Structure of the Order

Council Officer Roles

Grand Knight

• Presides over all council meetings

• Appoints program and membership directors

• Appoints committees as needed

• Countersigns orders for payment and checks

• Ensures the submission of all paperwork required by the Supreme and State Councils

• Maintains working relationships with the council’s chaplain, district deputy, field agent and general agent, as well as with other local service organizations (e.g. Habitat for Humanity, food pantries/soup kitchens)

• Has a working knowledge of the kofc.org website, Officers Online and Member Management

• Responsible for his council’s First Degree Team and the scheduling of frequent First Degree Ceremonials

• Additional information to assist the grand knight in the performance of his duties can be found in the Grand Knight’s Guide (#5085), the Knights of Columbus Leadership Resources (#5093) and the Method of Conducting Council Meetings (#10318). Further details are also available on the Fraternal Training Portal.

• The medal of office for the grand knight is an anchor suspended from a ribbon of purple. The anchor is symbolic of Christopher Columbus, the mariner, who is the patron of our Order. The anchor, for centuries, was also a variant form of the Cross and symbolizes Christian hope. The ribbon of purple symbolizes authority and justice.

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Chaplain

• A priest chosen annually by the grand knight, deputy grand knight and board of trustees

• Acts as spiritual adviser to the brother Knights and families of a council

• Provides his message to members at the beginning of the meeting as outlined in the Method of Conducting Council Meetings (#10318) or whenever it best suits his schedule

• He should attend meetings of the council — including officers’ meetings — whenever his schedule allows, as his advice is frequently needed

• Additional information on the role of the chaplain is contained in the Chaplain’s Handbook (#945).

• The medal of office of the council chaplain is a silver Isabella Cross, overlaid with a descending dove, suspended from a ribbon of black. This style of Cross is associated with Queen Isabel of Spain, promoter of the voyage of Christopher Columbus. A Cross is a symbol of hope through atonement, reminding Christians of God’s love in sacrificing his own son for humanity. The dove, emblem of the Holy Spirit, represents the gift of the Word of God. The ribbon of black represents strength and authority.

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Deputy Grand Knight

• Assists the grand knight with operation of the council

• Presides at council meetings in the absence of the grand knight

• Is recommended to serve on the council’s retention committee

• Has a working knowledge of the Knights of Columbus website, Officers Online and Member Management

• Performs other such duties as the grand knight may direct

• The deputy grand knight should be familiar with the Method of Conducting Council Meetings (#10318).

• The medal of office is a compass suspended from a ribbon of purple. A compass is the constant guide and companion to the mariner, and was an invaluable tool used by Columbus to guide him to the shores of the New World. The Knights of Columbus “compass of virtue” has 32 flame-like rays; each ray represents a virtue that people can aspire to emulate in their daily lives. The ribbon of purple signifies authority and justice.

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Chancellor

• Assists the grand knight and deputy grand knight with their duties, as assigned

• Is entrusted with strengthening the members’ interest in council activities

• Is recommended to serve as the chairman of the Admission Committee

• Performs other such duties as the grand knight may direct

• It is recommend for the chancellor to be familiar with the Order’s qualifications for membership, the Membership Document (#100) and the Member/Prospect Interest Survey (#1842).

• The medal of office of the chancellor is the Isabella Cross, overlaid with a skull and crossbones, suspended from a ribbon of black and white. The Cross represents atonement and the love of God, who sent to us his only begotten Son. The skull and crossbones are symbolic of man’s mortality and the vigilance required to remain faithful at all times. Through the unity of the council, brothers help each other remain steadfast in their faith. The ribbon of black and white signifies strength and goodness.

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Financial Secretary

• Is appointed by the supreme knight for a three-year term upon the grand knight and trustees’ recommendation

• Collects dues from members through the timely sending of billing notices and initiates retention measures by providing a list of delinquent members to the grand knight (to prevent members from being suspended for nonpayment of dues)

• Ensures that the council’s membership records, including email addresses, are kept updated and that new members sign the constitutional roll

• Receives honorary and honorary life membership cards from the Supreme Council and provides them to the grand knight for distribution

• Files various reports and membership/insurance transactions with the Supreme Council

• Has a working knowledge of the Knights of Columbus website, Officers Online and the Member Management/Member Billing Applications

• Responsible for completing and submitting a Form 990 for the council (U.S. only)

• Keeps the seal of the council and affixes it to membership cards, resolutions and other official documents

• Performs such other duties as the grand knight may direct

• Additional information on the duties and responsibilities of the financial secretary can be found in the Knights of Columbus Leadership Resources Book (#5093) and the Summary of Financial Secretary’s Responsibilities (#10238).

• The medal of office of the financial secretary is a key and quill surrounded by a laurel wreath, suspended from a ribbon of yellow and white. The key is associated with guardianship, while the quill is the symbol of a “scribe” — one who writes and keeps track of various letters and documents. The laurel wreath acknowledges the special service of the financial secretary to his council. The ribbon of yellow and white represents intellect and goodness.

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Recorder

• Responsible for keeping and maintaining a true and permanent record of all actions of the council, using a Recorder’s Minute Book (#1403)

• Maintains all correspondence of the council

• Reads the bills entered into the minutes for discussion

• Performs such other duties as the grand knight may direct

• The medal of office of the recorder is crossed quills suspended from a ribbon of yellow and white. The quills represent writing, knowledge and communication, and are also symbolic of the recorder’s duty to write and preserve letters and documents (records). The ribbon of yellow and white represents intellect and goodness.

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Treasurer

• Handles council funds

• Receives money from the financial secretary and deposits it in the proper council accounts

• Maintains all of the council’s checking and savings accounts

• Is responsible for paying all council expenses, including assessments from the Supreme Council

• Performs other such duties as the grand knight may direct

• The medal of office of the treasurer is crossed keys suspended from a ribbon of blue. The keys symbolize the guardianship of the funds of the council. The ribbon of blue represents truth and loyalty.

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Lecturer

• Is appointed annually by the grand knight

• Is responsible for providing suitable educational and entertainment programs under the “Good of the Order” section of council meetings

• Stays abreast of developments within the council’s charitable, membership and social programs

• Performs other such duties as the grand knight may direct

• The lecturer medal of office is a lyre and laurel branch suspended from a ribbon of blue and white. The lyre with the laurel branch are traditionally symbolic of music, literature and the arts. The ribbon of blue and white represents purity and faithfulness.

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Advocate

• Acts as parliamentarian for the council

• Has a working knowledge of Method of Conducting Council Meetings (#10318)

• Knows the council’s bylaws and the Order’s Charter, Constitution and Laws (#30)

• Has access to Officers Online and Officers Desk Reference

• Seeks legal assistance from the state advocate as needed

• Performs other such duties as the grand knight may direct

• The medal of office of the advocate is a scroll and sword, surrounded by a laurel wreath, suspended from a ribbon of gold. The opened scroll represents legal literature and signifies the power of knowledge, and the sword represents its defense and enforcement. Thus, it is the advocate’s role to not only know the laws of the council, but to also follow them strictly. The ribbon of gold represents faith, constancy and wisdom.

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Warden

• Supervises and maintains all council property

• Arranges the council chambers for meetings and degree exemplifications

• Oversees inside and outside guards

• Performs other such duties as the grand knight may direct

• The medal of office of the warden is an axe bound with a fasces, surrounded by a laurel wreath, suspended from a ribbon of red and black. The fasces was a traditional symbol carried by the protectors or guards of the Roman magistrates as a symbol of authority and protection. The ribbon of red and black represents strength and fidelity to duty.

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Inside and Outside Guards

• Attend the doors of the council chamber, checking for current membership cards and allowing entrance

• Perform other such duties as the grand knight may direct

• The medal of office of the council guards is crossed axes and a shield, marked with a key, suspended from a ribbon of white. The shield and axe are symbolic of protection, and key is emblematic of guardianship. The ribbon of white represents purity and diligence to duty.

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Board of Trustees

• Consists of the grand knight and three other members, who are elected by the membership for terms of three years, two years and one year

• At each regular election, the position of each trustee will be voted upon, with the current three- and two-year trustee potentially moving on to become the two- and one-year trustee, respectively

• Supervises all financial procedures of the council and conducts the semiannual audits

• Ensures that proper protocol and procedures are followed by the council for the payment of monies — however, cannot override the vote of the council’s membership.

• The trustee medal of office is composed of an axe and fasces overlaid with an anchor, positioned over crossed swords, surrounded with a laurel wreath and suspended from a ribbon of green. The fasces is an axe bound with rods. The swords symbolize justice and honor. The laurel wreath symbolizes special service. The trustees are generally past grand knights, and this is the reason for the anchor over the fasces. The ribbon of green symbolizes loyalty in love.