PARISH COUNCIL

Tunney Williams

Everett Kincaid

Kevin Parry

Mark Colkitt

Bob Allen

Dan Callaway

Ryne Hevener

Fred Ickes

Maggie Malcolm

Maureen (Mo) Marshall

Steve Marshall

George Pabis

 The Parish Pastoral Council

The parish pastoral council continuously develops and articulates a deep and mature understanding of the identity and purpose of the parish. It reflects the unique personality of the parish as it evolves, using the mission statement developed by the pastor and parishioners.
 
The pastor and parish pastoral council strives to ensure that the parish is carrying out its stated mission and that the pastoral needs of the parish are met. These include Word, Worship, Community and Service. The pastor and council enable and encourage the broadest 
participation of parishioners in evangelizing, both within the parish and the larger community. It accepts the responsibility of hearing all voices in seeking to discern the will of God in the local community using scripture and the voice of the Church as their guide. 

Because parishes are dynamic communities, flexibility is essential in the ministry of the parish pastoral council. Flexibility means "openness to all present reality." People change, council membership changes, staffs change, ministries change, and the larger community changes. For example, we see an increase of other Catholic cultures in our parishes, our growing ethnic and 
cultural diversity. The continuing implementation of the vision considers: 

• The personality and style of the pastor, members of the council, the parish staff, and other parish leaders; 
• The ministries that are in place; 
• The uniqueness of the parish; 
• The relationship of the parish in its cluster or Deanery; 
• The needs of the larger community. 

A Parish Pastoral Council Is Called To Be:

 Advisory 
• A small faith community, advising the pastor. 
• Spiritually alive and close-knit without being exclusive. 
• Prophetic in the scriptural sense. 
• An opportunity for members' ongoing formation and conversion.
 • A witness to the Gospel. 
• Aware of and living in God's presence. 
• Pastoral, that is, dedicated to the whole community. 

Open and Inclusive 
• Unified in Jesus in its diversity. 
• An initiating and enabling source that aids God in transforming the parish. 
• An informed and open communication system in the parish. 
• Knowledgeable about scripture, contemporary issues, the local community and church.
 
From “Called to Serve” pages 12,13 2010/15 ​