People of St. John's,
The leadership of St. John's has been working over the past few years to revise our governing documents. This includes making changes as required by Churchwide Assemblies of the Evangelical Church in America as well as seeking to update other provisions included in the documents.
The attached draft was approved by St. John's Congregation Council at our regular meeting held on Tuesday, October 14, 2025. The congregation will be asked to add your approval at our next meeting in January. (Some provisions will require a second vote at a subsequent congregational meeting.)
Major proposed changes are highlighted in yellow in the document to draw your attention. (Required changes are not highlighted.) Please note the following:
1. A section called "Continuing Resolutions" will be added, giving us three separate sections: Constitution, Bylaws, and Continuing Resolutions. The Continuing Resolutions will contain St. John's specific policies, committee descriptions, and other operational information. Having this information in a section that is easier to amend and update will enable us to adapt more quickly when needed.
2. Council recommends changing the title of the lay leader of council from "Vice President" to "President" and adding the position of vice president. This would provide a larger leadership team on council as well as more accurately describe how council currently operates, i.e. the president presides at the meetings.
3. Note that some of the Constitution/Bylaw provisions refer to policies that will be in the Continuing Resolutions -- but do not yet exist. This is because we need your permission to create the Continuing Resolutions first and then the policies will be drafted.
A huge round of thanks to Judi Rogers who has valiantly pursued the completion of this revision of the Constitution through a pandemic, pastoral changes, Churchwide Assemblies, and an innumerable amount of proofreading and emails. When you see her, please offer your personal thanks for all of her hard work!
Please take time prior our January meeting to peruse the document. Several hard copies will be available in the office. Questions can be directed to myself, David Lundie, or Judi Rogers.
Blessings on your prayerful discernment,
Pastor Kimberly
The leadership of St. John's has been working over the past few years to revise our governing documents. This includes making changes as required by Churchwide Assemblies of the Evangelical Church in America as well as seeking to update other provisions included in the documents.
The attached draft was approved by St. John's Congregation Council at our regular meeting held on Tuesday, October 14, 2025. The congregation will be asked to add your approval at our next meeting in January. (Some provisions will require a second vote at a subsequent congregational meeting.)
Major proposed changes are highlighted in yellow in the document to draw your attention. (Required changes are not highlighted.) Please note the following:
1. A section called "Continuing Resolutions" will be added, giving us three separate sections: Constitution, Bylaws, and Continuing Resolutions. The Continuing Resolutions will contain St. John's specific policies, committee descriptions, and other operational information. Having this information in a section that is easier to amend and update will enable us to adapt more quickly when needed.
2. Council recommends changing the title of the lay leader of council from "Vice President" to "President" and adding the position of vice president. This would provide a larger leadership team on council as well as more accurately describe how council currently operates, i.e. the president presides at the meetings.
3. Note that some of the Constitution/Bylaw provisions refer to policies that will be in the Continuing Resolutions -- but do not yet exist. This is because we need your permission to create the Continuing Resolutions first and then the policies will be drafted.
A huge round of thanks to Judi Rogers who has valiantly pursued the completion of this revision of the Constitution through a pandemic, pastoral changes, Churchwide Assemblies, and an innumerable amount of proofreading and emails. When you see her, please offer your personal thanks for all of her hard work!
Please take time prior our January meeting to peruse the document. Several hard copies will be available in the office. Questions can be directed to myself, David Lundie, or Judi Rogers.
Blessings on your prayerful discernment,
Pastor Kimberly
