Constitution Update
Constitution and Bylaws
We are on our way to the second step in our process of reviewing and revising our Constitution and Bylaws. You might be wondering why we are doing this.
Well the last time the congregation undertook this task, Blackberries and flip phones were the rage, the iPhone and iPad and Twitter and Google Chrome were still in the future. And Pastor Fritz was still pastor here.
A lot has changed in the last 20 years, not only here but in the world. So we need to take some time and see what needs to be changed, tweaked, or discarded in these documents to allow this congregation to continue to focus its energy on living out God’s ministry as you have over the decades.
Here are the names of those who are part of the task force undertaking this project:
Feel free to check with any of the above to get updates on what is happening.
The two initial areas that the group will be focusing on is on membership and governance. What does it mean to be a member in light of the changes our society has undergone, and more importantly, where is God speaking to us about how we embody welcoming others into the congregation. Governance seems obvious as we continue to have difficulty getting enough people to fill committee and officer positions. But there is more than just “cutting down the number of people” on each. What form of governance will allow the congregation to be what Pastor Deb calls nimble? What will allow the congregation to be nimble enough to meet new opportunities, challenges, and crisis, while still being faithful to the ministry and the people of this congregation.
When the first draft is done, there will be an opportunity for you to review, and share any input you might have. After receiving that input, the task force will put together their final draft and submit it to the Consistory. The Consistory will be asked to approve sending that draft onto a Congregational Meeting for final vote. Before the Congregational meeting there will be opportunities for people to review, ask questions and provide feedback.
In 1957 St. John’s Evangelical and Reformed Church became St. John’s United Church of Christ as a result of a merger. The denominations of the Congregational Christian Church, along with Evangelical and Reformed Church joined to form United Church of Christ. UCC is a distinct and diverse community of Christians that came together as one church. They joined faith and actions and currently are over 5,000 churches with nearly one million members across the U.S. The UCC serves God in the co-creation of a just and sustainable world. The UCC is a church of "firsts," a church of extravagant welcome, and a church where "…they may all be one".
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