Amalgamation update 

Proposed time line for the Amalgamation

The proposed time line for the Amalgamation is

Final Service for Freelton Strabane United Church  October 18th   in  Strabane at 10:30am     Lunch to follow

Final Service for Rockton United Church  October 25 in Rockton at 10:00am  Lunch to follow

Inaugural Service and Holy Communion for Heritage United Church  in Strabane at 10:30am 



Notes.    Prior to the services at a date to still be determined there will be congregational meetings held to ratify and accept the Amalgamation agreement. 

This is the current proposed time line.  If it should change we will repost and publish that it ahs changed.   

Proposed Name of the Amalgamated Church

The proposed name of the amalgamated church shall be



Heritage United Church

In one pivotal speech by one of the Cardinals in the Movie Conclave he states

"The Church is not tradition, the church is not the past. It is what we do next. "

It is true that we honour our tradition I feel they are important. But they do not rule us. It is true that we honour our history but we are not bound to the past. We are what we do next.

Threw the action of the Holy Spirit You God’s people have chosen the name which will carry you forward defining what we do next.

On the Second Ballot the name of the new Amalgamated Church will be Heritage United Church Pastoral Charge. (Heritage United Church for Short. )

The total votes Cast were 45.

On the first ballot Brock Road received 11 Heritage 19 Strabane 9 and Villages 6 with no clear majority On the Second Ballot Brock road Received 2 more votes and Heritage 4 additional votes making the majority of 50% plus 1 with a total of 23 votes.

The ballots were placed in a envelope and sealed with a wax seal to be destroyed after the final amalgamation.

Proposed  Vison and Mission Statement

“Since, then, we have such a hope, we act with great boldness.”

-       2 Corinthians 3:12

Rooted in the heritage of Freelton, Strabane, and Rockton United Churches, we are called by God to be a caring, inclusive and faithful community of believers. With centuries of shared history, we honour traditions of the past while embracing our new mission with purpose and boldness.

Vision Statement

To live out our Christian discipleship with hope, integrity and grace.

Mission Statement

In living our vision:

It is our hope to provide a safe, welcoming and inclusive space for worship and spiritual reflection, inviting all into the presence of the Living God through the power of the Holy Spirit.

It is our hope to facilitate an engaging and meaningful worship that proclaims our faith through word, sacrament and music where individuals encounter God’s transformative presence and are inspired to grow in faith.

It is our hope to respect individuals along  their life’s journey through authentic fellowship, compassion, support and encouragement.

We commit to accompanying individuals on their spiritual journey, encouraging lifelong spiritual growth by bearing witness to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

We commit to extending a sincere welcome and warm hospitality to all   creating opportunities for connection by hosting local groups and community gatherings.

We commit to conveying a message of hope and love to our wider community by engaging in outreach, offering compassion and providing care.

We commit to honouring a respectful relationship with the land, striving to be faithful shepherds of God’s creation.

In all that we do, we move forward in faith. United in Christ and empowered by the Holy Spirit,

we are assured that we are never alone.

 Proposed Constitution

Note that the page numbers and table of content is written for a hard copy.   

HERITAGE UNITED CHURCH CONSTITUTION

TABLE OF CONTENTS

                       Council……...……………………………………………………………….2

Council Executive...…………….………………………………………3

                       Council Chair...………………....……………………………………….3

                       Council Secretary….…………………………………………………….4

Treasurer…………………………………………………………………….4

Committees…………………………………………………………….….5

                       Christian Education and Outreach………………………………6

Finance……………………………………………………………………….7

Manse…………………………………………………………………………8

Ministry and Personnel…….…………………………………………9

Property….………………………………………………………………....10

Stewardship………………………………………………………….......11

Worship and Pastoral Care………………………………………….12

Nominations……………………………………………………………....13

Trustees………………………………………………………………………13

Church Bookings………………………………………….....………....14

Strabane Cemetery Board of Trustees...…………………..….15

                       We organize ourselves so the ministry of the congregation

and the ministry of each member are fulfilled.

Council

1.   Shall have a chairperson, secretary and treasurer confirmed at the Congregational Annual Meeting.

2.   Shall consist of a member of the order of ministry who has been called or appointed to the pastoral charge, a chairperson, a secretary, a treasurer, all members of the Christian Education and Outreach Committee, Finance Committee, Manse Committee, Ministry and Personnel Committee, Property Committee, Stewardship Committee, Worship Committee and the music leader as a corresponding member.

3.   Shall set a quorum as 50% of the named members plus the Chair and a member of the order of ministry who has been called or appointed to the pastoral charge.

4.   Shall meet quarterly and additionally as necessary.

5.   Shall be responsible for the management of all issues pertaining to the congregations’ spiritual, property and fiscal matters.

6.   Shall consider all reports from committees for approval.

7.   Shall communicate to the congregation through posted minutes.

8.   Shall oversee the administration of the Memorial Fund.

9.   Shall, in cooperation with the trustees, create an investment policy that sets out the level of risks for investments.

10. Shall be responsible for communicating events, programs and special services to the broader community through various means such as website, social media, signage and posters.

Council Executive

1.   Shall consist of a member of the order of ministry who has been called or appointed to the pastoral charge, the chair of council, the secretary, the treasurer, the chairpersons of the Christian Education and Outreach Committee, Finance Committee, Manse Committee, Ministry and Personnel Committee, Property Committee, Stewardship Committee and Worship Committee.

2.   Shall convene to consult regarding emergent issues/emergencies occurring between regularly scheduled council meetings that are time sensitive.

3.   Shall manage any issues that may be referred from the Council.

4.   Shall consult with the Trustees if emergency capital repairs are required.

5.   Shall report any decisions that have been made at the next council meeting.

Council Chair

1.   Shall set the agenda for all council meetings and any other duly called meetings of the congregation, in consultation with a member of the order of ministry who has been called or appointed to the pastoral charge.

2.   Shall preside and keep order over all Council meetings, all executive meetings and any other duly called meetings of the congregation.

3.   Shall co-operate with the settled Clergy to compose any letters of communication to the congregation and when otherwise necessary.

Council Secretary

1.   Shall take minutes and maintain a record of the minutes for all Council Meetings, Executive Meetings and any other duly called meetings of the congregation.

2.   Shall distribute the minutes to the council members and post the minutes for the congregation’s viewing in a timely fashion.

3.   Shall maintain contact information for all members of the congregation.

4.   Shall be responsible for sending all mailings and e-mailings to members of the congregation.

Treasurer

1.   Shall keep a record of all church financial accounts.

2.   Shall receive and deposit all funds from offerings and other sources.

3.   Shall disburse funds to make remittance on all expenses for the church and the manse. 

4.   Shall oversee all payroll distributions for the Pastoral Charge.

5.   Shall keep records of all receipts and disbursements in order to provide financial statements for all Council meetings.

6.   Shall provide the Finance Committee with a monthly statement of accounts and assist with the preparation of an annual budget.

7.   Shall be responsible for providing official tax receipts for all donations.

Committees

The work of the committees is to enhance the life of the church and community through continued commitment to each area.

1.   Shall appoint a Chairperson and/or Secretary.

2.   Shall be in consultation with a member of the order of ministry who has been called or appointed to the pastoral charge for setting dates and agendas for meetings.

3.   Shall ensure a written report is provided for council meetings.

4.   Shall provide a written submission for the Annual Report.

Christian Education and Outreach Committee

1.   Shall work with a member of the order of ministry who has been called or appointed to the pastoral charge to promote Christian education and outreach events.

2.   Shall promote and organize faith enriching events and activities for all ages within the congregation, including a youth Christian education program scheduled concurrently with worship service.

3.   Shall nurture and assist youth with developing their faith in Jesus and God during a child-centered time of reflection, Bible stories, games, activities and prayers.

4.   Shall ensure a physically and emotionally safe environment for all participants.

5.   Shall organize a teaching schedule with programming that is readily available for use.

6.   Shall ensure that all volunteers having contact with this sector of the vulnerable population have obtained a current Police Record Check and a Statement of No Convictions, which is to be kept on file with the chair.

7.    Shall co-ordinate and lead charitable outreach activities.

8.    Shall provide promotion for the United Church Mission & Service Fund.

9.    Shall work with a member of the order of ministry who has been called or appointed to the pastoral charge to develop programming that is interesting and inviting to members of the congregation and the broader community.  

Finance Committee

1.   Shall prepare a draft budget annually which includes current assets and liabilities, current receipts and expenses, an estimate of projected receipts and expenses for the upcoming year, and any projected capital expenses

2.   Shall regularly review all financial balances.

3.   Shall work with the treasurer to produce quarterly statements for council meetings

4.   Shall make recommendations to council for adjustment of rental rates and inform the event-calendar coordinator of any changes.

5.   Shall ensure an annual review of all church financial accounts.

6.   Shall make recommendations regarding the management of financial investments to the trustees.

Manse Committee

1.   Shall ensure suitable accommodation for the ministry personnel by organizing the maintenance and upkeep of the manse and equipment.

2.   Shall ensure snow removal from the manse driveway.

3.   Shall ensure that emergency repairs are attended to in a timely matter, in consultation with council executive and trustees.

4.   Shall submit an annual budget and any estimates for needed major repairs to the Finance Committee.

5.   Shall oversee any rental agreements in conjunction with the trustees and in consultation with the Horseshoe Falls Regional Council.

Ministry and Personal Committee

1.   Shall be available for consultation and support for matters involving the pastoral charge staff.

2.   Shall oversee the relationship of the pastoral charge staff to each other and to people in the congregation.

3.   Shall review, at least annually, the working conditions, responsibilities, and compensation of all pastoral charge staff and make any recommendations as needed to the council.

4.   Shall relate with all who are paid a salary with regard to remuneration, vacation time, leaves, job descriptions and evaluations and advise the Finance Committee of any changes to the salary packages.

5.   Shall revise position descriptions of pastoral charge staff as needed.

6.   Shall conduct annual performance reviews of the pastoral charge staff.

7.   Shall encourage pastoral charge staff to make use of opportunities for continuing education.

8.    Shall liaise with the regional council Pastoral Relations Committee or equivalent for assistance with resolving any personnel or congregational conflict.

Property Committee

1.   Shall organize the maintenance and day-to-day operations of the church building, furnishings and property.

2.   Shall arrange for a housekeeper/cleaner for the building.

3.   Shall arrange for lawn cutting and gardening.

4.   Shall ensure that snow is removed for services and events.

5.   Shall ensure that emergency repairs are attended to in consultation with the Council Executive and the Trustees.

6.   Shall bring to the attention of the Finance Committee and Trustees any need for ongoing repairs and future capital projects.

7.   Shall ensure all health, safety and customer service standards are met.

8.   Shall ensure that annual inspections of fire extinguishers, smoke

detectors and emergency exit signs are done.

9.   Shall ensure that essential supplies (i.e., cleaning products, paper products, de-icing materials) are stocked.

10.Shall ensure that garbage and recycling are taken to curbside weekly.

11.Shall maintain an updated list of all key holders for the Church building.

Stewardship Committee

1.   Shall conduct an annual stewardship campaign, encouraging commitment and participation from the congregation.

2.   Shall co-ordinate and encourage fund-raising events in the Church.

3.   Shall work with the Chair of Council and a member of the order of ministry who has been called or appointed to the pastoral charge to compose and distribute an annual Anniversary letter.

Worship and Pastoral Care Committee

1.   Shall work with a member of the order of ministry who has been called or appointed to the pastoral charge in all aspects regarding worship services including communion preparation, greeting and offering presentation.

2.   Shall assist in the planning of special services for the high seasons of the liturgical year and in conducting worship service as necessary.

3.   Shall assist in worship service for baptisms, confirmations and receiving new members.

4.   Shall consider and adorn the sanctuary creatively and appropriately for celebratory worship times including the appropriate banners and antependium for each season of the liturgical year.

5.   Shall maintain the historic roll and historic records of the church.

6.   Shall oversee the maintenance of the church instruments and furnishings.

7.   Shall assist with pastoral care and visitation.

Nominations

1.   The Council executive will create a proposed slate of nominations.

2.   Shall be prepared prior to each annual meeting for the presentation and confirmation of the congregation. 

Trustees

1.   Shall be appointed at a congregational meeting.

2.   Shall be chaired by a member of the order of ministry who has been called or appointed to the pastoral charge

3.   Shall hold the Heritage United Church property and the Heritage United Church manse property in trust and adhere to all Model Trust Deeds as set out in the United Church of Canada Manual.

Church Booking Co-Ordinator

1.   Shall take bookings for the Heritage Hall and the Sanctuary.

2.   Shall ensure that users/renters are aware of and agree to our terms of use.

3.   Shall hold a damage deposit.

4.   Shall conduct a pre and post rental walk-through with the tenant.

5.   Shall collect and record rental fees and forward them to the Treasurer.

6.   Shall report any damages/issues to the Property Committee.

7.   Shall maintain a public calendar of all bookings, posted at the Church.

8.     Shall inform the called or appointed ministry personnel and the chairperson of the Property Committee of any bookings/rentals.

Strabane Cemetery Board of Trustees

The name of the cemetery located on the property of 1565 Brock Road shall be known as ‘The Strabane Cemetery’.

1.   Shall present a list of its members to the Heritage United Church for ratification purposes only by the congregation. They shall operate as a separate board and report to the  Heritage United Church Board of Trustees only as needed.

2.   Shall provide Heritage United Church with an annual financial statement for information only.

3.   Shall maintain The Strabane Cemetery including the administration, the gravesites and the grounds, conforming with all provincial regulations.

4.   Shall work cooperatively with the Heritage United Church Trustees to ensure that there is adequate insurance (property and liability) on the complete parcel of property located at 1565 Brock Road.

5.   Shall seek permission of the Heritage United Church trustees for capital improvements to The Strabane Cemetery. 

Proposed Assets to be Retained

Pending

Assets to be Dispersed

pending

Other recommendations

Pending