Introduction #
Over a decade has passed since the Archdiocesan Board of Education published a document entitled Guidelines For Parish School Boards/Parish Boards of Education. The time has come then to re-examine the subject and to make appropriate revisions. These revisions reflect not only the changes which have taken place pursuant to the revised code of canon law but they also clarify the civil law relationship between these types of parish auxiliary organizations and the Archdiocese of San Francisco. Specifically, any Parish School Consultative Boards which are established must clearly reflect the fact that the Board is consultative only, that the Board exists at the canonical pleasure of the pastor, and that no amendments to the Board statutes may be made without the written approval of the pastor or the authorized corporate officials of the Archdiocese of San Francisco. The Parish Consultative Board should not use terms such as “Bylaws”, “President”, etc. in order to avoid potential confusion with the school authority granted through Corporate Boards, Bylaws and Offices. Model “statutes” or “procedures” for a Parish School Consultative Board are attached to these policies. No deviation from the provisions marked with an asterisk are authorized without the prior review and approval of the Archdiocesan Legal Office and the Superintendent of Schools.
1.0 RATIONALE: #
The Bishops clearly state in their pastoral, TO TEACH AS JESUS DID, that “planning and implementing the educational mission of the Church must involve the entire Catholic Community and that such; involvement is achieved through structures and processes representative of the Community.” (TTJD-139)
The basic principle underlying the Bishops’ statement is that those responsible for the funding and administration of school and parish educat