Category: Governance

Church Executive and Council

By: r.a. paterson | June 8, 2009

Working in the Spirit

2008 governance council group portrait
 
» 2008 Annual Report (PDF/48 pp/900 KB)

We have a partnership among ordered ministers, staff associates, administration staff and volunteer leaders to carry out our mission as a centre of spiritual growth and active discipleship. The governance of the church, carried out in accordance with the bylaws of the United Church of Canada has five essential functions:

  1. Policy development and accountability
  2. Leadership development
  3. Spiritual oversight
  4. Church management
  5. Property, trusts and investments

These functions are carried out by the teams and committees of the church.

» See also: First†Met Governance Chart (as of March 2008) (PDF/1 pg/34 KB)

The congregation makes decisions on matters of policy. The Council is responsible to the congregation for the administrative functions of the church. The full council meets four times a year. Council executive meets monthly to assist in the day-to-day management of the church. The Executive consists of the chair and vice chair of council, two ministry team chairs, the lead minister, chair of the board of trustees, and the chairs of the finance and administration, property and ministry and personnel committees.

The council leadership for 2010 is:

Council Executive Name Telephone
Council Chair Andrea Swan (250) 592-2881
Vice Chair Vacant  
Recording Secretary Ellie Jansen (250) 598-3296
Finance and Administration Gordon Thompson (250) 590-3597
Ministry & Personnel – Chair Rennie Warburton (250) 592-9161
Ministry – Co-Chair Moira Nasim (250) 383-0400
Ministry – Co-Chair Barry Rolston (250) 652-5501
Property – Chair Jim Lauder (250) 380-9065
Stewardship – Chair Herb Pitts (250) 595-9979
Trustees – Chair Jan Drent (250) 598-1661
Committees
Finance & Administration Gordon Thompson (250) 590-3597
Information Technology Todd Glover (250) 386-9402
Ministry & Personnel – Chair Rennie Warburton (250) 592-9161
Mission & Service Representative David Wright (250) 389-0854
Presbytery Representative Ron Hunter (250) 920-0149
Property – Chair Jim Lauder (250) 380-9065
Stewardship – Chair Herb Pitts (250) 595-9979
Trustees – Chair Jan Drent (250) 598-1661
Teams
Ministry – Co-Chair Moira Nasim (250) 383-0400
Ministry – Co-Chair Barry Rolston (250) 652-5501
Archives & Heritage – Leader David Chamberlin (250) 382-0634
Children, Youth & Family (Advisory) – Chair Jan White (250) 479-6951
Communications – Leader Barry Rolston (250) 652-5501
CSD / Worship – Leader Gail Thompson (250) 590-3597
Epiphany Explorations – Leader Joan Mason (250) 595-0507
Health & Wellness / Pastoral Care – Leader Patti Buchanan (250) 479-6438
Hospitality – Interim Leader Moira Nasim (250) 383-0400
Library – Leader Denise Holmen (250) 370-5085
Music – Leader Mona McGill (250) 519-0651
Newcomer’s  – Leader Merle Nicholds (250) 361-0064
Outreach – Leader Janet Gray (250) 478-5066
U.C.W. – Co-president Joan Dowse (250) 652-9766
U.C.W. – Co-president Marie McKee (250) 592-7238
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First†Met Foundation

By: r.a. paterson | June 10, 2009

First Met Foundation Logo

Have You Considered the Church in Your Will?

To ensure that yours is a lasting gift, please include a bequest to the First†Metropolitan United Church Foundation.

What Is It?

The First†Metropolitan United Church Foundation

  • holds trust funds
  • invests these funds
  • makes grants
  • assists the work of the church

The Foundation includes: The Memorial Endowment Fund and The Memorial Stabilization Reserve. Both The Memorial Endowment Fund and The Memorial Stabilization Reserve are "endowments" – only the interest is disbursed. Contributions thus become perpetual gifts, or legacies. They enable the church to extend its work beyond the provisions of its general budget. Grants are made for funding initiatives on requests approved by the Directors.

Applying for Grants

Application forms are available from the Foundation. Generally, the earnings of the Memorial Endowment Fund are for initiatives such as:

The earnings of the Memorial Stabilization Reserve are available to offset church deficits.

Contributions

The Foundation receives bequests, memorials, and special gifts and incorporates these resources into a trust.

Contributions may be directed to:

The First†Metropolitan United Church FOUNDATION
932 Balmoral Road
Victoria, BC
V8T 1A8

Additional contact information:

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Organizational Structure at First†Met

By: r.a. paterson | June 11, 2009

A process church uses a bottom-up organizational structure. It is much more intentional about encouraging every member and adherent in the congregation to share their spiritual gifts to enrich the worship and service life of all.

The Ministry Teams seek to draw on people’s spirituality and wisdom to help formulate church policies. To that end, anyone who wishes is invited to make their comments and suggestions known to the Council Executive that meets regularly each month or directly to one of the Ministry teams. One person may have an exciting idea for Sunday evening services, or another wants to encourage more interesting liturgy and a third has a vision of outreach in the neighbourhood. Ideas and concerns may also be brought to the church council which meets four times a year.

Team leaders and ministerial staff can help put flesh and blood on these bare-bones visions and bring together other interested and enthusiastic members of the congregation to make these ideas a reality. Teams are encouraged to be as creative and proactive as possible within the scope defined by the congregation’s mission, values and vision. In this way, we hope there will be a continual "bubbling up" of fresh, new ideas to enliven all aspects of our church life.

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