Chapter 8. Elected Officers

¶341. The CHURCH HISTORIAN shall see that all records and books containing minutes that are no longer in current use are collected and kept for historical purposes.

¶342. The CHURCH SECRETARY'S duties:

(1) To record and preserve the minutes of all Annual Church Conferences, Special Church Conferences, and the meetings of the Church Council.

(2) To record the names of new members as they present themselves for membership and give such information to the pastor.

(3) To record and preserve the minutes of all the meetings of the Board of Stewards when requested to do so by the Board of Stewards.

(4) To handle correspondence for the local church when requested to do so by the pastor or the Board of Stewards.

¶343. The FINANCIAL SECRETARY'S duties:

(1) To receive and record all money coming to the church, except such funds designated for the trustees of the church.

(2) To receive and record all fourth Sunday missionary money coming from the Sunday School treasurer.

(3) To deposit promptly all funds in a bank approved by the Board of Stewards.

(4) To keep a record of envelope and designated contributions.

¶344. The TREASURER'S duties:

(1) To assist the Finance Committee in forming the operating budget.

(2) To pay all bills, approved by the Board of Stewards, promptly.

(3) To send all Conference Support payments and fourth Sunday missionary offerings to the appropriate treasurer each month.

(4) To report to each monthly meeting of the Board of Stewards on the financial condition of the church and to submit a report to the Annual Church Conference.

(5) To post in the church a monthly financial statement of all the church funds.

¶345. Provision may be made by the Annual Church Conference or Special Church Conference, to operate the financial affairs of the church under the unified financial system, in which one financial secretary and one treasurer handle all finances of the church and Sunday School. Under this system the treasurer shall keep the funds, with the necessary accounts, for all organizations. Such funds shall be deposited in one bank account. Each organization shall receive a receipt from the treasurer for funds so remitted to him (her). The treasurer of each local church organization shall furnish the church treasurer with a voucher indicating the amount and purpose for which a check should be drawn.

¶346. The accounts of all treasurers shall be audited annually, at the end of the fiscal year, by the Auditing Committee elected by the Annual Church Conference.

Chapter 9. Sunday School

¶361. The Sunday School of the Evangelical Methodist Church is not to be considered an independent or isolated agency; rather it is to be an integrated part of the church. All officers and teachers in the Sunday School should

be members in good standing of the Evangelical Methodist Church.

¶362. There is the be a Sunday School officers and teachers meeting called at least quarterly by the Sunday School superintendent or pastor to oversee the work of the Sunday School in cooperation with the local Sunday School superintendent and Board of Stewards. The duties of the officers and teachers meeting shall be:

(1) To oversee the work of the Sunday School.

(2) To receive reports and recommendations from the various divisions of the Sunday School.

(3) To review the work of the Sunday School and make recommendations for improvements.

(4) To give attention to the growth of the Sunday School.

(5) To propose general plans for the Sunday School and present them to the Board of Stewards for policy consideration.

(6) To set up at least one course each year for the purpose of training the officers and teachers.

(7) To elect a Sunday School Nominating Committee to nominate teachers for all children's, youth, and adult classes and Sunday School officers. Individual classes may elect their own class officers. The pastor, minister of Christian Education, and Sunday School superintendent shall be members of the Sunday School Nominating Committee. All teachers must be approved by the pastor and Sunday School superintendent.

(8) To fill all vacancies that occur during the year, with the approval of the pastor and Sunday School superintendent.

¶363. There shall be meetings of workers in each department whenever necessary.

¶364. The Sunday School shall observe Promotion Day and Rally Day annually.

¶365. The Sunday School is to be divided into the following departments:

(1) Cradle Roll - under 2 years old.

(2) Nursery - 2 and 3 years old.

(3) Beginners - 4 and 5 years old.

(4) Primary - 6 to 8 years old.

(5) Junior - 9 to 11 years old.

(6) Junior High - 12 to 14 years old.

(7) Senior High - 15 to 17 years old.

(8) Young Adult - 18 to 24 years old.

(9) Adult - 25 years and up.

¶366. These departments may be divided into general groups as follows:

(1) Children's Division - to 11 years.

(2) Young People's Division - 12 to 24 years.

(3) Young Adult Division - 18 to 24 years

(4) Adult Division - 25 years and up.

¶367. Except where the unified financial system is used, the offerings of the Sunday School are to be handled by the Sunday School treasurer. He (she) shall submit the fourth Sunday missionary offerings to the financial secretary. All bills are to be approved by the officers and teachers meeting, and on their approval are to be paid by the Sunday School treasurer. Approval for certain established expenses can be made at the beginning of the Sunday School year.

Chapter 10. Church Council

¶381. Called meetings of the officials of the church shall be known as the church council. Members of the church council shall be the trustees, stewards, pastor, treasurer, financial secretary, Sunday School superintendent, president of Evangelical Methodist Men, president of Evangelical Methodist Women, president of Evangelical Methodist Youth, youth counselors. The presiding officer shall be the pastor or chairman of the board of stewards or the board of trustees, and the church secretary shall act as secretary.

¶382. The purpose of the church council shall be to resolve issues or matters of policy referred to it by the Board of Stewards. If deemed advisable, the church council may refer the same to a special called meeting of the congregation.

¶383. A report of all church council action shall be made to the congregation by the church secretary as soon after each meeting as is practical.