Organization: Church Boards

Church Boards

University Congregational Church is a free and autonomous congregation, run by its membership, and directing its own affairs as the spirit of Christ dictates. We stand in the free and independent tradition of the founders of Congregationalism who came to this land on the Mayflower. Their church meetings became the inspiration for our constitutional democracy, and in that spirit the government of this church is vested in its members. We live under a constitution created by our membership which can be amended by a three-fourths vote of the congregation at our annual meeting. A special meeting may be called by collecting 20 signatures of church members. Copies of our constitution and by-laws are available from the church office.

We vote as a congregation to call or dismiss ministers, implement new programs, and budget our resources. The day-to-day work of the church is handled by elected Boards, with the following areas of responsibility:

Church Council

The Church Council is the executive body of the church. It is comprised of a Moderator, Treasurer and Church Clerk, all of whom serve one-year terms the six presidents of the various boards who serve one-year terms; and six members-at-large elected for two-year terms. In addition to those voting members, the immediate past moderator and the ministers of the church serve as non-voting members of the Church Council.

Board of Trustees

The Board of Trustees handles the legal and financial matters of the church, including the care and maintenance of church property.

Board of Deacons

The Board of Deacons is responsible for spiritual matters relating to the church, which includes assisting the ministers in preparing to administer the sacraments, tracking hospitalized members, and overseeing the weekly coffee hour following the service.

Board of Christian Education

The Board of Christian Education provides for the education and nurture of the church’s youth, and assists the Director of Christian Life in managing the Sunday School and Youth Group.

Music Board

The Music Board is charged with maintaining a high quality music program, and assists the Minister of Music to insure this obligation is performed.

Outreach Board

The Outreach Board establishes and maintains a program of outreach to the community, communicates outreach goals and opportunities to the church membership, and votes to allocate designated outreach funds to various worthwhile organizations and individuals in need.

The Women’s Guild

The Women’s Guild has many functions. They sponsor church events, raise money for various church-related programs and community outreach, maintain the church kitchen, preside over receptions for weddings and funerals, and undertake various other projects.