BOARDS
The Board of Deacons shall consist of eight members. The Deacons shall be elected for a term of four years, two Deacons, one woman and one man, being elected each year at the Annual Meetings, and shall be ineligible for re-election for a period of one year. The spiritual ministry of the Church shall be the overall responsibility of the Deacons. They shall support the Pastor by being aware of the needs of the congregation and keeping the Pastor so informed. The Deacons shall assist in supply for the pulpit. They shall assist the Pastor in carrying out pastoral duties in whatever ways are deemed appropriate by them and by the Pastor. Their concerns shall include all matters relating to worship and the care of the congregation. The Deacons shall be responsible for the evaluation of the ministry of the Church, including the professional ministry. In making these evaluations the Deacons should seek, in a structured manner, input from a broadly representative group of the Congregation. They shall also make recommendations to the Board of Trustees and the Church regarding financial support of the Pastor and Associate Pastor(s).
The Deacons shall oversee the work of the Flower, Hospitality and Music Committees. The Deacons may appoint a Head Usher who shall be responsible for assigning ushers for all Church services and instructing these ushers in the proper method of fulfilling their duties.
The Board of Trustees shall usually consist of six members, to be elected on a staggered basis, and to hold office three years each. The Board shall be responsible for the funds and property belonging to the Church. The Board also shall prepare the proposed annual budget for the ensuing year, to be represented to the Church Council for its review and approval at least one month prior to the annual meeting. The budget as so approved thereafter shall be represented to the Congregation for action at the annual meeting.
The Board of Trustees shall oversee the work of the Sexton, the Investment Committee, the Stewardship and Gifts Committee and the Treasurer.
The Board of Mission shall usually consist of six members to be elected on a staggered basis, and to hold office three years each. The Board shall promote and interpret the mission of the United Church of Christ and encourage congregational response to mission support through regular giving and special offerings. The Board shall be responsible for matters that relate the local Church to the larger church fellowship and to the world, specifically including:
A. The raising of Christian principles and social issues in the fields of international, national, governmental, civic, economic, intercultural, family and school affairs by means of reports to the Congregation, study sessions, work projects, or other means deemed appropriate; and
B. The active direction of the missions program by suggesting an amount of money for missions to be included in the budget, aiding in the raising of such money, and informing the Congregation as to the use of the money.
The Board of Christian Education shall usually consist of six members, to be elected on a staggered basis, and to hold office three years each. The Board shall have supervision and direction of the education work of the Church, including both youth and adult education, and, in the absence of an Associate Pastor having responsibility for Christian Education activities, shall appoint a Church School Coordinator. The Associate Pastor or Coordinator and the Pastor shall be members ex officio of the Board.
The membership of the Boards of Trustees,
COMMITTEES
The Committees of the Church shall include: a Flower Committee; a Hospitality Committee; and a Music Committee, all reporting to the Board of Deacons; an Investment Committee; and a Stewardship and Gifts Committee, all reporting to the Board of Trustees; the Woodworth Fund Committee; and a Nominating Committee. Committee members may serve two (2) consecutive terms. Those members who have served two (2) consecutive elected terms shall be ineligible for re-election for a period of one (1) year. Other temporary committees may be appointed by the Congregation or Church Council as needed. Each Committee shall report to the Church at the Annual Meeting.
The Flower Committee shall usually consist of three (3) members, to be elected on a staggered basis, and to hold office three (3) years each. The duties of the Committee shall be to provide flowers for the Church.
The Hospitality Committee shall usually consist of six (6) members, to be elected on a staggered basis, and to hold office three (3) years each. The duties of the Committee shall be to support, welcome and encourage participation in the Congregation by visitors and the present membership.
The Music Committee shall usually consist of three (3) members, to be elected on a staggered basis, and to hold office three years each. The duties of the Committee shall be to provide for the music of the Church.
The Investment Committee shall usually consist of three (3) members, preferably being persons with some investment or fund management experience, to be elected on a staggered basis, and to hold office three (3) years each. One or more of the members of this Committee may be persons serving contemporaneously as members of the Board of Trustees.
The duties of the Committee shall be to manage the investment and reinvestment of all funds of the Church the responsibility for which is assigned to the Committee by the Board of Trustees. The Committee shall monitor investment performance and recommend annual distribution amounts from these funds in accordance with spending rules adopted by the Church Council and subject to the terms of the original gifts. Any distribution recommendations made by the Investment Committee must be approved by the Board of Trustees in advance of the actual transfer of funds.
The Committee shall report the status of all funds under its management to the Congregation each annual meeting.
The Stewardship and Gifts Committee shall usually consist of six (6) members, to be elected on a staggered basis, and to hold office three (3) years each. Ex-officio members include the Collector and the Pastor. The duties of this Committee shall be to organize the annual
The Nominating Committee shall consist of three (3) members, one to be elected each year upon nomination by the Church Council, and to hold office three (3) years each. The duties of the Committee shall be to prepare a list of nominees for the elective offices of the Church and submit it at the annual meeting of the Church. The Nominating Committee will consult with each Board and each Committee regarding the number of nominees before making its annual nominations. Should a vacancy in any position occur during the course of the year, the Nominating Committee will recommend a candidate to the Church Council to fill the position for the remainder of the applicable term.
The G. Walter and Elizabeth C. Woodworth Fund Committee shall consist of five (5) members to be elected on a staggered basis at the annual meeting of the Church. Committee members will serve a term of three (3) years.
The Woodworth Fund Committee will receive and review proposals for financial support from the Fund. The Committee may announce and publish guidelines and rules governing eligibility for grants, application procedures, reporting requirements, and any other germane matters. The Committee will make recommendations for financial support to prospective recipients to the Church Council, which will make the final decisions. The Committee is authorized to make, without prior Church Council approval, individual grants of up to two thousand dollars ($2,000), and in the aggregate, totaling no more than ten thousand dollars ($10,000) in one calendar year, provided that the name of the grantee(s), the amount of the grant(s) and the rationale for the grant(s) are reported to the Church Council at the next meeting of the Church Council following the award(s). Individual grants for more than two thousand dollars ($2,000), or aggregating more than ten thousand dollars ($10,000) requires the prior approval of the Church Council. The Woodworth Fund Committee will keep the Congregation informed on the availability of funds, how to apply for funding, deadlines for submitting proposals, and submit an annual report to the Congregation at the annual meeting of the Church.
The Pastor and Associate Pastor may appoint Pastoral Relations Committee(s) as needed.
