Lengthen the Cords Strengthen the Stakes

On April 18th, 2010 the LCSS Steering Ministry presented a proposal to the Board of Deacons to revise the Church Organizational Structure. This proposal was the result of the charge given to the LCSS Steering Ministry by the Deacons when it was formed in June 2009 to “Make recommendations to the Deacons and church body for changes in the organizational structure based on LCSS ministries”.

The new Church Organizational Structure will allow the church to focus on our ministries, both individual and as a church. The emphasis will be on empowering and enabling members to follow their call and passion where God leads them.

The new structure is composed of eight Ministries (Click on the Chart for a larger version):

• Deacon
• Mission
• Worship
• Membership & Stewardship
• Christian Education
• Family Life & Fellowship
• Communication & Technology
• Administration

Each Ministry will be lead by a Ministry Chair who will serve on the Ministry Council.  In addition, the Ministry Council will be lead by a Ministry Chair.  The Ministerial Staff of the church will be non-voting members of the Ministry Council.

The Ministry Council will be involved in visioning and planning, coordinating events and activities, and communicating to and from the members of their Ministries.  Operational decisions and activities will be the responsibility of the members of each Ministry.

Ministries may meet and work as a Ministry group (i.e. Deacons, Worship) or may be composed of a number of related sub-groups (i.e. Missions, Family Life & Fellowship, Administration).  Each Ministry will be held accountable for the mission and work of the Ministry.

Each of the Ministry Chairs will be nominated by the church Nominating Committee and elected for a one year term.  Ministry Chairs will be allowed to serve up to 3 consecutive terms and are not eligible for re-election for 2 years after serving for 3 terms.

The Church Nominating Committee will be elected by the church each year and will nominate the following positions:

• Ministry Council Chair
• Ministry Chairs
• Property Ministry Chair
• Personnel Ministry
• Finance Ministry
• Stewardship Ministry
• Moderator, Clerk
• Trustees

The Church will vote on the coming year's Ministry positions at the November Quarterly Business Meeting.

Except for the positions listed above, each church member will be encouraged to participate in any ministry or multiple ministries where they feel they can best utilize their gifts and talents.

These changes will require revision of the Church By-Laws.  Once this proposal is approved by the church, a By-Laws committee will be formed to review and recommend changes to the By-Laws to reflect the new structure.  The revised By-Laws will be presented to the church at the November 2010 Business Meeting.

The elected Ministry positions will begin in January of the following year.  The following is the schedule of events for 2010:
Mar 5-6 – Administrative Deacon retreat
Mar 13/25 – General Board presentation
Apr 18 - Deacon Meeting vote on proposal - approved
May 5 – Church wide presentation
May 26 - Business Meeting vote on proposal
June – Bylaws Committee begins work on revising Bylaws
Sept – Deacons review draft of Bylaws
Sept – Nominating Committee selected and elected by church
Oct – Deacons vote to recommend the revised Bylaws
Nov - Church Business Meeting

• Vote on revised Bylaws
• Elect Ministry Chairs and other nominated positions
• Vote on next year's budget

Dec - Ministry Council meets with Administrative Deacons in preparation for 2011
Jan 2011 – Ministry Council and other elected positions takes office