Policies & Guidelines

Policies Manual

St Paul's and Dunrobin United Churches adopted the United Church General Council’s Church Governance guidelines and policies in 2018. These are available to review upon request.

Church Council

Purpose

The purpose of the Church Council is to act on behalf of the Congregation in achieving its aims as a Church, by ensuring that Church programmes are being pursued and are coordinated effectively and by fulfilling the duties.

Membership

All members of Church Council shall be members and adherents of St. Paul’s/Dunrobin and should be attending Sunday worship and actively involved in and contributing to the life of the Church.

The Church Council shall be composed of:

  1. A Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson, Secretary, Treasurer,

  2. The Chairpersons of all standing committees (currently Trustees, Pastoral Care, Property, M&P, Finance, Outreach; as well committees added to organize specific events like the Search Committee),

  3. All Ministerial Staff.

Responsibilities

It shall be the duty of the Church Council to have oversight of:

  • the admission of persons into full membership and the granting of certificates of transfers

  • the conduct of members, with the power to exercise discipline

  • the administration of the sacraments

  • the religious training of the young, and the organization of meetings for Christian fellowship, instruction, and work

  • the order of public worship, including the service of praise and the use of the church edifice

  • the care of the poor, and the visiting of the sick

  • to receive and judge Proposals and appeals from members

  • to recommend to the Presbytery suitable lay members as designated Lay Worship Leaders

  • to recommend to the Presbytery suitable Inquirers to be candidates for Lay Worship Leaders

  • to recommend to the Presbytery suitable lay members to be recognized as Congregational Designated Ministers

  • to keep the roll of the Congregation, clearly recording the date of admission, transfer, removal, suspension, or other action concerning each member/children/Adherents

  • to keep the register of baptisms, marriages, and burials

Church Council is responsible for attending to matters affecting the Congregation not assigned to any of the other bodies, and shall assume the responsibility of any non-functioning committee of the Congregation until a new committee is in place.

Resources