First Church Council

The First Church in Sterling
(978) 422- 6657	office@firstchurchsterlingma.org

Church Council

Mission:

The all-church forum for administration of church activities including facilitating communications, providing guidance on matters affecting two or more Boards and/or the church membership, reconciling and recommending church budget, calling and carrying out elections, and participating in the calling of a pastor.

Membership:

The membership of the Church Council will consist of the Church Moderator, the Church Clerk, the Church Treasurer, the Chairs of each Church Board, or designee of the board, and one member from each constituent denominational society serving at large. The minister serves ex-officio.

Responsibilities:

Communications	Coordinate all-church communications. Call all-church meetings. Act as clearinghouse for church calendar. Manage minutes of all Board meetings.
Elections & Appointments	Call and monitor election of church officers and Board members. Appoints Nominating Committee to nominate a slate of candidates for election to Church offices or Board membership Appoints church board members to fill board vacancies between elections. Appoint Pastoral Relations and Associate Pastoral Relations committees in accordance with the church by-laws
Budget	Review and recommend church operating and capital budget for presentation to church membership for approval. Review requests from Boards for budget over-rides, amendments and changes and makes recommendation on disposition to church membership.
Policy	Provide guidance and arbitration on policy or decisions affecting two or more boards and/or the full congregation. Act as mediator to resolve policy or responsibility differences between two or more boards. Decide allocation of new or revised responsibilities to church boards. Appoint temporary committees as required to consider church-wide policy issues.
Pastoral Search	Works with the Diaconate and HR & Admin board to form pastoral search committee, in accordance with the church by-laws to Reviews and approves terms of call. Coordinates with the Diaconate to recommend pastoral candidate to church meeting for approval. Calls minister on advice of pastoral search committee and consent of church membership.
Bylaws	Call the By-laws committee as needed to maintain the church by-laws.

Terms of Office

All members, except denominational at-large members, are to serve on the Church Council as part of the official tenure as a Church Officer (Moderator, Clerk, and Treasurer) or as Chairperson of a Church Board. At-large members, one representing each currently active denominational society, will be elected by the denominational society to serve a one-year term.

Officers:

Officers are appointed as follows:

1. Chairperson: The Church Moderator serves as Chair of the Church Council. The Chairperson calls and leads Council meetings and manages the Council agenda.

2. Vice-Chairperson: The Vice-chairperson is elected by the members of the Church Council. The Vice Chairperson chairs meetings in Chairperson’s absence.

3. Secretary: The secretary takes and publishes minutes of Church Council meetings. The secretary position rotates among Church Council members.

The First Church in Sterling
On the Common, Sterling Center
Sterling, Massachusetts 01564
office@firstchurchsterlingma.org
(978) 422-6657

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