(Editor’s Note: Chapters Two and Three of the Archdiocesan Synod deal with Church structure and the shared exercise of authority. Though authority is vested primarily in the archbishop and bishop the concept of shared exercise of authority broadening the base upon which decisions are reached. Of particular interest to laymen is the section on parish structures. It calls for formation of parish councils, parish boards of education, budget and finance committees [which many parishes already have].)

The Church, in the words of the Second Vatican Council, is both a sign of union with God and of the unity of all mankind, and an instrument for the achievement of such union and unity. Here are the People of God, side-by-side in this world with those of other beliefs. If Catholics are faithful to God and truly formed by the Church, they will be concerned with the needs and resources, not only of their own community, but also of all human society. Their task, then, is the consecration of the world.

Around its bishops, who must stand “in the midst of the people,” (Decree on the Pastoral Office of Bishops, #16) the Catholic community walks toward God “in all goodness and justice and truth.” (Ephesians 5:9) Layman, religious, priest and bishops -- each has an identity, a role, a vocation.

But the community would be in disorder without responsibility. The other side of the Church’s structure reveals our rights and duties in God’s Kingdom. These are assured by authority. Some elements are from God directly: the words of Christ Our Lord, the Scriptures, the voice of the teaching Church from the apostles to the present time. Other elements in this structure of authority are the product of history, culture and the experience of civil government.

In this archdiocese, the spirit of Vatican II has inspired new forms, and modified old ones. This is the historic development of an earlier structure that was effective for its time, but now lacks the dimension of the Gospels urgently needed in the twentieth century.

Shared Exercise Of Authority

This Synod, therefore, bases the structure of the archdiocese on “shared exercises of authority,” that is, a jurisdiction enlarged, under the influence of the recent Council, by a true consultative process. The authority, according to the laws of the Church, is vested primarily in the archbishop and his vicar-general, the auxiliary bishop. At the parish level, it is vested primarily in the pastor appointed by the archbishop.

This true consultative process now broadens the base upon which decisions are reached. Councils (at the administrative level) and Boards (at the departmental level) are to be established in the archdiocese and parish representing clergy, religious and laity. A majority of each shall be elected and a minority chosen by the archbishop.

In each parish, proposals for both policies and programs may be introduced by the pastor or by the members of the councils or boards. In urgent and grave disagreements, should such occur, when a majority approves and the pastor vetoes, the council or board may appeal in writing to the Archdiocesan Pastoral Council with a copy in writing to the pastor. After both parties have been consulted, the decision of the Archdiocesan Council, with the approval of the archbishop, is final.

The terms “veto” and “appeal” are not used in their strict parliamentary sense because the process is consultative. Rather, they are used in their generic sense of “disapprove” (for veto) and “refer” (for appeal).

The three branches of responsibility are based on the nature of government; legislative, to approve or disapprove policies and programs; executive, to implement them; and judicial, to judge in matters where the canon law of the Church is concerned (e.g. marriage).

The head of the archdiocese is the archbishop. The Decree On the Pastoral Office of Bishops explains that, as successors of the apostles, bishops “together with the Supreme Pontiff and under his authority, have been sent to continue throughout the ages the work of Christ, the eternal pastor.” (Decree #2). They share in solicitude for all the churches of the world. In the particular diocese assigned to them, they exercise the duties of teaching, sanctifying and pastoral care as “those who serve.” (Decree, #16).

By reason of his office of bishop and his assignment as vicar general, the auxiliary bishop is one with the archbishop.

Legislative Authority

Legislative authority is vested in the archbishop, but the structure has been modified by the introduction of the consultative process. For the present, this process is carried out by (a) the Archdiocesan Consultors (in matters specifically detailed in present canon law); (b) the Senate of Priests (effective assistance to the bishop in his government of the diocese); and (c) the Archdiocesan Pastoral Council (in matters which bear on pastoral activity and their implementation).

In addition, Episcopal Vicars shall advise the archbishop in the general areas of clergy, religious and vocations. A Senate of Sisters (elected by them) shall propose and enact, with the archbishop, measures for the welfare of the religious.

Executive Authority - Administrative

Executive authority and actions are to be divided into administrative (funds and properties) and pastoral (the various departments).

In the administrative phase, the chancery is responsible for daily administration and operation, the duties of notary, and the custody of archdiocesan documents and records. Its head is the chancellor, a priest who represents the archbishop in these matters. The comptroller is a layman responsible to the chancellor for daily financial operation.

The Administrative Council (priests, religious, and laity, a majority of whom who are elected by their respective bodies, and a minority chosen by the archbishop) shall be responsible for the approval or disapproval of major financial actions (both income and expenditures) and report annually the fiscal condition of the archdiocese and parishes. The chancellor shall be the non-voting secretary of the council. With the archbishop’s approval, decisions of the council shall be final.

Executive Authority - Pastoral

Although the Archdiocesan Pastoral Council is chiefly concerned with legislative action, review of departmental programs and the process of appeal from parishes, it has its own pastoral implementation of Christian life. It shall be, therefore, directly responsible with the archbishop in such fields as liturgy and ecumenism.

In the pastoral phase, each area of work is to be carried out by a department: education, social service, communications, development and lay organizations. The secretary of the department represents the archbishop, but does not vote, and is responsible for the day-to-day operation of the department. The board of each department is to be set up in the same manner as the Pastoral and Administrative Councils.

In certain areas, where continued professional aid is needed, a commission may be established by the archbishop. Thus, the Pastoral Council will be served by Liturgy and Unity Commissions; the Board of Communications by a Georgia Bulletin Commission; and the Board of Development by a Commission on Property and Building.

Judicial Authority

Subject to the provisions of the revised Code of Canon Law (now in progress) the judicial branch shall be effectively separated from the other branches, with the presumption of law to be reformulated to favor persons rather than institutions.

Parish Structures

The purpose of the parish is to present to its members an identifiable community or family with which they might consciously associate themselves, and in which they will find the means to participate effectively in the salvific missions of the Church herself. “The laity are gathered together in the People of God and make up the Body of Christ under one head. Whoever they are, they are called upon as living members, to expend all their energy for the growth of the Church and its continuous sanctification, since this very energy is a gift of the Creator and a blessing of the Redeemer.” (Constitution on the Church, #33)

The means for channeling this energy is the parish, for through the parish especially are priests and people united in the love of God by the sacramental system of the Church. The present parish structure, however, may not always be the most effective means of achieving the sense of community needed in our day. This is due to a number of factors, including the relatively large size of some of the parishes as well as cultural and economic differences among the parishioners. It is strongly urged, therefore, that every parish develop imaginative ways of resolving this problem. In particular, consideration should be given to dividing the parish into smaller sections which would make it possible to draw together the people in a neighborhood. Masses offered in these neighborhoods could be the focal point around which the activities could be developed. Such a plan, however, must be supplemented by programs which will involve all the groups. For such programs will give the smaller parish groups a needed diversity and will also promote among them a greater degree of solidarity.

The growth and complex development of the metropolitan area of Atlanta have turned the present parish territories into a very inconsistent pattern. This Synod, therefore, directs that a study of this subject be started immediately. The revision shall be made as soon as possible.

In an earlier day, the Church established mission churches in Negro communities, not to segregate people but to reach and teach them. In some cases, this resulted in segregation due to human weakness on the part of white Catholics. The time is far overdue for us to eliminate any parish boundaries that might even appear to perpetuate “Negro parishes.”

The image of the parish is reflected in the relationship of the pastor and assistants. Hence the communications between them should be of a most perfect order. Both should be fully conscious of the oneness of their task. Both should have an acute awareness of their divergent outlook on problems due to differences of age and experience. A consciousness of what each one can contribute is the most effective means of forgoing a common bond between pastor and assistant to serve the members of the parish.

In our concept of the parish as a community or family, the role of the pastor as father and head of the family becomes increasingly evident. In a true family relationship, not only are advice and counsel present, but also discipline, firmness and responsibilities. So in the parish, the pastor should keep his parishioners fully informed on the life of the parish; he must work with them in providing for their needs; and he must give them the leadership needed to form them as a community which is truly committed to its mission in the world.

Enriching the Archdiocese of Atlanta are two parishes of Eastern Rites: Saint John (Melkite) and Saint Joseph (Maronite). Although these churches differ in ritual, customs and jurisdiction, we are blessed with this evidence of diversity and unity existing in the Universal Church.

In addition to the organizations which are needed for particular groups (e.g. men, women, youth), it is essential that every parish have organizational structures which will give the laity a continuing voice in the planning and execution of all parish policies and programs. Moreover, such structures will be an effective channel through which parish policies and programs can be explained to the entire parish family. They will also make available to the parish the talents and experience of its members.

These structures will include:

(1) The Parish Council:

In order to give unity to the entire parochial structure, both as a sign and as an effective administrative instrument, there should be in every parish an over-all coordinating council, to be called the Parish Council. Representatives of the various groups or organizations in the parish are to be members of this Council whose functions will be (a) to make known to the pastor the needs of all the parishioners; (b) to assist him in formulating policies and making decisions to satisfy those needs; and (c) to coordinate the activities of all the organizations of the parish, thus avoiding unnecessary duplication.

(2) Parish Board of Education:

The Parish Board of Education shall be responsible for all phases of educational program in the parish parochial school, school of religion and adult education. For this reason, the principals of both the parochial school and school of religion should be members, as well as other members of the parish who are elected for this purpose and an equal number of laymen who are chosen by the pastor for their talents and experience.

The function of the Board of Education is defined in the section on education which follows:

(3) Budget And Finance Committee:

Each parish shall establish an operational budget as well as the budgets of all parochial organizations which spend or authorize the expenditure of parish funds. Moreover, it will be responsible for all financial reports which must be submitted to the Archdiocesan Council of Administration and also to the parish. This committee will consist of members elected by the parish and an equal number chosen by the pastor because of their ability or experience in this field.

The concept of “shared exercise of authority” explained in Chapter 2 for the archdiocese applies also to the parish structures. Normally, the decision of the particular organizations will carry, subject to the veto of the pastor. The majority, however, if it is felt that the matter is of a grave or urgent nature, may appeal in writing to the Pastoral Council with notification to the pastor that this is being done.

In order that public opinion may develop and remain strong within the Archdiocese of Atlanta, this Synod herewith states that all meetings which pertain to the Catholic community, the community at large, or the parish community (with the exception of executive planning sessions) shall be open meetings to each community respectively, clearly announced as to time and place.

Lay Groups

In addition to the basic parish structures described above, our laity contribute to the mission of the Church by taking part in the work of many other organizations. These organizations with their varying purposes are important because they serve the needs of a wide variety of people. For this reason, they are to be encouraged, but their officers and moderators should always seek new ways of making them more relevant to the needs and problems of modern times. If an organization should cease to fulfill a real need in the Church or community, it should not be continued and the efforts of its members should be directed into other channels.

Our lay people, conscious of the need of working with all men of good will for the benefit of all in the community, are also to be encouraged to work as members of various civic organizations.

Especially important are the Archdiocesan Council of Catholic Men, Women and Youth which serve to coordinate and unify on an archdiocesan level the efforts of their parochial counterparts, the parish councils of men, women and youth.

Some of the lay organizations are almost exclusively oriented to the parish, such as the Christian Family Movement, the Legion of Mary, the parish unit of the Saint Vincent de Paul Society and the Holy Name Society.

Others cut across parish lines because (1) they serve archdiocesan needs (such as the Serra Club and the Theresians for Vocations, Saint Martin’s Council for Racial Affairs and the Particular Council of the Saint Vincent de Paul Society): (2) the needs of certain archdiocesan institutions (the hospital auxiliaries and boards); (3) the religious needs of the people of a number of parishes (the Cursillo, the Third Order Confraternities, the First Friday Club); and (4) the fraternal needs of people (the Knights of Columbus and the Catholic Business and Professional Women’s Association).

Special mention should be made of the Young Adults’ Council with units in many parishes.

The work of all lay groups is to be coordinated by the Archdiocesan Department of Lay Organization.