Finance Council
The Finance Council is required by the Laws of the Church. Its function is to assist the pastor who is the administrator of the goods of the parish (c 537) The Finance Council of St John the Baptist operates under the provisions of the Diocese of Orlando. In accordance with these provisions, the Finance Council is a separate entity from the Pastoral Council, but works in collaboration with it and is responsible directly to the pastor. Its role is advisory and consultative to the pastor.
The members of the Finance Council drawn from the parish community are to be competent in financial matters and civil law. At least one member of the Finance Council serves as a member of the Pastoral Council.
The Council meets monthly except over the Summer.
General Functions of the Parish Finance Council
- To review and coordinate the parish annual budget in consolation with other groups and in accordance with the goals set by the Pastoral Council;
- To review the quarterly financial reports to the Diocese and to formulate the annual report made to the parish community;
- To review periodically the income and expenditures in light of the annual budget;
- To review contracts and agreements;
- To encourage support of diocesan fundraising projects;
- To inventory parish assets at least annually and verify that appropriate insurance coverage has been maintained for said assets.
Pastoral Council
The Pastoral Council comprises the heads of the major ministries of the parish, plus a few observers. The Council, which meets the last Tuesday of most months and is led by the Council Chair, and serves as an advisory body to the Pastor.
Canon Law requires that every parish have a Pastoral Council. The Church believes that such a body can be a unifying structure of the parish community enabling the faithful to participate fully in the mission of the parish.
The Council advises the Pastor in areas affecting the spiritual, educational, social, and financial life of the parish; initiates projects to improve parish life in those areas; communicates plans, decisions, and event calendars, and seeks to bring all parishioners into closer union with Jesus Christ.
The Council seeks to ensure constant growth and success of the parish by providing for the orderly transition of volunteers into leadership positions in the many parish ministries.
Every parishioner can visit and observe the deliberations of the Council. Parishioners of St. John who wish to visit and observe any of the Council’s proceedings are kindly requested to contact the Council Chairperson through the parish office.