Items for Congregational Vote - Constant Contact



Annual Report 2016Submitted for the Annual Meeting; Sunday, February 5, 2017Seeking ultimate meaning, moving toward the heart of God, repairing the world.Table of Contents TOC \o "1-3" \h \z \u Items for Congregational Vote PAGEREF _Toc348683825 \h 32017 Proposed Amendments to the Hope Central Church Bylaws PAGEREF _Toc348683826 \h 3Separating Stewardship and Finance PAGEREF _Toc348683827 \h 3A New Policy for Distribution of MJC Funds PAGEREF _Toc348683828 \h 4Changing the Wording of Finances, Budget Process, and Tithing PAGEREF _Toc348683829 \h 42016 Slate of Candidates PAGEREF _Toc348683830 \h 5Candidate Biographies PAGEREF _Toc348683831 \h 5Leadership Circle PAGEREF _Toc348683832 \h 5Nominating Committee PAGEREF _Toc348683833 \h 62017 Annual Budget Cover Letter PAGEREF _Toc348683834 \h 72017 Budget PAGEREF _Toc348683835 \h 9Reports PAGEREF _Toc348683836 \h 12Moderators’ Report PAGEREF _Toc348683837 \h 12Pastor’s Report PAGEREF _Toc348683838 \h 13Associate Pastor’s Report PAGEREF _Toc348683839 \h 15Music Director’s Report PAGEREF _Toc348683840 \h 16Clerk’s Report PAGEREF _Toc348683841 \h 17Team Reports PAGEREF _Toc348683842 \h 19Building Ministry Team Report PAGEREF _Toc348683843 \h 19Called to Care PAGEREF _Toc348683844 \h 20Discernment for Ordination Team PAGEREF _Toc348683845 \h 21Finance Team Annual Report PAGEREF _Toc348683846 \h 22P&L Statement PAGEREF _Toc348683847 \h 23Hospitality Report PAGEREF _Toc348683848 \h 24Ministry of Justice and Compassion Report PAGEREF _Toc348683849 \h 25Nominating Team Report PAGEREF _Toc348683850 \h 27Personnel Team Report PAGEREF _Toc348683851 \h 28Racial justice Team Report PAGEREF _Toc348683852 \h 28Rogerson House PAGEREF _Toc348683853 \h 29Sacristans’ Report PAGEREF _Toc348683854 \h 29Stewardship Report PAGEREF _Toc348683855 \h 30Worship Planning Team PAGEREF _Toc348683856 \h 31Appendix PAGEREF _Toc348683857 \h 33Bylaws of Hope Central Church PAGEREF _Toc348683858 \h 33Items for Congregational Vote2017 Proposed Amendments to the Hope Central Church BylawsSeparating Stewardship and FinanceThe current bylaws state: VI. Standing Committees A. The following are the committees required to be active in the congregational life of Hope Central Church. iv. Stewardship and Finance Team: will be comprised of six Covenant Partners chosen by the Leadership Circle. Duties include:a. Determining the total anticipated revenue each fiscal year and submitting to the Leadership Circle a budget based on anticipated revenues and the priorities of the church as submitted to the Leadership Circle by the various committees, staff, and ministries.b. Organizing and facilitating an annual stewardship drive.c. Taking responsibility for developing sound financial policies and procedures to be used by the church.The proposed bylaw change would separate the two teams so that Stewardship can operate year around:iv. Finance Team: will be comprised of six Covenant Partners approved by the Leadership Circle. Duties include:a. Determining the total anticipated revenue each fiscal year and submitting to the Leadership Circle a budget based on anticipated revenues and the priorities of the church as submitted to the Leadership Circle by the various committees, staff, and ministries.b. Taking responsibility for developing sound financial policies and procedures to be used by the church.v. Stewardship Team: will be comprised of six Covenant Partners approved by the Leadership Circle. Duties include:a. Organizing and facilitating an annual stewardship drive.b. Responsible for promoting year round stewardship awareness in the congregation.A New Policy for Distribution of MJC FundsReason for clarification:Historically, except in 2016, MJC has given away 10% of the current fiscal year’s pledge and plate donations. MJC allocates this money at the beginning of the fiscal year based on the year’s promised pledges and a budget estimate of the plate offerings. No attempt has ever been made at the end of the fiscal year to reconcile or adjust the MJC giving based on the actual plate and pledge offerings.We propose:A) That the MJC budget be based on 10% of an average of the prior three years’ pledge and plate offerings.(B) MJC funds would be allocated on a quarterly basis. This allows us to ensure the any unused funds are released at the end of each year on December 31st. In the event that the MJC has not allocated all of the funds by the December Leadership Circle meeting, the Leadership Circle will determine the distribution of the remaining funds.(C) Release of the prior year’s balance sheet liability of $22,207.94.Changing the Wording of Finances, Budget Process, and TithingThe current Bylaws:X. Finances B. Budget Process: vi. A minimum of 10% of actual annual income will be tithed to Social Justice and Outreach ministries.The proposed Bylaw change: vi. A minimum of 10% of the average of the prior 3 years income will be tithed to social justice and outreach ministries.2016 Slate of CandidatesLeadership Circle:Kathy HanlanRowell LevySari MauroAsh TeminNominating Team:Nancy DohertySue HarveyChristine StortiCandidate BiographiesLeadership CircleKathy Hanlan:? Kathy is originally from New Jersey, came to Boston for college and stayed, and currently lives in JP. ?She is the Clinical Supervisor for Psychiatric Occupational Therapy at Brigham and Women's Faulkner Hospital. Kathy first visited Hope Central for Laura Ruth’s installation. She began worship here regularly several years ago and is a Covenant Partner. She serves on the Rogerson House team, Worship Planning, and as team leader for the Discernment for Ordination team. Kathy is also a sacristan and volunteers in the church school. Kathy loves her Irish roots,?a cappella music, murder mysteries, kitties, laughter, spirituality, and trying to make a positive difference in the world.Rowell Levey: Rowell is from Swampscott, MA. He was born and raised Jewish, and studied world religions in college. He worked in public education as an elementary school teacher and community organizer and is now a psychologist in Boston. Rowell and his wife, Sue Harvey, have two children: McKenna, 7, and Tavish, 5. Rowell and Sue lived in Jamaica Plain for 10 years until l last year when they moved to Newton. They deeply value and continue to nurture their ties to Jamaica Plain. Rowell came to Hope Church first 10 years ago for the weekly Buddhist Meditation Sitting. Later, his children attended the Mosaic Preschool. Over time for different reasons he and his family found themselves drawn upstairs to the church community-- where they now feel interwoven into the community. Rowell enjoys home maintenance projects, cooking, meditation, and is a lifelong student of personal growth and relationships.Sari Mauro: Sari has been a covenant partner of Hope Central for a little over two years. She is a (former) pastor's kid, an archivist, a dog person (though she thinks cats are okay), and her favorite Avenger is Hawkeye. Her interests include cooking (okay, food in general), crochet, probably too many TV Shows, and in using online platforms to build and maintain relationships of mutual care across physical distance. Within the context of church her interests include the website (ask her how you can join the web team!), singing in choir, and what faith has to teach us about justice and what justice has to teach us about faith.Ash Temin: Ash is originally from Texas but has called Boston home for 6 years, and she lives in Roslindale with her husband Marlo and an extremely loud cat. She works for Harvard Divinity School, from which she also holds a masters in divinity degree. Ash found her way to Hope Central just over a year ago and is continually grateful for the vibrant love and honesty of this community. She is also a writer and has a small practice as an Ayurvedic health and wellness counselor, and she loves to hike, cook, and explore the confluences between contemplative practice and activism.Nominating CommitteeNancy Doherty: Nancy lives in Jamaica Plain, where she has owned a home since 1966. Nancy lives with her husband of 39 years. They have two adult children and two adult grandchildren. Nancy works for the Boston Public Schools and has worked in many areas of education, including working with immigrant, ESL, and special education students. In the 25 years Nancy has been a member of the church, she has served on many committees and teams, and has been Treasurer, Secretary, a member of the Nominating Committee, served on the Ministerial Support Group, and was a longtime council member of Central Congregation Church. Nancy was a past recipient of the Fast Track Grant to assist in her volunteer work in the Dominican Republic working with middle and high school girls.Sue Harvey: A Philadelphia native, Sue spent ten years in JP and now lives in Newton. She works at Blue Cross, focusing on making health insurance understandable (!).? Sue is married to Rowell Levy and is mother of McKenna and Tavish, who can often be seen at church in their pajamas, refusing to let go of Courtney.? Sue wants to learn to knit, is always looking for a new mystery series to read, and believes in everyday miracles.? Sue came to Hope Central for solace after the marathon bombings, and found the church home she didn’t know she was seeking. She is looking forward to giving back to the community that has given her so much.Christine Storti: A native of Plettenberg, Germany, Christine moved to Boston in 2009 for work as a furniture conservator at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston. In 2012, she met her husband David, and they got married in 2014. Since 2013, she has been a member of Hope Central Church. After three years of occasional volunteering, Christine is eager to become more involved in our church by taking on a role in the nominating committee.?Christine loves the arts and enjoys cooking.2017 Annual Budget Cover LetterDear Beloved of Hope Central Church,In accordance with our bylaws for the fiscal stewardship of our community, the Leadership Circle (LC), in conjunction with the Finance Team, presents the attached copy of the proposed budget for 2017.The Finance Team and LC worked vigorously to formulate a budget that shows our financial responsibility as our congregation continues to move towards the vision of Hope Central Church as a nurturing, sustaining, and growing community. This 2017 budget continues to reflect the “true cost” of operating our growing church as we continue to focus on our Program Centered Congregation where in which the pastors set the vision with the Leadership Circle to past down to the various ministries, and the work of the congregation is done by the pastors, the staff, the lay people, each according to their gifts. The “true cost” objective involved a critical and detailed review of the following areas: 1) review of our church employees including last raise received, 2) the cost of maintaining our church including the grounds and our ministries, 3) our renters, 4) the amount pledged by our congregation and plate offerings, and 5) sabbatical coverage costs. I will explain in detail these areas of review while walking you through the new 2017 budget.We reviewed our employees’ pay including last noted raise with the guidance of our Personnel Team. Currently, we have the following paid staff: Senior Pastor, Associate Pastor, Building Manager, Church Administrator, Director of Music, 3 Musicians, Custodian, and Audio/Visual. This year, we increased the Senior Pastor, Associate Pastor, Building Manager, Director of Music, and Custodian’s salaries. We also included holiday pay for all employees and vacation coverage. This is significant work for us because we are continuing to move towards better reflecting the personnel costs based on the overwhelming amount of work our staff achieves. However, we have yet to reach our dream of having competitive livable wages for all of our employees. The chart below shows a breakout of what our Personnel wages.The cost of maintaining our church including the grounds and our ministries encompasses the utilities, repairs and maintenance, religious education supplies, worship supplies, hospitality supplies, music ministry expenses, ministry of justice and compassion expenses, and administration expenses. The cost to maintain our grounds and provide our ministries with the tools they need to do the work within the Hope Central Church mission and vision were budgeted based on last year’s actual costs and new contracts which are detailed in the chart below. The status of renters will increase in 2017 from 13 long-term renters to 18 renters. This is excellent news because we open ourselves to the potential of gaining more in rental income than in previous years. Also, we will continue to rent our 40 parking spaces at $70 per month and look to gain an additional $6,500 in 24 hour parking. Lisa Pilat, our Building Manager, works robustly to maximize our income for the space we have available, which has been consistently reflected in our actual rental numbers. We trust that we will continue to meet our expectations in this area. The chart below shows a breakout of what we believe, firmly, to be possible and what we must anticipate from a conservative viewpoint based on previous pay history.The amount pledged by our congregation, this year, was $185,169. We had 68 pledging units compared to last year’s 72 units. We calculated our budgeted pledge income to be $180,849 using an average of the past three years’ pledge fulfillment percentages (2014-99%, 2015-102%, 2016-92%) multiplied by our 2017 pledge amount (97.67% x $185,619). Our fulfillment rate is based on the remaining balance pledged over the total pledged amount excluding any units that gave over their pledged amount. This year, our fulfillment rate was the lower than it had been in the past couple of years as well as the total pledged. In taking a closer look, in previous years, we ran a Capital Campaign, which we $42,697 a year in Furnace fund income based on 3-year commitment pledges. This campaign has ran its course and moving forward, we include the cost of the furnace payments into our operating budget which means that, in previous years, the total pledged including the Capital Campaign was well over $200K for roughly the same amount of pledging units. So in 2017, we are reflecting a decrease in the amount pledged that ultimately affects our bottom line. Plate offerings were budgeted at $13,400 based on a three year average ($14,400-2016, $14,400-2015, and $11,400-2014).Plate offerings are a best guest estimate as we assume the last year’s plate givers turn into pledging units in the following year. Lastly, Laura Ruth will have a sabbatical lwavein 2017, per her contractual agreement. We must find coverage during that time, which we have budgeted $5K for. This includes Courtney’s increase in hours as well as any additional costs that may arise.The pledge offerings combined with plate offerings and rental income comes to a total income of $362,584. We have budgeted for our expenses based upon the “true cost” of operating our growing church, which amounts in $406,026. This budget presents a net deficit of -$43,442. With the knowledge of this deficit, the LC as well as the congregation must commitment to looking towards all available options and avenues such as grants, increasing pledge amounts, and fundraising events.As you can see, the Leadership Circle and Finance Team worked relentlessly to provide a financially responsible budget that reflected what it truly takes to operate Hope Central Church. We are a strong faith-based congregation that believes the work we are doing is pleasing to God, and with your support and commitment, we can achieve great things! So, would you carefully read and pray over this budget?In Warm Regards,Submitted by Earin RoseTreasurer, Hope Central Church2017 BudgetReportsModerators’ Report2016 has been a year of change and a lot of growth. We have appreciated the things that changed in the previous several years, but have been moved by the changes this year.We have appreciated the teams and committees that have grown in their work and in their intentional ministries. We have appreciated the fine leadership and work that the Leadership Circle has provided. We continue to appreciate the leadership and skills of our ministers. Our professional staff is exceptional and has supported the growth and extra work associated with it. And, of course, the participation of you, the individual, has made all the difference. It is a sign that we all have heard the call of God. It is a sign that this place is different than it was. It is a sign that NightChurch has continued to provide a significant ministry for those looking for refuge on Sunday evenings. It is a sign that we have further learned and responded to racism. It is a sign that we have challenged gender stereotypes and homophobia. It is also a sign that our politics over the next four years will add challenges to our ministries and our own lives. So we give thanks to God for love, for the strength of this church family, for the response to that love in standing with each other, as we all continue to grow. Let all of this be a challenge to invest ourselves, to find places where we can be love, and to dig into our own lives to see what God might have for us.Blessings and love,Terry SteedenNina SwiftPastor’s ReportIn 2016 we built on the risks we took in 2015: doing nothing at which only white people could be successful; ending the sparsely attended evening service; deciding to be more active in our neighborhood; ending the resistance to our childhood Christianities in favor of a liberative Christian spiritual practice that provides grounding for our making meaning, moving toward the heart of God, and repairing the world.2016 found us needing this grounding—we suffered the loss of lives in racist and homophobic violence, and in the waves of reaction the trauma of violence creates. In spite of our losses, from the loss of loved ones to the loss of lives at the Pulse Club in Orlando, from the endless list of people of African descent killed quickly by gun violence to the slow poisoning of the water and people in Flint, we learned to tell the truth of our lives, so that we may know how to stand with one another in the light of God. Following the teaching of Jesus, we learned that in systems of dominance, we all get caught. We learned to compare notes across our difference, then to use our spiritual gifts for protection and liberation, starting with the most vulnerable people and working outwards. Within our capacity and dignity, using our spiritual gifts, we learned there is no work of liberation we can leave undone. Searching our sacred Scripture for our deepest spiritual values and giving ourselves to the work of love, we have found we can work together across much difference.?In the recent election season, the teaching of Judaism and Christianity seemed less cultural reenactment and more exquisitely relevant to the well-being of the earth and humanity, the sacred care of immigrants, women and children, the most vulnerable.While those around us have searched for means of comfort and grounding for action for liberation, we have had Hope Central as a base and place for making meaning and launching for the repair of the world. We are acutely aware of the need, now. And we are practicing the balance of action and rest. We may be at this a very long time. We join some who have been at this all their lives.?For sustainability, we have been practicing leadership and the rotation of leadership. Lauren Doty led our Ministry of Justice and Compassion, and now Beth Molling and Erica Charis lead. Nancy Azar led as Moderator, with Nina Swift. Now Nina is Moderator with Terry Steeden. Suzanne Wolk was head sacristan. Now it’s Susan Lacefield.In September on Homecoming?Sunday, I asked the congregation to take up the responsibilities of citizenship of our congregation and you responded!be a part of a team or project,?know where to find the information you need,?come to church as often as you can,?teach and volunteer in our?Sunday?School,?participate with the spiritual prayer, giving, bible study, developing compassion,?support the church with an annual stewardship pledgeTaking up and continuing these responsibilities will help us be the spiritual community we long to be and sustain the work of enlightenment and liberation. We will be able to go on no matter who our elected leaders are, no matter who the pastors are, no matter if the Senior Pastor goes on sabbatical from?September 17 to December 17, 2017. Your leadership will be necessary.When a pastor goes on sabbatical, she should not return home the same. She should come back changed. She should come back to a congregation that, too, has changed. Pastors and congregations are constantly changing, sometimes so slowly we don’t notice, sometimes quickly and joyfully or painfully. But we change or we die. I’m extremely grateful for this sabbatical, and excited and nervous, too. I’m not nervous about leaving you in the hands of God with the great Courtney Jones. It’s my first sabbatical and I know two things. I’m very, very lucky to get such a time away. The second is that I don’t know how to do sabbatical and neither does Hope Central. It’s our first, mine and yours. The shape of my plans is beginning to appear. I’ll take retreats to begin and end my time away—to listen deeply again, to feel the moving of God in me. I hope to take a wood-carving class, to travel to Iona, Scotland, to sing. Depending on funds I’ve applied for, I have a fantasy of traveling to Mozambique in Africa to see my mother’s birthplace, the place she knew and heard the drums. Meck will travel some with me.While I’m away, you too will see more clearly the shape of Hope Central’s leadership and mission. You too will be refreshed by new doings, new ways to pray, new worship experiences, new ways to be God’s hands for the world.When I come home, I will listen for God in you in new places and fit myself there. I won’t come home to do the things I did before, in the same ways. I’ll bring new gifts home. We will meet again somewhere down the river of God’s love.For today, please receive my thanks, Nina and Terry, Moderators; Vanessa, Musical Director, and Bobby, Neil, and Gillian, musicians; Lisa, Joy, Leonel, amazing, steady, talented, devoted staff; Beth, Ryan, Nancy, Ben, Nina, Terry, Lisa, Andrée, Suzanne, Leadership Circle; Suzanne, then Susan, Sacristans; Lauren then Beth and Erica, MJC; J, Nominating; Julia and J, Personnel; Andrée, Hospitality; Elizabeth, Prayer Team; Suzanne, Stewardship; Barbara, Called to Care Team; Earin, Treasurer; Ben and Nina, volunteer preachers; Courtney, Children’s Spiritual Development and Sister Pastor.Thank you also to the Minister’s Support Team, dedicated to helping me hear through the haze of my humanity, the mission of the church so that I may be the minister I long to be—Beth, Susan, Christie, Barbara, Suzanne.Love,Laura RuthAssociate Pastor’s ReportWhat a great year we had! In 2016, our Sunday school program continued to grow. We have children from newborn through 6th grade, the largest age range we have ever had! In June, we closed out our Sunday school year with an amazing Children’s Sunday. Our children know they are leaders in our congregation, and they step into their leadership in some beautiful ways.In September, we moved from three classes to four and began sharing space downstairs with our new renters, Integrarte. Jenn Wood, Patti Ryan, and Tee Leach joined Lisa Price and Brieanne McLaughlin in our rota of dedicated teachers. Due to a combination of unforeseen circumstances and trying to do what is best for our students and teachers, we have moved back to three classes for the time being. In September 2017, we expect to move back to four classes.Our children have been in services several times in 2016—on Easter, Children’s Sunday, and Christmas. They continue to grow in their understanding of worship, and they participate in ways that make sense to them. It’s beautiful to watch. Our sixth grader, Eva Humphreys, was even one of our readers for this year’s Unrehearsed Christmas Pageant!These are only a few of the wonderful things happening in the lives of our children. More than anything, they are finding themselves an integral part of the community. Church members are showing up at sports games, recitals and programs, letting our children know that they are supported and held by many people who love them. That does not go unnoticed by the children or their parents, and it is a joy to watch children doing what they love to do.In 2017, with Laura Ruth on sabbatical in the fall, we will need more participation from adults to help with Sunday school. We are planning to move Sunday school to just before worship, having the children be in worship both at the beginning and the end, with a 30-minute playtime during the prayers and sermon. If you feel called to expand your leadership in Sunday school, please pray about it and let me know. If you want to be part of the Children’s Spiritual Formation Team, along with our Sunday school teachers, Beth Chandler, Christopher Walsh, and Abra Mims, please let me know that as well.Beloved, thank you for the ways you support our growing children’s program, and thank you for the ways you love our children into the spiritual people they are becoming. I thank God for you and for the gift it is to serve Hope Central in this ministry.Love,CourtneyMusic Director’s ReportA year in reviewIt’s hard to believe 2016 has come to an end. The two favorite things about my job at Hope Central Church are the band and the choir. I’m amazed that after so many years, these two elements of the service continue to feed my spirit. Bobby, Gillian and Neil support and encourage all of my musical endeavors; each week they are ready for anything. Sometimes my experiments work, sometimes not so much, but to have a group of musicians willing to try the unthinkable during a church service is truly a blessing. And working in a community that encourages this experimentation is amazing. The band enables me better serve the congregation, the choir, and the ministers overall.The choir continues to grow and be more consistent. We’re building a repertoire. We’re singing in parts. We’re swinging when we need to and building confidence.Recently we sang a hymn that had started as a choir anthem, and I heard all of the harmony parts. The choir is an amazing vehicle for learning—both as a participant but also as a teacher. I continue to have the choir sing music I dream of the congregation singing. It’s a long process. But I’m excited to hear that it’s working. : )Another highlight from 2016 for me was the summer. This is the second year the choir took a break for the summer and I asked church members to offer their talents during the anthem. And so many people came forward. It was exciting to hear soloists—including vocalists and instrumentalists. I look forward to doing this again in 2017.During Lent, I brought in a song that moved my soul called “Remember Me.” I transcribed it from a recording and decided to write out an arrangement for the choir. It started as an anthem and then became the Confession during Lent. It was different from some of our past confessions. But we learned it. Learning music is a process and I love exploring different ways of teaching song. Singing is crucial for our spiritual growth. Our lives do in fact depend on it.~Vanessa MorrisClerk’s Report2016 was a year of change and transition at Hope Central Church, marking the passage of another year in our vibrant and loving community. We also grew in number and welcomed many newcomers and 21 new Covenant Partners.Some highlights of the year: In March we commissioned the new Leadership Circle; our 2016 Lenten theme was “Survival of the Weakest.” In May we blessed and sent Katie Ernst, our student minister, on her way, had our annual Blessing of the Bikes, and held a Memorial Day weekend hymn sing. On July 31 our annual Church in the Park service was canceled because of rain, so we moved it inside and baptized Joey McLaughlin; in August Benjamin Perkins and Nina Swift shared their gifts with us by preaching during a special sermon series on Dignity. On September 18 we held our annual Homecoming Sunday and potluck to welcome everyone back from summer, followed, sadly, by the funeral of MaryAnn Roderiques. Also in September and early October, we had a sermon series on Spiritual Gifts, with sermons again from Ben and Nina as well as Courtney and Laura Ruth. On October 16 we had a large and raucous Blessing of the Animals service in honor of Saint Francis of Assisi; we held a churchwide retreat and potluck on October 22, at which the UCC’s Rev. Jonathan New made a presentation on stewardship that generated a good conversation about our vision and mission; Rev. New held up Hope Central as one of the most robust and thriving churches in the Massachusetts Conference. Our Advent theme in 2016 was “There Is a Crack in Everything (That’s How the Light Gets In),” from Leonard Cohen’s song “Anthem”; and on Christmas Eve we held our annual unrehearsed Christmas Pageant, a scene of glorious chaos and new light.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Twenty-One New Covenant PartnersPolly Hoppin, Bob Thomas, Eliza Thomas, Emma Thomas, Erica Charis, Beth Molling, Thomas Wilson (Wil) Boyd, Lindsay Popper, Ashley Temin, Marlo Pedroso, Tracy Bindel, Deborah Clark, Katie Ernst, Julian Ernst, Julia Lanham, Megan Lanham and their daughters Eva and Tessa Lanham, Rowell Levy, Tee Leach, andJae LohanOne Wedding:11/12/16 Thomas Wilson (Wil) Boyd and James FosterOne Birth:8/28/16 Emry Bissi-SimpsonOne Baptism:7/31/16 Joseph McLaughlinTwo Deaths:9/13/16 MaryAnn Roderiques12/12/16 Betty WilesMoves/Transfers/Withdrawals:The Bossert family (Suzanne, Ellen, Brooke, and Kate), John Brock, Anne Broyles & Larry Peacock, Allison Purdie, Lauren Doty, Casey BrownChurch membership as of December 31, 2016:108 Covenant PartnersPlus Active Participants who understand themselves to belong to Hope Central:35 householdsThese numbers include 41 children!Respectfully submitted on behalf of the Leadership Circle,Suzanne Wolk, ClerkTeam ReportsBuilding Ministry Team ReportWe take delight that the new furnace installation is working better and more cheaply than we had anticipated. 2016 begin with a short list of work to do around the church, most of it small projects that a number of individuals helped with. However, as the summer approached, we found Mosaic Child Care moving out of the basement, and Integrarte moving in the first of August. There were large and small things to do around the building, from painting, to removing old stuff, a complete evaluation of all of the stuff around the building so that we could throw unusable stuff away, give away usable stuff to others, and keep what is useful for our own use. We did a number of tasks to bring the basement up to standard for the new renters, including painting, patching, fixing pipe hanging, removing the old child toilets and screens and installing new toilets and screens, and a large number of cleanup items.What we have learned is that our building is in constant need of repair and cleanup, and we do not have the funds to hire folks to get all of this done. We therefore depend deeply upon the kindness of others! So we are grateful to the large number of tasks people have completed this past year, some simple and some a lot of work.We finally give appreciation also to Lisa Pilat who manages the building in so many ways, and finds ways to keep it going. We appreciate Terry Steeden who stepped in to temporarily handle finding volunteers and keeping track of the work list. Because Marylou is retiring, Terry will only be here 6 months of the year, so we are in need of a new coordinator to work with Lisa, and drive the repair list. Could God be calling you?Called to CareThe called to care team has continued to deepen its work as a confidence-keeping ministry, attending to the pastoral needs and spiritual health of the congregation of Hope Central Church. As we explore the power of prayer, we also support the ongoing movement of our community towards the heart of the divine.As of September 2016, in addition to Laura Ruth and Courtney, the team includes Danna Gobel, Barbara McQueen, Ben Perkins, Patti Ryan, Jill Seaman-Chandler, Elizabeth Simpson and Pam Wylie. During 2016, the called to care team has continued to hold our congregation in care through prayer and through concrete actions. We serve on the weekly prayer team and pray individually with folks during Communion in the back of the sanctuary. The ministry of our team has also included one-on-one relationships with elders in the congregation, bringing meals and providing support for folks during times of illness or stress, providing rides to church for those who couldn't get to church any other way, and visiting new babies and parents with a meal and a small gift. In this past year, we have supported members of the congregation who have cared for their parents and their children, who have navigated separation, who have had surgery, including joint replacements. Our pastors celebrated the life of MaryAnn Roderiques at a funeral and our congregation welcomed baby Emry. NightChurch has found renewed life as a sanctuary and contemplative service, open to all. We are grateful for each and every person in our congregation and feel fortunate to celebrate the joys as well as to minister to the concerns of our church family.Our team meets once a month. During these meetings we pray and are in relationship with one another in ways that help us bring God’s love and compassion to the concerns of our congregation.We are blessed to be called to serve the Hope Central community and look forward to continuing to do this work in 2017.-The Called to Care TeamDiscernment for Ordination TeamHope Central Church has the gift and blessing of raising up and accompanying covenant partners who are called to ordained ministry. To date, 24 ministers of the Disciples of Christ or the United Church of Christ have been ordained from our church. In church circles, these ordinations are signs of a healthy congregation. This team’s purpose is to accept candidates in care for the ordination process, to pray for and support them, guiding each one through to accomplish the milestones required for ordination to their respective denominations. We currently have four people in care: Sara Holland, Seth Robinson, and Lindsay Popper continue in care and Susan “Clink” Clinkenbeard has just been accepted in care.We have been busy reconstituting the team as 3 previous members have had to leave the team for various reasons. We are pleased that Terry Steeden, Marylou Steeden, and Nancy Azar have joined the team. We are grateful for the commitment, knowledge, wisdom, compassion, and energy they bring to the team.In addition, our Associate Pastor, Rev. Courtney Jones and the current candidates meet together monthly as an ongoing support network.It is a joy and a privilege to do this work on behalf of the congregation.Respectfully submitted,Kathy Hanlan, Chair forNancy AzarRev. Alan BoneRev. Laura Ruth Jarrett, Senior PastorMary Lou SteedenRev. Terry SteedenFinance Team Annual ReportDear Beloved of Hope Central Church,In 2016, we had a net loss (deficit) of -$12,874K. However, we had a successful year! We experienced a shift in our congregational growth which was reflected in the pledge and plate offerings. Also, the expenses we incurred were thought-out planned expenses to further our vision of Hope Central Church and/or were met with additional special gifts to cover the costs. The 2016 Operating Budget Profit & Loss statement shows our income of $416,593 against expenses of $429,467. Income exceeded budget by 14.46% due to 1) rental income which Lisa Pilat worked vigorously to maximize our space exceeding in all rental areas (long-term, one-time, and parking) totaling $27K, 2) pledge offerings which we had over 20 pledging units give over there pledged amount for a total of $25K, and 3) plate offerings which we exceeded expectation as a reflection of growth by $1.6K. Furthermore, our expenses, though exceeding the budgeted amount, were only 2.4% which was less of an increase in comparison to the income we received. This increase is due to the bad debt expense recognized related to the expiration of a long-term rental agreement of $26K as well as other increase to expenses that relate to the growth of our congregation such as the Ministry or Justice and Compassion, bank processing and refinancing fees (administration), and communication and marketing expenses.Thanks to everyone for your hard work and dedication to this community. As a devoted congregation, you have given your time, talents, and money to further the vision of Hope Central Church.Submitted by Earin RoseTreasurer, Hope Central Churchearinrose@P&L StatementHospitality ReportHospitality in 2016 consisted mainly of providing coffee and snacks after church each week. We are now effectively rotating that so that each member hosts once or twice a year, with most people in the congregation participating. This is going really well, but summer coverage is a little thin, so we'll work to improve that.?A new strategy is being tried since the fall, with hospitality served at the back of the sanctuary after church, instead of in Keltie Chapel. Opinions vary, but the idea is that we will serve newcomers better if it's easy for them to linger for a few minutes (or longer) in the sanctuary before they leave.Potluck dinners were organized and served for the Annual Meeting, Maundy?Thursday, the Church Picnic in August, and the Church Retreat in October. As always, there were many contributions and wonderful food.The budget was sufficient and allowed for coffee, tea, and food purchases when necessary, along with the paper goods and flatware that we go through at a rather fast rate! We use compostable plates and cups, and our only plastic use is flatware. For next year we will find a reliable source of compostable flatware (wood or corn-plastic), so that our hospitality work will be as low-waste as possible.Andrée ZaleskaHospitality CoordinatorMinistry of Justice and Compassion ReportThe MJC is committed to taking action on Hope Central’s mission of seeking ultimate meaning, moving toward the heart of God, and the repair of the world, through service, tithing, and knowledge sharing. We met the second Thursday of every month (taking a break from July to September) from 6-6:45pm in the church office. The meetings were led by Lauren Doty in the first half of the year and by Erica Charis and Beth Molling, who took over in October 2016. The MJC currently has 25 people committed to this work through the use of Basecamp, with 4-8 people attending each meeting.2016 saw the continuation of our prior year’s commitment to the work of racial justice, for transgender and gender-nonconforming folks, and attempting to weave ourselves more comprehensively into the fabric of our neighborhood. John Brock faithfully led groups to serve dinner quarterly at Pine Street Inn and regular collection and delivery of cereal donations to their pantry until his departure in the summer of 2015. On June 12, in response to the Pulse shootings in Orlando, Lauren Doty organized a vigil at the monument in JP Center—the vigil drew so many people that the police needed to come to help re-route traffic as the crowd overflowed the sidewalk. We hung and blessed two Black Lives Matter banners on the church in January, and restored them after they were vandalized. The story of the vandalization response was printed in the local news and inspired neighbors to make new connections with our community. T-Shirts saying “Black Lives Matter at Hope Central Church” were printed and sold in the summer, with all profits donated to the movement. Barbara McQueen led monthly discussions for white people to talk about race to encourage and inspire action without unduly burdening our congregation’s people of color. Since November 2015, representatives from the MJC have attended the monthly Vigil in Support of Black Lives Matter rally on the lawn in front of the JP Baptist Church. Barbara McQueen organized a group from Hope Central to participate in the Mother’s Day Walk for Peace in May. In December the MJC organized participation in City Mission’s Coat Boston, collecting new children’s coats to be distributed through the Boston Public Schools. On New Year’s Eve a team assisted in serving a meal at Community Servings.The MJC is also charged with overseeing the disbursement of Hope Central’s tithing, and in 2016 we gave to Camp Aranu'tiq, Campaign for Southern Equality, City Mission / Boston Warm, Elizabeth Stone House, GLAD Alliance, Greater Boston Interfaith Organization, the LGBT Asylum Support Task Force, The Network/La Red, Pine Street Inn, and Union of Minority Neighborhoods. MJC also provides funding for Fast Track Grants, Pastor’s fast track grants, DOC and UCC missions, and the Mass Council of Churches. There were two fast track grant applications in 2016, with giving totaling $400. In November, in an attempt to increase congregational engagement with the disbursements, a survey was sent to the congregation asking for preferences regarding the depth/breadth of disbursements, sharing the giving list and asking for suggestions for the new year, and inquiring about the best times to schedule actions and activities to invest congregation time more efficiently.In 2017, the Ministry of Justice and Compassion plans to make disbursement decisions in accordance with the outcomes of the survey and with the recommendations of the Finance Team. We hope to reinstate quarterly dinner serving at Pine Street Inn and regular collection and delivery of pantry donations. Asylees from the LGBT Asylum Support Task Force will be visiting the congregation in February. Other educational and service actions will be organized as needs and passions arise. We hope more generally to engage a larger percentage of the congregation in the actions and giving of this ministry.Erica Charis and Beth Molling, co-chairsNominating Team ReportThe Nominating Team grieved the loss of member MaryAnn Roderiques, who passed away in September. MaryAnn was a thoughtful and energetic contributor to the team. She is missed by all of us and the entire congregation. We grieved the loss of Betty Wiles as well, who died in December, two months’ shy of her 101st birthday.In 2016, the Nominating Team continued with the work of searching for members and leaders for teams others than those specified in our bylaws (Leadership Circle and Nominating). We were able to identify and secure talented congregants for the Stewardship Team in time for a successful stewardship drive.The three Leadership Circle vacancies for 2016 were filled by Beth Chandler, Ben Perkins, and Andrée Zaleska, to make the group complete at nine members.The Nominating Team added Nancy Azar and Kathy Hanlan to the group. Existing member Elizabeth Simpson stepped down midterm to spend more time with her family, which now includes beautiful baby Emry, born in August.In order to identify and support the gifts and graces of our congregation for the greater good of the church, a spiritual gifts inventory (assessment) was made available online. We encouraged folks to take the survey and to consider joining a ministry or team in the church. At the Hope Central Church retreat on October 22, the Nominating Team made a presentation to explain the survey and the results. Representatives of most of the church’s teams, committees, and ministries were available to answer questions and recruit new members.The work of the Nominating Team occurs year-round. In addition to focused searching for open positions, casual conversations about spiritual gifts, leadership opportunities, and our process are always encouraged. 2016 Nominating Team: Nancy Azar, J Conlon, Kathy Hanlan, Abbi Holt, MaryAnn Roderiques*, Elizabeth Simpson*, Nina Swift – Leadership Circle Liaison* No longer on the teamPersonnel Team ReportThis year, the Personnel Team continued to work on a policy manual and the creation of fair compensation guidelines. Given the variations in the church budget each year, for the foreseeable future we will increase staff salaries on a cost of living adjustment (COLA) basis, and strive to follow the UCC recommendations for pastor salaries.There were no hires or departures of staff members this year and we are grateful for the stability of our team. Of note are two significant anniversaries: Leonel Cerme?o has served as sexton for 25 years and Lisa Pilat has been our building manager for 10 years. We are blessed and enriched by their service.The Personnel Team members for 2016 were J. Conlon, Christie Dustman, Julia Herzig, Abbi Holt, and Terry Steeden. Lisa Price was the Leadership Circle liaison to the team.Racial justice Team ReportThe Hope Central Racial Justice Team was born out of necessity to develop a more comprehensive understanding of racism in the US context and to begin the soulful work of examining how deeply embedded it is in almost every aspect of community life, including our very own faith community. 2016 was an especially wrenching year: we saw horrific events in Baton Rouge, Saint Paul, Orlando, and Dallas, to name a few.Importantly, the Racial Justice Team sees its work as rooted in Christian practice, specifically the vision articulated by the Apostle Paul in his letter to the Galatians 3:26-28. In it he states: “So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” Therefore, a key part of the practice of realizing the Galatians ideal requires deconstructing and demythologizing whiteness, allowing for space and grace as we lovingly challenge one another in our efforts to dismantle racism. One such effort this year is the ongoing white people’s affinity group, which has met several times in what hopes to be an impactful journey for all who participate.The work of racial justice remains front and center in the moral and ethical life of the congregation; it is woven into every aspect of Hope Central. The Racial Justice Team’s work is looking ahead to the challenges that will arise as a result of the 2016 election. We will be called to greater acts of bravery, vulnerability and justice-making as we continue on the journey into God’s heart, where love, joy, and healing abound.Benjamin Perkins, ChairRogerson HouseWe are now in our sixth year with this ministry, which consists of holding a monthly communion service with residents in this Alzheimer's care facility. Last year saw quite a bit of turnover for the staff at Rogerson, which required us to suspend the service for a few months. We have always worked closely with the music and activities directors. When the former music director left, I had some concerns about working with someone new. But happily, Julie, the new music director is amazing. She has been a joy and just adds to the blessings we receive from our time there. Kathy Hanlan has been a welcome presence with her help this year and LauraRuth is back to taking a more active role with us. All are welcome anytime to join with us.Kathy BerminghamSacristans’ ReportSacristans have a “behind-the-scenes” role in the weekly liturgy that is very much analogous to a stage manager’s role. The sacristan is the person who prepares the sanctuary for worship each Sunday—replenishes and lights the candles, adorns and sets the worship table, puts out the Communion elements, and then cleans up everything after the service. The sacristan may assist in finding volunteers to help with some aspects of the service, such as reading the welcome. Sacristans are also in charge of organizing the sacristy, ironing and washing linens, and ordering liturgical supplies. On holy days, holidays, and at the change of liturgical season, the sacristan changes the banner, arranges for any special decorations, distributes any extra elements of the service (such as ashes, palms, and flowers), and sees to many details that help ensure a beautiful and meaningful service of worship.Gina Boisse, DeeDee Hamilton, Kathy Hanlan, Susan Lacefield, Ben Perkins, and Suzanne Wolk all served faithfully in 2016. Candace Chang continued to perform the sacred task of baking our delicious round loaves of Communion bread.If you are interested in joining our team, please contact Susan Lacefield (sklacefield@).Stewardship ReportThe members of year’s Stewardship Team were Candace Chang, Laura Ruth Jarrett, Courtney Jones, Abra Mims, Hez Norton, Nina Swift, Seth Robinson, and Suzanne Wolk. Our theme was “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:21). We are happy to report that, to date, we have received 67 pledges totaling $184,089, and we are still working on increasing those numbers. Heartfelt thanks to everyone who pledged this year!Although we must receive pledges by December 31 in order to count them in our 2017 operating budget, there is no time limit on making a pledge—or increasing an existing pledge—and we encourage everyone to make a 2017 stewardship pledge at any time!If you would still like to pledge, please contact Suzanne Wolk (grindstone6@ / 617-327-7083) or Lisa Pilat (building@ / 617-522-0600). To pledge electronically, go to donate and please inform Lisa of your pledge amount. And thank you!Respectfully submitted,Suzanne WolkWorship Planning TeamThe Worship Planning Team meets almost monthly to plan all worship at Hope Central Church. In 2016, we concentrated on providing worship in the morning that serves the spiritual needs of a diverse group of people of people. Our governing concerns are that we behold the Spirit of God in the practices of worship -so that we draw near to the heart of God, by making ultimate meaning from our sacred Scripture, from the traditions from which we come, from our experience,by discerning our deepest fundamental values for the purpose of repairing the world.We continue in the morning service to strive to create worship experience in which more than white people are served. We work to notice how our worship is coded for white culture, so that we may instead create worship experiences to deepen, enliven, support, and encourage all the people of Hope Central for all our necessary spiritual work.In both the morning service and in NightChurch, we have been so aware of our people’s needs to grieve our losses and violence against our people, to celebrate our milestones, to deepen and widen our spiritual maturity. We have become more clear that regardless of who our civic leaders are, regardless of what events conspire to distract us or harm us, we belong to God. We depend on God’s presence to animate our spiritual practices for our lives, and that noticing God’s presence is our work for enlightenment. We understand worship at Hope Central to be medicine for the soul, rehab for body and soul’s acting in the world, and a source of joy and inspiration in the presence of God.Hope Central is lucky to have a collegium of preachers: the Rev. Courtney Jones, Associate Minister, the Rev. Benjamin Perkins, and the Rev. Nina Swift and me. Our different voices and spiritual grounding provide a wide avenue of experience and scholarly interpretation of our traditions and life.Many hands are required to make worship work. Suzanne Wolk for several years led the wonderful team of sacristans. This work is now in the hands of Susan Lacefield. Kathy Hanlan and Gina Boisse recruit and remind Greeters who welcome visitors to our house. Gillian DeLear, with the help of Terry Steeden, leads a group of folks who work the sound board so that all may hear. Many, many people volunteer to fold the bulletins, sing in the choir, read the welcome and our sacred scripture, do the offering testimony, lead the prayers, and serve at the Communion Table. Andrée Zaleska heads a team of people who are asked to bring simple refreshment for after the service but who instead, out of love for the congregation, bring beautiful, fulfilling food. Some folks, like Mark, stay every Sunday to sweep and clean up. Sue Harvey and her children, McKenna and Tavish, have a ministry of pencils. They sharpen and replace pencils so that our people may write their prayers and so that our visitors may be known to us! Lastly, the Called-to-Care Team, led by Barbara McQueen, during Communion pray with those who need individual prayers. Liturgy is the work of the people, and this is so exactly the case at Hope Central. We are grateful for the work of all these people.I want to make a special note of gratitude to Vanessa Morris, whose attention to our people, whose skill as a musician, whose leadership of our band—Bobby Hall, Neil Helme, and Gillian DeLear—is so necessary to our work of worship. Thank you, Vanessa. The band is amazing.NightChurch continues its work of worship on Sunday evenings. The lay-led service’s liturgy is beautiful, and set. Because it’s set, leaders may step in with some ease. Representatives of NightChurch met with the Worship Planning Team so that worship and vision of the congregation may be whole. NightChurch hosted the whole congregation on Christmas Day.In 2016, we used themes to explore and deepen/widen ideas and practices for our spiritual maturity:Lent: Survival of the WeakestSummer: DignityFall: Spiritual GiftsAdvent: “There Is a Crack in Everything / That’s how the light gets in” (Leonard Cohen)Looking forward to 2017, we can imagine in our worship relying heavily on Judaism and Christianities’ traditions of calling to mind the needs of the most vulnerable, and we will prepare ourselves for continuing this work, including ourselves. Our Lenten theme will be “Mercy.” In September, I will be on sabbatical - September 17 to December 17. Courtney will take my place while I’m away. Responsibility for worship will move to her portfolio. As it is with me, she will need you, our beloved congregation, to be her worship partners.Lastly, Kathy Bermingham is the pastor of our worship at the Rogerson House. In our fifth year at the Rogerson House, Kathy plans, recruits, and leads a monthly worship service and an annual Christmas Service. Kathy is faithful, and never fails her beautiful work.Respectfully submitted for Courtney Jones, Vanessa Morris, Benjamin Perkins, Nina Swift, Terry Steeden, Erica Charis, Kathy Hanlan, Gina Boisse, Susan Lacefield, Jeanne Lucas, Lillian Fuchs, Laura Everett, Abbi Holt, Kathy Bermingham, Lindsay Popper, Earin Rose.Laura Ruth JarrettAppendixBylaws of Hope Central Churchas amended February 5, 2017Name of Church. Affiliation. The name of this corporation shall be “Hope Central Church” and will be referred to hereafter as the “congregation.” Hope Central Church is affiliated with the Massachusetts Conference of the United Church of Christ and the Northeast Region of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). Purpose Hope Central Church is a diverse community of hope, learning and growing together in faith, love, and joy. With God's help, we seek to struggle together for God's peace and justice, to explore practices of Christian spirituality, and to serve our neighbors in greater Boston and beyond with open minds, open hands, and open hearts. Membership / Covenant Partnership Membership in this congregation is open to all people. Members, also known as Covenant Partners, are those who unite with Hope Central Church by a public declaration of faith and commitment. Membership may be terminated in the following ways: transfer of membership, request of the covenant partner, death, or inactivity. Members to be terminated due to inactivity will be sent a written notice when possible and given an opportunity to request that their membership be preserved. Meetings of Covenant Partners The congregation of Covenant Partners shall meet at least twice a year: once in an Annual Meeting to do the business of the church, another to be in retreat to dialog and discern on the goals and vision for the future of the church. Special meetings may be called by the Leadership Circle to address emergency situations or opportunities that require congregational vote, and may be called by written petition of any 10 Covenant Partners. The Annual Meeting shall be held on a Sunday in the first quarter of the year not later than March 31, the purpose of which is to: Discuss and approve the recommended budget for the upcoming year, brought forth to the congregation by the Leadership Circle, having been drawn up for review by the Finance Committee. ?Vote on a slate of candidates for the three (out of nine) rotating Leadership Circle openings and any open terms. A written ballot will be provided to each attending Covenant Partner with space for write-in alternatives. ?Any additional business to this meeting must be brought forward to the Leadership Circle in advance and must be approved by that body by majority vote as a relevant matter of congregational discussion and/or vote, or by a petition of any 10 Covenant Partners. Written notice of the Annual Meeting and any special business meeting will be given by email and bulletin announcements not less than 21 days in advance or more than 60 days prior to each Annual Meeting, and will specify the place, day, and hour of the meeting. In an emergency situation, the Leadership Circle may call for a special meeting on at least 10 days notice. ?Aquorumof10%or20CovenantPartners, whichever is greater, is required to do the business of Annual Meeting and any special business meeting. ?Each Covenant Partner will have one vote. ?Decision-making at Hope Central Church will be by consensus, where possible, otherwise a simple majority of the voting members present is required. ?However, any changes to this constitution and by-laws will require a two-thirds affirmative vote. The decision to call or terminate pastoral staff will require a three-quarters affirmative vote. ?The following matters must come before the entire congregation of Covenant Partners at a duly called congregational meeting: Calling pastoral staff to serve. Pastoral staff shall mean pastors, associate pastors, or any position that requires ordination.Terminating pastoral staff (as defined in a.) except in cases of misconduct. ?The borrowing of money or capital improvements in excess of 10% of the yearly church operating budget ?Any commitment to acquire, lease, or dispose of real property ?Any extra budgetary program or project, excluding repair or replacement, using over $10,000 of endowed funds or investment income ?Changes to denominational affiliation(s) ?Dissolution of the congregation ?Minutes will be taken of every congregational meeting held, transcribed and saved in the church office. ?Leadership Circle The nine members of the Leadership Circle must be Covenant Partners of Hope Central Church. Hope Central Church pastoral staff serves as ex-officio, non-voting members. ?Members are chosen through the vote of the congregation at the Annual Meeting on a rotating basis – three members elected for staggered three-year terms, so that each year 1/3 of the Leadership Circle comes up for a vote by the congregation. ?Each member of the Leadership Circle serves a three-year term and can be re-elected once and, after a one year hiatus, can be elected again and re-elected once. This process may be repeated. In the event of a vacancy on the Leadership Circle, the congregation shall elect someone to serve the balance of the term. The responsibilities of the Leadership Circle are: To provide general oversight of all the activities of the church and plan for the church's future. ? To provide a forum of communication among the various ministry teams, officers, pastor, and staff of the church and address differences among them. ? To select and remove officers. ?To manage the financial health of the church, borrow money and incur indebtedness for purposes of the church, and to execute and deliver, in the church’s name, evidence of such debt. ? To oversee and provide direction to pastoral staff. ?To design and facilitate a yearly evaluation of the pastor’s and the church’s ministry. ?Designing and facilitating a yearly evaluation of the pastor’s (s’) ministry ?Facilitating and disseminating an evaluation of the church’s ministry, including the pastor(s) and ministries ?Presenting findings to the Pastor, PPRC, and Leadership Circle ? Preparing a written report on the summary findings available to all Covenant Partners ?In situations involving allegations or proof of misconduct by pastoral staff, to investigate any allegations, and if appropriate, to suspend or terminate the pastor or staff member, and communicate with the congregation and the denominations as appropriate. ?To hire, oversee, and provide direction to, and terminate the non-pastoral staff. To preside over congregational meetings, accept for review petitions from the congregation, evaluate and offer recommendations regarding any changes to by-laws that may come up for congregational review. ?Ensure that an Annual Report on the past year is presented to the congregation at the time of the Annual Meeting. ?Meetings of Leadership Circle: A simple majority of the total number of the Leadership Circle shall be necessary to constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. Every act or decision done or made by a majority of the members present at a duly held meeting, which may be in person or teleconference, at which a quorum is present, shall be regarded as the act of the Leadership Circle, unless a greater number is required by law or by the Articles of Incorporation. ?The Leadership Circle will schedule meetings to be held at least ten times per year, which will be published on the church calendar. ?All Leadership Circle meetings are open to members of the congregation except Executive Sessions which may be closed but which must be posted in the bulletin in advance. ?Minutes will be taken at all Leadership Circle meetings and will be made available to the public within two weeks, except for minutes from Executive Sessions. Minutes from the preceding meeting will be read and approved at the beginning of a Leadership Circle meeting. A file will be kept in the church office of all Leadership Circle meeting minutes as well as minutes from all congregational meetings. ?Officers From the members of the Leadership circle, the following roles will be filled by a Leadership Circle vote: Moderator: The primary duties include coordinating and facilitating meetings of the Leadership Circle and the congregational meetings. ?Moderator Alternate: The primary duties include supporting the moderator and coordinating and facilitating meetings of the Leadership Circle and the congregational meetings in the moderator's absence. ?Clerk: Primary duties include recording or delegating the recording of minutes of all Leadership Circle meetings and congregational meetings. Also responsible for making sure minutes other than from Executive Sessions are made available to the congregation. ?Treasurer: Primary duties include oversight of financial procedures and collaborating with the staff and Stewardship and Finance Team in the preparation and implementation of a responsible budget. Should no one in the Leadership Circle have the skills or spiritual gifts necessary for the work of the office of treasurer, the Leadership Circle may appoint an appropriate Covenant Partner who is responsible to the Leadership Circle. Officers serve on one-year terms, which come up for review and/or renewal yearly by the Leadership Circle. ?Standing Committees The following are the committees required to be active in the congregational life of Hope Central Church. These ministries shall be staffed by members with appropriate gifts and graces, chosen by either the Leadership Circle or the Congregation as specified below, in collaboration with the Pastor(s) and Nominating Committee. Nominating Committee: will be comprised of five covenant partners elected for two-year terms by the Congregation at the annual meeting, and the Leadership Circle moderator as an ex-officio, non- voting member. The nominating committee develops job descriptions for various volunteer positions as needed, canvasses the congregation in search of volunteers to serve on standing committees and ministries, and brings forward names of Covenant Partner candidates to fill positions on the Leadership Circle, Nominating Committee, and Pastoral Search Committee preceding any elections to these bodies by the congregation. Nominating Committee members may serve for more than one term, but each term’s nominations for the following year’s Nominating Committee must include at least one person not currently serving on the Nominating Committee. Pastoral Search Committee: Upon request of the Leadership Circle, a Search Committee of six to eight members shall be formed to screen, interview, and recommend individuals to serve as clergy for the congregation. The Search Committee shall consist of one member each of the Leadership Circle and the Pastoral Support Committee chosen by those respective bodies, and four to six other Covenant Partners elected by the Congregation to represent the interests and goals of the congregation. ?Committees searching for Associate Pastors shall seek the advice of the Senior Pastor, who shall serve as an ex officio member of the Search Committee. ?The Search Committee will present one candidate to the Leadership Circle, which will then present the candidate to the congregation for approval at a congregational meeting. ?Pastor Parish Relations Committee: will be comprised of five Covenant Partners chosen by the Nominating Committee in collaboration with Leadership Circle and the Pastor. The Pastor Parish Relations Committee shall seek to achieve and maintain an open, effective, and trusting relationship, and two-way communications between the Pastor(s) and the congregation. The deliberations of the PPRC are confidential and meetings are not open to others in the congregation for general participation. Finance Team: will be comprised of six Covenant Partners approved by the Leadership Circle. Duties include: Determining the total anticipated revenue each fiscal year and submitting to the Leadership Circle a budget based on anticipated revenues and the priorities of the church as submitted to the Leadership Circle by the various committees, staff, and ministries.Taking responsibility for developing sound financial policies and procedures to be used by the church.Stewardship Team: will be comprised of six Covenant Partners approved by the Leadership Circle. Duties include:a. Organizing and facilitating an annual stewardship drive.b. Responsible for promoting year round stewardship awareness in the congregation.. ?Ad-Hoc Committees: Can be created by the Leadership Circle as it deems appropriate. ?Ministry Teams: ?Ministry Teams may be developed by the pastor, Leadership Circle, or Covenant Partners of the church. Ministry Teams will work in consultation with the Pastor(s) on ministries that further the mission and vision of Hope Central Church. ?Ministry Team Leader’s authority and responsibility includes: Recommending priorities and goals for programming in that ministry and for the spiritual direction of the congregation as it relates to that ministry. ?Planning, implementing, and evaluating activities and events in the life of the church related to that ministry. ?Most Ministry Team Leaders will serve an initial one –year term that may be extended by mutual agreement. ?Ministry Team Leaders will meet monthly one-on-one with the pastoral staff and at least two times a year as a group of Ministry Team Leaders. ?Staff:?Pastor: The pastor(s) will be called as spiritual leader(s) and head administrator(s) of the community, supported and empowered by the congregation to freely lead the community. Pastor(s) should maintain high moral standards, feel commitment to a growing spiritual life, be ordained, hold a Master of Divinity degree, and have sufficient training and experience for the needs of Hope Central Church. ?Dismissal of Clergy. If a member of the pastoral staff loses the support or confidence of the congregation or the Leadership Circle, or if other serious problems arise that may ultimately warrant the dismissal of the pastor or a change in the call agreement, the Leadership Circle shall initiate whatever procedures it deems appropriate to solve the problem or restore support or confidence in the pastor. If such procedures are unsuccessful, the Leadership Circle shall make appropriate recommendations or seek guidance from the congregation. The Leadership Circle may, if appropriate, seek guidance or assistance from the two denominations that support them. ?The pastor shall attend all Leadership Circle meetings as appropriate and shall prepare a report of his/her activities over the previous month, bring to the church news and issues relating to the wider Church, participate in discussion and planning and provide spiritual direction. ?The Leadership Circle will arrive at an adequate compensation package to offer the pastor on a yearly basis that can adequately be met by the church budget. ? Finances Fiscal year is the same as the calendar year – January through December. ?Budget process: ?The budget process starts by committees and ministries making their monetary requests for the upcoming year to the Stewardship and Finance Team. ?That team then implements a Stewardship campaign, letting congregation know of the vision and requests of ministries and standing committees. ?With the pledge amounts in mind, the Stewardship & Finance Team develop a workable budget and submit it to the Leadership Circle. ?The Leadership Circle reviews the draft budget, makes any changes it may deem necessary and submits it to a congregational vote at the annual meeting. ?This then becomes the budget and any changes between line items must be approved by the Leadership Circle. Any line item change amounting to $5,000 or more must additionally be approved by a congregational vote at a special congregational meeting. ?A minimum of 10% of the average of the prior 3 years income will be tithed to social justice and outreach ministries.Audit & Financial Control: Check signing: At all times, there shall be at least two, but no more than four individuals, who are authorized to sign checks. Those authorized to sign checks shall be designated by the Leadership Circle. For all checks of $2,000.00 or more, other than salary checks, the signatures of two individuals shall appear on such checks. Similarly, for all withdrawals of $2,000.00 or more from the savings account, the signatures of two members shall be required. ?Internal Audit: An internal audit shall be conducted annually. The audit shall consist of a review of all of the financial records of Hope Central Church. The moderator shall appoint an individual or a committee to conduct the internal audit. ?External Audit: An external audit shall be completed every three years. The external audit shall be completed by a Certified Public Accountant or by an otherwise-qualified accountant. The Leadership Circle shall budget appropriate funds to pay for the services of an accountant to conduct the external audit. ?The treasurer shall provide to the Leadership Circle current financial information for all meetings. The Leadership Circle shall provide current financial information to Covenant Partners at least monthly. ?Amending By-laws: By-laws may only be amended by two-thirds vote of the congregation. ................
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