ELDER’S TRAINING SEMINAR

Based on the Elder’s Handbook

Ministerial Association of the Ministerial Association of the General Conference General Conference www.ministerialassociation.comwww.ministerialassociation.com

ChurchCommittees

Chapter 3 – Part 5

Committees are Christians workingtogether

“Where there is no counsel, the people fall; but in the multitude of counselors there is safety.”

Proverbs 11:14

Committees’ Committees’ PurposePurpose

• The body operates on the basis of group participation.

• Make decision at the lowest level possible.

• Committees can be terribly time consuming.

• Do not take to the board items that can be settled at other levels.

Committees’ Committees’ PurposePurpose

• Business meeting should always be publicly announced so that all know they are welcome to attend.

• The highest ranking committee of the local church. • Includes all members of the congregation.

• Called and chaired by the pastor or by a designated elder.

Business MeetingBusiness Meeting

• Held monthly or quarterly.

• Full information should be given to the congregation.

• Members are free to express their opinions and show their support or rejection by vote.

• Designate additional committees as needed.

• Where the most significant plans should be discussed and approved.

Business MeetingBusiness Meeting

Composition, Mandate, Attributions:• Made up of the principal officers and heads of each

department of the local church along with any other members chosen by the nominating committee.

• The board is elected annually by the church membership.

Church BoardChurch Board

Composition, Mandate, Attributions:• The pastor calls and chairs the board unless the

pastor delegates this authority to an elder.

• It should meet at least once each month, preferably at a fixed time.

• It is the principal administrative committee of the local church.

Church BoardChurch Board

Responsibilities:• Spiritual nurture, evangelism and maintenance

of doctrinal purity.

• Upholding Christian standards and recommending changes in church membership.

Church BoardChurch Board

Responsibilities:• Church finances, protection and care of church

properties.

• Coordination of church departments.

• Designate special committees for specific purposes.

Church BoardChurch Board

Initiator

• An idea person, continuously coming up with something new.

Elaborator

• Creative by nature, enlarges on ideas presented by suggesting arguments both for and against.

The Committee The Committee MemberMember

Challenge

• Often a conservative, may seem a nuisance but are necessary in the process of a balanced

discussion.

The Committee The Committee MemberMember

Appeaser

• Does not like dispute, seeks ways to bring different viewpoints together.

Energizer

• Gives enthusiastic support to new plans and programs and wants to get on with the action.

The Committee The Committee MemberMember

• The agenda: a list of the items to be discuss.

• Open the meeting: with prayer and a brief devotional.

• Church clerk: should record proceedings. Minutes from the last meeting should have been distributed to committee members soon after it was held.

• Move the committee: toward a decision.

The Committee ChairpersonThe Committee Chairperson

• 1st Item on the agenda: reading and accepting the minutes of the committee’s last meeting.

• Caution:• Do not let any person dominate or manipulate

other committee members.• Clarify the issues under consideration. • Keep discussion on the subject.• Summarize occasionally.

The Committee ChairpersonThe Committee Chairperson