. 2.  Council shall meet at least quarterly for a full review of the parish finances. 3.  Minutes should be kept of all meetings. 4.  Present draft budget to the Parish Pastoral Council for discussion and approval. 5.  To be heard by the pastor, in the hiring and termination of the staff. 6.  Pastor or Parish Life Administrator shall consult with the finance council conerning any major commitment of parish resources in excess of $5,000.00 before permission is requested of the Bishop. 7.  To be heard in matters of parish taxation. 8.  To be heard in more important matters, and their consent is required for acts of extraordinary administration. 9.  To advise the pastor/parish life administrator about safe custody and investment of goods of pious foundations and about reductions of burdens attached to wills and foundations which cannot be fulfilled.

These examples are not stated to limit consultation, but to specify required instances of consultation.  The pastor/parish life administrator may freely determine the other matters about which he or she wishes to seek consultation.


Finance Council Parish Role and Responsibility

Pastor`s Role	Presides over
Membership	Appointed by pastor
Focus	Annual budget - Long range financial planning
Areas of Responsiblities	Matters pertaining to the life of the whole parish:  ten essentials
Relationship to Pastoral Plan	Assists as resource
Relationship to Pastor	Consultative to pastor
Method of Decision Making	By consensus when appropriate