Music Director David Neiweem presents 75 year member Ruth Copp with a yellow rose to celebrate her 75 years of membership at First Church!
All First Congregational Church members are invited to our Annual Meeting scheduled for Wednesday, May 28 with dinner at 6pm and the meeting at 7pm — a time for serious business and for gratitude!
Please click here to view our 2013-14 Annual Narrative Report.
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Pursuant to Articles VII, X, Sections 2, 4 and 5, and Article XII of the BY-LAWS OF THE FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST, Burlington, Vermont:
The Annual Meeting of the Congregation will be held at 7:00 PM on Wednesday May 28, 2014 in the church dining room for the purpose of considering an amendment to the by- laws, electing officers and Trustees, voting to accept the budget for fiscal year 2014-2015 as presented by the Board of Trustees, and any other business which may properly come before the members assembled. -Janice Clements, Clerk
Amendment to Article VIII, Section 3 and Section 4 of the By-laws of the First Congregational Church, United Church of Christ, Burlington, Vermont
Whereas: Based on prior congregational visioning work and a January 2014 retreat, members, and staff of the First Congregational Church of Burlington, Vermont, support transition to a leaner and more nimble governance system;
Whereas: Requirements to populate the 22 committees listed in our current by-laws sometimes create an environment that lacks meaningful opportunities for service and places heavy demands on staff and volunteers;
Whereas: We hope to encourage members and staff to innovate and be better partners in strengthening our life together while doing bold ministry in our community and world;
Whereas: We believe that in addition to reviewing the Church committee structure it is also appropriate and timely to undertake a review of the current number and terms of positions on the Board of Deacons as well as the duties and responsibilities of that Board;
Therefore: In order to develop such an organizational system, we propose a period of time to develop new approaches to working together before a more permanent revision of the structure is implemented; Therefore, an amendment to the By-Laws of The First Congregational Church, United Church of Christ, Burlington, Vermont is proposed:
Sections 3 and 4 of this Article VIII are suspended effective May 29, 2014 and the following interim Sections 3 and 4 are added. The suspension shall be in effect until May 31, 2017 however, the suspension and this amendment shall remain subject to modification before that date.
Interim Section 3 – Boards
(a) The Board of Trustees shall consist of the following voting members: the Ministers, President, President-Elect, the Immediate Past President, Clerk, Treasurer, a representative from the Board of Deacons and shall include no fewer than six (6) additional representatives elected at the annual meeting in accordance with Article X, Section 2 of these by laws. The Board is authorized to act for and conduct the business of the church in all matters of business otherwise prescribed by the By-Laws and the Personnel Policy; however, it shall not call or dismiss a Minister, or buy, sell or lease real estate without approval by vote of the members of the church at a duly called meeting.
The Board of Trustees may choose to appoint such ad hoc committees or task groups, as it deems necessary and appropriate to administer and carry out the work of the Church in a manner that they determine to be best.
(b) The Board of Deacons shall consist of an equal number of men and women, the selection and term length of whom shall be determined by the Board of Trustees. The Duties and Responsibilities of the members of the Board of Deacons shall be those determined by the Board of Trustees to be in the best interests of the Church.
Interim Section 4 – Committees
Existing Section 4 is suspended effective May 29, 2014, however, the essential functions of the Executive Committee, Prudential Committee, Audit Committee, Committee on Investments and Trusts, Nominating Committee and Personnel Committee, and such other functions as the Board of Trustees determines to be appropriate, will be preserved and carried out by such committees or ad hoc groups as determined by the Board of Trustees to be in the best interests of the Church.
Proposed for Vote at Congregational Meeting 05-28-2014