CONSTITUTION
OF THE MILWAUKEE ARCHDIOCESE PRIESTS ALLIANCE
PREAMBLE
The Milwaukee Archdiocese Priests Alliance, attaching great importance
to the reality that we are “fellow-workers in the service of
truth,” seek to join ourselves in a “bond of charity, prayer
and total cooperation.” Toward these ends we recall the teaching
of the Second Vatican Council in the decree on the Ministry and Life
of Priests.
“Through the sacred ordination and mission they receive from
the bishops, priests are promoted to the service of Christ the teacher,
priest, and king; they are given a share in his ministry, through which
the Church here on earth is being unceasingly built up into the people
of God, Christ’s body, and the temple of the Spirit.” In
our desire to promote healthy pastoral practices we seek to gather
in a spirit of mutual respect to listen and discern significant issues
through which we can offer our vast pastoral wisdom to the broader
community of the Church of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee and the universal
Church.
Desiring to exercise this share in Christ’s ministry in friendship
with one another, the Ordinary of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee and
in collaboration with all the baptized, we establish this Constitution
of the Milwaukee Archdiocese Priests Alliance and the By – Laws
enacted under the Constitution.
ARTICLE I - NAME
The Alliance shall be called and known as the Milwaukee Archdiocese
Priests Alliance, or by the initials MAPA.
ARTICLE II - MISSION
1. To establish and promote solidarity, create a spirit of fraternity
and mutuality among the priesthood of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee.
2. To gather together to voice ‘new’ concerns and issues
flowing from the ministry of the Alliance’s members.
3. To support members in issues involving canonical rights and ‘due
process’ to so maintain the respect and dignity of the priesthood
and to advocate for and support individual members as requested.
4. To offer candid pastoral insight and advice to Archdiocesan leadership.
5. To be a Pastoral Voice on issues of concern not being addressed.
6. To further foster dialogue and voice support on local, national
and international forums and groups regarding pastoral issues.
7. To advocate through timely involvement and consultation when
new initiatives or ‘mandates affect the pastoral care of the
local Church.
8. To nourish collaboration of priests with others serving in ministry;
9. To promote ecumenism among Christian churches, and to cooperate
with and promote interfaith dialogue with other faith traditions;
10. To collaborate with the Archbishop of Milwaukee in the pastoral
care of the local Church, while advocating and promoting ‘healthy’ pastoral
practices regarding reasonable limits and expectations of priests.
11. To seek cooperative action that promotes peace and justice
throughout the entire metropolitan community, particularly noticing
and attending to theneeds of the poor and the alienated;
12. To strive for the equality of women and men of all races and cultures.
ARTICLE III – MEMBERSHIP
Membership is effective upon signification of intent and payment
of the annual dues. The following are eligible for membership in
the MAPA:
1. Priests ordained for service to the Archdiocese of Milwaukee;
2. Priests of other dioceses or of religious communities who reside
or minister within the Archdiocese at the time of application for membership.
ARTICLE IV – MEETINGS
1. There shall be a regular Annual Convening of MAPA to which all
members will be called by written notice; such notice is to contain
the agenda for the Annual Convening.
2. The date of the Annual Convening and the timing of the notice
is to be fixed according to the By-Laws.
3. Special meetings of the MAPA may be called by the Convening Board
pursuant to the By-Laws.
4. Members of the MAPA shall have equal voice and vote on all issues
properly placed on the agenda of the Annual Meeting and any special
meetings.
5. Those present and voting at the Annual Meeting and at any special
meetings shall constitute a quorum.
ARTICLE V – CONVENING BOARD
1. The Convening Board of the MAPA is elected by the members of the
MAPA to faithfully carry out the mission of the Alliance under this
Constitution and to execute policies consistent with this Constitution
according to the By-Laws and its own Resolutions.
2. The Convening Board shall consist of Nine members of the MAPA
3. Members of the Convening Board shall be elected for a term of
three years. Three members are elected each year.
4. Elections for members of the Convening Board shall take place
at the same time each year under the procedures to be established
by the By – Laws.
5. In the event that any member of the Convening Board shall resign
or otherwise become ineligible for service, a vacancy shall be declared
and filled by a majority vote of the remaining members of the Convening
Board. Members of the MAPA chosen to fill a vacancy on the Convening
Board will serve out the remainder of the term of the one whose resignation
or ineligibility created the vacancy.
6. The Convening Board shall meet ordinarily according to the By – Laws
at a place and time to be determined at the first meeting of the
Convening Board following the annual election of new members.
7. At the first meeting of the Convening Board following the annual
election of new members a Resolution inviting the participation of
not more than two auditors (voice, no vote) may be made. These auditors
are to be non-ordained members of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee.
ARTICLE VI – OFFICERS OF MAPA
1. The officers of the Convening Board of the MAPA are the following:
Chairman, Co-Chairman, and a Secretary - Treasurer. These officers
are ex-officio, the officers of the MAPA.
2. The Convening Board shall elect bi-annually from among its members
a Chairman and a Co-Chairman.
3. At the time the Convening Board elects the Chairman it shall
also elect from among its members one to serve as Secretary - Treasurer.
The term of office for the Secretary - Treasurer shall be bi annual.
4. The Chairman shall serve as a focal point of unity for the Convening
Board and for the MAPA. It shall be the Chairman’s responsibility
to:
a. Preside at the meetings of the Convening Board, the Annual
Meeting, and any special meetings of the MAPA;
b. Act as the spokesperson for the MAPA, but only in such ways
that are consistent with this Constitution and with policies of
the Convening Board adopted pursuant to the By – Laws and
Resolutions;
c. Represent the MAPA in all matters external to the MAPA;
d. Appoint with the consent of the Convening Board all heads of
committees established pursuant to the By – Laws and to secure
persons willing to serve on these committees;
e. Prepare in consultation with the Secretary -Treasurer an annual
Budget for the approval of the Convening Board;
f. The officers shall constitute the Steering Committee. The Chairman,
with the Steering Committee, prepares the agenda for each meeting
of the MAPA and the Convening Board.
5. The Co-Chairman shall chair the meetings of the Convening Board
and of the MAPA in the absence of the Chairman, and assume the functions
of the Chairman when the latter is unable or incapable of carrying
out these responsibilities.
6. The Secretary - Treasurer shall see to it that minutes are kept
of all meetings of the Convening Board and of the MAPA, keep in proper
order all records and Communications necessary to the mission of
the MAPA, and be responsible for all notices required under this
Constitution and the By – Laws pertaining
to elections and meetings of the MAPA and of the Board.
Further, the Secretary -Treasurer is also the fiscal officer of
the MAPA and is responsible for assessing Annual dues, collecting
the same, keeping the financial records of the MAPA in good order,
approving all expenditures consistent with the budget, and managing,
the accounts of the MAPA.
The Secretary - Treasurer shall report regularly to the Convening
Board and prepare an annual written report to the members of the
MAPA. Checks drawn on any accounts of the MAPA shall be signed by
two of the Ex officio Officers.
ARTICLE VII - BY – LAWS
By-Laws consistent with this Constitution are enacted by the Convening
Board by vote of at least six members of the Convening Board. By
their nature, By-Laws are to express policy of the MAPA that is of
important enduring character, or procedures required to carry out
the purposes of this Constitution. By-Laws once enacted may be amended
or repealed by vote of at least six members of the Convening Board.
Actions taken contrary to existing By-Laws are not valid. By-Laws
must be submitted in writing before vote.
ARTICLE VIII - RESOLUTIONS
Resolutions of the Convening Board are to be developed by consensus
whenever possible. If consensus is not possible, Resolutions may take
effect upon the vote of a simple majority of the entire membership
of the Convening Board.
ARTICLE IX - COMMITTEES AND TASK FORCES
1. Ordinarily the business of the MAPA is conducted by the Convening
Board by referral of a matter from the Convening Board to the appropriate
committee for study and report. The Convening Board may constitute
itself as a Committee of the whole. The nature and jurisdiction of
other committees shall be established by By-Laws.
2. Issues arising of immediate attention and of such nature that
they do not fit within the committee structure established by the
By-Laws may be referred to task forces established by Resolution
of the Board.
ARTICLE X - REVENUE AND APPROPRIATIONS
1. Revenue of the MAPA is to be raised from annual dues, fund raising
events approved by the Convening Board by Resolution, gifts from
individuals and charitable foundations, and corporate donations.
Grants for particular purposes are not to be accepted from any source
without prior scrutiny of the Convening Board, and corporate donations
shall be subject to moral and ethical scrutiny.
2. Appropriations for all expenses exceeding $500.00 are to be reflected
in the annual budget, otherwise appropriations shall be made by Resolution.
3. Except for expenses incurred in legitimate business of the MAPA,
no appropriations are to be made to members of the MAPA as means of
compensation.
4. No assets of the MAPA shall be alienated to the private benefit
of any individual. In the event of the dissolution of the MAPA, its
assets shall go to a charitable or educational work designated by
the existing members of MAPA in a final resolution submitted by the
Convening Board.
5. The Secretary -Treasurer shall see to it that the annual written
report is completed in a manner required by the laws of the State of
Wisconsin.
ARTICLE XI - TRANSITION
This Constitution, together with the interim By-Laws appended hereto,
shall take effect upon the vote of a two-thirds majority of the members
of the MAPA present and voting on the issue of this Constitution,
and after thirty days have passed after the close of the meeting.
The existing Steering Committee shall hold office until able to
conduct the election of the Convening Board established under this
Constitution. This election shall be held pursuant to the interim
By-Laws appended hereto and within sixty days of the vote of this
Constitution.
ARTICLE XII - AMENDMENTS
This Constitution may be amended by the vote of two-thirds of the
members of the MAPA voting on the issue of Amendment. Amendments to
this Constitution may be proposed by Resolution of the a duly elected
Convening Board or by petition of at least ten members of the MAPA.
Proposed amendments must be submitted in writing to all members of
the MAPA at least thirty days prior to the vote. The vote may be held
at the annual Meeting or by mail.
INTERIM BY-LAWS
Upon passage of the new Constitution of the MAPA, the Steering Committee
in existence up until the time a Constitution shall be adopted by the
membership shall make preparation for election of the first Convening
Board under the new Constitution.
This election shall be conducted by secret ballot and by mail. A
nominating committee may be established to propose candidates, and
individual members may request that one’s
own name be placed on the ballot. Within a week after the return date
votes are to be counted and the newly elected members of the Convening
Board are to be notified. The candidates receiving the nine highest
numbers of votes are elected.
THE MILWAUKEE ARCHDIOCESE PRIESTS ALLIANCE CONSITUTION: BY-LAWS
1. The nomination of candidates for the Convening Board and the preparation
of the ballot shall be as follows:
The number of members to be elected is determined by Article V of
the Constitution.
a. The Convening Board may act as a committee of the whole, or
may establish a nominating committee to propose candidates. Individual
members may request that their own name be placed on the ballot.
b. There shall be no restriction on the maximum number of candidates,
but there shall be at least twelve names placed on the ballot in a
year when more than nine openings are to be filled. The number of
candidates may also be determined by the number of openings on the
coordinating board, but there shall be a minimum of six when the
openings to the Convening Board is three.
c. All candidates shall be contacted by a member of the Convening
Board, and must agree to have their name placed on the ballot.
d. The Convening Board will approve the final slate of candidates.
e. In order to ensure representation from all segments of the membership,
the Convening Board may choose to group candidates on the ballot according
to year of ordination.
The Convening Board may determine the number of groups to appear on
the ballot, and the number of candidates to be elected from each group.
2. The election of Convening Board members shall be conducted by secret
ballot and by mail.
a. The ballots are to be mailed on a date determined by the Convening
Board.
b. They are to be returned to the MAPA office postmarked no later
than the date determined by the Convening Board.
c. The votes are to be counted between within two weeks of the date
of return determined by the Convening Board. The candidates receiving
the highest number of votes are elected. If the Convening Board divided
the candidates into groups, then the appropriate number of candidates
receiving the highest number of votes in each group are elected.
d. The newly elected members of the Convening Board are to be notified
as soon as the count has been completed.
3. The Chairman of the Convening Board, after consulting the Executive
Committee, has the right and duty to convene a special Board meeting
in case of emergency.
4. If a Convening Board member or Committee Convener resigns because
he no longer is able to assume this responsibility, a new Board member
or Committee Convener shall be elected by the Convening Board or respective
committee as soon as possible to fill the unexpired term.
5. The minutes and financial records of the Convening Board shall
be available upon request to members of the Alliance.
6. In reporting results of all questionnaires and surveys, both
majority and minority views must be presented.
7. Except as otherwise herein provided, Robert’s Rules of
Order shall govern all proceedings of the Alliance.
8. At each General Meeting of the MAPA the order of business shall
be as follows:
a. Business submitted by the Chairman of the MAPA;
b. Resolutions submitted by the members in accordance with the
provisions of this section; or issues surfaced thru other meeting
procedures;
c. Report of the Election Committee, if an election of new members
of the Board has been held.
9. Resolutions of Members – A member desiring to submit a
matter for consideration at the annual meeting shall deliver to the
Chairman at least fourteen days before the meeting a Resolution setting
forth the proposed action or issue. Immediately the Chairman shall
send a copy of the Resolution to the Convener of the proper committee
and to all members of the Convening Board.
10. The Convening Board shall meet at least four times within the
period from the annual meeting of the alliance. The Convening Board
will have a planning meeting in of each year to identify focal issues
and events for the coming year.
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