Church Council

The Church Council is charged with the important role of oversight for the mission and ministry of our church. It comprises the following positions: Chair, Vice-Chair, Lay Leader, Staff-Parish Relations Chair (or rep.), Finance Chair (or rep), Trustees Chair (or rep), Nurture Chair, Outreach Chair, Witness Chair, both assigned Pastors and Recording Secretary. All positions, with the exception of Recording Secretary, may vote on issues brought before the Council. The Church Council is required to meet at least quarterly, but generally meets monthly on the 4th Tuesday of the month. Individuals serving on the Church Council are to be active church members elected by the charge conference. They serve a 3 year term, with one-third of the group rotating off each year. Responsibilities for Church Council include:

• Envisioning, planning, implementing, and evaluating the mission and ministry of our church.
• Overseeing the planning and implementing of programing related to our church’s Nurture Ministry (adult, youth, children ministries); Outreach Ministry (missions, preschool, Center for the Arts); Witness Ministry (worship, evangelism & hospitality, new member, inter-faith) and Resources Ministry (staff parish, finance, lay leadership, trustees).
• Establishing an annual operating budget based on the recommendation of the Finance committee.
• Recommending to the charge conference all pastoral compensation based on the recommendation of the Staff Parish Relations committee.
• Reviewing the membership roll

Finance Committee

The Finance committee does not have a required number of individuals, but is to include the following: Finance Chair, Pastor, Lay Leader, Church Council Chair, Staff Parish Relations Chair (or rep.), Trustees Chair (or rep.), lay member of annual conference, Financial Assistant, Church Treasurer, and Church Business Administrator. In addition, SGUMC includes 6-9 at-large members from our congregation. The committee chair and at large members serve a 3-year term, with one-third rotating off each year.

• Strategizing, planning and implementing ways to generate income resources for the mission and ministries of our church. This includes (but is not limited to) oversight of our annual stewardship campaign held in the fall.
• Compiling and submitting to the Church Council for approval an annual operating budget based on projected income (e.g., pledges, historical cash giving, investments, etc…) and anticipated expenses (e.g., salaries, utilities, ministry program costs, apportionments, etc.). Monitoring the budget throughout the year and addressing any variances with the Church Council.
• Providing oversight for church designated fund accounts including the Caring for Our House fund, cemetery fund and other special funds.
• Working closely with the treasurer and financial secretary to maintain accurate financial records and proper implementation of internal control procedures and ensuring that an independent evaluation of financial records is performed annually.

Trustees

Trustees serve as Christian stewards of all property that God has entrusted to our congregation. The committee consists of 9 individuals, two-thirds of which are required to be church members. The pastor (or representative) regularly attends meetings, but is not a voting member. Committee members serve a 3 year term, with one-third of the committee rotating off each year. The Trustee chair (or representative) is a voting member of the Finance Committee. The committee also maintains a liaison relationship with the Shady Grove Preschool and Center for the Creative Arts.

• Providing supervision, oversight and care of all real property owned (e.g., buildings, houses, cemetery, fences, parking lots, landscaping) and all personal property and equipment acquired. Primary responsibilities include assessing & recommending any capital expenditure needs; reviewing all legally binding contracts associated with operating our facilities; managing facility use agreements for outside groups & organizations that use our property; and, conducting an annual accessibility audit to identify and rectify any potential barriers that impede full participation of people with disabilities.
• Reviewing the adequacy of property, liability, and comprehensive risk insurance coverage on church-owned property, buildings and equipment.
• Reviewing the church’s child protection policy for compliance.
• Ensuring that the Articles of Incorporation of the church are kept up-to-date.

Lay Leadership Development Committee (LLDC)

This committee consists of the Lead Pastor, Lay Leader and not more than 9 church members who serve a 3-year term. At least one member of the committee is to be a young adult; one or more may be a youth. One-third of the committee members rotate off each year. The Lead Pastor chairs this committee and often a committee member will serve as Vice-Chair. Responsibilities for this committee include:

• Identifying, developing, deploying, evaluating and monitoring the lay leadership needs within Shady Grove United Methodist Church-Short Pump.
• Striving to identify the various spiritual gifts, skills and abilities in our congregation and connecting these with lay leadership needs within our church. Each year a list of recommended leaders to fill open leadership positions for the coming year is submitted for approval to the church’s charge conference. 
• Actively working with Church Council to nurture, support, develop & train individuals for lay leadership.