Ministry
of Finance and Administration
(In
collaboration with the other five Ministry Areas: Church Life, Faith Formation,
Family
Life, Liturgy and Social Action)
Each parish is to have a finance
council which is regulated by universal law as well as by norms issued by the
diocesan bishop; in this council the Christian faithful, selected according to
the same norms, aid the pastor in the
administration
of parish goods...
Canon 537
8
As previously mentioned:
Four distinct entities should exist
in the parish:
(1) The corporate board of each parish consists
of the diocesan bishop, the vicar general, the pastor and two lay directors
appointed by two of the following persons: the diocesan bishop, pastor and
vicar general. The corporation is formed under civil law and is responsible for
liabilities that may befall the parish corporation.
(2) The parish finance council members are
appointed by the pastor on the basis of their expertise and advise the pastor
in the administration and stewardship of parish finances, budget, parish
facilities and long-range financial development.
(3) The parish pastoral council is selected or
elected to advise the pastor in pastoral issues and shares in the
responsibilities of visioning, budgeting and strategic planning for the parish.
(4) A board of education is recommended for
advising the pastor in formulating policy in the area of faith formation or
Total Catholic Education. Instead of a board there may be a faith formation
committee.
The same person may hold positions
on more than one of the above. In fact, interlocking membership is encouraged
to ensure communication, planning and the reality of one parish community.
Whenever the parish community plans, all of these groups should participate.
To a great extent, the effectiveness
of the pastoral mission of the Church will depend on whether the necessary
resources are available to operate the programs that are deemed necessary. This
is a shared responsibility of the entire parish.
It is envisioned that the lay
directors of the parish would hold a position on the two councils referred to
above. The pastor has the right of appointment to the finance council, but he
may exercise this right after some participatory process.
The parish finance council and
parish pastoral council function interdependently; it is essential that they
communicate with one another in carrying on the parish mission. The pastoral
council needs to be aware of the finances of the parish, but the expertise of
its members may not be in financial matters. The pastoral council is charged
with keeping the vision alive and planning for the bigger picture of pastoral
issues. Interlocking membership of the above councils and boards is vital for
communication and consultation.
An example may be helpful. The parish
pastoral council generally has a buildings and grounds committee sharing in the
Ministry of Finance and Administration. This committee and the pastoral council
as a whole must coordinate with the board of education and finance council.
Moreover, the area of buildings and grounds must operate under the procedures
of the
The parish finance council serves as
an advisory body to the pastor in the administration and stewardship of parish
finances, budget, parish facilities and long-range financial development. The
pastor presides over the finance council and retains the right and duty of
parish administration. Because its membership is defined by both Canon Law and
particular law of this diocese it is important to realize that members should
meet all of the requirements suggested earlier but the following also applies:
Members
of the finance council are appointed by the pastor on the basis of their
expertise in accounting, finance, investment, development, budget and law.
Including
the pastor, the finance council is to be composed of at least three, but not
more than seven, members of the Christian faithful skilled in financial affairs
as well as in civil law, of outstanding integrity and freely appointed by the
pastor.
The
members of the finance council are to be appointed for a term of three years,
and may be reappointed once.
The
Lay Directors of the parish corporation, whose term of office is two years, may
be appointed to the finance council.
RESPONSIBILITIES
The finance council is to carry out
the duties committed to it by universal and particular law, but especially:
To
assure the necessary material resources land, buildings,
finances that will enable the parish to carry on the work of
Christ.
To
determine the financial and administrative needs of the parish.
To
establish that the parish is spending money in keeping with the priorities that
have been developed by the parish.
To
increase the commitment of the parishioners to support financially the work of
the parish.
To
prepare and approve an annual operating budget after having consulted with the
parish pastoral council and board of education.
To
submit an annual financial report to the parish and the bishop at the end of
the fiscal year.
To
establish long range financial planning.
To
be consulted when there is alienation (transfer) of property or major
expenditures in excess of $3000.
To
assist in reminding parishioners of their duty to return to God, as an expression
of gratitude, part of the material benefits with which they have been blessed.
(Stewardship)
To
maintain a safe environment for the parish community.
To
be familiar with Diocesan policies regarding buildings and grounds and the
openings or closings of parishes and schools.
To
share all concerns and reports on the conditions of buildings and grounds with
the Diocesan offices.
SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES
Maintain
an accurate profile of the parish, especially in the areas of population,
economy, changing neighborhoods, industrial growth or decline.
Maintain
an accurate census of membership.
Educate
the parish about financial priorities and needs.
Stimulate
greater financial responsibility by the members of the parish.
Provide
information and develop schedules for the maintenance and replacement of
physical plant.
Coordinate
the Annual Diocesan Appeal.
Oversee
collection and disbursement of finds according to the budget.
Review
financial reports.
Maintain
an inventory and assessment of all parish equipment, furnishings and buildings.
Prepare a schedule for their replacement or renewal.
Establish
clear lines of responsibility for maintenance and renovations.
Provide
for financing through the use of weekly envelopes, investments, special events
and planned giving.
Review
parish insurance coverage periodically and update.
SUPPORT
Finance and Administration
Contact: Chief
Financial Officer, Char Maaske 563-324-1912 ext. 233,
maaske@davenportdiocese.org
Contact: 202-541-3339,
Office of General Council,
The International Catholic Stewardship Council
Contact: 202-289-1093,
The
pastor represents the parish in all juridic affairs in accordance with the norm
of law;
he
is to see to it that the goods of the parish are administered in accord with
the
norms of canons 1281-1288.
Canon 532