WAIUKU & DISTRICTS COMBINED CHURCHES

 

CHURCH GOVERNANCE AND STRUCTURE

 

 

 

Council

 

Membership

 

The Council to comprise the 3 parish office bearers, 6 general councillors (with a minimum of 2 councillors from each of the Waiuku and the peninsula congregations) and the parish minister (total 10)

 

                        Chairperson

Secretary

Treasurer (also co-convenor of the finance committee)

6 general councillors

Minister*

 

*Note: Other parish pastoral staff report to the council through the minister but may be invited to attend council meetings.

 

At the first council meeting following the AGM, general councillors will be allocated responsibility as liaison councillors of the pastoral, property, Christian education, outreach and missions and opportunity shop standing committees and report on their behalf to council.  The Council will also appoint standing committee members and subsequently advise the congregation as to the composition of these committees.

 

Council may also appoint a minute secretary (a non-speaking, non-voting position) This person is not the Parish Council Secretary.

 

Council responsibilities (refer Red Book)

 

            a)         encouraging Christian commitment and devotion

b)                 ensuring effective pastoral care for all persons for whom the parish is responsible

c)                  fostering the mission of the congregation to the wider community

d)                 all relevant administration matters (refer Red Book 222.13 d-l)

 

Meeting Agenda

 

The regular Council meetings will give priority to the following responsibilities and reports on alternate months

 

Month A                                                          a and b responsibilities       

Pastoral committee report

                                                                        Worship committee report

Christian education committee report

                                                            Minister’s report

 

 

 

 

 

 

Month B                                                          c and d responsibilities       

Financial report

Property committee report

Outreach and Mission committee report

Opportunity shop report

Minister’s report

 

Council Executive

 

The executive comprises the Church officers plus the minister (any 3 forming a quorum).  In the event any matter requires urgent decision between regular council meetings the executive is authorised to act and report to the next council meeting. 

 

Parish Council chairperson’s responsibilities

 

·         Liaise with the minister in all necessary matters affecting the life and well-being of the parish

·         Chair parish council and congregational meetings

 

Parish Secretary’s responsibilities

 

·         Ensure parish council minutes are prepared and distributed promptly

·         Effect all necessary correspondence and reporting to JRC and parish denominational partners including annual advice to Presbytery and Synod of the name of the council representative.  (Note: If these persons are not elected councillors, they are deemed to be ex-officio members of council but without voting rights)

·         Ensure parish council decisions are communicated to and actioned by the appropriate committees

·         In association with the council chairperson prepare the monthly meeting agenda

·         In association with the council chairperson prepare an annual report to the congregation

·         Ensure HR documents are secure, and reviewed in a timely manner

·         Facilitate church publicity and maintenance of website

·         Maintain the parish activity calendar

 

Treasurer’s responsibilities

 

·         Oversee recording and banking of weekly offerings and any other income

·         Arrange payment of creditors and any other parish accounts

·         Make recommendations to the finance committee on investments

·         Prepare monthly financial management reports for the Finance committee

·         Prepare draft parish annual accounts, and after committee review arrange for audit.

·         Liaise with the pastoral committee in preparation and filing of annual financial statistics

·         Maintain all necessary financial records as required by the church or statutory authorities

 

 

 

 

Standing Committees

 

            Pastoral

            Worship

Christian Education

            Finance & Property

            Outreach & Mission

            Opportunity Shop

 

Committee membership

 

            Pastoral

·         Convenor appointed by the Church Council

·         3 members appointed by the Church Council (including 1 Peninsula representative)

·         “In Touch” co-ordinator appointed by the Church Council

·         Elders (ex officio) – from previous St Andrews parish

·         Minister

 

            Worship

·         Convenor – the Minister

·         3 members appointed by the Church Council

·         Music representative

 

Christian Education

·         Convenor – the parish assistant

·         2 members appointed by the Church Council

·         Sunday school representative

·         Youth group representative

                                                           

            Finance & Property

·         Treasurer (co-convenor)

·         Property co-convenor appointed by the Church Council

·         4 members appointed by the Church Council

·         (incl at least 1 peninsula rep)

·         Compliance officer appointed by the Church Council

 

            Outreach & Mission

 

·         Convenor

·         4 members appointed by the Church Council

·         Alpha representative appointed by the Church Council

 

            Opportunity Shop

 

                        Existing management committee

                        1 member appointed by the Church Council

 

 

 

 

 

 

Committee responsibilities

 

Note:   All committees will submit regular reports to the parish council and an annual report for the congregational AGM

 

Pastoral

 

·         Maintain the parish roll

·         Prepare and file the annual JRC statistical report

·         Establish and co-ordinate pastoral visitation networks

·         Where a pastoral matter requires particular confidentiality the committee may liaise with the parish council chair for guidance and/or resolution as appropriate

·         Support the minister(s) in the development and implementation of parish spiritual programmes and home groups

·         Facilitate the publication of the monthly In touch magazine

 

Worship

 

·         Discuss worship service arrangements with the minister(s)

·         Arrange rosters for vestry duty, organists etc

·         Assist the minister(s) with arrangements for special services (eg music, drama)

·         Liaise as necessary with those responsible for holy communion

 

Christian Education

 

·         Support Kidz Alive and Youth Group leaders

·         Support Mainly Music

·         Encourage the development of new education initiatives and submit proposals to the Church Council for approval

 

Finance

 

·         Manage and oversee all parish financial matters

·         Review and approve the monthly financial management report

·         Approve the draft annual parish accounts

·         Review and submit an annual budget

·         Prepare and file annual compliance report with JRC

·         Make recommendations to parish council on any other aspects of parish finances

 

Property

 

·         Maintain all parish buildings, chattels and grounds in good order and condition

·         Ensure all property complies with relevant statutory legislation

·         Oversee all capital expenditure works as approved by the parish council

·         Arrange insurance and other valuations as required

 

 

 

 

Outreach & Mission

 

·         Encourage the establishment and continuation of outreach programmes (eg Alpha)

·         Facilitate arrangements for the missions giving as may be approved by the parish council

·         Encourage the support of such outreach programmes as may be developed by parish partner denominations

·         Keep an overseas missionary focus before the congregation

·         Liaise with the pastoral committee re parish social activities

·