ARTICLE IX - BOARDS AND COMMITTEES
There shall be four boards of equal status but not necessarily of equal number. Each board is responsible for those committees, activities and individuals functioning in the areas listed under the respective boards. Likewise, each committee and/or individual is accountable directly to the respective board or committee under which he serves.
Each board is responsible to the church council, which is the administrative body of the church, and to the pastor who has the general oversight of the church. These boards shall function within the parameters and recommendations as indicated by the church council, deacons and pastor. Each board shall make a written annual report to the church.
No one shall serve on more than one of the following boards in any given year.
1. BOARDS
A. Board of Trustees
The board of trustees shall consist of three members, one member to be elected annually for a three year term. They shall organize among themselves,
electing a chairman and a secretary. They shall have the supervision of the material affairs of the congregation, keeping the property in good repair and
properly insured. They shall make purchases of necessary equipment and repairs, employ such help as may be necessary for the care of the property and be
the legal representative of the church in matters pertaining to the property. They shall prepare an annual budget and present it to the church council for
approval. They shall appoint the decorating committee and that committee shall be responsible to the trustees.
B. Board of Christian Education
This board shall consist of the director of Christian Education, the Christian Education secretary, all department superintendents of the Sunday School and
Boys and Girls Clubs Coordinator. The director the Christian Education shall serve as chairman and the Christian Education secretary shall serve as secretary
of the board. It shall be the duty of this board to establish and supervise the educational program of the church. This program includes Sunday School, Youth
Ministries, Bible School, teacher training, library and other activities primarily of an educational nature. It shall make decisions regarding curriculum materials,
records and schedules relating to those activities under its jurisdiction. It shall be responsible for the procurement of Sunday School teachers, Youth
Ministries staff, junior and senior EMYF sponsors, quiz coaches, Bible School director, young adult representative, librarian and camp promoters. The board
of Christian education shall draw up an annual budget and present it to the church council for approval. The members of this board shall be elected to a two
year term.
This board shall annually appoint one of its members to serve on the transportation committee.
C. Board of Missions
This board shall consist of four members who shall serve for a term of two years, two members to be elected annually. They shall elect one of their members
to serve as chairman and one to serve as secretary each year. It shall be the responsibility of this board to promote both home and foreign missions
throughout the year. Home missions include prison ministries, Salem Children's Home, Mennonite disaster service representative and other mission efforts
within the boundaries of the United States. Foreign missions include all missionary activities outside these same boundaries.
The board shall be responsible for organizing missionary conferences, promoting missionary projects, making recommendations to the council regarding
mission policies for the church, obtaining materials relating to missions, promoting short term missionary service among our own church members and reporting
on missions activities.
This board may also appoint such individuals and/or committees as it deems necessary to carry out those functions outlined herein. Should this board appoint
committees, at least one board member shall serve on each of those committees. The board shall annually appoint a missions correspondent and draw up an
annual budget to present to the council for approval.
D. Board of Fellowship Ministries
This board shall consist of the hospitality coordinator(s), chairman of the service committee and the head usher. The members of this board shall be elected
by the congregation and serve a two year term. They shall annually elect one of their members to serve as chairman and one to serve as secretary. The board
shall be responsible for the appointment of additional ushers, additional members to the service committee, a church correspondent to the conference
publication and area council representatives. This board shall be responsible for arranging accommodations for guests of the church and for transportation, as
needed, for Meadows Home. The board may appoint such individuals and/or committees as it deems necessary to carry out the functions outlined herein. If
additional committees are appointed at least one board member shall serve on each committee.
2. COMMITTEES
A. Service Committee
This committee shall consist of the chairman, who is a member of the board of fellowship ministries, and additional members adequate to carry out its
function. These additional members shall be appointed by the board of fellowship ministries. It shall be the duty of this committee to supervise all activities in
the church kitchen and assist at funerals or in other ways as requested.
B. Ushers
The head usher, who is elected by the congregation, shall coordinate and supervise the activities of the ushers. Additional ushers shall be appointed annually
by the board of fellowship ministries. It shall be the duty of the ushers to welcome visitors, to greet all others in attendance, to assist the people in finding
suitable seating, to acquaint visitors with church facilities and programs, to provide for the comfort and wellbeing of all present at all services, to receive
offerings and to assist in any other appropriate manner.
C. Music Committee
This committee shall be composed of the choir director, one member from the choir, one deacon and two members elected annually by the congregation. It is
their responsibility to appoint all choristers, organists and pianists. It shall also be their duty to see that special music is provided as needed for the regularly
scheduled services and to provide music for special services as desired. The committee shall elect one from their number to serve as chairman. This
committee is responsible to the pastor and deacons.
D. Membership Committee
The deacons and pastors shall serve as the membership committee of the church. They shall consider and act on applications for membership and see that
proper instruction is given to all candidates for membership. The membership committee shall annually review the status of members in accord with Article V
on membership and provide the church secretary with a current membership list no later than one month prior to the date fixed for the annual business meeting
of the church.
E. Library Committee
This committee shall consist of a librarian and an assistant librarian appointed annually by the board of Christian education. It shall be their responsibility to
oversee the functions of the library. They are responsible to the board of Christian Education.
F. Auditing Committee
This committee shall be composed of two members appointed annually by the church council. It shall be the duty of this committee to audit the books of the
church treasurer at the close of each fiscal year.
G. Nominating Committee
This committee shall be composed of five members elected annually. No elected member shall serve on this committee two consecutive years. It shall be the
duty of the church chairman to convene this committee. This committee shall elect its own chairman and make nominations for all the elections at the annual
meeting. (The office of deacon is an exception, deacons are nominated by the church council). Two members from the council and one member from the
deacons shall be appointed annually by their respective boards to offer guidance to the nominating committee in the selection of candidates for elected
positions based on the candidates abilities and gifts.
H. Decorating Committee
This committee shall be composed of three members appointed annually by the board of trustees. It shall be the duty of this committee to provide flowers and
other appropriate decorations for regular and special services of the church.
I. Transportation Committee
The transportation committee shall consist of a vehicle supervisor, a member at large, a representative from the C. E. Board and the pastor or his designate.
The vehicle supervisor and the member at large shall be appointed annually by the council and the C. E. Board representative shall be appointed annually by
the C. E. Board. This committee shall select its chairman annually. The transportation committee shall be responsible to the council for financial direction and
the C. E. Board for program direction.
The transportation committee shall be responsible for vehicle maintenance, selecting qualified drivers and vehicle monitors and formulating the duties of each.
It shall be the responsibility of the committee to recommend any future upgrading of the vehicle, submit an annual budget and make available a financial report
to the council annually or as requested.
The vehicle shall be available for functions that Salem people are involved in and to other E.M.C. Churches and affiliates for E.M.C. conference functions such
as camps, retreats, etc. for a recommended donation. The Salem vehicle shall not be available for private use or by other groups.
All functions and drivers must be scheduled and approved by the transportation committee.