Still “Blazing Forward!” Part 2, Constitution and Bylaws of the Church of Saint Matthew

The mid-April Snowstorm of 2018 may have dampened but it did not extinguish the “Blazing Forward” spirit of organizers and volunteers led by Karen Thompson to commemorate the 1968 Easter Monday fire that destroyed the Church of St. Matthew. It is the same spirit that joined parishioners, including many of you, to rebuild a brick and mortar building as well as a flesh and blood faith-filled community following the pastoral documents from the Second Vatican Council (1962-65).  I believe that the same spirit invites us to remember the loss but more importantly to blaze forward into the future. This weekend, you will find the final articles of the parish constitution as well as pertinent by-laws that describe the process for discerning the members of the parish pastoral council. Hopefully, we will all hear the Holy Spirit inspire and spark our interest to participate in the council as a member or as an individual who voices the concerns we and other members of the parish might have.
   

CONSTITUTION 
OF THE CHURCH OF SAINT MATTHEW
SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA

(continued from Part 1: Constitution and Bylaws of the Church of Saint Matthew)

Article VI
STANDING COMMITTEES AND TASK FORCES

The Parish Pastoral Council shall establish standing committees to further the Parish’s mission and priorities. The committees are accountable to the Council and will submit written minutes of their meetings t the Council as defined in the by-laws.

The Council may establish Task Forces for specified and/or limited purposes. Such Task Forces will also submit written minutes of their meetings to the Council as defined in the by-laws.

The Parish Community is encouraged to participate in the work of the Committees and Task Forces. All committee and task force members will be committed to the mission of the Church of St. Matthew. 

Article VII
BY-LAWS

The Parish Pastoral Council may adopt by-laws to further govern the conduct of its business. Such by-laws are adopted by consensus of the Council.

Article VIII
RATIFICATION

This Constitution is ratified by consensus of the Parish Pastoral Council and the affirmative vote of a majority of those parishioners voting at a special election for the purpose of approving the constitution.

Article IX
AMENDMENTS

This Constitution may be amended by a consensus of the Council at any regular Council meeting and by the affirmative vote of a majority of those parishioners voting at a special election for the purpose of approving such an amendment.

BY-LAWS
OF THE CHURCH OF SAINT MATTHEW
SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA
ARTICLE III. MEMBERSHIP

Nomination and Discernment Process

The discernment process will occur during the Easter season. On the first or second Sunday after Easter, the members of the Church of Saint Matthew will be asked to call forth, through prayer and the guidance of the Holy Spirit, new members to serve on the Parish Pastoral Council. Parishioners will be asked to place members from the Community or themselves in nomination for these positions. The process will culminate on Pentecost in the selection by lot of three (3) new members.

Personal contact will be made by Parish Pastoral Council members to help nominees understand the responsibilities of membership on the Council. Those interested in nomination will enter a discernment process will be required to:

1. Attend an informational meeting on the role and responsibilities of Parish Pastoral Council members.
2. Spend time in prayer and reflection to discern a personal calling and gifts.
3. Decide whether to include their names for selection on Pentecost.

Each year the time and place and selection of Council members to facilitate the informational meetings will be decided by the Council no later than their meeting prior to Easter. The Council members who facilitate the information meetings must verify the nominees are qualified to serve per the Constitution.

Names of those wishing to be considered for selection will be presented to the Parish two weeks before Pentecost Sunday.

On Pentecost Sunday, the selection of the three new members and the filling of vacant terms will occur by drawing names. The first three names drawn will be the names of the individuals who will serve a full three-year term. Additional names will be drawn to fill any vacant terms. The length of the vacant terms will be identified. The first name drawn to fill a vacant term will fill the longest vacant term.  Names will be drawn until the vacant terms, if any, are filled.

ARTICLE IV
FACILITATOR, RECORDER AND LAY TRUSTEES

The Facilitator, besides leading the meeting as stated in the Constitution, will:

1. Determine and disseminate meeting agenda. The Facilitator is responsible for submitting the meeting agenda at least two weeks prior to meeting to the Bulletin Editor(s) for input into bulletin and to parish personnel to post to website and post hard copy on Church bulletin board.
2. Be the spokesperson for the Council between meetings and is responsible for responding to questions from Parishioners between meeting.

The Council will determine the Facilitator for each meeting when it sets its annual meeting schedule. The name of the Facilitator will be published in the Bulletin along with the meeting agenda. The facilitator’s role starts with at the end of the last Council meeting at which the previous facilitator presided.

The Recorder, who will write and disseminate the meeting minutes as specified in the Constitution, will:

1. Forward minutes to all Council members for review within one week of meeting.
2. By one week later correct minutes as requested and submit to parish personnel to post to website and post hard copy on Church bulletin board.