The Pastoral Council is an eparchial consultative body established in accordance with the recommendations of the Second Vatican Council, especially the Decree Christus Dominus. Its purpose is to investigate, assess, and propose practical conclusions regarding matters that pertain to pastoral activity in the eparchy, under the authority of the eparchial bishop. Unlike the Eparchial Assembly, which is convened for a specific occasion and then concludes, the Pastoral Council is a permanent consultative body, established for a fixed term according to the statutes issued by the eparchial bishop. It does not cease with a single event, but continues its work over time, focusing exclusively on the pastoral life of the eparchy and on matters related to pastoral works, in order to suggest practical solutions.
According to the Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches (CCEO c. 272), the eparchial bishop is to establish a Pastoral Council only if pastoral circumstances in the eparchy so recommend. This means that the Pastoral Council is not a body that must be established in every eparchy, as is the case with the Presbyteral Council, which is required by law. Since the CCEO does not specify particular matters that must be discussed with the Pastoral Council, the bishop is not obliged by law to consult it on any given issue. However, it is highly advisable that the bishop listen to the Pastoral Council and seriously consider the practical suggestions it puts forward, in the spirit of pastoral discernment and communion.
The Pastoral Council is constituted and functions in accordance with the special statutes issued by the eparchial bishop. These statutes are to determine the term of office of the Council, the number of members, the manner of election, the frequency and conduct of meetings, the internal organization, and any committees or offices within the Council. In accordance with these statutes, the members of the Pastoral Council are to be chosen from among clerics, religious or members of societies of common life in the manner of religious, and laypersons. The Council should be composed of the Christian faithful of the eparchy, representing, as far as possible, a variety of individuals, associations, and other endeavors. The eparchial bishop may determine the appropriate proportions of clerics, religious, and laypersons, and may provide for members to be designated as ex officio, elected, or nominated. In short, the Pastoral Council ought to include representatives from all sectors of the eparchy’s life, so that it truly reflects the whole People of God in that eparchy.
If appropriate, the bishop may invite members of other Churches sui iuris to participate in the Pastoral Council, in addition to its regular members. In particular, it is suitable to invite members of other Churches sui iuris who have been entrusted to his pastoral care. No one should be appointed to the Pastoral Council except those Christian faithful who are outstanding in firm faith, good morals and prudence (CCEO c. 273 §4). Canon 512 §1 of the Code of Canon Law (CIC) further specifies that only those who are in full communion with the Catholic Church are to be designated to the pastoral council.
It belongs to the eparchial bishop to convoke the Pastoral Council as needed, to preside over it, and to publish the matters dealt with in it (CCEO c. 275). The Pastoral Council ceases to exist when the eparchial see becomes vacant (CCEO c. 274 §2). The new bishop is not obliged to retain the same members of the Council.
Rev. Dr. Mathew Souriamkuzhi
