THE PRESBYTERAL COUNCIL
The Presbyteral Council aids the Metropolitan in the governance of the Archdiocese according to the norm of law, in order that the pastoral welfare of the portion of the people of God entrusted to him may be promoted as effectively as possible.
Role and Function
The more serious matters of archdiocesan governance and administration require the collective wisdom of the presbyterate acting in concert with the Metropolitan. Specifically, the Presbyteral Council must be consulted on such concerns as the ordination of deacons to the Holy Priesthood; the assignment and transfer of priests; the establishment of parishes; modification of parishes; offerings (honorariums) of the faithful on the occasion of parish services; norms for parish pastoral councils; and the establishment, oversight, and maintenance of programs for the support and maintenance of priests both active and retired.
The Council is also responsible for
- Initiating and overseeing the comprehensive personal and criminal background investigations of candidates for ordination to the Holy Priesthood and of those priests who seek to enter into the jurisdiction of the Archdiocese;
- Interviewing deacons who have petitioned the Metropolitan for ordination to the Holy Priesthood;
- Recommending candidates for ordination to the Holy Priesthood;
- Interviewing priests from other jurisdictions who seek admission into the Archdiocese and making recommendations to the Metropolitan regarding the same, and:
- Initiating canonical investigations into accusations of wrongdoing, immoral behavior, and financial and fiduciary mismanagement against priests of the Archdiocese and making the appropriate recommendations to the Metropolitan.;
The Constitution of the Italo-Greek Byzantine Orthodox Catholic Church determines the number of members and membership of the Council. The Constitution requires that twelve priests constitute the Presbyteral Council. At least half of the counselors are to be elected by the presbyterate. The others are members are to be appointed by the Metropolitan.
The Constitution of the Italo-Greek Byzantine Orthodox Catholic Church and the Administrative and Judicial Code of the Archdiocese gives the Metropolitan the right to determine the questions, topics, and matters to be treated by the Presbyteral Council and to receive proposals from its members. According to the norms set forth in both the Constitution of the Church and the Administrative and Judicial Code of the Archdiocese, the Metropolitan presides at all Council meetings, but, in practice, it is the custom for the Metropolitan to be a participant in the discussions while the meeting is chaired by an officer of the Council. The content of Council discussions and resolutions may be published, except those matters discussed and acted upon in an Executive Session of the Council. The Council draws up its own statutes and governing documents which are subject only to the approval of the Metropolitan after review by both the Archdiocesan General Counsel and the Chief Canon Lawyer. The Council ceases when the Metropolitan See is vacant, or when the Metropolitan determines the Council needs restructuring. In either case, the new Metropolitan or the Metropolitan after dissolving the Council has 120 days to establish a new Council.
