What is the job of the individual Parish Pastoral Council member?

• To see every conversation with a parish member as an opportunity to gather information that may be of use in the consultative process.

• To be open to any kind of input from parishioners regarding the effectiveness, efficiency, and responsibility of parish service and the extent to which the most important pastoral needs of the parish's people are or are not being met.

• To freely propose agenda for the consultative process as appropriate.

• To study all information provided prior to meetings, completing all necessary reading or written preparation as requested by the pastor, pastoral staff, or parish council chairperson in order to insure the smooth and effective functioning of the consultative process.

• To accept and exercise the prophetic calling power that council members rightfully hold in the context of a system where council input is valued and genuinely affects the outcome of significant decisions in which the pastor and pastoral staff bear the final responsibility.

• To keep evaluations and recommendations as close as possible to the program implementors who will be using them in their specific areas of parish ministry and outreach.

• To maintain reasonable objectivity with respect to controversial issues and to rise above factionalism and promoting special interests, being willing to express views in the face of possible opposition, while maintaining respect for all persons involved in the discussion.

• To attend all regularly scheduled monthly meetings with no more than x absences.

• To attend all meetings or training sessions or other parish events as a representative of the parish council.

• To be open to the possibility of appointment or election to the position of chairperson as called upon.

• To insist upon a clear description of the task of a parish council member when one is not provided.

• To request any working information needed to effectively perform the tasks of evaluating and recommending.