What do our church committee's do?
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CHRIST LUTHERAN CHURCH (Filey’s Parish) COUNCIL COMMITTEES Just what do the Church’s Committees Do? or A Brief Review of “some” things the committees have done in the past. Briefly, the activities listed for each committee are those which seem necessary in order to carry out the Gospel of Jesus Christ in this congregation!! CHRISTIAN EDUCATION This committee is responsible for providing a Christian education program that will nurture all members in the Word of God so that they may grow in their understanding of what it means to be a child of God. The committee assists lay people and the Pastor to plan, staff and direct programs of religious education to meet the needs of children and adults – both within the Congregation and the community we serve. Specifically, this committee: --Conducts and promotes the Sunday and Vacation Church School. --Provides for Catechetical instruction in close coordination with the pastor(s) --Offers and supports special Christian Educational opportunities for the congregation --Recruits and trains competent teachers of the faith --Promotes the use of the educational materials published and authorized by the ELCA --Introduces ELCA periodicals and devotional publications into the homes of the congregation --Procures and distributes the educational materials --Encourages qualified persons to consider the call to the ordained or to other full time church vocations --Preparing a written report at the end of the year to be included in the Annual Report and which epitomizes the baptismal mandate to “Let your light shine before others that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” DAY CARE/NURSERY SCHOOL: This committee and committee chairperson serves as liaison between the Congregation Council and the Board of the Day Care and the Board of the Nursery School to ensure that there is clear communication between them and that each follows covenant agreement and/or contract that was signed when each was established. The council representative is responsible to attend the meetings of each board or appoint someone in his/her place to do so; and to report either orally or in written form upon them; --Prepare a written report at the end of the year to be included in the Annual Report and which epitomizes the baptismal mandate to “Let your light shine before others that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” YOUTH A fun group, this committee provides guidance and direction to youth of junior and high school age as they learn and grow from first hand experience in planning, organizing, and managing events designed to meet their religious and social needs. These events should include special programs of worship, fellowship, service to church and community, leadership, and religious instruction. This committee assists the youth in obtaining materials from the Synod and ELCA, providing transportation and financial support, and offering constructive suggestions while encouraging the youth to be innovative and creative. The youth group shall be under the oversight of this committee. The youth group shall be designed so as to provide our young people opportunities to learn and grow spiritually by planning and conducting their own activities. --Preparing a written report at the end of the year to be included in the Annual Report and which epitomizes the baptismal mandate to “Let your light shine before others that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” WITNESS (EVANGELISM) As Christians we are called to serve our Lord and witness to His Gospel by living our lives so as to reflect His teachings to the best of our abilities. The Evangelism Committee is guides members in proclaiming the Gospel and ministering to those who need to see and hear the good news of God’s love lived out in a Christian community. Some ways this committee may do so include but are not limited to: --WELCOME BAGS: *prepares the “welcomes bag gifts” that new members receive when they join this congregation. --SERMONS: distributions of printed sermons and/or bulletins and/or worship tapes to shut-ins --LAY VISITATION: coordinates lay visitations (hospital, shut-ins, new members, etc.) --PUBLICITY: plans and directs publicity to the community we serve --INACTIVE MEMBERS: recruit, train, equip, and support congregation representatives in efforts to restore inactive members into active members of this congregation. congregation. --INVITE: join other members of the congregation in inviting new members into the fellowship of the Church --PROGRAMS: seek the support and cooperation of other committees in structuring programs which assist individual members in sharing their faith and witnessing to others. --NEWSLETTER: committee is responsible for providing a monthly newsletter --WEBSITE: set up and upkeep of the congregation website --BUSY BAGS: provides the upkeep of the children’s Busy Bags in the narthex --*NEW MEMBERS: Purchase of items to welcome of new members --WRITTEN REPORT: prepares a written report at the end of the year to be included in the Annual Report and which epitomizes the baptismal mandate to “Let your light shine before others that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” WITNESS (FELLOWSHIP/HOSPITALITY) This committee plans and conducts activities and social events which offer wholesome opportunities for members of the congregation and our guests to engage in times of friendship, understanding and support of one another. Goals of these events should be to: --Provide fellowship opportunity (i.e. receptions for congregational meetings, reception of new members, celebration of special events and other events as established by the Congregational Council. --Periodically inventory equipment, utensils, and furnishings of the kitchen and fellowship hall to insure adequacy to support fellowship events. Active liaison should be maintained with the property committee to provide timely repair and replacement of such things. --Foster the inclusion of all congregational members, prospective members, and guests --Consider and make arrangements for the special needs of the young, infirm, or aged in recreational activities --Strengthen the ties that bind us both as a church community and as individuals --Insure that frequency and timing of fellowship/recreational events provide ample opportunity for everyone to participate in several events over the course of a year --Preparing a written report at the end of the year to be included in the Annual Report and which epitomizes the baptismal mandate to “Let your light shine before others that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” WORSHIP AND MUSIC This committee ministers to the congregation by assisting in the planning and preparation for all worship services and the smooth functioning of the music program. It works in close coordination with the Pastor. The committee shall: --Assign duties, supervise, and support the church’s paid musician(s) in the performance of their assigned tasks. --Assign and supervise the coordinators for lectors, ushers, communion assistants, acolytes and crucifers, altar flowers, and altar guild. --Provide for broad and inclusive participation by congregational members in worship. --Arrange for the care of the congregation’s books of worship, altar and worship furnishings, sacred vessels, paraments, vestments, and musical instruments --Plan and prepare for special worship events such as: Advent, Christmas, Lent, Palm Sunday, Easter, Church Anniversary, All Saints’ Sunday, Thanksgiving, and any other special event approved by the Congregational Council --Recommend and oversee the establishment of the various choirs and music programs as the need for them is recognized --Supervise and support the choirs of the congregation in conjunction with the organist and choir directors. --Authorize all liturgies and orders of worship to be used by the congregation and support the normal use of those worship orders and materials approved by the ELCA --Furnish appropriate music and supplies to the organist and choir directors --Preparing a written report at the end of the year to be included in the Annual Report and which epitomizes the baptismal mandate to “Let your light shine before others that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” STEWARDSHIP(FINANCE) COMMITTEE The Stewardship and Finance Committee meet together as a combined committee. The Stewardship Committee component strives to lead each member of the congregation into clear recognition that all we have—ourselves, our time and our possessions—are blessings from God and should be dedicated to His service. How best to do this is an individual decision made after thoughtful and prayerful consideration. Programs to assist the membership in meeting this challenge will be prepared and carried forth on a continuous basis throughout the year. The stewardship component of this committee will: --Provide guidance on how Christians, as stewards of God’s creation, might Better manage their means, talents and time --Promote members’ monetary support of the ministries of this congregation, the Synod, and the ELCA. --Promote and encourage the participation of all members in ministries of the congregation through their gifts of time and talent. --Encourage tithing, --Plan and conduct an annual campaign for member’s commitment of time, talent, and resources to the ministry of the congregation. --Prepare and distribute packets of offering envelopes to the members prior to the beginning of a new year --Regularly inform members of the use and results of their giving WITNESS (SOCIAL MINISTRY) This committee shall plan and promote outreach programs which minister to human needs within our congregation, our immediate community and the world at large. The committee --Studies social conditions, particularly but not exclusively those in the local community. --Makes recommendations as to how the congregation might most effectively minister to those in need. --Enlists the efforts of congregational members in support of the social ministry programs the congregation. --Maintains contacts with appropriate community social service organizations. --Periodically reporting to the congregation on the volunteer needs of the community --Offers opportunities for thoughtful Christian discussion of important social issues --Prepares a written report at the end of the year to be included in the Annual Report and which epitomizes the baptismal mandate to “Let your light shine before others that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” PROPERTY This committee arranges for the maintenance and protection of all congregational property. It coordinates with the finance committee to insure that adequate insurance coverage is in effect to protect property and the congregation against liability for personal injury that may befall persons using its property. Special duties include: --Repairing or replacing broken or worn out equipment --Servicing equipment --Maintaining all church buildings --Maintaining the church grounds including arranging for snow removal, grass cutting and landscaping as required --Maintaining an adequate inventory of cleaning materials and bathroom supplies. --Preparing a written report at the end of the year to be included in the Annual Report and which epitomizes the baptismal mandate to “Let your light shine before others that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” FINANCE(STEWARDSHIP) COMMITTEE The Finance and Stewardship Committees members meet and work together. The Finance component advises the Congregational Council regarding the financial affairs of the congregation so that they may be conducted efficiently. Particular attention shall be given to the prompt payment of all obligations and to the regular forwarding of benevolence monies to the synod treasurer. The treasurer and financial secretary shall be members ex-officio of this committee. Specifically, this committee shall: --Prepare a draft budget for the succeeding year based upon detailed information submitted by committee chairpersons and others --Submit the draft budget to Council prior to the regular October meeting --Monitor expenditure of funds in accordance with the adopted budget and the receipt of funds in comparison to planned projections --Make monthly reports to Council which include the comparison of expenditures versus revenue and highlights any cause for concern such as potential revenue shortfalls --Review insurance coverage of all assets and exposures for the congregation, recommending changes as required --Review all investments of the congregation and recommending changes --Develop plans to finance major capital programs such as additions or modifications to church buildings. --Provide for the count and deposit of the offerings after worship services. --Serving as a nominating committee to provide candidates for appointment by Council to the Audit Committee. --All the Congregation’s financial matters are subject to the review and oversight of this committee --Preparing a written report at the end of the year to be included in the Annual Report and which epitomizes the baptismal mandate to “Let your light shine before others that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.