1)    Stimulate interest on the part of the entire membership of the church especially the promotion of attendance in connection with the public worship service.

(a) proper reception and greeting at all regular church services

(b) friendly calls and visitation on the membership

(c) identification of visitors with name tags or other successful means of identification

(d) obtaining visitors names and addresses in a “log book” or other successful method for follow up by Evangelism Committee.

3)    Induct new members into the life of the church.

4)    Plan and carry forward the church’s program of publicity.

5)    Determine attendance at regular church services (including nursery).

6)    Maintain and supervise the membership roll of the church.

7)    Maintain and supervise membership talent and interest records.

8)    Maintain contact with non-resident members of the church.

II.    WORSHIP AND FINE ARTS

1)    Assist the Pastor in planning for the public worship services of the church including special services such as Maundy Thursday, Christmas Eve, etc. Be responsible to make appropriate suggestions to the General Board for improvement of public worship services. The chairperson of the Board of Elders, and the chairperson of the diaconate shall be ex—officio members of this committee.

2)    Plan for and decorate the sanctuary and fellowship hail for special holiday seasons such as Christmas and Easter.

3)    Develop the musical program of the church, including supervision of all choirs, orchestras, and other musical groups. This responsibility shall include recommending to the General Board the employment of any special musical leadership and the supervision of such leadership after employment.

4)    Develop a program of personal devotional life throughout the entire membership.

5)    Promote art, memorials and gifts, such as art windows, paintings, pulpit furniture, pictures, worship centers, musical instruments, etc. Approval of this committee and the General Board shall be required before any significant changes or improvements in the worship setting.

III.   CHRISTIAN EDUCATION

1)    Supervise and administer the church school, including election and training of all church school officers and teachers.

2)    In cooperation with the church school teachers, select the teaching materials to be used.

3)    Prepare the annual church school budget for submission to the General Board for approval.

4)    Promote an adequate program of leadership education.

5)    Supervise and administer vacation church school and weekday religious education programs, special classes, schools for Christian living, forums, etc.

6)    Supervise the Christian youth Fellowship program In the church.

7)    Create and promote a program of Christian Family life.

8)    Maintain a church librarY, in cooperation with other interested 5tanding committees.

9)    Supervise the special educational and recreational equipment of the church.

10)Select professional leadership In the field of Christian Education, in cooperation with the Board of Elders.

11)Present recommendations for church schoOl superintendent and assistant superintendent to the General Board.

1)    Develop a concern for evangelism on the part of the entire membership of the church.

2)    Develop and promote a continuing, year round program of evangelism.

3)    Plan and administer special evangelistic projects such as evangelistic meetings, personal evangelistic visitation efforts, Church School, Christian Youth Fellowship, Christian Women’s Fellowship, Christian Men’s Fellowship.

4)    Develop a procedure for an immediate and effective follow up with visitors with membership potential.

V.   LOCAL AND WORLD OUTREACH

1)    It shall be the purpose of this committee to provide education of and support for the mission of the church beyond the congregation, including local ecumenical programs, as well as programs of the regional and general work of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ.)

2)    Prepare the church’s annual outreach budget, in cooperation with the Stewardship and Finance Committee.

3)    This committee shall recommend to the General Board the distribution of that portion of income designated as a line item for outreach.

4)    Promote special financial gifts to the church and its world causes through special financial efforts.

5)    Encourage and supervise an adequate program of outreach education and concern in cooperation with the other interested standing committees and auxiliary organizations.

6)    Maintain a liaison relationship between the church and its missionaries.

7)    Assume responsibility for visits to the church on the part of missionaries and missionary executives, endeavoring to see that their time is used to the best advantage when they are with the church.

8)    Maintain effective contact between the church, the various brotherhood outreach agencies, and the recognized interdenominational agencies.

9)    Cooperate with other standing committees in maintain an outreach curriculum in the church library and/or outreach files.

1)    The Nurture Committee’s task is to be a service unit locally for First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), directed mainly to supporting and relieving the burden of members in our congregation.

2)    The major responsibility for the Nurture Committee will be the coordination of practical responsibilities pertaining to funeral dinners, weddings,, coffee hours, picnics, and suppers.

3)    This committee shall also function as a supervisory committee of the kitchen and fellowship hall, monitoring supplies, maintaining basic tools, such as pots, pans, utensils, coffee, tea, sugar, etc., as dictated by need of the church. This committee shall:

(a) Cooperate with all planning committees concerning church functions in the use of kitchen facilities.

(b) Reserve dates for the kitchen in cooperation with the office calendar. Calendar will be displayed in a prominent location.

(c) Cooperate when the kitchen is used publicly.

(d) Set fees or be consulted concerning fees in regard to the use of the kitchen.

4)    This committee shall coordinate efforts with the Pastor, Deacons, and Elders in serving groups, families, or members of the congregation.

5)    This committee shall function as an action group to respond to needs within the congregation concerning the use of the facilities in the fellowship hail and all service functions for members within the congregation, and friends of the church who might wish to use the facilities.

VII.STEWARDSHIP AND FINANCE

1)    Prepare the church’s annual budget, along with the chairperson of standing committees. At the March board meeting, the chairperson shall ask for preparation of anticipated budget requirements from all standing committees. This budget will be submitted to the General Board for approval at the May board meeting.

2)    Underwrite the annual budget of the church through an every—member canvass or by other means.

3)    Disburse funds within the current fund budget, and make monthly financial reports to the General Board.

4)    Prepare and distribute quarterly statements to all individuals’ and families’ contributing toward the financial goals of the church.

5)    Stimulate interest on the part of the membership to practice Christian stewardship.

6)    Promote special projects for stewardship causes, i.e. fund raisers, etc.

7)    Promote tithing and proportionate giving through Christian education.

8)    Encourage stewardship concern and expression in connection with the program and activity of the various auxiliary departments and organizations of the church.

1)    The trustees shall act as the legal agents of the church in all business matters, under the direction of the General Board and subject to the approval of the congregation, hold legal title to all church property and handle all business transactions related thereof. Their duties will be to:

(a) be responsible for the care, repair and maintenance of all church properties

(b) supervise the purchase and installation of all major equipment

(c) maintain adequate insurance coverage on all equipment and buildings belonging to the church

(e) arrange for the repayment of such borrowed funds in cooperation with the Stewardship and Finance Committee,

(f)   serve as directors of the Bequests and Memorial Committee as provided for in the policy of said committee

(g) in cooperation with the Stewardship and Finance Committee, mortgage, borrow, sell, lease, convey, assign any and all right, title and interest in church property including real estate upon approval of the General Board and majority of the congregation present and voting at a duly notified congregational meeting.

IX. BEQUESTS AND MEMORIAL COMMITTEE

(a) The purpose of this policy is to establish a procedure for the disposition of funds or other properties that are received by this church as a memorial, special gift, bequest, or as beneficiary of a life insurance policy.

(b) A Bequest and Memorial Committee (hereafter referred to as the Committee) shall be composed of the Minister, the Chairperson of the General Board, and the Trustees, each with voting privileges. All decisions of the Committee shall be subject to the approval of the General Board.

(c) Unless otherwise determined, funds received will be designated as Bequest and Memorial Funds pending authorized disposition of such funds through the Committee and under the provision of this policy. The Committee shall establish a savings and checking account for all its transactions.

(d) All gifts received in the form of tangible property may be converted to cash or other intangible form at its fair market value as soon as practical.

(e) Changing times, unusual circumstances and new ideas may dictate desirable changes in this Policy at some future time. However, this Policy shall not be altered for a period of three years from the date of its establishment. Any change after that time shall require approval in accordance with the procedures for By-Law amendments.

(f)   A financial report of the Funds, receipts and disbursements and other pertinent information regarding the Funds shall be made by the Committee on a regular basis, but not less than quarterly, to the General Board. Distribution of the Income received from the Funds will be made on an annual basis or more frequently as determined by the Committee with approval by the General Board.

(g) The names of all donors, testators, and those honored by memorials shall be recorded in a Memorials Book, unless anonymity is requested. All gifts shall be acknowledged in a personal letter from the congregation and the families of those named in memorial shall be informed of such gifts. The Committee shall oversee the recording of this information.

(a) If a testator’s will designates a particular purpose for which a gift is to be used, the gift will be used as designated, so far as practical. All dispositions of such designated gifts shall be recommended by the Committee and approved by the General Board.  If the designated purpose already has been achieved or is otherwise not practical, then the Committee, upon advice of legal counsel and approval of the Board, shall regard the gift as undesignated.

(a) Upon recommendation of the Committee and approval of the General Board, funds received as undesignated bequests or gifts shall be transferred to a Living Endowment Funds.

(a) Upon approval of this Policy, a Living Endowment Fund shall be established by the church. Assets of the Fund shall consist of monies received from bequests designated to the Endowment Fund, from special gifts, and other funds deposited by the Bequests and Memorials Committee.

(b) The Committee shall be responsible for administering this Endowment Fund, including investment of assets and oversight of receipt’s, earnings, and disbursement of earnings. In determining investment of assets and disbursement of earnings, the Committee shall take into consideration short—range and long-range objectives and income needs of the congregation, possible growth of assets, existing and anticipated economic conditions, and other relevant circumstances potentially affecting investment of assets and earnings. The Committee shall investigate investments that provide fixed income and those, such as stocks and equities, which may provide long—term earnings and possible appreciation value. All decisions by the Committee concerning such investments and distribution of earnings shall be subject to the approval of the General Board.

(a) A maximum of ten percent (10%) of total annual earnings may be applied to the general budget of the church. However, in administering the earnings, the Committee shall be encouraged to direct all earnings for other purposes appropriate to the goals of the congregation.

(b) Forty-five percent (45%) of the total annual earnings shall be designated for Outreach, both local and global. Such monies shall be distributed to agencies of mission, education, or benevolence, upon recommendation by the Local and World Outreach Committee of the church and approval by the General Board. All investment earnings designated for Outreach shall be distributed annually and not accumulated beyond one year.

(c) Forty-five percent (45%) of the total annual earnings shall be designated for unbudgeted items not contemplated by or beyond the capacity of the general budget of the church. These earnings shall be used for innovative programs of ministry, education, or service, or for capital improvements of First--Christian Church. Requests for the use of such funds may be made to the Bequests and Memorials Committee by any formally recognized group within the church. Earnings for these purposes which are not disbursed in any one year shall remain on deposit in the Bequests and Memorials account at a local financial institution until appropriate disbursement is made.

(d) The assets of this Endowment Fund shall be considered permanent in nature and none of the principal shall be spent except in extraordinary circumstances and then only upon approval by the General Board and the congregation. If for any reason First Christian Church would no longer remain a congregation of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the United States and Canada or of a new denomination including that body, the assets of the Endowment Fund shall be distributed to the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) Michigan Region, stipulating their use as permanent funds for the support of the denomination.

(a) Certain gifts received from donors may be given as Memorial funds. Those memorial gifts which are designated for a particular purpose in the church shall be handled lfl the same manner as designated bequests described above.

(b) The Bequests and Memorials Committee, in consultation with the committees of the General Board, shall provide a list of suggested memorial projects. This list shall be updated and published for the congregation at least annually. Donors of designated gifts shall be encouraged to examine the project list in consultation with appropriate leaders of the congregation.

(a) In order to meet the changing needs of the church, undesignated memorial gifts are encouraged. Every attempt shall be made by the Committee to disburse such memorial gifts in a manner appropriate to the named person and to the needs of the church.

(a) This Bequests and Memorials Policy shall become effective upon approval of the General Board and the congregation and by amended to the By-Laws of the church.

X.   PASTORAL RELATIONS COMMITTEE

1)    Provide a support group for the pastor and family.

2)    Assist in understanding the roles and expectations by the congregation of the Pastor.

3)    Provide a regular channel of communication through acceptance, trust and confidentiality.