MOUNT ARGUS PASTORAL LEADERSHIP TEAM CONSTITUTION

24^th November ‘04

1. Name:    The group shall be called the Mount Argus Pastoral Leadership Team

2. Nature and Function:
   • The Pastoral Leadership Team will be the executive leadership group in the parish whose purpose is to promote the mission of the Church  and to embody the expression of this mission as articulated in the Mission Statement of this Passionist parish of Mount Argus.
   • While respecting the particular law of the Church (insert Canon Law) and the unique nature of the full time parish team, the Pastoral Leadership Team will seek to pave the way in developing a genuinely collaborative model of leadership between laity and priests in the parish of Mount Argus.
   • Through its experience, insights and expertise, and through engaging in a process of prayerful listening to each other, to the whole parish, and to God, the Pastoral Leadership Team will try to identify, implement and evaluate those pastoral initiatives and policies best suited to the spread of the Gospel in this parish.

3. Membership:
   • The priests appointed by the Passionists to serve in the parish, together with the Parish Pastoral Worker, shall be ex-officio members.
   • Insofar as possible, at least one person representing the different areas of pastoral ministry (Word, Worship, Welcome & Welfare) in the parish shall be elected to the leadership team.
   • One person will be nominated by the Finance Committee.
   • The leadership team may choose to co-opt up to three other members, noted for their charisms, skills, or responsibilities they already hold in the parish.
   • The Pastoral Leadership Team shall consist of nine to twelve members.
   • The term for ex-officio members shall be three years.  No member may serve more than two consecutive terms but shall be eligible for renomination subsequently.
   • Elected Members, upon completion of their term, shall be replaced by others elected using a process of discernment among the relevant ministry area (Word, Worship, Welcome & Welfare).  Where possible, members should rotate off the team to allow for continuity.
   • In the event of the resignation of a member vacancies will be filled by the discernment process.
   • Any member failing to attend three consecutive meetings without reasonable cause shall be deemed to have resigned.

4. Officers:
• The Parish Priest shall be president of the Pastoral Leadership Team.
• The chairperson and vice chairperson, whose function is the effective running of meetings, are appointed annually by the members.
• The secretary and vice secretary whose function is to maintain accurate minutes of meetings, are appointed annually by members.
• The president, chairperson and secretary will agree the agenda for meetings. Other members may propose motions to be included in the agenda
5. Meetings:
• Meetings shall ordinarily take place each month except during the months of July and August.
• A period of each meeting will be given over to prayer and reflection prepared by one of the members.
• A quorum shall consist of half the members of the leadership team, this to include one of the priests.
• At least once a year a meeting will be arranged with representatives of the different areas of pastoral ministry in the parish.
• The Pastoral Leadership Team will take responsibility for organising a parish assembly every one to two years.

6.  Ongoing Formation:

• Study, reflection and inservice education on the nature and mission of Church and parish will be facilitated for the leadership team where appropriate.
• Insofar as possible, advantage will be taken of any opportunities offered by the Passionists to those working in collaboration with them, to study and reflect on the nature of the Passionist Charism in the Church.