SafetyChurchCouncilPolicy

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3.2.1 Church Council Policy

The Church Council of Glen Waverley Uniting Church (GWUC) exists to discern God’s will in dealing with financial, administrative and managerial aspects of the church. Its composition needs to include both people who are small picture (detailed, administrative, organisational, and managerial) and big picture (visionary, creative) who are willing to look at the life of the Church from a business perspective.

The duties and responsibilities of the Church Council as outlined in Uniting Church in Australia Regulation 3.1.13 include:

1. sharing with the minister in mission and in the pastoral care and spiritual oversight of the congregation;
2. nurturing the members and adherents in their growth in grace;
3. making decisions in accordance with the Regulations concerning baptism, confirmation and membership, and the keeping and reviewing of the rolls of the Congregation;
4. assisting the minister in the conduct of worship and in the administration of the sacraments;
5. determining the time and place of services of public worship;
6. carrying out functions concerning applicants for the ministries of Minister of the Word, Deacon, Community Minister, Pastor, Lay Pastor, Lay Preacher and Youth Worker, having regard to the Regulations;
7. managing the financial affairs and the general administration of the Congregation including the reception, preparation and presentation of all necessary budgets, statements and reports;
8. managing and controlling property in accordance with the Regulations;
9. preparing and presenting to a meeting of the Congregation an annual report concerning the life and work of the congregation including its worship, mission and service, and making recommendations with regard to the program for the ensuing year; exercising oversight of the appointment of officers and leaders of Congregational organisations;
10. referral of matters to Presbytery as prescribed.

Meetings are held in accordance with “A Manual for Meetings in the Uniting Church in Australia” which outlines the consensus model of discussion and voting.

GWUC Church Council seek committed Christians who show evidence in their life of the following qualities:-

• Is a member or member-in-association of Uniting Church in Australia;
• Attends church regularly;
• Loves, cares about and embraces the current and future state of our church;
• Has people skills (eg approachable; kind; able and eager to discuss difficult and contentious issues maturely; sensitive; able to be disagreed with; listens intently);
• Is reliable;
• Has a heart to discern God’s will for our church;
• Available to fill Church requests;
• Is a team player;
• Open to new ideas and creative thinking and is willing to embrace change;
• Is objective.

Nominations are called for during December-January each year seeking applicants with the qualities outlined. These applicants will be screened using the “Screening Questionnaire for Volunteers” including contacting referees. If the applicant is deemed as appropriate for a role on Church Council, they will be placed on a ballot, and elections will take place at a nominated Congregational Meeting. If the applicant is elected, the applicant will be appointed with induction requiring signing of the Code of Conduct and a full understanding of the policies and procedures of GWUC. The term is recommended as a two year period, but is specified on a case-by-case basis.

GWUC Church Council meet monthly, on the last Tuesday evening of each month. The quorum required is not less than one half of the total membership of the Church Council. If the quorum shall not be obtained the meeting shall be re-convened.

The Church Council The role of these elected postions are:-

• Chairperson - to ensure that meetings are held in accordance with “A Manual for Meetings in the Uniting Church in Australia”.
• Secretary - is responsible for keeping minutes of meetings of Church Council; maintaining records and papers of the Congregation; and carry out other duties required by Church Councl.
• Treasurer – to keep the books of accounts, recording monies received and all payments made, and produce this at general meetings of the Congregation; lodge money received in an account identified as belonging to the Congregation; produce records and other evidence of transactions; prepare financial statements for Church Council and the Congregation.