Article V - Church Council

Members of the council will be members in good standing who have demonstrated spiritual maturity and commitment to prayer, and who are active in the support of the total ministry of the church.

The council will consist of seven members, both men and women, who will be duly nominated and elected from the membership of the church. The Pastor will serve in an ex-officio capacity. Members elected to the council will serve for terms of two-years in such a manner that the terms of approximately one-half of the members will expire each year. Council members may succeed themselves only twice. In the event of the resignation of a council member, the council may appoint a replacement to fulfill the unexpired term until the next annual meeting. A person serving more than one year of an unexpired term will be considered to have served a full term.

Following the annual congregational business meeting the council will convene to appoint from its own number a chair, a vice-chair and a secretary; and from the membership outside the council, a financial secretary, a treasurer and such other officers as the council, church business meeting, or these by-laws may specify. These officers will be the corporate officers of the church.

The council in its administrative responsibility in cooperation with the pastor will fulfill the functions defined by the constitution and by-laws, including the following:

• Assist the pastor in nurturing the spiritual life of the church.
• Approve or establish administrative and ministry policies in conformity with the spirit of the church constitution and the church's mission and vision.
• Evaluate the total church program in a continuing basis and develop strategic planing for its future life and ministry.
• Supervise church membership, including recommendations relative to reception or removal of members.
• Annually review how the plans of the ministries for the coming year programs meet the goals of those ministries prior to budget preparation.
• Review, modify as needed and recommend to the congregation the annual budget and stewardship opportunities prepared by the ministries.
• Review and approve the church calendar and schedule of services.
• Annually appoint, or review and renew appointments of ministry chairs. These shall be members of the church who demonstrate a gift for leadership, show spiritual maturity, and have been active in ministry. The maximum term for a ministry chair shall be six years.
• Review requests for any new staff position. Act on any position of up to five hours per week. Recommend to congregation for authorization any new ongoing position over five hours per week.
• To fill ministry staff or administrative staff position authorized by congregation, appoint search committee in cooperation with pastor and appropriate ministry; review and act on search committee's recommendation.
• When a pastoral position (senior pastor or associate pastor) already authorized by the congregation is to be filled, recommend to the congregation names for a search committee. The pastoral search committee is then elected by the congregation and reports back to the congregation, as stated in Article II, Section 4. Call.
• Annually review recommendations of personnel ministry on personnel policies, job descriptions and schedule of staff.
• Appoint ad hoc committees as needed for specific purposes.

The purposes of this church will be carried out through ministries whose chairs are appointed by the council.

• For adults, five ministries will represent the five New Testament purposes for the church as follows:
  Worship
  Discipleship
  Fellowship
  Evangelism
  Service
• For children and for youth, a ministry for each will include and balance the five purposes of worship, discipleship, fellowship, evangelism and service, in an age appropriate way.
• For essential support of the general work of the church, the following ministries will function:
  Finance
  Property
  Personnel
  Communication
  Administration
• Goals and responsibilities for each ministry are initially written as policies by the council and revised from time to time with the input of the ministry.
• The appointed chair of each ministry will be responsible for directing all congregational activities which fall within that functional category, maintaining balance through consultation and cooperation with the pastor, staff and council.