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All Catholic parishes in Wisconsin are incorporated under Wisconsin Statute Sec. 187.19. The parish corporation is a civil body created primarily for legal reasons. The corporation administers all the temporal matters that are affected by civil law such as when the parish acquires or sells property, executes a building or remodeling project, investment management, or lends or borrows money. In the Diocese of Green Bay, each parish is its own corporation. The parish “Corporation” is made up as the Bishop of Green Bay, Vicar General of the Diocese, the pastor, and two elected lay trustees, who are referred to as Secretary and Treasurer Lay Trustees.
According to civil law, two lay trustees must be elected every two years by members of the parish and approved by the bishop or appointed by the pastor. The Diocese of Green Bay recommends the parishes institute term limitations of trustees; however, this is not required. The signatures of the Pastor and one of the trustees is required on all parish checks. The Treasurer Lay Trustee is also a member of the Finance Council and the Secretary Lay Trustee serves as a member of the Parish Pastoral Council.
It is the responsibility of the Trustees, along with the Pastor, to review and approve the annual parish budget.
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