Board Descriptions

Board of Buildings and Grounds. The Board of Buildings and Grounds shall consist of nine (9) members. The Board of Buildings and Grounds maintains the properties of the Church.  Specific duties include, but are not limited to, the following: 

1. maintaining the buildings and grounds of the Church, its equipment and supplies necessary to operate the Church office;
2. establishing policy on the use of Church facilities and properties;
3. engaging in long range planning for the physical needs

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Board of Christian Education. The Board of Christian Education shall consist of nine (9) members. The Board of Christian Education determines the purpose, establishes the content, administers, and evaluates the Church School and other educational programs designed for persons of all ages. Specific duties include, but are not limited to, the following:

1. providing nursery care for infants and preschool children on Sunday morning;
2. supervising the use and maintenance of the nursery area and the purchase of nursery equipment; 
3. administering the Sunday Church School; reviewing and approving curriculum; and recruiting and training teachers;  
4. supervising the Confirmation program;  
5. providing fellowship programming for middle and senior high school youth;

6. provide appropriate programming for college students and young adults;

7.  offering a variety of educational opportunities for adults such as classes, forums, workshops, study groups, and retreats;

8. coordinating special all‑Church educational programs;

9. maintaining audiovisual equipment and supervising its use;
10. providing additional and special supplies and resources for the educational program;
11. reporting annually to the Board of Buildings and Grounds on the status of all equipment and materials under the supervision of the Board and making recommendations on replacement or additions for presentation to the Board of Finance.
12. providing a Church library, as developed and overseen by the Library Committee.

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Library Committee. The Library Committee shall consist of six (6) voting members elected by the membership at the annual meeting. The members shall serve staggered terms of three (3) terms each. A member may serve two (2) consecutive terms. The responsibilities of the Library Committee include the following:

1.  selecting print and non-print (video, dvd, tape, cd, software, etc) resource for the Church Library;
2.  promoting the usage of the Church Library;

3.  organizing and maintaining the materials in the Church Library;

4.  working with the Memorial and Endowment Committee to increase the Library Endowment;

5.  reporting regularly to the Board of Christian Education regarding the progress of the Church Library and making recommendations on changes regarding policy, direction, and content of the Church Library.

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Board of Finance. The Board of Finance shall consist of seven (7) members. The Board of Finance manages the financial affairs of the Church.  Specific duties include, but are not limited to, the following:

1. reviewing all potential and existing contracts (e.g. purchases, agreements, contracts, and other financial commitments), except for routine budgeted operational items of $500 or less, which may result in a financial commitment of the Church, and recommend appropriate action to the Church Council;

2. insuring that all contracts, purchasing agreements, and other financial commitments, in excess of $500, are in proper written form; 
3. monitoring the Church budget and the performance of existing contracts on a monthly basis;
4. reviewing all proposed capital expenditures not specifically included in the current budget;
5. arranging for an annual internal audit of all financial records of the Church and certified audit, as necessary;
6. advising the Council on the financial condition of the Church;
7. reviewing the adequacy, costs, and performance of the insurance program on a regular basis;
8. overseeing the Memorial and Endowment funds as developed and implemented by the Memorial and Endowment Committee.

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Special Gifts Committee. The Special Gifts Committee shall consist of six (6) voting members elected by the membership at the annual meeting. The members shall serve staggered terms of three (3) years each. A member may serve two (2) consecutive terms. The Treasurer shall serve as a voting ex officio member. The responsibilities of the Special Gifts Committee include the following:

1.  encouraging, facilitating and administering all gifts to the Church other than those received through regular member giving through pledges and offerings.  Proposed expenditures exceeding $500.00 shall first be approved by Council;
2. maintaining a current “Special Gift List” for which gifts to the Fund can be used, subject to the needs of the Church and which are consistent with the directives of the Church Council, the donors, and current tax law;
3.  informing the Church membership about the Fund. Information regarding the advantages of making gifts to the Fund, how to make such gifts, and progress being made through the use of the Fund, shall be communicated to the congregation on a regular basis.
4.  reporting regularly to the Board of Finance regarding the progress of the Special Gifts funds and making recommendations on changes regarding policy, direction, and content of the Special Gifts Funds. 

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Board of Membership. The Board of Membership shall consist of eight (8) members. The Board of Membership encourages and provides opportunities for meaningful participation of all persons in the life of the Church.  The Clerk is a non‑voting member of the Board of Membership.  Specific duties include, but are not limited to, the following:

1. organizing and implementing an ongoing program to recruit, orient, and assimilate new members;

2.  maintaining a data bank on members of the Church and making this information available to the relevant Boards and Committees;

3.  reviewing the membership rolls on an annual basis and recommending to Council the transfer of members to "other than active status" when minimum requirements are not met;

4. in conjunction with the Office Manager, updating the official church roll on an annual basis;

5.  encouraging and providing support to nonparticipating members to help them gain more active involvement in the life of the Church;

6. providing a variety of special fellowship events throughout the year;

7. initiating the development of new opportunities and ongoing groups to widen the fellowship circle of the Church;

8. coordinating and supervising post‑high school fellowship groups of the Church with the exception of Women's Fellowship, which is represented directly on the Church Council;

9. initiating and administering special programs and activities designed to enrich the life of our Church community;

10. providing a ministry, through the Visitation Team to members who are unable to attend public services of the Church, such as those persons who are hospitalized, in nursing homes, or otherwise “shut-in.” The Visitation Team shall consist of a minimum of six (6) members recruited and trained by the Parish Visitor. Responsibilities of the Visitation Team include the following:

1. calling on their visitees at least once a month;

2. organizing gatherings at the Church for their visitees throughout the year, each gathering to include worship, fellowship, a meal and a program;

3. taking flowers from Sunday worship to hospitalized church members;

4. distributing Christmas and Easter flowers to visitees;

5.  reporting regularly to the Board of Membership regarding the progress of the visitation ministry and making recommendations on changes regarding policy, direction, content and format of the visitation ministry.

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Board of Missions. The Board of Missions shall consist of seven (7) persons. The Board of Missions coordinates the missions and services of the Church beyond the scope of the local Church membership community.  Specific duties include, but are not limited to, the following:

1. interpreting and promoting support of Our Church's Wider Mission (OCWM) and other mission programs of the United Church of Christ;

2. conducting an ongoing program of Mission Education within the congregation;

3. providing liaison with United Campus Ministry and nurturing support for this program;

4. initiating programs which respond to the needs of the La Crosse area community;

5. providing forums for the airing of social issues, promoting ecumenical endeavors, and other cooperative enterprises in the community at large which are consonant with the purposes of this Church.

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Board of Service and Worship. The Board of Service and Worship shall consist of seven (7) persons. The Board of Service and Worship serves the congregation by nurturing the spiritual growth of its members.  Specific duties include, but are not limited to, the following:

1.  evaluating the regular and special worship services of the Church and recommending guidelines for the design of Church services of all kinds;

2. providing printed liturgical resources such as hymnals and recommending changes and additions as needed to enhance the worship life of the Church;

3. providing pulpit supply in the absence of the Minister(s);

4. coordinating support activities for worship services including greeters, ushers, and liturgists;

5. preparing the elements for the Lord's Supper;

6. assisting in administering the Sacraments, designating persons from outside the Board, if necessary, to provide appropriate numbers of Communion servers;

7. supervising the overall decor of the Sanctuary and Chapel, including the use of flowers, plants, banners, and flags;

8. sponsoring programs designed to enhance the spiritual life of the congregation, such as special worship services, prayer groups, retreats, and individual meditation;

9. establishing programs to help persons prepare for and meaningfully celebrate transitional events in life, such as birth, marriage, retirement, and death;

10. overseeing the music program of the Church as developed and implemented by the Music Committee.

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Music Committee. The Music Committee shall consist of six (6) voting members elected  by the membership at the annual meeting. The members shall serve staggered terms of three (3) years each. A member may serve two (2) consecutive terms. The Chairperson of the Music Committee shall be a member of the Board of Service and Worship. Responsibilities of the Music Committee include the following:

1.  coordinating the music program of the Church;

2. supervising the use of musical equipment owned by the Church and recommending repairs and replacement as necessary;

3. assisting the Pastor/Parish Liaison Committee during the selection and review of the music staff;

4. reporting regularly to the Board of Service and Worship regarding the progress of the Music Program and making recommendations on changes regarding policy, direction, content, and format of the music program.

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Board of Stewardship. The Board of Stewardship shall consist of eight (8) members. The Board of Stewardship coordinates the stewardship program of the church.  Specific duties include, but are not limited to, the following:

1. conducting an ongoing program of stewardship education within the Church; 

2. formulating and recommending to Council strategies for the development of the annual budget which coordinates program planning for the various boards with the annual fund drive;
3. formulating and recommending to Council programs for raising funds to meet the budget;
4. conducting the annual fund drive;
5. reviewing and evaluating the pledge system, communicating with members regarding the status of their pledges, and regularly reporting to the Church Council on status of pledge receipts;
6. maintaining records from past years for use in preparing seasonal comparisons and projections regarding pledge income.

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Culinary Committee.  The Culinary Committee shall consist of six (6) members. The Culinary Committee oversees the preparation, serving and clean-up of church meals. They work in conjunction with the Board/Committee or group planning the event.

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Pastor/Parish Liaison Committee. The Pastor/Parish Liaison Committee consists of the Moderator, the Immediate Past Moderator, Moderator‑Elect, Senior Minister, and the Human Resource Advisor.  Meetings shall be held monthly. The purpose of this committee shall be to facilitate communications between the professional ministerial staff and the membership, and to function as a personnel committee.  No minutes will be recorded of these meetings. Other ministerial staff or Church members may be requested to attend meetings of this committee as the need arises.