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ST. JOHN UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST
READING, OHIO
B Y – L A W S
SECTION I
Obligation to the United Church of Christ
The delegate or delegates to meetings of the Association or Conference
shall be appointed by Council. The expense of the Pastor and delegates shall
be paid by the congregation.
Delegates to Cluster 3
shall be appointed by Council.
The congregation shall regularly contribute toward the support of the
United Church of Christ. Normally, this shall be given through the basic
support of OCWM, Our Church’s Wider Mission. Other denominational offerings
may be approved by Council or the particular board responsible for such
requests.
This congregation shall make such reports as are requested of it by the
denomination through the Pastor or other officers.
The fiscal and official year of the congregation shall be January 1 through
December 31.
SECTION II
Privileges and Responsibilities of Members
Privileges:
All members are entitled to a full share in the fellowship and the
spiritual blessings of the church, and to the services of its Pastor,
officials, and other workers, as well as to the Christian sympathy and
support of all members.
All members in good standing are entitled to voice, vote and office
unless otherwise stated in the Constitution or By-Laws.
Responsibilities:
Members joining the church are asked, "Do you promise to participate
in the life and mission of this family of God’s people, sharing regularly in
the worship of God, and enlisting in the work of this congregation as it serves
the community and the world?"
This church seeks to provide to people of all ages opportunity to worship,
to learn and grow in their faith, to serve and be served, to enjoy fellowship
with others, and to exercise their stewardship in support of the church and
its work.
To this attitude and these activities all members are called.
SECTION III
Congregational Meetings
The Annual Meeting of St. John United Church of Christ of Reading, Ohio,
shall be held on the third (3rd) Sunday of November each year under
the direction of the Council, unless the date is changed by direction of
Council.
Special meetings may be called by the Council, or upon the written request
of five percent of the members in good standing. Within two weeks of receiving
such a request, the Council shall meet, select a date for such meeting, and
issue a call. The call shall specify the time, place, and purpose of the
meeting. Two weeks minimum notice shall be given by mail. This meeting shall
occur not more than eight weeks after receipt of the request. Only such
business as has been mentioned in the call may be transacted at such special
meetings.
At a congregational meeting only members present who are in good standing,
as determined by the Board of Elders, may vote on issues or elections.
SECTION IV
Nominations and Elections
In the June meeting of the Council, the President shall appoint a committee
of three of the Council whose terms do not expire at the end of that year, who
shall serve as the Nominating Committee. This committee shall elect
a Chairperson
and then proceed to develop a list of potential
candidates for each Board and Council for approval by Council at the September
meeting, from which list the committee shall nominate at least one candidate
for each expiring position to be filled.
These names shall be published by Council by the first Sunday in October.
If, for some reason, the names cannot be finally approved by Council in its
September meeting, Council shall then either vote approval for said committee
to use their own discretion with the approval of the President; or, the
President shall call a special meeting of Council for approval of the slate of
candidates for publication on the first Sunday of October.
Elections shall be held at the Annual Meeting. In the election, the
candidates who receive the highest votes shall be declared elected to fill the
vacant offices.
Any member who has been a member of the congregation for a year is eligible
to be elected. No two members in the same
residence are to serve on the same Board at the same time.
In advance of the January Council meeting, the elected or appointed members
of Council and the four Boards shall be ordained and/or installed in office in
the presence of the congregation.
A Council member serves for a term of two years and may be re-elected for one
term. After serving two full terms on any
Board or Council, a member must step down for a year, although he or she may be
elected to another position in the church.
If a vacancy occurs on Council, Council shall select a replacement to
complete the unexpired term. This person then becomes eligible for election to
that office, if nominated.
Council may declare a seat vacant for reason of non-feasance in office and
select a replacement. Three consecutive unexcused absences shall constitute non-feasance.
Council shall arrange at the beginning of each new Council an orientation
program designed to unify and equip the Council for the work of the coming year.
SECTION V
Church Officers & Council
The Officers of the church shall be the Pastor, or Pastors, Council
President and Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer or Sec./Treas.
In addition to the above, the Council shall be composed of the Chairperson
of each Board and three at-large members from the congregation. If a Board
Chairperson is unable to attend a Council meeting, a representative
from the Board may be appointed for that particular meeting with the
understanding that the Board Chairperson is the permanent representative of
said Board to Council.
A quorum shall be one more than half of the total membership of the
Council.
The Council is to approve policies, provide for elections, call
congregational meetings and foster coordination and communication between the
Boards.
Council may appoint committees to foster its work.
Boards & Committees with their own budgets are to administer their own
duties in consultation with Council.
Council shall approve an annual budget for presentation to the
congregation.
In order to fulfill its duties, Council shall meet at least quarterly.
SECTION VI
CHURCH BOARDS
THE BOARD OF CHRISTIAN NURTURE
The Board of Christian Nurture shall have charge of the educational and
fellowship interests of the church. Its duties shall include, but not be limited
to, the following:
Religious Education
Determining an appropriate curriculum for the church school.
Recruiting and directing teachers for the church school program.
Developing and overseeing programs for the religious education for
youths and adults of the church.
Developing and overseeing a library for the church congregation.
Fellowship
Determining opportunities for fellowship with the membership including
event-related lunches or suppers, outings, and activities.
Organizing and overseeing fellowship activities for the youth of the
church.
Christian Nurture Staff
Employment
All aspects of staff responsibilities.
Supervised by the Pastor.
THE BOARD OF PROPERTY AND FINANCE
The Board of Property and Finance shall be responsible for all the property
and financial affairs of the church. It shall be the duty to act as the
stewardship arm of the church. Its charge is to oversee all personnel matters,
except the selection of the Pastor. The Board’s responsibilities shall
include, but not be limited to, the following:
Finance
Preparing the annual budget in consultation with the other Boards
and, following approval by the Council, presenting it at the Annual
Meeting.
Raising funds for the church by conducting a stewardship drive each
year.
Investing and preserving the church’s financial assets.
Approving the expenditure from any established fund.
Establishing practices and fee schedules for the renting of the
church and Fellowship Hall.
Property
Maintaining and improving all property, buildings, and equipment.
Providing adequate insurance coverage.
Caring for the church grounds.
Personnel
Hiring and evaluation of the paid personnel except the Pastor.
Engaging outside services to maintain and improve the property.
Reviewing salary proposals for all paid personnel, as recommended by
the appropriate Boards.
THE BOARD OF ELDERS
The Board of Elders, with the Pastor, shall be responsible for the spiritual
life of the church. Its duties shall include, but not be limited to, the
following:
Worship
Determining with the Pastor the time and order of Sunday Worship.
Assisting at the Sacraments of Baptism and Communion and at the
reception of new members.
Making decisions concerning sanctuary decorations and devotional
literature.
Overseeing the music program and providing substitute organists.
Scheduling and instructing ushers and greeters in their duties.
Overseeing the providing of flowers, candles, and other worship aids.
Pastoral Relations
Presiding at the Pastor’s reception into membership in this church
and at the Pastor’s service of installation.
Acting as liaison between Pastor and congregation.
Negotiating pastoral desires and concerns.
Evaluating the Pastor’s and the congregation’s goals and
performances.
Recommending the Pastor’s salary to the Board of Property &
Finance.
General Spiritual Welfare
Providing substitute and interim pastors.
Initiating and approving worship services for special occasions such
as Lenten services, Maundy Thursday, and Christmas Eve.
Planning and initiating programs for spiritual nourishment and
growth.
Determining and recommending monetary needs for spiritual life
programs and materials.
Evangelism and Church Growth
Setting the tone for friendliness and neighborliness.
Welcoming and caring for strangers.
Greeting new and old members.
Planning programs and materials to attract new members.
Integrating new members into church life.
Maintaining an accurate membership list.
Maintaining church discipline which includes determining criteria for
active and inactive status and requirements for members to be considered
"in good standing".
THE BOARD OF DEACONS
The Board of Deacons shall be responsible for the mission and stewardship
concerns of the church. Its duties shall include, but not be limited to, the
following:
Missions
To promote and support mission programs that are a part of Our Church’s
Wider Mission (OCWM).
Annually identify, promote,
and support yearly denominational offerings of
the board’s choice. To seek
out ways to minister to our local community.
To educate the congregation on world-wide concerns.
To educate and foster programs relating to matters of justice, peace,
environmental issues, etc.
Stewardship
To be the stewardship arm of the church by educating and fostering
programs relating to sound principles of Christian Stewardship.
To cooperate with the other Boards, as requested, in providing
literature which will help them to foster sound stewardship practices in
their responsibilities.
Terms of Office
A Board member shall be elected for a term of two years and may be re-elected
for a second term. At least one year must elapse before the person may serve on
the same Board after the second successive term. A person may serve on more than one Board at the same time but may not be chairperson of more than
one Board. In addition, the Council President, Vice-President, and
paid Staff
may not be chairperson of any Board.
SECTION VII
The Pastor
Term of Office: The term of office is indefinite. In order to terminate
the pastoral relationship, three months notice shall be given by either the
Pastor or the congregation unless other arrangements are agreed upon.
The Duties of the Pastor: The pastor is to preach, teach, administer
the sacraments, and be in the church as friend and advisor, to the end that
the church may be enabled to fulfill its mission under the leadership of the
Holy Spirit.
The pastor shall serve the church as Chief Administrator; shall advise in
administration of the office and custodial services; counsel and/or supervise
other professional staff, as agreed with Council.
The pastor will make a yearly report to the church. As the spiritual leader
of the church, the pastor is to be an example of one growing in love of God,
self, and others.
The Rights of the Pastor: The pastor is a member of the Church Council,
without vote and is ex-officio on all Boards and Committees of the church. No
other minister shall perform any religious ceremony in the church without the
pastor’s consent. Guest speakers during the absence of the pastor are to be
arranged by the pastor and the Board of Elders. The pastor’s salary shall be
paid promptly at least monthly in installments sufficient to relieve the
pastor of dignity of the calling, subject however, to the provisions of the
contract between the pastor and the congregation. Moving expenses of the
incoming pastor shall be borne fully by the congregation.
SECTION VIII
Use of the Church Building
The church shall be available without cost to members for funerals,
weddings, and other occasions appropriate to church use.
The Council shall establish fees to be charged for the use of the building
facilities for non-members in consultation with the Board of Property &
Finance.
Non-members are not to use the building unless proper insurance is
guaranteed, by either our own or their insurers.
SECTION IX
Amendments
The By-Laws may be amended in any duly called meeting of the congregation by
a two-thirds vote of the members present providing the proposed amendment has
been placed before the congregation in writing at its previous meeting or has
been called to the attention of the membership at least two months prior to such
meeting. Proposed amendments shall be referred to the Church Council which shall
consider them and report to the next duly called congregational meeting.
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