Parish Council FAQs
Current Parish Council Members
Two parish council seats become available in June. If you would like to learn more about what’s involved in being on the council, please reach out to a member, or email us at parshcouncil@st-matts.org. You are also welcome to attend the next council meeting on Thursday, May 22 at 6:30 pm. The meeting will be on St. Matthew’s campus and the exact location will be announced in the bulletin. All council meetings are open to the public.
How many people are on the Parish Council? Up to nine Council members plus the Trustee and Parish Administrator. We currently have eight Council members.
How long is a Parish Council term? It is a three-year commitment that begins in June.
How often does the Parish Council meet? The whole Council generally meets once per month, with two exceptions - we don’t meet in July, and we combine the meetings for November and December, for a total of 10 regular Council meetings. We also hold one retreat a year which has been on a Saturday in early November.
When does the Parish Council meet? Each Council has the discretion to change meeting times and dates. Currently, the Council meets from 6:30-8PM on the fourth Thursday of every month.
Where does the council meet? In-person meetings are held at St. Matthew’s Parish Center.
What does the St Matthew Parish Council do? As a lay-led community, the Parish Council at St. Matthew plays an active role along with the Trustees, the Finance Committee, and the Parish Administrator in leading the Parish. Topics at meetings can range from discussing youth ministries to campus security.
How can I learn more? All Council meetings are open to the public, so a good way to learn more is to attend an upcoming meeting. Our next in-person meeting is on May 22. Another option is to talk to one of our current Council members, who could answer your questions. You could also send an email with questions or to express your interest to the parish council at parish council@st-matts.org.
What should I do if I want to join? People who are considering joining are asked to attend a meeting to learn more about what the Council does and how it operates. After reflection, if they would still like to join, they should inform the Council of their interest by the next meeting on May 22.
How are people chosen? Two seats will become available in June. If two people want to join, they will take the vacant seats and join the Council at the June meeting. If more people are interested than there are Council positions available, names are drawn from a hat on Pentecost. Because St. Matthew’s is led by and heavily dependent on lay members, there are many opportunities for people to be active and play an important role in parish life.
