There have been a number of changing factors in our society and parish life that have affected the necessity for change in the parish management structure. The increasing complexity of management requirements, fewer available priests, and larger congregations are but a few of these factors.

Another major factor is the Church’s call for an expanding role of the laity in the total mission of the parish, especially as expressed in the documents of Vatican II. Conciliar texts stress the collaboration of and the co-responsible leadership of both clergy and laity in promoting the continuing vitality of our Church.

There has been increasing awareness that the pastor’s ministry is a ministry of teaching, sanctifying and governing or pasturing with the cooperation of other presbyters and deacons, and in consultation with the laity. Three of the key leadership groups in a parish are in the pastoral council, the finance council, and the pastoral staff or team.

Parish Staff
The pastor and his staff are responsible for carrying out the day to day administrative tasks of the parish. Some of the administrative roles are secretary, bookkeeper, business manager, pastoral administrator, groundskeeper, and maintenance worker. The pastoral staff or team (which have both leadership and administrative functions), could include the director of religious education, director of liturgy, director of social services, parochial school principal, etc. as well as the presbyters and deacons.

The Staff may be salaried employees, volunteers, or a combination of both. It is important to note that the staff are the people who are the action elements concerning the business management of a parish. An important distinction between the staff and the councils in parish management is that the staff is the action agent, whereas the councils are consultative.

Finance Councils
Definition: A consultative body, composed of three to five persons, which assists the Pastor in the administration of church property and finances.

Financial Accountability to the parish
As co-stewards of temporal goods for the parish, finance council members must present a clear picture of parish goals and current financial information to parishioners on a regular basis, not less than annually.

Remember, this is not only an inherent part of your role as steward, but is also a means of promoting harmony and goodwill by keeping parishioners informed. The integration of parish goals with the financial picture will heighten parishioners’ awareness and interest, and will often encourage increased giving.

Internal Controls
This subject is an essential part of parish stewardship. Internal controls are a system of checks and balances which minimize the possibility of loss of funds or property. Although the same basic internal control procedures may be used diocesan-wide, it is necessary that each parish adapt a general set of guidelines to their specific situation. The finance council can assist in this procedure by reviewing current parish practices and recommending any necessary changes or improvements. For example, this means that the financial council must determine what are the most obvious situations in which funds or property could be lost.


Archdiocese of San Antonio
Parish Finance Council Guidelines
Effective 1 July 1988
(Revised 1 January 1993)

CANON 537 – Each parish is to have a Finance Council which is regulated by universal law as well as by norms issued by the diocesan bishop; this council (which includes the Christian faithful, selected according to the same norms) aids the pastor in the administration of parish goods with due regard for the prescription of Canon 532.

CANON 532 – In all juridic affairs, the pastor acts in the person of the parish in administering the goods of the parish.

In the Archdiocese of San Antonio, the following statutes govern the establishment of the Parish Finance Council:

1. Each parish must have a Finance Council.



2. All members should be appointed by the pastor from among the members of that parish to terms of office no longer that five (5) years. Such terms of office may be staggered.



3. They should be persons knowledgeable in business management, planning and budget.



4. There should be not less that three nor more than five members. Since the Council is advisory to the pastor, the latter is not a member.



5. The functions of the Parish Finance Council may include:
   
   
   (a). Advising the pastor on any major commitment of funds or parish resources for capital improvements or debts addition in excess of $10,000 before permission is requested of the Archbishop.
   
   (b) Advising the pastor in the investment of parish funds. (NOTE: Parishes are requested to invest their excess funds with the Chancery in order to assist other parishes to obtain low interest loans.
   
   (c) Fulfilling an active role in the preparation of the parish budget and its execution.
   
   (d) Assisting to establish cash management and internal control procedures for all parish funds.



6. A member of the Council may not be a close relative of the pastor, or someone who may have a conflict of interest.



7. Only priests may sign checks for parish funds unless prior notification is sent to the Archbishop. Such notification should include both the name of the alternate signer and the checking account number to be used by same.



8. These statutes are effective 1 July 1988, revised 1 January 1993.