The name of the Council shall be St Joseph’s, Seascale, Parish Pastoral Council.

To meet the challenge of making Christ present in our world.

To strengthen the spirit of religion and foster Christian unity in the locality.

To take on such duties as are appropriate for the life, work and worship of the parish.

In order to achieve this it will

3.1 Membership of the council shall be open to all parishioners

3.2 The Officers shall be

3.3 The council shall consist of the four officers plus eight other elected members. Any priest with responsibility in the parish shall be an ex-officio member of the council.

3.4 Officers and councillors shall be elected at the parish annual meeting. If nominees exceed the vacancies, then a secret ballot shall be held. Proxy votes shall not be allowed. If a member of the parish wishes to attend the meeting but cannot, a postal vote sent to the secretary with an apology for absence will be accepted.

3.5 For the election of both officers and members, nominations shall be in writing and must be signed by the nominee, proposer and seconder and received by the Secretary at least 14 days before the annual meeting. Exceptionally the chairman may accept late nominations

3.6 Members shall serve for a term of three years. They will be eligible for re-election for a maximum of nine years, after which they cannot serve again for at least two years.

3.7 Officers shall serve for a term of three years, and will not be eligible for the same office for two years thereafter

3.7 One third of the members shall offer themselves for re-election each year except when their full term of office is complete.

4.1 Meetings will be not less than 10 (ten) times a year

4.2 A quorum for a meeting shall be 5 (five) members.

4.3 Either the chairperson or three members of the council may call emergency meetings.

4.4 On any question regarding procedure the decision of the chairperson is final.

4.5 In matters of voting, each member shall have one vote. The chairperson shall have a casting vote in the event of a tie. There shall be no proxy voting.

4.6 A member who is absent from 4 (four) consecutive meetings without apology will be deemed to have resigned.

The council may co-opt a member in the case of resignation or need. The co-optee shall serve for the remainder of the original term of office.

6.1 A parish annual meeting shall be held once in each calendar year and not later than fifteen months after the preceding annual meeting.

6.2 Twenty-eight (28) days notice of the parish annual meeting must be given.

6.3 The accounts of the parish shall be prepared annually and laid before the parish.

6.4 The Chairperson shall prepare and lay before the parish annually a report on the parish.

6.5 No business shall be transacted at a parish meeting unless a quorum of fifteen (15) is present.

6.6 No vote at a parish meeting may be by proxy.

6.7 At all parish meetings, all present shall have one vote. The Chairperson shall have a casting vote should one be necessary.

A finance committee shall be appointed by the Parish Council and constituted according to diocesan norms.

Parishioners may attend a PC meeting as observers provided that reasonable notice is given.

The constitution shall be approved and adopted by the parish at a parish meeting, and adoption must be by two thirds of those present.

Amendments to the constitution can only be made at a parish annual meeting and must be approved by a majority of at least two thirds of the parishioners present.