Diocese of Lancaster    Deanery Pastoral Council    Norms and Proposed Constitution

 

 

 
Deanery Pastoral Council

Norms and Proposed Constitution 

Lancaster Diocese 

Foreword 

“In the Diocese, as far as possible, there should be councils which assist the apostolic work of the Church in the field of evangelisation and sanctification, or in the charitable, social or other spheres.  To this end, clergy and religious should appropriately co-operate with the laity.  Councils of this type should be established as far as possible also on the Parish, inter-parish and inter-diocesan level as well as in the national or international sphere.”

Decree on the Apostolate of the Laity, Chapter V, 26 

Two basic principles that are emphasized throughout the documents of the Second Vatican Council are: First, the principle of collegiality or the co-responsibility of every member of the Church in planning and carrying on the work of Christ in our midst.  Second is the principle of subsidiarity or the granting to the local Church a greater voice in the decisions that will affect its life and mission as a Christian Community.  Both of these principles are close to my heart and essential for the future Mission of our Diocese; praying and working together. 

Role of Parish Co-operation and Sharing of Resources  

I would hope that a Deanery Pastoral Council would aim to: 
 

• Initiate, at deanery level, the promotion of the vitality of parish life and parish sharing.
• Maintain a current diocesan and deanery calendar of shared events.
• Determine which parish activities would be more effective on an inter-parish basis.
• Provide assistance to parishes in sharing and clustering.
• Bring together leaders of neighbouring parishes for fellowship and exchange of concerns and ideas.
• Identify common needs among parishes.
• Identify areas where duplication exists.
• Identify activities, programs and events that parishes could share with each other.

Deanery 

The Deanery Pastoral Council forms with the Dean, a pastoral body to facilitate collaboration among the parishes within the deanery. 

Deanery Pastoral Councils bridge the gap between parish and diocese, enabling Catholics to experience the Diocese as a community of faith, fulfilling the Mission of Christ. 

Deanery Pastoral Councils serve as a forum for reflecting on pastoral needs that are common to parishes in the Deanery.  They will foster inter-parish collaboration maintaining communication with the Parish Pastoral Councils and the local Clergy. 

Deanery Pastoral Councils provide a structure that enables all members of the Body of Christ, clergy, laity and religious to share their wisdom in the services of the Church. 

Deanery Council and the Dean. 

The Council serves in a consultative relationship to the Dean and the local Clergy, sharing in their responsibility for fostering collaboration among the parishes of the Deanery. 

Deanery Pastoral Council and the Parish Pastoral Councils. 

As a resource planning group the Deanery Pastoral Council provides opportunities for Parish Pastoral Councils and local Clergy to share learning experiences, resources and ideas. 

A Deanery Pastoral Council helps Parish Pastoral Councils develop a sense of Deanery identity. 

Ongoing communication and open dialogue between the Deanery Pastoral Council and the Parish Pastoral Councils strengthen the capacity for effective collaboration between and among parishes in the Deanery. 

Formation/Education of Deanery Pastoral Council Members. 

Ongoing education and spiritual formation are essential to the life of the Deanery Pastoral Council and its capacity to function effectively. 

Orientation of new members and the executive committee is done annually. 

Education includes studying Gospel values, Church teaching documents and in-services on related topics. 

Ongoing formation includes opportunities for members to know one another and to discover one another's values, interests, skills and talents. 

Formation efforts enable a diverse gathering of people to identify and integrate their gifts for the sake of the Council's mission. 

The quality of group interaction and communication experienced in the Deanery Pastoral

Council is reviewed and evaluated annually. 

A periodic reflection on the Council itself as a community of faith, mutual concern and service is recommended. 

Communal prayer and faith sharing are an integral part of Council life. 

Characteristics of Members of the Deanery Pastoral Council. 

A person, who as a practising Catholic, exhibits a willingness to come to a deeper knowledge of the wider Church. 

A person willing to make a firm commitment to his/her baptismal responsibilities on the Deanery Council. 

A person who has been or is currently a faithful and effective member of a Parish Pastoral Council. 

A person who has exhibited leadership qualities. 

Desired membership would reflect the diversity of the Deanery. 

Responsibilities of Members. 

To prepare for every meeting by reading materials as agenda, minutes, etc. 

To attend meetings regularly and be on time. 

To listen carefully to others and to be open to ideas expressed. 

To participate in prayer and faith sharing. 

To focus on issues being discussed and to voice opinions. 

To allow each person to speak freely without interruption. 

To bring issues and concerns, ideas, etc.  from parish to deanery. 

To report back to Parish Pastoral Council the content and issues discussed at the Deanery Pastoral Council. 

To be aware of the Holy Spirit working in the Council and in each member. 

Council Spirituality. 

Following the example of Our Lord Jesus, the members of the Deanery Pastoral Council will turn again and again to prayer, seeking guidance and direction from the Holy Spirit in all of their deliberations and actions. 

The shared faith of Council members, their mutual concern for the good of the Church and Christian charity, and the energizing effect of each other's apostolic zeal, combine to create a climate for spiritual growth. 

A Deanery Pastoral Council which develops a sense of identity and mission will serve as a leaven of renewal and ongoing evangelisation for its own members as well as the faith communities within the Deanery. 
 
 
 
 
 

Diocese of Lancaster 

Deanery Pastoral Council Model Constitution 
 

Article I.  NAME  

The name of this body shall be: The Deanery Pastoral Council of the_________________

Deanery. 

Article II.  NATURE. 

Section 1.  The Deanery Pastoral Council shall be a representative body of the parishes within the confines of the Deanery.  It shall be a liaison between the local parishes and the Diocese. 

Section 2.  The Council shall serve as a forum to facilitate better communications and to encourage greater co-operation among the parishes (priests, deacons and laity) of the Deanery and between these parishes and the Diocese. 

Article III.  PURPOSES 

Section 1.  To broaden horizons and to raise awareness of the parishes' membership in the larger church as well as their wider responsibility for the mission of the Church in the Diocese. 

Section 2.  To serve as a forum for dialogue, united effort and mutual help among the parishes of the Deanery and to serve as a consultative body to the Dean and Bishop. 

Article IV.  FUNCTIONS 

Section 1.  To identify and respond to the needs and concerns which are best handled at the Deanery level. 

Section 2.  To direct to the Bishop and his Council, the topics and issues that have a broader dimension that are beyond the scope of the Deanery. 

Section 3.  To discuss communications from the Bishop and provide feedback to him when solicited. 

Section 4.  To share information from the Bishop, the Deanery Clergy Conference and Deanery Pastoral Council with Parish Pastoral Councils. 

Section 5.  To develop consensus on Deanery programmes. 

Section 6.  To assist in setting Diocesan goals and priorities. 

 

Article V.  MEMBERSHIP 

Section 1.  Each Parish Pastoral Council shall select two of its members to the Council. 

Section 2.  All Priests/Priests in Charge of the Deanery shall be members of the Council. 

Section 3.  The Dean shall be an ex-officio member and President of the Council and shall have full voice in its deliberation. 

Article VI. MEETINGS AND TERMS OF OFFICE.  

Section 1.  The Council meets four times a year usually within two weeks prior to the meeting of the Diocesan Pastoral Council.

Section 2.  The Parish Pastoral Council representative shall ordinarily serve a term of three years, renewable once. 

Section 3.  The terms of alternates shall be concurrent with their terms on the Parish Council, but not to exceed three years. 

Section 4.  At the spring meeting, the Chair shall conduct an election among parish council representatives to elect one of their members to serve on the Diocesan Pastoral Council.  This representative will take office at the Autumn meeting. 

Section 5.  Deanery representatives must live within deanery boundaries.

Article VII.  ELECTION AND TERMS OF OFFICERS. 

Section 1.  Any lay member representing their Parish Pastoral Council is eligible for office. 

Section 2.  The members of the Deanery Pastoral Council shall elect a Chair, vice Chair and a secretary.  Treasurer is optional.  These persons constitute the Executive Committee and work in collaboration with the Dean – the President. 

Section 3.  The election shall be at the Spring meeting. 

Section 4.  A nominating committee shall be established. 

Section 5.  Officers serve for one year terms and no more than two consecutive terms. 

Article VIII.  DUTIES OF OFFICERS. 

Section 1.  The Dean (as President) shall: 

1. Preside at the meetings of the Council
2. Call special meetings of the Council

Section 2.  The Chair shall: 

1. Conduct all meetings of the Council.
2. Develop the agenda for all meetings, in consultation with the other members of a Steering Committee, especially the Dean.
3. Chair shall ensure opportunities are provided for formation and education of council members.
4. Preside at elections of new officers and Diocesan Pastoral Representatives.
5. Appoint members to the committees.
6.  Create ad hoc committees.
7. Perform all other duties usually associated with this office. 
   

Section 3:  The Vice-Chair shall: 

1. Assume role of Chair in Chair's absence
2. Assist in overseeing Council activities.
3. Succeed Chair if for any reason the Chair is unable to complete his/her term.
4. .Perform other duties as the Chair shall designate 

Section 4.  The Secretary shall: 

1. Keep the records of the Council and attend to all the correspondence.
2. Notify the members of the meetings
3. Send members the agenda in advance of meetings..
4. Keep minutes of the meetings and distribute them, within two weeks, to the members of the Council. 

 

Article IX.  COMMITTEES. 

Section 1. The Steering Committee shall consist of the Dean (as President), the Chair, Vice Chair and the Secretary. 

Section 2.  A standing planning committee shall be established to lead the members in visioning-for future of the church in the deanery. 

Section 3.  Ad Hoc committees may be necessary to carry out specific responsibilities. 

Article X.  AGENDA .  

Section 1.  The Steering Committee shall draw up the agenda. 

Section 2.  The following shall have the right to suggest items for the agenda: The Bishop, the Dean, the Parish Pastoral Councils of the Deanery, members of the Deanery Pastoral Council, members of Ad hoc committees. 

 

Article XI.  AMENDMENTS.   

The Constitution may be amended by a vote of two-thirds of the total voting membership provided that such amendments have been presented to the members of the Council at the meeting prior to the meeting at which the vote is to be taken. 

Appendix - Guidelines for Effective Meetings 
 

It is essential to build into each meeting the components for effectiveness.  Some of the key elements contributing to productive and effective meetings are:

• A clear statement of the purpose and objective of the meeting.
• An agenda with any necessary background information sent to Council members at least one week in advance of the Council meeting.
• Items on the agenda classified according to those needing decisions, those moving projects ahead or those simply providing information.
• Advance announcement made of the meeting to members of the Deanery.  Visitors or observers ordinarily do not address the Council.  They may communicate their concerns directly to a Council member, and such communication should be in writing.  A Council may allocate a portion of time during the regular meeting to listen to visitors.  However, these issues are then to be submitted in writing to the Executive committee and considered as possible material for the next Council meeting. 
• Creation of an atmosphere of prayerful reflection and mutual trust procedures of the meeting designed to facilitate participation of all members and make the best use of the time.
• One format for a meeting might be the following:

         
 

Prayer/reflection             Attendance             Acceptance of Minutes and Agenda             Old Business             New Business             Parishes sharing ideas, concerns and needs             Reports, Announcements, Other Information             Date, Time, Place of next meeting             Evaluation of Meeting             Closing Prayer

 
 

Given at Lancaster on 12/May/2006
 

+Patrick O’Donoghue, Bishop of Lancaster

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