To be an Association dedicated to Pastoral Ministry within the Archdiocese of Chicago and beyond (amended July 1996). This association is committed to the inclusive model that seeks collaboration and mutuality in its mission and ministry.

• We call ourselves to be an Association of full-time Pastoral Associates within the Church (amended July 1996).
• We call ourselves to be rooted and centered in the energy and power of Jesus naming us "disciples."
• We call ourselves to be committed to the Gospel values especially those of integrity and justice.
• We call ourselves to dialogue ministerial issues, experiences, visions and brokenness.
• We call ourselves to pursue a clear sense of professional identity and recognition in the Archdiocese of Chicago.
• We call ourselves to a commitment to professional preparation and ongoing formation for the Pastoral Associate (amended July 1996).

1A The name shall be Pastoral Associates: Archdiocese of Chicago

1B Profile of a Pastoral Associate

A Pastoral Associate is a person who is a professionally prepared, salaried, certified, or in the process of being certified, minister responsible for the daily pastoral care of the faithful in the parish (amended July 1996). This person is an integral part of the pastoral staff who together plan, implement, and provide leadership for ministries.

1C Purpose of the Association

1. To be an association dedicated to pastoral ministry within the Church of the Archdiocese of Chicago.
2. To promote mutual support and spiritual/professional enrichment for the members.
3. To provide a structure for communication, interaction and development for its members.

II ELIGIBILITY AND MEMBERSHIP

1. Qualified persons become members of this Association by signification of intent and payment of annual dues. The Association is committed to an inclusive model open to all persons.
2. Meetings: a general meeting will be convened at least once a year at a place and time determined by the Coordinating Board. Schedule of events shall be planned to include opportunities to relate in meaningful ways and to pray together, as well as to take care of necessary business.
3. Committees: Standing committees of the Pastoral Associates: Archdiocese of Chicago are:

1. Ministry Collaboration
2. Compensation
3. Public Relations
4. Membership
5. Scholarship
6. Spring Luncheon
7. Fall Conference

1. Membership Dues

1. The fiscal year of the Association shall begin on the first day of July in each year and shall end on the thirtieth day of June of the following year.
2. Dues shall be determined by the Coordinating Board preceding the Spring Workship. Amount of dues shall be announced at the Spring Workshop, and billing will take place at that time.
3. Payment of annual dues is to be made by August 1 of the fiscal year.

3. COORDINATING BOARD OF THE PASTORAL ASSOCIATES: ARCHDIOCESE OF CHICAGO

1. The Coordinating Board shall consist of at least 12-14 full or affiliate members with 2 representatives from each Vicariate (amended 2001). Full members only are eligible to select the board representatives from each vicariate (amended 2001).
2. Eligibility for office: All full and affiliate members are eligible to serve on the Coordinating Board (amended 2001).
3. Term of office: Members of the Coordinating Board will serve for a two year term, renewable for another term for leadership purposes (amended July 1996).
4. All Board members are eligible to be chairperson/s after one year of service on the Coordinating Board. The chairperson/s shall be chosen by the Coordinating Board members to serve for two years.
5. The duties of the chairperson/s:

1. Convene general and board meetings
2. Prepare the agenda for such meetings
3. Preside at such meetings
4. Act as spokesperson/s for PAAC

1. The Coordinating Board is a decision-making board.
2. The Coordinating Board shall:

1. Coordinate the work of all committees
2. Through the secretary, make available minutes of monthly board meetings to all members (amended July 1996).
3. Convene monthly at a time and place determined by the board.
4. Meet regularly with PAAC membership

1. Each member of the Coordinating Board shall:

1. Attend meetings of the Coordinating Board.
2. Be a member on at least one committee (amended July 1996).

3. APPROPRIATIONS

1. The board is responsible for planning the over-all budget and assuming responsibility for the fiscal management of the Association (amended (July 1996).
2. The Coordinating Board will be responsible for the selection of a Treasurer for the Association (amended 1998). The Treasurer will volunteer his/her service for the Association, or be hired by the Association (amended 1998). The Treasurer is responsible for the disbursement of funds, collection of dues, and the keeping of financial records (amended 1998).
3. No part of the funds of the Association shall inure to the private benefit of any individual. In the event of the dissolution of this Association, the funds shall go to a charitable or educational work to be designated by the Coordinating Board.

3. THE SECRETARY

1. The Coordinating Board will be responsible for the selection of a professional secretary who is not a member of the Association.
2. The secretary will volunteer his/her services to the Association or will be hired by the Association. His/her duties will include recording and distributing the minutes of the general and Coordinating Board meetings, mailings, and preparing, maintaining and distributing the membership list (amended July 1996).

VI QUORUM

1. At a board meeting a simple majority of the Coordinating Board shall constitute a quorum.
2. At a General Meeting, members present and voting shall constitute a quorum.

VII DECISION MAKING

Decisions of the Association are normally made by consensus.

VIII AMENDMENTS

The Covenant may be changed and/or the by-laws may be added, changed or deleted through a discernment process involving the members present at a general meeting. Notices of such changes will be sent to the full members at least one month prior to the general meeting (amended July 1996).

IX BY-LAWS

1. The chairperson/s of the Coordinating Board has the right and duty to convene a Special Board Meeting in case of an emergency.
2. If a Board member resigns or moves, the vicariate will select a new member to fill the unexpired term. The board member who has moved may continue on the board as an at-large member until his/her term expires (amended July 1996).
3. The minutes of the Coordinating Board meetings shall be available upon request.
4. Membership in PAAC includes full members, affiliate members and supporting members (amended July 1996).

1. Full Membership
   Open to pastoral associates currently certified by the Archdiocese of Chicago (amended May 2000).

Membership entitles the individuals to voting rights, scholarship awards for both general studies and PAAC conferences, mailings, resources and educational opportunities of the Association, discounts on PAAC conferences and workshops and eligibility to serve on the coordinating board (amended May 2000).

2. Affiliate Membership

Open to those working toward certification as a pastoral associate in the Archdiocese of Chicago and professional colleagues in pastoral ministry. Affiliate members may include pastoral associates outside the Archdiocese of Chicago (amended May 2000).

Membership entitles the individuals to discounts on PAAC conferences and workshops, scholarship awards for PAAC Conferences, mailings and resources provided by PAAC and eligibility to serve on the coordinating board (amended 2001).

3. Supporting Membership