Charter
of
The Community of St. Malachi
Revised in March, 1996
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
THE COMMUNITY OF ST. MALACHI
CHARTER
The Community of St. Malachi is established as a personal (non-
territorial) parish of the Catholic Diocese of Cleveland and shall be
organized exclusively for religious purposes. The aim of the
Community is the formation in Jesus Christ and His Gospel of
members and their growth as a local communal presence of
the Church.
We seek, as a community, to reaffirm and live more deeply our
original vision. We recognize that while we come from all over the
Cleveland area, St. Malachi Church is the place where our
community began and where it has flourished. Our roots and our
hearts are here. We desire, therefore, to commit ourselves in a
deeper and more lasting way to be a ministering church in this
particular place, to take more seriously the impact of the Gospel on
our world, and become a stronger witness to the love of God in
Jesus, who is our hope.)
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II.
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MISSION STATEMENT:
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JESUS CHRIST HAS CALLED US TOGETHER AS A
CATHOLIC CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY IN THIS
PARTICULAR PLACE. THROUGH THE SCRIPTURE,
CHRIST HAS GIVEN US:
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A PATTERN FOR OUR SALVATION;
A LIVING WITNESS OF GOD'S LOVE FOR US.
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OUR MISSION, THEREFORE, IS:
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TO WORSHIP GOD AND CELEBRATE
EUCHARIST TOGETHER;
TO LOVE OTHERS THE WAY WE ARE LOVED BY
GOD;
TO TAKE TIME TO COMFORT GOD'S PEOPLE;
TO PROVIDE REFUGE;
TO HEAL;
TO CONSOLE;
TO GIVE HOPE. |
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AS A PILGRIM CHURCH CONTINUING THE PRESENCE
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OF CHRIST;
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WE RECOGNIZE THE NEED TO NURTURE OUR
OWN PERSONAL AND SPIRITUAL GROWTH;
WE DESIRE TO TAKE MORE SERIOUSLY THE
IMPACT OF THE GOSPEL ON OUR WORLD;
WE COMMIT TO BECOMING STRONGER
WITNESSES TO THE LOVE OF GOD IN JESUS,
WHO IS OUR HOPE. |
III. MEMBERSHIP
Membership in the Community shall be open to all persons who
wish to share in the purpose and goals of the Community.
Members who are entitled to vote under the provisions of the
Charter shall be those persons 14 and over who annually subscribe
to a statement of membership in the Community and make a
commitment of time, talent and treasure to support its activities to
the extent of their ability and interests. Commitments to
membership shall be renewed during the Lenten season. Member
pledges of financial support shall be anonymous and contributions
shall be confidential and unrecorded.
IV. COMMUNITY COUNCIL
A. Membership
The representative body of the Community shall be a
Community Council. The membership of the Community
Council shall include: the chairpersons of each of the
Standing Committees, the Community Treasurer, 6 (six)
persons elected at-large from the members of the
Community, and the Pastor as a voting member ex- officio.
B. Powers and Duties
Except as limited by this Charter, the Community Council
shall have the power to make and carry out decisions as to
the policies, programs, activities, finances, and all other
matters concerning the Community. Included, among
others, is the power:
1. To make rules and regulations for the conduct of its
meetings, the manner of giving notice of special
meetings and the annual election meeting, and for
designation of authorized representatives of
members of the Community Council.
2. To consult with diocesan authorities concerning
appointment by the Bishop of a Pastor for the
Community.
3. To consult with the Finance Council on matters of major financial or administrative scope. (Defined more in Policies and Procedures Manual)
4. To employ persons to carry out functions for the Community and define their duties and provide for their compensation.
5. To establish temporary committees to perform
functions not within the jurisdiction of any Standing Committee.
6. To refer to the members of the Community for
decision any question which may come before the
Community Council that significantly affects the
total Community
7. To provide candidates for the position of
"TRUSTEE OF THE ST. MALACHI CENTER"
upon the request of the St. Malachi Center, Inc.
Candidates must be approved by a majority vote of the council members present on the day on which the candidates' nominations are voted upon by the council.
-The Community Council shall not, without the approval of
a majority of the voting members of the Community, take
any action or issue any public statement which would
significantly alter or affect the purpose or finances of the
Community.
-No member or officer of the Community Council shall
receive any compensation for services as a member of the
Community Council, but may be reimbursed for the amount
of any actual expenses incurred in the conduct of office.
C. Meetings, Quorum, and Voting
The Community Council shall meet at least nine times
annually and designate the time and place. Special meetings
may be called at any time by the President, by any four
members of the Council upon notice to the other members
of the Council, or by petition signed by at least one-fourth
of the Community members registered as of the beginning of
the fiscal year and presented to the Community Council. All
meetings shall be open to all members of the Community.
A simple majority of the members of the Community
Council shall constitute a quorum for the conduct of
business at any regular or special meeting. The affirmative
vote of at least A simple majority of the members of the
Community Council shall be required to decide any
question.
Any member with three absences within the Council year
shall be replaced at the discretion of the Community Council.
V. OFFICERS OF THE COMMUNITY COUNCIL
A. President
The Community Council shall, annually at the first meeting
after the new Council, select a President from its members.
Said President shall be the chief spokesperson and
representative of the Community, except in matters within
the canonical and administrative duties of the Pastor. The
President shall preside with voting privileges at all meetings
of the Community Council and the Community, and shall
carry out such other duties as may be assigned by the
Community Council or the Community. The Chairperson of
any Standing Committee shall relinquish such office before
assuming the office of President of the Community Council.
No person shall be elected to the office of President for
more than three consecutive years.
B. Vice-President
-The Community Council shall also, at the time of the
selection of the President, select from its members a Vice-
President who shall preside at all meetings in the event of
the absence or disability of the President. In the case of any
vacancy occurring in the office of the President, the Vice-
President shall succeed to the office; in which event, the
Community Council shall select a new Vice President to fill
the unexpired term.
-The Vice-President shall be the Community's liaison to the
Parish Council of St. Malachi Parish.
The Vice-President shall carry our any other duties, as
assigned by the President.
C. Treasurer
Shall be elected at large from the Community membership.
The Community Treasurer shall maintain financial records,
pay authorized community obligations, and perform other
duties as normally ascribed to the position. The
Community Treasurer shall serve ex-officio as a member of
the Community Finance Council.
VI. STANDING COMMITTEES
The Community shall have Standing Committees, whose
areas of responsibility shall be designated by the Community
Council. The Standing Committees currently are:
1. Christian Formation
2. Communications & Records
3. Hospitality
4. Liturgy
5. Membership
6. Social Action
7. Spiritual Development Committee
Standing Committees shall report to and carry out their
functions under the direction of the Community Council.
VII. ELECTIONS
A. Standing Committees
-One Chairperson for each standing committee shall be
elected for a one year term by the Community at the
Annual Community Meeting. Standing Committee
chairpersons shall be restricted from serving more than three
consecutive terms.
-In the event that no nominee is presented at the time of the
Annual Community Meeting, the position of Chairperson
of that committee shall be considered to be vacant.
B. Community Treasurer
Shall be elected from the Community members for a one-
year term by the Community at the annual community
meeting. The Community treasurer shall be restricted from
serving more than three consecutive terms.
C. At-Large Members
Shall be elected for a two-year period at the Annual
community Meeting. In 1996, the At-Large Members,.
whose terms are scheduled to end in 1997, shall draw lots to
determine who shall have terms ending in 1996, and in
1997. In 1996 and thereafter, three (3) at-large members
shall be elected annually for a two-year term. At-Large
members shall be restricted from serving more than two
consecutive terms.
D. Election Process
At least 45 days before the Annual Community Meeting, the
Council shall fix the date of said meeting and appoint a
coordinator to secure nominations for all positions. For the
Standing Committees, the coordinator should give
consideration to the recommendations of the Committees.
For Treasurer, the coordinator should seek persons of
appropriate background and experience. For the At-Large
positions, the coordinator should seek broad representation
from the Community.
-Nominations shall be presented to the President, in writing,
three weeks prior to the election and subsequently to the
Community prior to the Annual Community meeting.
Nominations for all elected positions will be accepted from
the floor at the general meeting.
The new Council shall take office at the end of the June
Council Meeting.
E. Vacancies
Vacancies arising in any position shall be filled by
appointment by the President of Council, with the
concurrence of a majority of the Council, at the next regular
meeting of the Council. Said appointee shall serve out the
balance of the term of the vacated member. No person shall
serve as a member of the Community Council for more than
four consecutive years. A "year" is defined as being a
period of at least six (6) months and not more than twelve
(12) months.
-Until election of a new Community Council and the taking
of office by the members thereof under this Charter,
the existing Community Council members of the
Community of St. Malachi shall have and exercise all of
the powers of the Community Council provided for in this Charter.
VIII. FINANCE COUNCIL
A. Authorization
The Community of St. Malachi shall have a Finance Council
in accord with Canon 537 of the Code of Canon Law.
B. Membership
The Finance Council shall consist of five voting members:
the Pastor and Community Treasurer, ex-officio, and three
At-Large members preferably with skills in finance,
administration, and/or law, jointly proposed and approved
by the Community Council and the Pastor. The At-Large
members shall serve three-year, staggered terms. In
addition, the President of the Community Council shall serve
as an ex-officio non-voting member of the Finance Council
C. Responsibilities
The Finance Council shall prepare the annual budget
proposal and shall advise the Community Council and the
Pastor on matters of major financial and administrative
concern. At the close of the fiscal year, the Finance Council
shall arrange for an annual audit of financial records and
procedures for the previous fiscal year. A written report of
the audit, including any recommendations that might be
deemed necessary to better serve the Community, shall be
submitted to the Community Council
IX. Fiscal Year and Budget
A. Fiscal Year
The fiscal year of the Community shall commence with the
first day of July of each year and end on the thirtieth day
of June the following year.
B. Budget
The Finance Council shall prepare an annual budget in
consultation with the Community Council President and
Committee Chairpersons and in accord with the
Community's pastoral plan and priorities.
The proposed annual budget shall be submitted to the
Community Council at the May council meeting for review
and discussion.
The proposed budget shall be made publicly available to
the Community for review along with notice of the meeting
at which the budget will be adopted.
The budget shall be adopted at the June meeting, but may
be amended as needed by the Community Council with
the advice of the Finance Council.
X. GENERAL COMMUNITY MEETINGS
A. Annual Community Meeting
Annually, on or about the second Sunday after Easter, the
Council shall conduct a General Community Meeting,
known as the Annual Community Meeting. The agenda of
the Annual Community Meeting shall include but not be
limited to an annual report by Council of the state of the
Community and election of a new Council.
B. Special Community Meetings
The Council on its own initiative, or by petition of at least
one-fourth of the Community members registered as of the
beginning of the fiscal year, shall schedule special general
meetings of the Community as needed. The agenda shall be
limited to the stated purpose of the meeting. Special general
Community meetings shall be scheduled as quickly as the
issue demands; however, an interval of at least one Sunday
shall occur to allow proper notice to the Community.
XI. AMENDMENTS
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