As it is unknown how long the impact of COVID-19 will continue to affect our ability to gather together, the Deacons Board has decided that we will hold our Annual June meeting online, with a phone-in option for those without online devices. This way we are able to move forward with calling forth new leaders to our Deacons and Elders Boards as we continue ministry through this season.
Our Annual meeting will be held on Sunday June 14 at 11:30am through the online video conferencing platform called Zoom (meeting ID: 891 5842 5348), please email office@springgardenchurch.ca for the password.
The purpose of the meeting is to:
1) Approve the minutes of the previous meeting (click here to see it).
2) Elect Deacons and Elders: The Deacons and Elders, working alongside the Pastors, are called by the church (that's you!) to bring leadership over a three year term. To see the Nominating Committee Report with the list of Deacons and Elders being brought forward, as well as those currently serving, click here. Please pray for them!
3) Elect Nominating Committee and Officers: The Nominating Committee is a 2 year term of leadership whose responsibility is to prayerfully discern and invite new Deacons, Elders and Officers. The Officers play important roles in our functioning as an incorporated organization. Their names are also included in the Nominating Committee Report here.
4) Acceptance of Audited Financial Statements for 2019 and appointment of Auditor for 2020 (Norton McMullen LLP): If you would like to read the 2019 statements, click here.
4) Approve Bylaw changes: To reflect our current Co-Lead Pastor leadership model, changes had to be made to our Bylaws which we will vote on as a community. To read the updated Bylaws, please click here.
Everyone is welcome to join the meeting, regardless if you are a member or not. Only those who are members can officially vote, but everyone who is a part of the Spring Garden community is welcome to join and to participate in any discussion.
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Our existing By-laws state a single “Senior Pastor”. Given we have moved to a “co-lead” model, with Greg Kay and Sam Lee sharing the leadership duties, we need to amend our By-laws.
After multiple reviews by our Lawyers, Deacons and Pastors, spanning 6 months, we are pleased to recommend the following By-law amendments.
Overview of the changes
Renamed the role from “Senior Pastor” to “Lead Pastor”, thus changing many references from “senior” to “lead”
Pluralized many references to Lead Pastors
Clarified the joint decision-making model for the Lead Pastors, in the area of nominating Deacons and Elders and inserted Section 35.02
Inserted Section 35.03 to ensure we had the option to go back to a single lead pastor, without the need for more By-law changes
Clarified the “legalize” on 2 application forms; “Consent to Act as Director” and “Application For Membership”. The forms are not technically part of the By-laws, but are included for reference.
We are distributing copies of the By-laws through the website (click here).
We encourage you to read them prior to the Annual General Meeting, tentatively set for Sunday June 14, 2020.
If you have questions about the By-laws, feel free to reach out to Jeff McGee (jmcgee@haventreebank.com) or Sam Chaise (sam_chaise@yahoo.com) prior to the AGM.
Peace;
The Deacons