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Constitution
Preamble
We, the members of the First
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) of Washington, North Carolina, in
order to promote the work of the church in the spirit of Christ and thus
advance His kingdom, do hereby adopt this Constitution and these bylaws
on this 3rd day of the month of December in the year 2000.
ARTICLE I. NAME
The name of this organization
shall be the First Christian Church of Washington, NC, affiliated with
the denomination known as the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).
ARTICLE II. PURPOSE
The purpose of this church
shall be to proclaim the message of Jesus Christ and welcome all people;
to equip people with faith that enriches life; and to send persons out
in service to the community and world.
ARTICLE III. MEMBERSHIP
The membership of this congregation, as a part of the whole family of God
on earth, shall consist of the following: those who are now members of
the congregation; those who shall unite with it by confession of faith
in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, giving expression of their faith through
baptism by immersion and commitment to Him; and those who unite by transfer
of membership, thereby reaffirming their faith and commitment to Christ.
ARTICLE IV. RIGHTS,
PRIVILEGES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE CONGREGATION
The congregation shall:
· manage its affairs
under the Lordship of Jesus Christ;
· determine its faithfulness
to the gospel with respect to the beliefs of its members;
· own, control and
encumber its property;
· organize and carry
out the mission and witness of the congregation;
· establish its budgets
and financial policies;
· call its minister(s)
and other staff;
· participate, through
voting representatives, in regional and general assemblies of the Christian
Church (Disciples of Christ) in forming the corporate judgments of the
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).
The congregation shall demonstrate
voluntarily its mutual concern for the nurture, mission and witness of
the whole church, and, among other responsibilities, it shall:
· proclaim the gospel;
· administer baptism
and the Lord's Supper;
· provide for the
spiritual nurture of its members;
· grow in understanding
that the church is a universal fellowship;
· transcend barriers
within the human family such as race and culture;
· be faithful in
Christian stewardship, striving to share proportionately in providing resources
for the total life, work and witness of the Christian Church (Disciples
of Christ);
· choose voting representatives
to the general and regional assemblies of the Christian Church (Disciples
of Christ); and seek to realize the oneness of the church of Jesus Christ
through cooperation with other churches of the community and with present
and emerging ecumenical structures.
The congregation shall
sustain its minister(s) in faithfulness and honor, and in matters pertaining
to relationships with the minister(s) seek counsel from the executive regional
minister.
The congregation shall
exercise and enjoy all other rights, privileges and responsibilities requisite
or appropriate to carrying out its purpose.
ARTICLE V. OFFICERS,
GENERAL BOARD, ELDERS, DEACONS, TRUSTEES, CABINET, COMMITTEES
SECTION A. OFFICERS
The congregation shall
elect from its members a moderator, vice-moderator, secretary, and treasurer.
These officers shall be elected at the annual meeting of the congregation
and shall serve as officers of the congregation and the general board and
cabinet as set forth in the bylaws.
SECTION B. GENERAL
BOARD
The congregation shall
have a general board which shall be responsible to the congregation and
have authority to act on behalf of the congregation when it is not in a
congregational meeting.
The general board
shall be composed of members as set forth in the bylaws and for terms of
office therein stated.
The general board
shall be responsible for receiving reports from its minister(s), officers
and the various organizations within the congregation. It shall establish
by its action the program and budget of the congregation, subject to action
by the congregation at its annual meeting. It shall be responsible
also for conducting all legal business matters of the congregation and
carrying out such other responsibilities as may be defined in the bylaws.
Regular meetings of
the general board shall be held at least monthly except for June, July,
and August, beginning in January. Special meetings of the general
board may be called by the moderator or upon request of the minister(s)
or by 15 members of the general board. Notice of special meetings
shall be made by telephone or by announcement at a Sunday morning worship
service or by mail. The purpose, date, time and place of the meeting
shall be indicated in each notice.
SECTION C. ELDERS,
DEACONS,
The congregation shall
have elders and deacons composed of men and women. Their election,
qualifications, and responsibilities shall be as set forth by the bylaws.
SECTION D. TRUSTEES
The congregation shall
have trustees. Their election, qualifications, and responsibilities
shall be as set forth in the bylaws. (The trustees shall hold title
to all properties of the congregation, which shall normally include all
trust funds belonging to the congregation and shall manage the same under
the direction of the general board of the congregation; and shall perform
such other duties as may be required of trustees by the laws of this state).
SECTION E. CABINET
The congregation shall
have a cabinet which shall be responsible for coordinating the program
and work of the congregation and generally assisting the minister in administering
the same. It may also initiate programs. It shall be composed
of such members as set forth in the bylaws.
SECTION F. COMMITTEES
The congregation,
through its general board, shall establish departments and other organizations
necessary to conduct the work of the congregation as set forth in the bylaws.
ARTICLE VI. CONGREGATIONAL
MEETINGS
Congregational meetings
shall be held at least annually in the month of November. Notice
of all regular or special congregational meetings shall be announced at
a regular Sunday morning worship service of the congregation at least two
weeks in advance of the meeting and by means of the church newsletter or
a written notice sent through the mail and postmarked at least ten days
before the meeting. Purpose, date, time, and place of meeting shall
be indicated in each notice.
Bylaws
I. OFFICERS OF THE CONGREGATION
A. ELECTION AND TERM OF OFFICE
The congregation, at its
annual meeting, shall elect for terms of one (1) year the following officers:
a. Moderator of the congregation,
who also shall serve as moderator of the general board and cabinet.
b. Vice-moderator of the
congregation, who also shall serve as vice-moderator of the general board
and cabinet.
c. Secretary of the congregation,
who also shall serve as secretary of the general board and cabinet.
d. Treasurer of the congregation,
who also shall serve as treasurer of the general board.
B. QUALIFICATIONS
1. Officers must be members
of the congregation.
2. Officers must be active
in the congregation's life and give evidence of seeking to grow in their
own understanding and practice of the Christian life. Such evidence
would include the following:
a. Conduct of one's life
in light of the teachings of Jesus Christ.
b. Promotion of good will
and Christian fellowship in the congregation and community.
c. Attendance at the worship
services and regular meetings of the congregation.
d. Regular financial contributions
to the support of the congregation and its outreach program.
e. Willingness to fulfill
assignments in behalf of the congregation.
f. Demonstrated skills or
evident potential in carrying out responsibilities of the particular office.
C. RESPONSIBILITIES
1. The moderator shall preside
at all regular and special called meetings of the congregation, general
board, and cabinet and perform such other duties normally associated with
the office of moderator.
2. The vice-moderator shall
serve to support the moderator, preside in his or her absence at meetings
of the congregation, general board, and cabinet and perform such other
duties normally associated with the office of vice-moderator.
3. The secretary shall keep
accurate minutes of all meetings of the congregation, general board, and
cabinet and provide for these minutes to be reviewed and approved by their
respective bodies.
4. The treasurer shall:
· receive a report
of all income of the congregation from the financial secretary;
· pay all accounts
of the congregation as authorized by the budget or special action of the
general board when such items are not in the budget;
· manage the budget;
· instruct departments
and committees on the proper procedure for the expenditure of funds;
· ensure adequate
internal control for the handling of monies;
· provide accurate
records of all expenditures;
· make regular written
reports to the general board;
· provide for an
annual audit of both income and expenditures for action by the general
board and the congregation.
II. GENERAL BOARD
A. MEMBERSHIP
1. Membership of the general
board shall be composed of the officers of the congregation, elders, deacons,
trustees, chairpersons of standing committees and the chief elected officers
of major constituency groups of men, women, and youth.
2. The minister(s) of the
congregation shall serve as member(s) ex officio.
B. ELECTION AND TERM OF OFFICE
1. Officers of the congregation
shall serve on the general board by virtue of office held and for their
current term of office. They shall serve the general board, as well
as the congregation, as moderator, vice-moderator, secretary, and treasurer.
2. The congregation each
year for a term of three years shall elect one-third of the elders, deacons,
and trustees. After serving one term on the general board they shall
be ineligible for re-election in the same position to the general board
until one year has elapsed.
3. Chairpersons of departments
established by the general board and the chief elected officers of major
constituency groups of men, women, and youth shall be members of the board
by virtue of their office and for their current terms of office.
C. AUTHORITY
1. The general board shall
perform its duties according to the authority granted in the constitution
or otherwise delegated to it by the congregation.
2. In keeping with the traditions
of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), the ultimate authority of
the congregation shall rest with the congregation. All organizations
within the congregation shall be responsible to and report regularly to
the general board and through it to the congregation.
3. The general board shall
concern itself with policy rather than administrative matters, taking into
full account the responsibility of the congregation to the total nurture,
witness, and mission of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and
the needs of the immediate community in which the members of the congregation
live.
4. All business meetings
of the general board shall be governed by Robert's Rules of Order (Revised)
5. 25 per cent of the members
of the general board shall constitute a quorum.
D. RESPONSIBILITIES
1. The general board shall
conduct its affairs in harmony with the constitution and the bylaws of
the congregation.
2. The general board shall
be responsible for conducting the business affairs of the congregation
and providing for the planning, coordination, resourcing, evaluation, and
implementation of the work and activities of the congregation.
3. The general board shall
establish departments related to the basic characteristics of the congregation,
as follows: WORSHIP, EVANGELISM AND CHURCH GROWTH, CHRISTIAN EDUCATION,
CHRISTIAN ACTION AND COMMUNITY SERVICE, MEMBERSHIP, WORLD OUTREACH, STEWARDSHIP
AND FINANCE, AND PROPERTIES.
a. The general board shall
name members of the departments and establish terms of office.
b. The moderator of the
general board shall appoint the chairperson of each department, with ratification
by the general board.
4. The general board shall
establish, when necessary, a pulpit committee for the purpose of securing
a minister for the congregation. Membership and responsibilities
of the pulpit committee shall be described in Bylaw III, B.
5. The general board shall
establish standing committees.
6. The general board shall
establish other committees as needed for the conduct of its work.
7. The general board shall
receive regular written reports from its committees and from other organizations
within the congregation; and it shall act upon such reports with approval,
disapproval, modification or referral back to the respective committee
or other organization.
8. The general board shall
receive the proposed annual budget of the congregation from the stewardship
and finance committee and recommend its approval or approval with amendment
to the congregation at its annual meeting. Subsequent requests for
additional funds from organizations within the congregation shall be approved
or disapproved by the general board.
9. The general board shall
recommend to the congregation the calling of the minister(s) and the employment
of other staff.
III. MINISTER(S)
A. RESPONSIBILITIES
1. The senior minister of
the congregation shall be the chief administrator of the congregation,
and, in cooperation with the moderator of the congregation and the general
board, encourage orderly procedures in the life and work of the congregation
in compliance with the congregation's constitution and bylaws and the policies
and procedures of the congregation and the general board.
2. The senior minister shall
give special attention to the selection and training of the congregation's
leaders.
3. The senior minister shall
be an ex officio member of all boards, committees, departments, commissions,
task groups, and constituency groups of the congregation.
B. SELECTION
The minister(s) shall be
chosen by the congregation as hereinafter described:
a. A pulpit committee shall
be appointed by the general board. It shall be composed of the chairpersons
of the elders, deacons and representatives of the major constituency groups
of men, women and youth of the congregation.
b. The pulpit committee
shall utilize the services of the congregation's executive regional minister
for information and counsel concerning prospective candidates.
c. The pulpit committee
shall recommend a prospective minister to the general board.
d. The general board, at
a regular or called meeting, may approve the recommendation of the pulpit
committee by at least two-thirds majority of those present and voting.
Upon approval, the general board shall recommend employment of the prospective
minister to the congregation.
e. The congregation, in
a regular or called meeting, may approve the recommendation of the general
board by at least a two-thirds majority of members present and voting.
f. Upon approval of the
congregation, a call shall be extended to the prospective minister by the
general board, in behalf of the congregation.
C. TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT
1. An agreement of employment
setting forth the salary to be paid to the minister and other conditions
of the call shall be provided the minister, with a copy filed in the church
office and the regional office.
2. The term of ministry
shall be for an indefinite period and may be terminated upon sixty (60)
days' notice in writing.
D. RESIGNATION
1. Voluntary resignation
of the minister shall be submitted to the general board, in writing, after
consultation with the moderator and the elders.
2. Involuntary resignation
of the minister shall be dealt with confidentially between the minister,
the moderator, the elders, and regional executive minister.
3. The general board shall
approve the resignation, voluntary or involuntary, of the minister, by
at least a two-thirds majority of members present and voting, and shall
recommend approval to the congregation.
4. The congregation, in
a regular or called meeting, shall take final action in approving or disapproving
the resignation of the minister.
IV. ELDERS, DEACONS, TRUSTEES
A. ELECTION AND TERM OF OFFICE
The congregation, at its
annual meeting, shall elect for terms of three (3) years, the following:
elders, deacons, and trustees.
B. QUALIFICATIONS
The qualifications for elders,
deacons, and trustees shall be the same as described for the officers of
the congregation in Bylaw I. B.
C. RESPONSIBILITIES
1. Elders primarily shall
be responsible for the spiritual life and development of the congregation,
preside at the Lord's Table, assist and share with the minister(s) in the
conduct of his or her pastoral and priestly functions and provide supportive
counsel for the minister(s) regarding the spiritual life and development
of the congregation.
2. Deacons primarily shall
be responsible for the maintenance and growth of the congregation through
its individual members and corporate life in witness in the community and
the world.
3. Trustees shall hold title
to the property of the congregation and act as legal agents for all related
matters at the direction of the general board. All new endowments
and memorials which are for special projects or needs of the Church will
first be presented to the Trustees for review before being presented to
the General Board.
V. CABINET
A. MEMBERSHIP AND MEETINGS
1. The cabinet shall consist
of the moderator, vice-moderator and secretary of the congregation (who
serve the general board and cabinet in similar fashion), the minister(s),
the chairpersons of the standing committees, the chief elected officer
of each major constituency group of men, women, and youth, and such other
persons as may be appointed by the moderator.
2. Meetings of the cabinet
shall occur upon the call of the moderator.
B. RESPONSIBILITIES
The cabinet shall consider,
initiate, coordinate, and review the procedures of implementing activities
and programs established by the general board.
VI. DEPARTMENTS
1. WORSHIP
A. It shall be the purpose
of this department to lead the membership in a genuine experience of worship
in the public services and to enrich personal and family devotional life.
B. It shall be responsible
for:
· public worship
of the church
· administration
of baptism and the Lord's Supper
· music
· greeting, ushering
· mid-week and special
prayer services
· encouragement of
the devotional life among individual members and homes of the church.
C. Other duties as specified
by the General Board.
2. CHRISTIAN EDUCATION
A. It shall be the purpose
of this department to develop an effective program of Christian education
for the entire constituency of the church in keeping with the general objectives
of Christian education.
B. It shall be responsible
for planning and administering the total educational program of the church,
including
o Sunday school
o church pre-school
o youth activities
o mid-week educational projects
o leadership education
o distribution of Christian
literature
o fostering Christian home
life
C. It shall also cooperate
with other groups of the church such as the World Outreach Department in
planning an educational program.
D. Other duties as
specified by the General Board.
3. EVANGELISM AND CHURCH
GROWTH
A. It shall be the purpose
of this department to develop and cultivate a climate for evangelism and
church growth, creating, promoting, and sustaining a year-round program
for evangelism and growth.
B. It shall be responsible
for:
· planning and administering
special evangelistic projects at appropriate times throughout the
year which create interest in evangelism and church growth in every age
level and every phase of church life.
· maintaining adequate
and accurate evangelistic/church growth prospect rolls and
cultivating each prospect in developing a growing interest in the church.
· enlisting and training
consecrated and capable church members whose talents can be used in the
program of personal evangelism and church growth sponsored by the department.
C. Other duties as specified
by the General Board.
4. MEMBERSHIP
A. It shall be the purpose
of the department to maintain the closest possible contact with the entire
church membership to the end that each member may function effectively
in the life of the church; and to develop a spirit of comradeship and love
within the congregation founded on a common love for Christ.
B. It shall be responsible
for:
· the pastoral oversight
of the membership
· assisting the church
office staff in keeping accurate up-to-date records
· promoting visitation
projects
· calling on the
indifferent, the sick, and the unfortunate and organizing others to do
likewise
· providing an adequate
program of social life for the church
· giving publicity
to church life and activities.
C. It shall be responsible
for assimilating new members into the life and fellowship of the church.
D. Other duties as specified
by the General Board.
5. WORLD OUTREACH
A. It shall be the purpose
of the department to create and foster a world vision within the church
and its auxiliary organizations and to lead in planning and administering
the world work program of the church.
B. It shall be responsible
for:
· planning and promoting
a definite program of missionary education in every department of the church
· recommending the
church's annual missionary and benevolent budget
· enlisting support
for missions and brotherhood causes
· promoting conventions,
conferences and retreats
C. Other duties as specified
by the General Board.
6. STEWARDSHIP AND
FINANCE
A. It shall be the purpose
of the department to develop within the membership an understanding of
the full meaning of Christian stewardship and so to direct the financial
program of the church that it will not only supply the financial needs,
but prove a means of spiritual enrichment and character building for each
one participating.
B. It shall be responsible:
· for keeping alive
in the congregation the realization of its stewardship obligations
· promoting stewardship
education
· supervising the
preparation of the church budget
· keeping accurate
records
· supervising the
reporting of all individual contributions to individual givers and
at least monthly reporting income and expenditures to the congregation
· providing for an
annual audit of the records
· encouraging endowments
for future development in the church and world work.
B. Other duties as specified
by the General Board.
7. PROPERTIES
A. It shall be the purpose
of the department to care for all properties of the church.
B. It shall be responsible,
in cooperation with all the trustees, for:
· keeping all property
and equipment in proper condition
· studying needs
and making recommendations for improvements
· superintending
the work of the custodian in cooperation with the senior minister
· caring for grounds
· keeping the properties
adequately insured against possible loss or damage
C. Other duties as specified
by the General Board.
8. CHRISTIAN ACTION AND COMMUNITY
SERVICE
A. It shall be the purpose
of the department to lead the church in making witness to their faith through
the various social agencies in their community, state, nation, and world
which minister to any human need.
B. It shall be responsible
for:
· quickening the
social conscience of the congregation on facing any human need
· planning procedures
on how the church can express its concern in deeds as well as in word.
C. It shall keep in touch
with our national and world projects of social welfare and lead the church
in cooperating with these worthy programs.
D. Other duties as specified
by the General Board.
VII. CONSTITUENCIES
1. CHRISTIAN WOMEN’S
FELLOWSHIP
A. It shall be the purpose
of the Christian Women's Fellowship to provide opportunities for spiritual
growth, enrichment, education, and creative ministries enabling women to
develop a sense of personal responsibility for the whole ministry of the
church.
B. It shall be responsible
for:
· ministering to
the sick and infirm
· bringing comfort
to the bereaved
· actively supporting
church programs
· enhancing the environment
of the church
· sharing resources
and joining other Christian women in addressing the needs in our community
2. CHRISTIAN MEN'S
FELLOWSHIP
A. It shall be the purpose of the Christian Men's Fellowship to win people
to faith in Jesus Christ by undergirding all functions of the church.
B. It shall,
with God's help:
1. Minister to the church and the community
2. Provide servanthood opportunities to all
3. Affirm that God's love and grace is for all
3. CHRISTIAN
YOUTH FELLOWSHIP
A. Christian Youth Fellowship
is a service organization for youth who are in 9th through 12th grades.
B. It shall be the purpose
of the Christian Youth Fellowship to foster spiritual growth through study,
fellowship, responsibility, and service to our denomination, local church,
and other religious and civic organizations.
VIII. COMMITTEES
1. NOMINATING
A. Prior to the May General
Board meeting the Moderator, in consultation with the senior minister,
shall appoint a nominating committee to nominate candidates for officers
of the church. This committee shall include the Vice Moderator, the
chair of the Elders and one other elder, the chair of the Deacons and one
other deacon, two members from the church at large, and the presidents
of the Constituency Groups. The appointments shall be presented for
approval to the General Board at its May meeting.
B. The appointments shall
be announced in the next issue of the "Church Newsletter" and from the
pulpit. All suggestions for nominations from the church shall be
in the hands of the nominating committee by the second Sunday in September.
C. The committee shall consider
qualifications, present to each nominee a description of the job they are
being asked to accept, secure consent to serve from nominees and prepare
a slate of officers to be presented to the October General Board meeting.
The nominees are then presented to the church for approval at its annual
business meeting in November.
1. The nominees for the offices
of Moderator and Vice Moderator shall be required to have served at least
the prior year as a member of the General Board.
2. No incumbent Elder, Deacon,
or Trustee shall be eligible for the succeeding year after the expiration
of his/her term.
3. No one shall be eligible
for election as Elder until he/she has served as a Deacon.
D. Vacancies in any office
of the church shall be filled for the unexpired term by the Moderator in
consultation with the Chairperson of the Elders and the Senior Minister
with the approval of the General Board.
E. The Nominating Committee,
in consultation with the senior minister and with the approval of the General
Board, shall select the chairpersons of the Elders and the Deacons.
2. STAFF RELATIONS
The purpose and duties of
the Staff Relations Committee are as follows:
1. The purpose of the Staff
Relations Committee is to ensure a cordial and cooperative spirit in the
relationship between the congregation, the General Board, and the staff
members. The Staff Relations Committee will represent the staff at
General Board meetings, the Stewardship and Finance Committee during the
annual budget building time, and before the congregation.
2. The Staff Relations Committee
shall be recommended for election by the Nominating Committee along with
other nominations for church offices and shall be elected by the congregation
during the annual meeting.
3. There shall be five members
of the Staff Relations Committee, three to be elected on odd calendar years
and two to be elected on odd calendar years two years later. The
term of office will be four years. The chairperson of the Staff Relations
Committee will be elected by the committee in the first meeting of each
calendar year.
4. The Staff Relations Committee
will recommend to the General Board all persons, with the exception of
the ordained ministers, for employment by the church. Search Committees
shall be appointed by the Moderator for selection of the Director of Music
and the Organist when one of those positions becomes vacant. The
respective search committee will make its recommendation to the Staff Relations
Committee for employment of the Director of music or the Organist before
the candidate is presented to the general board for appointment.
The Church Secretary and the Financial Secretary shall be selected by the
Staff Relations Committee following interviews and recommendation for employment
by the Senior Minister. Candidates for the position of Church Secretary
and Financial Secretary shall be presented to the general board for approval
by the Staff Relations Committee. When the vacancy involves the custodian
, the Properties Department shall serve as the search committee and will
make a recommendation to the Staff Relations Committee which will then
present the candidate to the general board for employment.
Employment shall be by a majority vote of the General Board members present
and voting. All employees are to be under the daily supervision of
the Senior Minister.
5. The Staff Relations Committee
will keep job descriptions and set terms of employment for all staff except
the Senior Minister. All staff members will have a written letter
of agreement related to their employment presented to them by the Staff
Relations Committee following approval by the General Board. The
Associate Minister will be called by the congregation in a regular or called
meeting of the congregation. Following the call of the Associate
Minister, the Letter of Calling will be presented to the Associate Minister,
the Regional Office, and placed in the records of the First Christian Church.
6. This committee will meet
quarterly with the Associate Minister to discuss office hours, vacation,
days off, and progress on the annual goals. The Associate Minister
will establish annual goals each January and will discuss them with the
Senior Minister and the Staff Relations Committee prior to their approval.
During quarterly meetings, the Associate Minister will share with the committee
progress on the annual goals or ministry-related needs.
7. Members of the staff
will be invited to meet with the Staff Relations Committee if there are
needs they wish to present to the Committee. The Committee will review
the annual evaluations of each staff member made by the Senior Minister.
The Staff Relations Committee will also evaluate each staff member following
the guidelines for evaluations established by the Senior Minister evaluation.
All evaluations will be based on job descriptions and annual goals.
The Staff Relations Committee will make timely recommendation to the Stewardship
and Finance Committee about cost-of-living adjustments and merit raises
to be included in the annual tentative budget.
8. The Senior Minister shall
serve as an ex-officio member of the Staff Relations Committee. On
rare occasions the Senior Minister will leave the meeting if a staff member
has a sensitive issue made difficult to express in the Senior Minister’s
presence. The Staff Relations Committee will seek to be in harmony
and concert with the Senior Minister as they strive to be an effective
team in supervising and evaluating staff performance, establishing annual
staff goals and making adjustments in job descriptions.
9. Anonymous letters, calls
or information will not be a part of the business of the Staff Relations
Committee. Members of the congregation who have concerns about a
staff member other than the Senior Minister will address them to the Staff
Relations Committee in one of the quarterly meetings of the committee.
Confidentiality shall be maintained in personal issues related to all staff
members.
3. PASTORAL RELATIONS
A. The purpose of the Pastoral
Relations committee is to:
· provide a focused
relational support group to the senior minister and his/her family through
planned active listening in a supportive environment with trust and confidentiality
· promote constructive
communication between the senior minister and the congregation
· annually review
the church responsibility for material and spiritual support of the senior
minister
· counsel and support
the senior minister in continuing professional education for personal growth
· initiate appropriate
activities and/or events upon retirement or termination of ministerial
duties
· adopt the senior
minister's goals for the year in accordance with the job description and
to review the status of each goal at the end of the years
B. Appointment. The
moderator in consultation with the senior minister shall appoint members
of this committee in December.
C. There shall be six members
of the Pastoral Relations Committee, two to be appointed each year for
staggered three year terms. The committee in the first meeting of each
calendar year will elect the chairperson of the Pastoral Relations Committee.
4. AD HOC COMMITTEES
The Moderator shall appoint
Ad Hoc committees as needed.
IX. AMENDMENTS
This Constitution and these
bylaws may be amended, upon a majority vote of the general board recommending
amendment(s) to the congregation and by a majority vote of the congregation
in regular or special meeting, provided the proposed amendment(s) has been
circulated to the congregation by mail or read before the congregation
at the regular worship service two weeks prior to the meeting of the congregation
at which the amendment(s) is to be considered.
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