Church Council

Adapted from Guidelines for Leading Your Congregation – 2001-2004

The Discipline “mandates that the church council shall provide for planning and implementing a program of nurture, outreach, and resources in the local church. It shall also provide for the administration of its organization and temporal life.” The primary tasks of the Church Council include –

• Carry out the business of the Charge Conference (‘charge’ referring to pastoral charge or the church or churches in the charge of a given pastor which is the governing body and has the role of overseeing the various church councils. It is the connecting link between TUMC and the general church. The Annual Charge Conference is much like a Church Council meeting only it is called and conducted by the District Superintendent) The Church Council serves as the managing agency for the Charge Conference.
• Help the congregation articulate its vision
• Oversee planning of the congregation
• Develop systems that assure people are received in fellowship, guided and encouraged in their spiritual transformation and growth as they live their lives as Christian disciples

As a member of the Church Council you will be a part of the primary decision-making, evaluating, and forward-looking body of TUMC. Members include the Chair of Pastor/Staff Parish; Pastor; Chair of Board of Trustees; Chair of Finance; TUMC Treasurer; TUMC Financial Secretary; Lay Leaders; as well as other work area chairs.

The “business” the Church Council is charged with is the reason for our being – the mission. The mission of the Church is to make disciples of Jesus Christ. The vision is the mental picture we have of how we want things at TUMC to be. The vision becomes the force for long range planning.