A. Name of the Church

The name of the church shall be the “Waynesboro Church of the Brethren”, a Pennsylvania non-profit corporation with its principle office located in Waynesboro, PA.  Hereinafter it is referred to as “the Church.”

 

B. Mission and Vision Statement The Mission of the Church is:

CALLED by Jesus Christ to come and learn, go and share, love and serve.

 

The Vision of the Church is:

To welcome and enable all persons to discover, worship, serve God and to discern, experience, and become a part of God’s faithful community.

To reach out in love to local and world needs, empowered by the spirit of God, with efforts to achieve world peace, social justice and harmony.

To continue the work of Jesus Christ throughout the world peacefully, simply, together.

 

C. Membership

1.      Definition:  

The membership of the Church shall consist of all persons who have been received by baptism according to the historical practice and beliefs of the Church of the Brethren, by letter of transfer of membership from another Christian church, or by reaffirmation of faith and renewal of the commitment to membership made at an earlier time in another congregation.

2.      Active member:

An active member is a person who participates in worship services, study opportunities, Love Feast and Communion, and who shares the Good News of Jesus Christ and serves others through the Church by contributing time, abilities, money and prayer.

3.      Non-resident member:

A non-resident member is one who contributes as a member of the Church, but who resides too far away to participate on a regular basis.

4.      Inactive member:

An inactive member is a person who was received into the Church as a member, but who no longer participates in the Church’s life or carries out the commitments expected of members, and who, for three consecutive years, fails to respond to invitations to reaffirm or renew his or her relationship with the Church.  Whether the causes of separation have to do with the individual, the Church, or both, the Church shall continue to explore ways to restore the broken relationship.  Such persons shall not be counted in the statistical report.  However, these persons are entitled to participate in all church functions and enjoy all benefits of membership.

5.      Associate member:

Upon request to the Pastor, Associate Membership may be granted to:

a.      Persons who participate in the life of the Church, who continue to hold membership in another congregation. 

b.      Former residents who have moved to a new location in which there is no Church of the Brethren and who wish to continue a relationship with the Brethren even though they may become members of another Christian community. 

c.      Associate Members have the right to vote and hold office in the congregation granting their associate status and have a responsibility to contribute resources to support the ministries of that congregation.

d.      Associate Members will be counted as members for the district assessment.

6.      Termination:

Membership in the Church may be terminated by any of the following according to District policy:

a.      Written request from another congregation for a letter of transfer.

b.      Written request by the individual to have his name removed from the membership.

c.      Death

 

D. Organization

The General Plan of Organization of the Church shall consist of:

1.      The Congregational Business Meeting, which is the membership of the Church.

2.      Officers of the Church

3.      Legal Officers

4.      Leadership Team

5.      Ministry Teams

6.      Short-Term Project Groups

 

1. Congregational Business Meeting

The Congregational Business Meeting, which is the final authority and governing body within the Church, is the membership of the Church. The Congregational Business Meeting shall be a place of open dialog where members hear reports, discuss new ideas, envision and approve goals, evaluate past accomplishments, make decisions for future direction and record the voice of the Church on current issues where Christian witness is urgent.

a.      The Congregational Business Meeting shall call for employment and licensing of ministers, in cooperation with the District of Southern Pennsylvania, Church of the Brethren, as well as affirm the call of the following:  Church Officers, Deacons, Ministry Team Chairs, Annual and District Conference delegates.

b.      The Congregational Business Meeting shall adopt budgets, rule on policy and organizational matters and authorize church officials to act on behalf of the Church.

c.      The Leadership Team shall plan and schedule the Congregational Business Meeting to encourage as many members of the church family to attend as possible, but no quorum shall be required.

d.      The Chair of the Leadership Team will present an agenda for the Congregational Business Meetings. The

Leadership Team Chair shall preside over the Congregational Business Meeting. In the absence of the Leadership Team Chair, the Stewards Team leader will conduct any meetings.

e.      The Congregational Business Meeting will convene on or before the first Sunday in December of each year for the affirmation of officers, for the approval of the budget and affirmation of conference delegates for the coming year. The Congregational Business Meeting may convene at such other times as called by the Leadership Team, according to the business needs of the Church.

f.       The Church Clerk will take minutes of the Congregational Business Meetings. In the event of the Church Clerk’s absence, the Chair of the Leadership Team will appoint a temporary Secretary.

g.      The Congregational Business Meeting should strive for prayerful consensus and unity in its decision-making. Meetings shall be conducted in an attempt to discern the will of God and in an attempt to reach a consensus on all matters of business based thereon.  Meetings should involve a courteous, respectful and open exchange of ideas.

h.      Roberts Rules of Order shall be used as the official rules for meetings only if the person leading the meeting deems it necessary.

i.       Except as otherwise provided in this Plan of Organization, actions of the Congregational Business Meeting, the Leadership Team and the Ministry Teams shall require a two-thirds vote of those members present.

 

2.    Officers of the Church

The Officers of the Congregational Business Meeting shall be the Chair of the Leadership Team, the Church Clerk, the Treasurer, and the Financial Secretary.

 

The Congregational Business Meeting Officers shall make decisions on behalf of the Leadership Team at their direction or, in emergency situations, between regularly scheduled Leadership Team meetings.

 

3.   Legal Officers

The Chair of the Leadership Team shall be the Corporate President.  The Church Clerk shall be the Corporate Secretary.  Church Treasurer shall be considered a legal officer of the Church. These officers are empowered to sign legal documents which are approved by the Congregational Business Meeting or Leadership Team.

 

All deeds, contracts, notes, or other documents required to be executed in the corporate name, shall be signed by the President, attested by the Secretary.

 

Releases and receipts for legacies by Will or Lifetime Gifts may be executed by the Church Treasurer, as approved by the Leadership Team.

 

By special resolution of the Leadership Team, persons other than the aforesaid officers may be authorized to execute documents.

 

4.   Leadership Team

The Leadership Team shall be invested with administrative powers to plan, coordinate, integrate and supervise the ongoing program of the Church.  The Leadership Team is primarily responsible for long-range planning, initiation or discontinuation of programs and the setting of goals and objectives. The Leadership Team shall assure that the Mission and Vision of the congregation are fulfilled by encouraging and empowering the development of new ministries by individuals and groups, and also by evaluating existing ministries and modifying or discontinuing them.  These ministries shall aid in fulfilling the Mission and Vision of the Church and shall be faithful to the Church of the Brethren heritage and its understanding of the New Testament as the rule of faith and practice. a. The Leadership Team is accountable to the Congregational Business Meeting. 

b.     The Leadership Team shall be empowered to act on behalf of the Congregational Business Meeting ad interim, except for those actions specifically reserved for the Congregational Business Meeting as set forth in this Plan of Organization.

c.      The Leadership Team shall strive for prayerful consensus and unity in its decision-making process.

d.     The Leadership Team consists of the Chair of the Leadership Team, chairs of the Ministry Teams, the Church Clerk, and the Church Treasurer.  The Pastor(s) shall be ex officio member(s) without a vote.  

1)     Action items by the Leadership Team will require a simple majority of members present. In the event of a tie vote, action item will be tabled until the next meeting.

e.      The Chair of the Leadership Team shall be affirmed by the Congregational Business Meeting.  The term shall be two years. An additional two-year term may be served successively.

f.       The term for the Treasurer shall be two years with an unlimited number of terms.

g.      The term for Team leader of Communications Team shall be two years with an unlimited number of terms as deemed necessary by the Leadership Team.

h.     The Church Clerk shall serve as Secretary of the Leadership Team. The term shall be two years. An additional two-year term may be served successively.

i.       The Leadership Team shall work with the pastor(s) and/or staff to:

1)     Represent the Church in screening and nominating all personnel for employment by the Leadership Team and/or by the Congregational Business Meeting, such as the Pastor(s), Administrative Assistant(s), Choir Director, Organist, Pianist, Youth Director, and Custodian(s).  The employment of the Pastor(s) and other professional staff shall be in keeping with the approved denominational placement procedures and in consultation with the District Executive.

2)     Stipulate carefully and review annually the terms of employment for all employed personnel.  When the terms have been mutually accepted, they shall be set forth in writing and considered an agreement between the Church and its employees.

j.       The Leadership Team shall:

1)     Have an interest in and be supportive of the mission, goals and ministries of the Church.

2)     Have the ability to listen to and communicate with persons regardless of age, sex, social status, cultural background and with persons of differing opinions or interests.

3)     Consist of members of the Church who have demonstrated Christian faith and participate on a regular basis in the life and ministries of the Church.

4)     Meet regularly.

5)     Provide an atmosphere of worship and invite personal sharing with one another at each Leadership Team meeting.

6)     Fulfill the directives of the Congregational Business Meeting.

7)     Provide opportunities for long-range planning, setting goals and objectives.

8)     Coordinate the work of the Ministry Teams and Project Groups.

9)     Offer guidelines for Ministry Teams and Project Groups.

10)       Assist any Ministry Team with staffing vacancies as requested.

11)       Act on recommendations from the appropriate Ministry Team on staff vacancies.

12)       Present those called to Team Leader positions at the Congregational Business Meeting. 

13)       Fill and affirm vacancies that occur between Congregational Business Meetings. Additionally, the Leadership Team shall, upon being notified of an unexpected, short-term, or temporary requirement to fill a staff vacancy, meet as soon as possible after said notification(s) to determine the best coverage solution and develop a plan for continuing coverage as required.                                  

14)       Present the recommendations and terms of employment for all pastoral staff at the Congregational Business Meeting.

15)       Review the proposed budget for presentation at the Congregational Business Meeting.

16)       Allocate and define authority with respect to the establishment of bank accounts and the signing of checks and other legal documents.

17)       Approve disbursements not budgeted under the various Ministry Teams.

18)       Receive, consider, and facilitate a resolution for concerns brought by any group or individual member.

19)       Enlist the help and consultation of the District Executive and/or other District personnel in program planning and handling of special concerns.

20)       Share resources and opportunities for leadership development offered by district, denominational and ecumenical agencies.

21)       Share its activities and actions at the Congregational Business Meeting.

5.   Ministry Teams

a.  Mission and Vision statements of church life, size of the Church membership, and available resources will determine the number of Ministry Teams needed.

b.  Amended (12/5/21) Core Ministry Teams shall be as follows:  Witness, Nurture, Worship, Stewards, Physical Plant, Pastoral Relations, Deacon and Communications.

c. Ministry Teams will be added or dissolved as new areas of ministry are identified, as the congregation’s

needs change, and as individuals and groups discern ministries in which they want to be involved.

d.  Each Ministry Team shall:

1)        Meet regularly or as needed.

2)        Have at least three members called by its Team Leader.

3)        Be chaired by a person affirmed by the Congregational Business Meeting for a two-year term. An additional two-year term may be served successively. A person may serve one additional year (for a total of 5 years) if approved by the existing Leadership Team.

4)        Identify and/or periodically review its goals as related to the Mission and Vision statements.

5)        Report to the Leadership Team on a regular basis. Any proposed changes to the operation or functionality of Church processes must be brought to the Leadership Team for approval.  Any created position, whether paid or unpaid, outside of the existing bylaws, need to be brought to the Leadership Team for approval.

6)        Work cooperatively with those carrying out specific ministries, empowering them with the appropriate authority to fulfill their responsibilities. (e.g., Christian education teachers, choir director)

7)        Prepare annually a tentative budget for its program area and submit it to the Stewards Team for its use in preparing the full church budget.

8)        Along with the responsibilities listed herein, additional duties and instructions may be assigned to the Ministry Teams by the Leadership Team when deemed to be in the best interest of the Church.

9)        Ministry Teams shall be permitted to establish their own quorum, to allow proxies or to conduct business by telephone or other means of communications as they deem appropriate.

10)     Each Ministry team responsible for their own publicity and external communications.

11)     Specific duties of the Ministry Teams appear in the section under Ministry Descriptions.

 

6.   Short-Term Projects

a.   Short-Term Project Groups will be formed as needed to fulfill the Mission and Vision of the Church as they seek to carry out ministry.

b.   They may be formed in one of two ways:

1)                When a person has a vision for a ministry that fits the Mission and Vision of the Church, he or she will be empowered by the Leadership Team to form a Project Group and fulfill that mission and vision with very little interference from the Leadership Team.

2)                When the Leadership Team senses a need in the congregation, they can initiate the forming of a Project Group or act individually to meet the need, empowering the Project Group to do what is necessary to carry out the ministry.

c.    Project Groups shall be permitted to establish their own quorum, to allow proxies or to conduct business by telephone or other means of communications as they deem appropriate.

d.   They will be formed quickly, as needed, and discontinued when no longer needed.

e.   The Project Group or individual will report regularly to the Leadership Team, though their group leaders will not be an official part of the Leadership Team.

 

E. A Call Process will be used for Ministry Team Leaders, Officers of the Church, and Deacons, according to the following guidelines:

1.      The open position will be communicated to the congregation and a ministry description for that position will be made available.

2.      Persons feeling a call will be encouraged to share that call with the Leadership Team by a specified date.

3.      If more than one person shares a call to a position, the Leadership Team, through prayer and discussion with the persons feeling called, will discern which one will be presented to the congregation for affirmation.

4.      If no one shares a personal call to fill an open position, the Leadership Team will prayerfully discern a resolution to present to the congregation.

5.      Names of those called to Leadership Positions and/or Deacons will be announced to the congregation.

 

F. Fiscal Year

1.      The fiscal year for the Church shall be the same as the calendar year.

2.      Salaries and extended contracts shall be negotiated at the regular budget-building time for the upcoming fiscal year.

3.      Congregational leaders shall assume their duties January 1.  

 

G. Amendments

1.      This Plan of Organization may be amended by a two-thirds vote of those members present at a Congregational Business Meeting.

2.      Notice of the proposed amendment shall be given in writing at least thirty (30) days prior to the Congregational Business Meeting.

 

H. Ownership of Property upon Dissolution or Division

1.      In the event of a schism or division within the Church whereby a faction of the membership withdraws, the title to all Church property, real and personal, shall vest in that faction, whether majority or minority, which continues to act in harmony with the laws, usages, and customs of the denomination of the Church of the Brethren.

2.      In the event of the disbandment of the Waynesboro Church of the Brethren, whether by formal corporate dissolution proceedings or not, title to all Church property, real and personal, shall vest in the Southern Pennsylvania District Board, or its successor Church of the Brethren.

3.      In the event the Church so decreases in numbers and financial strength as to render the Church unable to fulfill its purpose, the Southern Pennsylvania District Ward, Church of the Brethren (District) shall take charge and control all property and thereafter hold, manage, and convey the same at the discretion of the District.

4.      All action taken by the District pursuant to the provisions of this ‘Section H.’ shall be in conformity with the provisions of the Church of the Brethren Manual on Organization and Polity.

 

I. Employed Staff

1. Pastor

a.      The Church shall employ a Pastor(s) when needed, a person whose faith, aptness to teach, preach, counsel and administer and whose educational qualifications have been examined in consultation with the appropriate authorities in the Church of the Brethren.

b.      The Pastor(s) shall be properly ordained or licensed.

c.      The Pastor(s) shall accept and adhere to the faith and practices of the Church of the Brethren and the local Church as set forth in this Plan of Organization.

d.      The Pastor(s) life and conduct shall witness the Christian faith.

e.      The Pastor(s) shall be the spiritual shepherd of the congregation and represent the Church in local ecumenical activities.

f.       The Pastor(s) shall preach and teach, administer the ordinances, visit and counsel and in various other ways aid the Church in worshipping and serving God.

g.      The Pastor(s) shall be an ex officio member without vote of the Leadership Team, Ministry Teams and Project Groups as needed.  

2. Additional Professional Staff

When the Church has grown to sufficient size, the employment of additional staff shall be considered so as to ensure the continued growth of the Church and to provide adequate leadership for the congregation.

3. Administrative Assistant

The local church shall provide administrative assistance for the Pastor(s) and the Church office.

4. Custodian

Custodial services shall be provided for the care and supervision of the Church buildings and grounds.

5.  Musical Worship Staff

      Choir Director, Organist, and/or Pianist will provide musical accompaniment during services in coordination with the Pastor.

 

J. Staff Employment Procedures

1.      The selection and call of a Pastor(s) and other professional staff, as well as the termination of their services to the Church, shall be done in keeping with approved Church of the Brethren procedures and after seeking consultation and guidance of authorized District officials of the Church of the Brethren.  A two-thirds vote of the members present in a Congregational Business Meeting shall be regarded as sufficient to express the will of the Church to extend a call, or in voting to continue the leadership of a Pastor.

2.      The Administrative Assistant(s) shall be employed by the Leadership Team in consultation with the Pastor(s).  The Administrative Assistant(s) shall be responsible to the Pastor, Leadership Team Chair, and Stewards Chair.

3.      The Custodian(s) shall be employed by the Leadership Team and be responsible to the Pastor, Leadership Team chair and Physical Plant Team.

4.      The Youth Director shall be employed by the Leadership Team and be responsible to the Pastor, Leadership Team Chair, and Nurture Team Chair.

5.      The Choir Director, Organist, and Pianist shall be employed by the Leadership Team and be responsible to the Pastor, Leadership Team Chair, and Worship Chair.

6.      The terms of employment for all employed staff shall be carefully stipulated and reviewed annually or as needed.  When the terms have been mutually accepted, such terms shall be set forth in writing and shall be considered an agreement between the contracting parties.

7.      When there is multiple pastoral staff, the division of responsibility and the lines of authority shall be clearly defined and periodically reviewed by the Pastoral Relations Team.  Although there must be close cooperation and harmony between staff members, in the final analysis all personnel are responsible to the congregation for the conduct of their offices.