1. ELDER’S TRAINING SEMINAR Based on the Elder’s Handbook Ministerial Association of the General Conference www.ministerialassociation.com

2. Church Committees Chapter 3 – Part 5

3. Committees are Christians working together “Where there is no counsel, the people fall; but in the multitude of counselors there is safety.” Proverbs 11:14 Committees’ Purpose

4. 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’ Purpose

5. 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 Meeting

6. 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 Meeting

7. 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 Board

8. 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 Board

9. Responsibilities: Spiritual nurture, evangelism and maintenance of doctrinal purity. Upholding Christian standards and recommending changes in church membership. Church Board

10. Responsibilities: Church finances, protection and care of church properties. Coordination of church departments. Designate special committees for specific purposes. Church Board

11. 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 Member

12. Challenge Often a conservative, may seem a nuisance but are necessary in the process of a balanced discussion. The Committee Member

13. 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 Member

14. 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 Chairperson

15. 1 st 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 Chairperson