The new Church Governance provides oversight for six committees, to whom some of the Board’s work is committed: Finance, Pastor Parish Relations, Property Stewardship, Outreach Center, Investment, and Nominations. Please check back here updates on the focus of each of those committees to date.
Finance Committee Pastor Parish Relations Committee Property Stewardship Committee Outreach Center Committee Investment Committee Nominations Committee
The Finance Committee is charged with providing strategic oversight of congregational finances, including assistance in development and monitoring of the Annual Operating Plan (AOP) for the Governing Board to ensure that the church stays on track in fulfilling its missional goals and vision. Although management authority and partition in day-to-day financial decision-making resides with the Finance Team. The Finance Committee may establish annual goals for and provide direction to staff and the Finance Team.
The Pastor Parish Relations Committee (PPRC) is the successor committee to the committee that was previously known as the Staff Parish Relations Committee (SPRC). As a standing Governing Board committee, the PPRC assists the Board in developing employee policies, liaising with bishops on clergy and pastor evaluations, ensuring compliance with applicable laws, and carrying out the staff grievance process as defined by the Governing Board policies. The PPRC has no staff management authority and does not participate in the supervision of staff or staff decision-making. The PPRC’s role and functions are guided by The Book of Discipline.
The Property Stewardship Committee (PSC) is charged with managing the physical assets of Asbury First in such a way that these assets are preserved, maintained, and enhanced in support of the total ministry of the church. Physical assets include the buildings and everything in them such as furniture, equipment, etc. The PSC creates, manages and maintains a comprehensive Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) which identifies and prioritizes expected projects. The CIP looks out for a minimum of five years and is presented to and approved by the Governing Board annually. All changes to church property must be approved by the PSC.
The PSC manages the Capital Improvement Fund to pay for ongoing capital improvement needs and the prioritized items in the Capital Improvement Plan. Each year a small percentage of the church budget goes toward capital improvement and is held in this fund. The PSC also oversees the church’s insurance needs and serves as the Building Committee for the Better Together projects. Recently, the PSC took on oversight of IT infrastructure as well, which presents added funding challenges due to shorter life cycles
The renovation and expansion of the Asbury First Community Outreach Center continued throughout the 2022 Calendar Year and was largely completed by December. Our Community Outreach Center programs operated most of the year, suspending operations in the final months of 2022 in order to prepare to relocate into the new space. The word “Community” was added to the name to better reflect our hope that this building will exist as a shared community space and not simply a place where the church provides services.
The Investment Committee is charged with setting investment policies for the Church’s endowment and restricted funds, subject to approval by the Board of Governors. It also provides oversight as outlined in the policies, including for the general endowment and thirteen restricted funds. As of the end of the fourth quarter of 2022, $5,954,299 was held in the general endowment and an aggregate of $2,684,262 was held in various restricted funds (ranging in size from $15,071 to $716,250).
The Nominations Committee, as set forth by the Discipline, is charged with identifying individuals for nomination to the Governing Board and Board committees.
For more information about any of our governance or committees, please contact the Governance Board at governance@asburyfirst.org or call the church office at (585)-271-1050.