2.1       The name of the congregation shall be Churchill Park United Church, Winnipeg.

 3.         Preamble 

3.1       The Constitution of Churchill Park United Church, Winnipeg, adopted _______________, is intended to describe and organize the ministries of the congregation so that they can best be the church - celebrating God’s presence, loving and serving others, respecting creation, seeking justice, resisting evil and proclaiming Jesus.  

4.    Leadership Team             

4.1       The Leadership Team shall be mandated by the congregation to overseethe life and work of Churchill Park United Church, Winnipeg, in accordance with The Manual of the United Church of Canada, with particular reference to the responsibilities of The Official Board and The Church Council, and subject to the advice of The Conference of Manitoba and Northwestern Ontario and advice and oversight of Winnipeg Presbytery.  The ministries of Churchill Park United Church, Winnipeg shall be expressed through the faith-guided efforts of Committees, Interest Groups and House Groups that shall be accountable to the Leadership Team.  

4.2       The Leadership Team shall consist of seven members or adherents of the congregation to act as Chair, Past Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary, Ministry and Personnel Representative, Treasurer and Presbytery Representative.  The congregation’s Called or Appointed Minister or Pastoral Charge Supervisor or an Appointee of the Presbytery shall be present whenever the Leadership Team meets.

4.2.2    Two or three Elders (non-voting) shall be elected by the congregation at the Annual Meeting to serve as advisors to the Leadership Team. They shall be invited at least once a year to meet with The Leadership Team to offer their observations of and visions for Churchill Park United Church.  Their term of office shall be two years with a possible one-year extension after which a one-year break shall be taken before accepting further election or appointment. 

4.2.3    Each year, two or three Youth Representatives (non-voting) shall be appointed by the Church School or Youth Program participants to meet with the Leadership Team at least once during the year to offer their observations of and visions for Churchill Park United Church. 

4.2.4    One to two Presbytery Representatives shall be elected by the congregation at the Annual Meeting. Their term of office shall be three years with a possible one-year extension after which a one-year break shall be taken before accepting further election or appointment. Following the meetings of Winnipeg Presbytery, the Leadership Team shall receive a report from the Presbytery Representatives. 

4.3       The terms of office for the Leadership Team shall be three years with a possible one-year extension after which a one-year break shall be taken before accepting further election or appointment. 

4.4       The Leadership Team shall hold meetings monthly or at such times as necessary, but not fewer than nine times between consecutive Annual Meetings. 

4.5       Decisions shall be made by consensus except when a majority vote is deemed appropriate by the Chair.  A quorum shall be five exclusive of the Minister or Minister Representative. 

4.5.2    In the case of an emergency during the summer months of staff holidays and Church closure when a Leadership Team quorum may not be possible or Ministry staff is absent, a decision on temporal matters shall be made by no fewer than three people, including at least two Leadership Team members and one Trustee.  If the emergency involves a staff member, the decision also shall require at least one Ministry Personnel member and perhaps Presbytery or Conference staff. 

4.6       The Leadership Team shall set and review short- and long-term goals for Churchill Park United Church, Winnipeg annually.  

4.6.2    The Leadership Team shall review the Constitution annually.

4.6.3    The Leadership Team shall receive the goals of the Interest Groups in September and a review of their year’s work in June. 

4.7       At each monthly meeting, the Leadership Team shall receive a financial report, a report from Ministry and Personnel and a report from the Ministry staff.   

4.8       The Past Chair of the Leadership Team shall serve as the Chair of theNominating Committee and shall ask two other people from the congregation to assist with filling upcoming vacant positions.  This committee shall meet toward the end of the calendar year and shall present its recommendations at the Annual Meeting.            

4.9       The meetings of the Leadership Team shall be open to the congregation.Visitors shall not join in the decision-making process. 

4.10     The approved Minutes of the Leadership Team meetings including financial and other submitted reports shall be available to the congregation monthly.  The highlights of these meetings shall be printed in the Sunday bulletin following the meeting.   

5.         The Annual Meeting and Congregational Meetings 

5.1      The members and adherents of the congregation shall meet annually inFebruary.  They also may meet more frequently as required.  The date of the Annual Meeting shall be set by the Leadership Team with appropriate notice as described in The Manual of the United Church of Canada. Congregational Meetings shall be called as outlined in The Manual of the United Church of Canada.            

5.2       The Leadership Team shall arrange for the preparation of the AnnualReport. The Annual Report shall reflect the activities of the Leadership Team, Committees, Interest Groups and House Groups for the year immediately preceding the Annual Meeting.  Copies of the Report shall be made available to the congregation not later than one week prior to the Annual Meeting. 

5.3       Members (those people whose names are on the Historic Roll of Churchill Park United Church, Winnipeg) in attendance at the meeting shall vote on all matters.  With the consent of these members, adherents who are active in the congregation shall vote on temporal matters as described in The Manual of the United Church of Canada.  Voting shall be taken on the basis of simple majority established by a show of hands or otherwise, as determined by the congregation.   

5.3.2    A quorum for any congregational meeting shall be twenty-five members and adherents, a majority of whom are members.  

5.4       The current Chair of the Leadership Team shall preside over the Annual Meeting and Congregational Meetings. The Secretary of the Leadership Team shall record the minutes.  In the absence of the Chair or Secretary, the Leadership Team may name a replacement.   

5.4.2   The Annual and Congregational Meetings shall be conducted in accordance with “The Rules of Debate and Order” as found in The Manual of the United Church of Canada. 

5.4.3    The congregation’s Called or Appointed Minister or Pastoral Charge Supervisor or an Appointee of the Presbytery shall be present whenever the congregation meets. 

5.5       At the Annual Meeting, the congregation shall:

·        receive the annual report;

·        elect new members for the Leadership Team, Elders, Trustees and Presbytery Representatives and House Group Coordinator as presented by nominations;

·        vote on the proposed budget;

·        set general policy;

·        vote on the recommendations made by the Special Gifts Ad Hoc Committee; and

·        approve the Leadership Team appointments to the Ministry and Personnel Committee.  

5.6       The agenda of the Annual Meeting shall include:

·        Extension of Voting Privileges

·        Approval of the Agenda

·        Approval of the Minutes of the Previous Annual Meeting

·        Motion to Receive the Annual Report including the Reviewed Financial Statement

·        Business Arising from the Previous Annual Meeting

·        Approval of the Budget

·        Reports of the Committees, Interest Groups, House Group Coordinator

·        Nominations

·        Special Gifts 

5.8       Newly elected members shall begin their responsibilities in June following the Annual Meeting of Conference.                       

6.         Committees and Interest Groups 

6.1    There shall be two committees - Ministry and Personnel and Trustees. They shall follow their mandate as outlined in The Manual of the United Church of Canada. 

6.2   The Leadership Team may appoint ad hoc committees as necessary to carry out its work (e.g. Special Gifts). 

6.3    All other activities of church life may be formed out of interest into InterestGroups or individuals with the approval of the Leadership Team.  (i.e. Happy Gang, Worship, Visitation, Sunday School, etc.)       

6.3.2    Each Interest Group shall generate its own membership and name a Chair or Secretary if deemed necessary by the membership.   

6.3.3    There shall be no outside nominations process for these Interest Groups; however, if an Interest Group vital to the ongoing life and ministry of the congregation ceases to function, the Leadership Team may take the responsibility of nominating new members or may make alternate recommendations to the congregation to ensure that the organization and activity of a ministry continue.   

6.3.4    Interest Groups shall be accountable to the Leadership Team through goal setting in September, budget in December and yearly review in June.  

6.3.5    An Interest Group may request time on the Leadership Team’s agenda to present a concern or idea, to request action or to seek direction.   

7.         House Groups 

7.1       All households identified on our contact list shall be assigned to a House    Group.  Each House Group shall be assigned to a month of service and shall be responsible for short-term tasks that enhance the life and work of the congregation.  Detailed responsibilities and opportunities for service are described in The Churchill Park Policy and Procedures Manual.            

7.2       The House Groups’ Leaders (at least two) shall be selected from the membership of each House.  The members of the House Group shall determine their length of service and they shall follow the mandate set out for them in The Churchill Park Policy and Procedures Manual.            

7.3       A House Group Coordinator shall oversee the organization of the House Groups.  This individual shall be elected to serve a three- year term with a possible one-year extension after which a one-year break shall be taken before accepting further election or appointment. 

7.3.2    The responsibilities of a House Group Coordinator shall include:

·        a review and update of job descriptions by September;

·        coordination with the Church Office to ensure that House Group lists are kept up to date;

·        a yearly meeting of the House Group Leaders for the purpose of encouragement and review. 

8.         Co-Chairs                       

8.1 Wherever there is a singular position it could be shared as co-chaired.  

9.         Amendments  

9.1       The congregation of Churchill Park United church shall amend this constitution by receiving it at one Congregational Meeting and voting on it with a two-thirds majority at a subsequent Congregational Meeting, then sent to Winnipeg Presbytery for final approval.            

9.2       Members and adherents of the congregation may propose changes to theConstitution.  Any such changes, including written explanatory reasons, shall be presented to the Chair of the Leadership Team. 

9.3       The Leadership Team shall review all proposed changes and, if thechanges are deemed appropriate, shall call a congregational meeting to present a motion.   

9.3.2    These proposed changes shall be included in the following Annual Report.