Team Descriptions

RESPONSIBILITIES OF COUNCIL

President

1. See that the stipulations of the Church Order are followed.

2. Be certain that any motion considered by either the Council or the Congregation is clear, understandable or that the body knows its precise meaning.

3. Prepare the agenda for Council meetings.

4. Prepare, with the Council, the agenda for Congregational meetings.

5. Preside at meetings of Council.

6. Preside at Congregational meetings.

7. Sign any necessary legal and/or contractual agreements on behalf of the Church.

Vice-President

The Vice-President is to fill the role and undertake the responsibilities of the President or Clerk when they are unable to do so.

Clerk

1. Take official minutes at each meeting of Council and Congregation.

2. Oversee quality and accuracy of official correspondence of the Church.

3. Maintain the record book of policies and procedures and see that new personnel are given the appropriate material.

4. Maintain the church membership records [see Articles 66, 68 of the Church Order].

5. Give the Home Mission Board secretary addresses of families moving where no CRC is located.

6. See to the proper filing and safekeeping of church records.

7. Report yearbook statistics as of August 31 and due to the office of the denominational Executive Secretary by October 15.

8. Assure corporation status papers are filed by April 15th of each year.

9. In January sign the tax exemption application on church and parsonage at the Assessor’s office.

10. Send thank you letters for special contributions from persons and churches not in attendance [appreciation for other special gifts should be put in the bulletin].

GENERAL POLICIES FOR ALL MINISTRY TEAMS

1. Each team shall have a chairperson appointed by the Council.

2. Each team shall determine a meeting schedule preferably monthly [but at least once a quarter].

3. Meetings shall be announced in the bulletin and placed on the monthly calendar.

4. The chairperson may call special team meetings.

5. Fellowship Team and Building and Grounds Team shall prepare a written quarterly report for Council. All other teams shall keep regular minutes of their meetings and submit them to the next scheduled meeting of Council. They should be distributed to each member of the team and Council.

6. Decisions that might be controversial or involve major changes must be submitted to the Council for approval before implementation.

7. Before the October meeting of Council, teams should evaluate their goals and activities before the next fiscal year and prepare a budget; they must present this budget to Council by Sept. 1st.

8. Team terms are one year, beginning in June. Membership on a team may come about through the willingness to serve, (or serve another term) or the solicitation of volunteers by the chairperson or Council.

9. The pastor may attend team meetings and serve as adviser to each team.

10. Teams, in fulfilling their jobs and responsibilities shall make every attempt to draw on the gifts and time of others in the church and community.

11. Teams shall be free to operate within their approved annual budget; permission to exceed the budget must be obtained from Council before additional expenditures are made.

12. Each team shall review its mission and responsibilities twice a year. Suggested changes must be brought to the Council as recommendations.

13. The abuse policy shall be reviewed annually by each team and implemented as appropriate for that team.

14. Each team shall review the church’s mission statement, core values and their own vision statement twice a year. They shall discuss how that team’s efforts and activities are helping to implement the church’s mission.

15. Create and propose a team budget to the Council by their September meeting.

BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS MINISTRY TEAM 

Purpose:  To pray, plan and work for action that cares for the Church properties in such a way that an attractive image in the community is maintained and the other ministries of the Church are properly equipped and maintained.

Responsibilities*:

1. This team shall be responsible for the maintenance, security and repair of all Church buildings, grounds, furnishings, facilities, equipment and signs.  This includes:

   1. Maintaining indoor and outdoor lights and time clocks

   2. Arranging for semi-annual church and grounds cleaning

   3. Arranging for cleaning or replacing furnace filters and oiling the blower motors

   4. Arranging for preparing, planting and watering flower beds and shrubs

   5. Arranging for snow removal from parking lot and sidewalks.

2. The entire team shall examine the Church periodically, Church grounds and other property owned by the Church as to the need for repair, replacement of new facilities and report the same with recommendations to Council.

3. They shall supervise the work of the custodian, receiving suggestions from and making recommendations to this person[s].

4. They shall receive all requests for outside use of any church facility and obtain concurrence from Council.

5. They shall maintain an inventory of Church keys.

6. They shall make an annual appraisal prior to renewal date of insurance policies and report suggestions or changes to Council.

7. The team is responsible for the purchase of cleaning and maintenance supplies (including bathrooms).

*See General Policies for all Ministry Teams

EDUCATION MINISTRY TEAM

Purpose: to pray, plan (including budget), and work out activities that nurture both children and adults in the knowledge of God and His ways so that they will profess Christ as Savior and Lord and be His witnesses, and to continually look for opportunities to impact the Church and community through Bible study, fellowship and wholesome activities.

Responsibilities*:

1. Sunday school —

2. Recruiting teachers.

3. Supervising the purchase of study materials and supplies

4. Approving class divisions.

5. Bible Clubs and youth groups –

6. Organizing, including recruitment of staff

7. Planning periodic activity nights

8. Children –

9. Coordinating staffing and supplies for the nursery.

10. Assessing possibility of VBS for our church, or in conjunction with other churches.

11. Planning substitute summer activities for children if VBS is not held.

12. Overseeing the nursery attendant [yearly contract, supervision]

13. Adults –

14. Securing leaders and teachers for the adult Sunday school class

15. Overseeing mid-week small groups [leaders and study materials].

16. Planning and implementing church retreats for adults and/or families.

17. Working with the Outreach Team to set up a small group for people with special needs [e.g. cancer, depression, fibromyalgia, etc.] as needed

*See General Policies for all Ministry Teams

FELLOWSHIP MINISTRY TEAM

Purpose: To pray, plan and work towards drawing all those who attend Hope Community Church into a genuine family relationship with each other and God.

Responsibilities*:

1. Planning periodic activities to promote fellowship [e.g. potlucks, game nights, holiday functions, colors picnics – place and food].

2. Being responsible for purchasing kitchen supplies and for preparing coffee and snacks on Sunday mornings.

3. Arranging for special observances in the church family of such things as confession of faith, membership, death, illness, graduation, leave taking, etc.

4. Supervising the use of cupboards and appliances in the kitchen.

*See General Policies for all Ministry Teams

FINANCIAL TEAM

Purpose: To advise the Council on matters pertaining to the annual church budget, and assist the Council with financial decisions throughout the year on an “as needed” basis.

Responsibilities*:

1. Recommend investment policies;

2. Study and recommend debt reduction policies;

3. Develop long-range plans for developing the Church’s facilities financial health.

The Finance Team meets as needed.

*See General Policies for Teams

OUTREACH MINISTRY TEAM

Purpose: to pray, plan and work for attitudes and activities that enable the Church to fulfill the Great Commission and to go and make followers of Jesus Christ [Matthew 28:19] and to be effective witnesses for Jesus [Acts 1:8], making use of all appropriate means [1 Corinthians 9:19-23].

Responsibilities*:

1. Investigate and select materials to be used for equipping the people of the Church to witness effectively, and then begin an ongoing program of training and equipping.

2. Work with the Worship Planning Team to develop quarterly worship services focused on missions and the support of missions.

3. Regularly make available information about mission involved locally, nationally and globally.

4. Encouraging all the activities and groups of the Church to be open to, welcoming of and willing to enfold those who are new to the Gospel and the Church and those who are without a Church home.

5. Preparing and keeping available a brochure that gives appropriate information about the Church and the Gospel for visitors and people in the community.

6. Working with the deacons on ‘deed’ ministries that provide help for people in need and that promote social justice. For example:

7. Providing suggestions for missionaries the Church can support and helping the Church family to be encouraging of, and supportive towards those missionaries we do support.

8. Missions (World Renew ministries in Bangladesh, and My Missionary Online)

9. Investigating and recommending to the Council ways in which we can best advertise in the community our presence and our mission.

*See General Policies for all Ministry teams

WORSHIP MINISTRY TEAM

Purpose: to pray, plan, recruit and work for worship services that glorify God, inspire his people and develop deeper commitment to HCC’s mission.

Responsibilities*:

1. Developing worship services, which include variety and participation.

2. Planning services related to special calendar and religious days (Advent, Christmas, Lent and Easter).

3. Working with the Outreach Ministry Team to develop quarterly worship services focused on missions and the support of missions.

4. Recruiting and coordinating worship leaders and special music (including additional instrumentation whenever possible.)

5. Maintaining worship instruments, and A/V system.

6. Scheduling greeters and candle-lighters.

7. Shall schedule those responsible for PowerPoint and sound system for each Sunday; shall oversee the training of new operators.

*See General Policies for all Ministry Teams