St. Isidore The Farmer Pastoral Council Bylaws
Amended in Danville, CA - June 2024
1) Mission
a. The mission of the Pastoral Council is to advise and support the Pastor in his role as spiritual leader of St. Isidore Church as he directs the parish towards a missionary outlook suited to our apostolic age. Council members use their gifts and talents, given by God, to provide this service to the Pastor and the parish.
2) Purpose
a. The purpose of the Pastoral Council is to support the Pastor in updating all aspects of our parish's life towards mission, receiving, and responding to feedback from parishioners with mission in mind, and responding to specific pastoral challenges in light of our mission.
3) Membership
a. The Council shall consist of the pastor (or in his absence the associate pastor) and a minimum of 5 members of the parish.
b. Members are appointed by the pastor for three-year terms.
c. The Chair should be vetted and appointed by the Pastor.
d. The duties of the Council chair are to structure and moderate Council meetings and to assure fairness and full participation of all members, to ensure the Council maintains continuous compliance with its Bylaws. The chair leads the Council through an orderly and well-balanced session. It is the chair’s responsibility to evaluate and summarize Council discussions and recognize the point at which consensus is reached.
4) Selection and Appointment Process
a. The selection process - The conduct of the electoral process includes placement of an announcement in the bulletin, calling for nominations. Nominations (including self-nominations) are open to the parish at large with the following qualifications:
i. A Catholic in good standing age of 18 or over
ii.A registered member of St. Isidore Parish with a desire to serve the Church and the parish.
iii. Certificate of Completion of Virtus Safe Environment Training
b. The appointment process: the pastor will appoint members of the Council in August of each year.
5) Council meetings
a. The Council calendar runs from September 1 to August 31. Meetings are bi-weekly with the exception of holidays and discretion of the pastor.
b. The agenda for all Council meetings will be planned by the pastor and Chair.
c. On a monthly basis, the Chair will publish a Pastoral Council Report for the Bulletin and General Distribution. At Pastor’s discretion, announcements at Mass may be used to disseminate information.
d. Semiannual town halls will be held as a means of open communication between the parish, pastor, and pastoral council members. The Pastoral Council will publish a report of feedback from the parish and action taken by the next town hall.
e. If a council member misses 3 consecutive scheduled meetings, they are subject to dismissal from the Council. Such dismissal would be the decision of the Pastor in consultation of the Council Chair.
6) Amendments
a. The bylaws are reviewed on an annual basis.
b. Any changes, amendments, or revisions are enacted by vote of the Council members.
7) Council Member Compliance
a. It is the responsibility of each member of the Council to remain in compliance with Federal, state, and local laws and ordinances and Diocesan requirements, such as Safe Environment Training. Failure to do so, or failure to immediately report any arrest or indictment to Council Chair, constitutes grounds for immediate termination from the Council.