Support Ministry Team

Support Ministry Team Charter

Purpose:

To provide the resources and infrastructure to enable the Worship, Education, Service and Outreach, and Witness and Fellowship Ministry Teams to carry out their ministries.

 

Ground Rules:

Keep Christ in the focus. Conduct meetings in a timely and focused fashion.

Work together with respect for others opinion as we work towards consensus decisions.

 

Responsibilities:

Planning annual stewardship program, providing for on-going stewardship education, finance and audit responsibilities (including monitoring on a continuous basis the income and expenses of the congregation as related to the budget and monitoring the financial resources of the congregation), the care of the buildings, grounds and other property of the congregation, the nomination of persons to serve in elected positions within the congregation, management of personnel issues, and responsibility for the long range planning process. Form sub-committees and task forces as needed. Oversee the goals and the implementation of goals of the subcommittees.

 

Meetings:

Initially the team will meet bi-monthly 7.00 to 8.30 pm until the team structure is in place. Thereafter monthly meetings. Have annual meetings amongst all five ministry teams.

 

Budget:

The Support Ministry Team will be responsible for direct expenditures such as salaries and property upkeep. It will have oversight of financial activities of the other ministry teams, and responsibility for miscellanies expenditures not covered by the other teams.

 

Boundaries:

Monitor on behalf of the Congregation Council all financial aspects of the future of the congregation.

 

Measure of Success:

The success of the Support Ministry Team will be based on tangible and measurable goals, such as meeting the annual monetary budget, the growth of the congregation, pledge fulfillments, and successful financial audits without findings. Mutual assessment by the five ministry teams might also prove helpful.

 

 

Property Sub-Committee Charter

Purpose:

The Property Sub-Committee will assume responsibility for the care and maintenance of the buildings and grounds of the congregation, as well as the care, maintenance, replacement, and acquisition of all furnishings and equipment of the congregation.

 

Ground Rules:

Keep Christ in the focus. Conduct meetings in a timely and focused fashion.

Work together with respect for others opinion as we work towards consensus decisions.

 

Responsibilities:

Perform the annual review of all congregation properties and prepare the maintenance report (“To Do List”) for the Support Ministry Team to review.

Arrange for the routine care of the grounds. This includes the spring and fall cleanups and other special events as needed.

Coordinate contracted activities and repairs that cannot be completed by other means.

Prepare the annual budget request forms for the Finance sub-committee.

 

Meetings:

The Property Sub-Committee will meet at least quarterly to review any issues related to the maintenance of buildings and grounds as well as the maintenance and replacement needs of furnishings and equipment of the congregation. The Property Sub-Committee will review and update at its quarterly meetings a “To Do List” of projects that can be completed and/or funded by individual members of the congregation.

 

Budget:

The Property Sub-Committee will prepare budget recommendations on an annual basis which will be transmitted to the Finance Sub-Committee for consideration for inclusion in the budget for the coming year. In the event of the necessity for emergency expenditures related to a non-budget maintenance issue, the request will be transmitted to the Finance Sub-Committee for its immediate consideration.

 

Boundaries:

The Support Ministry team has relegated responsibility of the care and maintenance of the buildings and grounds of the congregation, as well as the care, maintenance, replacement, and acquisition of all furnishings and equipment of the congregation to the Property Sub-Committee. The sub-committee will report to the Ministry team, which, in turn, reports to council as needed.

 

Measure of Success:

The sub-committee should establish specific and realistic yearly goals and evaluate the outcomes. Periodically review status at sub-committee meetings.

 

 

Technology Sub-Committee Charter

Purpose:

The Technology Sub-Committee will assist other ministry teams and their sub-committees with issues of technological nature in terms of research, acquisition, installation, operation, maintenance, and replacement of equipment and resources.

 

Ground Rules:

Keep Christ in the focus. Conduct meetings in a timely and focused fashion.

Work together with respect for others opinion as we work towards consensus decisions.

 

Responsibilities:

Perform the annual review of all congregation technology equipment and submit any requests for the maintenance report (“To Do List”) for the Support Ministry Team to review.

Select and arrange for the purchase of any computer systems, audio and/or video equipment, appliances, internet activities, and any other advanced technical equipment.

 

Meetings:

The Technology Sub-Committee will meet as necessary to respond to requests that are directed to its attention by other ministry teams and their sub-committees.

 

Budget:

The Technology Sub-Committee will develop cost estimates in terms of purchase, installation, and operation of all equipment and resources that are assigned to it by other ministry teams and their sub-committees. It will transmit these cost estimates to the requesting entity as well as to the Support Ministry Team.

 

Boundaries:

The Technology Sub-Committee exists to support other ministry teams and their sub-committees, but is responsible for its direction and actions to the Support Ministry Team.

 

Measure of Success:

The sub-committee will evaluate its effectiveness based upon the extent to which its recommendations are implemented.

 

 

Stewardship Sub-Committee Charter

Purpose:

The Stewardship Sub-Committee will foster within the congregational membership a foundation of Biblical principles of financial giving in response to the Gospel for the support of the mission of the Church at its congregational, synodical, and churchwide expressions.

 

Ground Rules:

Keep Christ in the focus. Conduct meetings in a timely and focused fashion.

Work together with respect for others opinion as we work towards consensus decisions.

 

Responsibilities:

Plan and implement an Every Member Response Program in the fall of each year which will challenge the membership of the congregation to evaluate their financial giving to the mission of the Church as an expression of gratitude to God’s blessings in their lives.

Work in cooperation with the Witness and Fellowship Ministry Team and the Volunteer Coordinator to Sub-Committee to develop, implement, maintain, and continuously update a “Time and Talent” inventory for each member of the congregation.

 

Meetings:

The Stewardship Sub-Committee will meet at a schedule that is necessary to plan, implement, and evaluate an annual financial stewardship program.

 

Budget:

The Stewardship Sub-Committee each fall will submit a financial request to the Finance Sub-Committee of the Support Ministry Team for the support of the annual stewardship financial response program for the coming year.

 

Boundaries:

The Support Ministry team has relegated responsibility for the annual stewardship financial response program to the sub-committee. The sub-committee will report to the Support Ministry team, which in turn reports to council as needed.

 

Measure of Success:

The Stewardship Sub-Committee should establish specific and realistic yearly goals and evaluate the outcomes. The Stewardship Sub-Committee will periodically review the status the achievement of these goals at committee meetings.

 

Personnel Sub-Committee Charter

Purpose:

To strengthen and support the mission of the congregation by providing it with qualified and adequate staff. The sub-committee will also ensure that the hired staff of the congregation will be adequately supported as they fulfill their responsibilities.

 

Ground Rules:

Keep Christ in the focus. Conduct meetings in a timely and focused fashion.

Work together with respect for others opinion as we work towards consensus decisions.

 

Responsibilities:

Develop and review on a regular basis accurate job descriptions for each salaried position within the congregation including documenting and maintaining employment terms, conditions, rules, and regulations.

Establish fair and thorough practices for seeking, interviewing, evaluating, and hiring capable staff to manage existing programs and undertake new responsibilities.

Assure that all personnel are treated equally and are supplied with the tools they need to do their work.

Coordinate the collection of constructive feedback for all salaried employees through the use of current and accurate job descriptions and periodic assessment of performance.

Perform an annual review of all congregation employees’ salaries and make recommendations annually to the Finance sub-Committee relative to compensation for the coming year.

Oversee all interviews of potential congregational employees and make recommendations to the congregation council through the Support Ministry Team.

Maintain orderly records relative to the job performance of all salaried employees of the congregation.

Arrange for the termination of any congregational employees if this should become necessary.

 

Meetings:

The Personnel Sub-Committee will meet in the early fall of each year for the purpose of completing a performance review for each hired employee of all congregation. The sub-committee will meet to formulate appropriate salary recommendations to the Finance sub-

 

Committee relative to compensation for each hired employee of all congregation for the coming year. In addition, it will meet as necessary to update job descriptions, hire new personnel, resolve employee grievances, and terminate congregational employees when necessary.

 

Budget:

The Personnel Sub-Committee in the fall of each year will submit to the Finance Sub-Committee any budgetary requirements to be included within the financial proposal for the coming year that are necessary for the fulfillment of its responsibilities.

 

Boundaries:

The Support Ministry team has relegated responsibility for the management of personnel issues to the Personnel sub-committee. The Personnel Sub-Committee will fulfill its responsibilities by working in close cooperation with other sub-committees and ministry teams in those cases in which another entity has direct responsibility for the development, implementation, and management of programs and ministries for which a particular employee is directly responsible. The Personnel Sub-Committee will report on a regular basis directly to the Support Ministry Team which, in turn, will report to the congregation council on a regular basis.

 

Measure of Success:

The sub-committee should establish specific and realistic yearly goals and evaluate the outcomes. Periodically review status at committee meetings.

 

 

Finance Sub-Committee Charter

Purpose:

To exercise ongoing oversight over the general finances of the congregation and provide information to the congregation council sufficient for it to fulfill its fiduciary responsibilities to the congregation.

 

Ground Rules:

Keep Christ in the focus. Conduct meetings in a timely and focused fashion.

Work together with respect for others opinion as we work towards consensus decisions.

 

Responsibilities:

In September of each year prepare and distribute to the appropriate individuals and sub-committees financial request forms for each line item in the annual budget for the coming year.

Prepare an annual financial proposal for the congregation council for its approval and submission to the congregation annually each fall.

Perform the annual audits of the financial records of the congregation and pre-school.

Receive and respond to all funding requests from any ministry team that exceeds the total amount of the budget that has been allotted to the combined ministries of that ministry team.

Monitor and report all church income and expense activities of the congregation (including the preparation of the monthly financial statements budget that are submitted to the congregation council).

Oversee all church investment resource activities, review at least annually the current invest strategies, and recommend any revisions to the investment strategies to the congregation council for its consideration and action.

 

Meetings:

The sub-committee will meet quarterly prior to the Support Ministry Team with additional meetings as necessary.

 

Budget:

The Finance Sub-Committee will include within the financial proposal for the coming year any expenses that are necessary for the fulfillment of its fiduciary responsibilities.

 

Boundaries:

The Support Ministry team has relegated responsibility for the ongoing financial oversight of the general finances of the congregation to the Finance Sub-Committee. All recommendations will be reported to the Support Ministry Team. The Support Ministry team, will report to the congregation council any financial decisions that are made by the ministry team or the sub-committee, and request specific action of the congregation council on all appropriate matters.

 

Measure of Success:

The Finance Sub-Committee should establish specific and realistic yearly goals and evaluate the outcomes. Periodically review status at committee meetings.

 

 

Long Range Planning Sub-Committee Charter

Purpose:

Growing out of our mission statement and anticipating congregational growth, the purpose of the Long Range Planning Sub-Committee is to plan for the long term future of the congregation in terms of spiritual, programmatic, and physical needs.

 

Ground Rules:

Keep Christ in the focus. Conduct meetings in a timely and focused fashion.

Work together with respect for others opinion as we work towards consensus decisions.

 

Responsibilities:

To manage a long term planning process, the sub-committee, in conjunction with the five ministry teams, will develop and continuously update a vision statement identifying specific ways in which the congregation will witness and serve the communities which we serve, especially over the course of the next three to five years.

When appropriate, the sub-committee will implement building programs in accordance with the strategy outlined by the Office of the Mission Investment Fund of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, including the establishment of (1) a Building Committee, (2) a Building Finance Committee, and (3)a Communications Committee.

 

Meetings:

The Long Range Planning Sub-Committee will meet as frequently as necessary to fulfill its purpose and responsibilities. When a building program is pursued, members of the Long Range Planning Sub-Committee will serve on one of the three committees as outlined in the sub-committee responsibilities.

 

Budget:

The Long Range Planning Sub-Committee in the fall of each year will submit to the Finance Sub-Committee any budgetary requirements to be included within the financial proposal for the coming year that are necessary for the fulfillment of its responsibilities.

 

Boundaries:

The Support Ministry team has relegated responsibility for the Long Range Planning Process to the Long Range Planning sub-committee. The Long Range Planning Sub-Committee will report on a regular basis directly to the Support Ministry Team which, in turn, will report to the congregation council on a regular basis.

 

Measure of Success:

The sub-committee should establish specific and realistic yearly goals and evaluate the outcomes. Periodically review status at committee meetings.