Constitution
Bylaws Continuing Resolutions
KENT MEMORIAL LUTHERAN CHURCH
SUNRISE BEACH, MISSOURI
CONTINUING RESOLUTIONS
Enacted May 21, 1996
Revised
11/19/96,
4/15/97,
2/20/02,
5/20/03
R1.00. Standing committee structure & function, Adopted by the Council
May 21, 1996
- R1.01. Each committee shall submit its proposed committee size to the
Council.
- R1.02. When vacancies appear on a committee, the Council shall coordinate
the replacement of such members.
- R1.03. Committee membership shall be limited to one 3-year term. These
terms shall be staggered. A person shall be eligible to serve another term
after one year’s absence. Possible exceptions: Choir Director and Organist
as ex-officio members of Worship & Music committee.
(See R2.01. Below
Adopted by council on Nov. 19, 1996 “Terms will begin January 1st and end
December 31st.“)
- R1.04. Each committee shall elect its own chairperson.
- R1.05. Church members shall serve on only one standing committee at a time.
This does not preclude volunteer work for any other committee’s projects or
serving on Council, Mutual Ministry Committee, or as hoc/special committees.
- R1.06. Council President shall not be a member of any committee, but shall
serve as a non-voting, ex-officio member of all standing committees.
- R1.07. Council membership shall be limited to only one member of an
immediate family at the same time.
R2.00. Additions & changes to standing
committee structure. Adopted by the Council on 11/19/96
- R2.01. Addition to R1.03. above: Terms will begin January 1st and end
December 31st.
- R2.01. Number of members on each committee shall be as follows:
R3.00. Change adopted by council on 4/15/97.
- R3.01. The treasurer shall be the fourth member of the Finance Committee.
R4.00 Ministry Fund Committee
Guidelines Adopted by the Council on May 20, 2003
This fund is established to help our members show their
Christian stewardship by donating to the ongoing and future mission and ministry
of Kent Memorial Lutheran Church in ways that are not normally included in the
annual budget. These donations may be directed by the member to fund specific
causes as long as they meet the mission and needs of the church. Money or
property can be given to this fund in a variety of ways such as:
1. Bequest in a
will
2. Assign to the
fund life insurance benefits or certificates of deposit
3. Transfer to
the fund property such as cash, stocks, bonds, and real estate
4. Donate
memorial gifts
5. Arrange for
trusts, etc., that help members make provision for the ministries of the
church, while also meeting their personal and family financial goals
6. Establish
endowment gifts and funds
Whereas, whole-life Christian stewardship involves
management of all the gifts God has given us, including abilities, time, money
and property; and
Whereas, members of this congregation can fulfill their
privilege and duty to support the work of this church through, for example,
bequests in a will, assigning life insurance benefits or certificates of
deposit, transferring property such as cash, stocks, bonds and real estate,
donating memorial gifts, arranging for trusts, etc., that provide life-time
income to the donor and a gift to the fund, establishing endowment gifts, etc;
and
Whereas, this congregation would like to encourage and
receive these gifts to be administered or utilized for ministry through its Kent
Memorial Ministry Fund;
Therefore be it resolved, that the Congregation Council of
Kent Memorial Lutheran Church states the ongoing responsibilities of the Kent
Memorial Lutheran Church Ministry Fund, also called the Fund, as follows:
- The purpose of the Kent Memorial Lutheran Church
Ministry Fund is to provide distributions beyond the operating budget of this
congregation and overseen by the fund committee to ministry expressions of the
donor as long as they don’t conflict with the mission and needs of the church
or the goals of the Long Range Planning Committee and to causes the committee
deems worthwhile that will be funded by non-specified gifts.
- The committee shall concentrate on education and
motivation to encourage members to donate to the Fund, celebrating and
thanking those gifts as they occur and distributing those donations.
- Donations may be given to the Fund through any of the
vehicles mentioned in the bylaws, (wills, etc.,) and any others deemed
appropriate. Members may discuss possible donations with the ELCA Regional
Gift Planner and their attorney to find out which mode of giving may be best
for them and the legal outcomes of that decision.
- The Committee shall determine how donations are handled
using the following methods –
-
Distribute donations immediately.
-
Place donation
in certificate of deposit for short-term distribution.
-
Invest the
donation in the ELCA Foundation for a later distribution. No committee
member shall invest the assets in a way that would bring private gain to
that individual.
- Major gifts to the church such as bequests, life
insurance proceeds, etc., that are undesignated shall be automatically placed
in the Kent Memorial Ministry Fund.
- The congregation will own all of the Fund assets and
the Fund will be operated under local, state and federal requirements.
- Should the committee determine that the congregation is
in dire need of the assets in the Fund or has an emergency of such a nature
that the future of the congregation is at stake, and the only recourse is to
use the Fund assets, the committee may, upon a two-thirds majority vote,
recommend such authorizing action to the congregational council for
recommendation to the congregation. The congregation must then approve such
use by two-thirds majority vote at a properly called congregational meeting.
Assets may not be borrowed from the fund except by using this same dire need
provision.
- An annual report with current balance, additions,
distributions and any other activity shall be given at the congregational
meeting in February. Monthly newsletter reports will also update the
congregation on the current activities of the Fund. The Congregation Council
will appoint an audit committee to audit the Fund on an annual basis. This
audit should be prepared so its findings can be reported at the congregational
meeting in February.