The chancellor acts as the chairman of the membership committee of the Knights of Columbus. The membership committee is responsible for screening and gaining new members into the order. The chancellor leads the committee in checking the qualifications of a potential member such as membership as a "practical" Catholic, membership in other parish organizations and performance of services that can be done by the laity such as being a deacon, lector, usher and others.
The Columbian Squires are the youth organization arm of the Knights of Columbus. The chancellor is also involved as a member of the ceremonial team that performs initiation or membership ceremonies for the Columbian Squires.
In the hierarchy of the Knights of Columbus, the Grand Knight and the Deputy Grand Knight are two of the highest positions in the order. The chancellor has to know these functions and take over responsibility in the absence of the grand knight and the deputy grand knight. The chancellor would then have to know the functions of both officers. The Grand Knight is responsible for the welfare of the council and the order, presides over council meetings, acts as ex-officio over the order's committees, and generally keeps the organization in good running order. The Deputy Grand Knight fills in during the absence of the Grand Knight and fulfills all duties assigned to him by the Grand Knight. The Deputy Grand Knight is also the chairman of the retention committee and is also a member of the advisory board.
The Knights of Columbus have a vocations program that has the responsibility of encouraging young men to take up priesthood or young women to enter the religious vocation. Some of the things that a vocations program work on include promotional materials and scholarship endowment. The chancellor may be called to act as the coordinator of the vocations program of the area or chapter where he serves.