Administration

The Charge Conference shall be convened as the Church Conference and shall meet at least annually. The Church Conference is the connecting link between St. Luke’s and the General Church and is the ultimate governing body of St. Luke’s. The Chair of the Church Council (referred to herein as the “Board of Stewards”) shall call the Church Conference to order, and the District Superintendent shall preside.

The Board of Stewards is subject to and reports to the Church Conference and is the general governing body of St. Luke’s. The Chair of this Board shall preside over meetings in partnership with the Senior Pastor. This Board shall meet at least quarterly and as scheduled by its Chair.

The Lay Leadership Committee is subject to and reports to the Church Conference and shall be generally responsible for recommending candidates for lay delegates to the Texas Annual Conference and all positions created by this Plan or required by the Book of Discipline, and for selecting individuals as recipients of the Distinguished Life Award. The Senior Pastor is the Chair and shall preside over meetings in partnership with the Lay Leader. This Committee shall meet as scheduled by its Chair.

The Executive Nominating Committee is subject to and reports to the Lay Leadership Committee and shall be generally responsible for recommending candidates for the Executive Committee, the Long Range Planning Committee and the Board of Trustees. The Senior Pastor is the Chair and shall preside over meetings in partnership with the Chair-Elect of the Board of Stewards. This Committee shall meet as scheduled by its Chair.

The Audit Committee is subject to and reports to the Church Conference. This Committee shall be generally responsible for working with a reputable certified public accountant to produce financial statements for St. Luke’s on an annual basis. This Committee shall also report its findings to the Executive Committee. The Chair shall preside over meetings. This Committee shall meet as scheduled by its Chair.

The Board of Trustees is the statutory Board of Directors of St. Luke’s United Methodist Church of Houston, Inc., the nonprofit organization which owns St. Luke’s property, such as securities, land, buildings and bank accounts. The Board of Trustees is subject to and reports to the Board of Stewards and shall be generally responsible for the long-term care, maintenance and insurance of St. Luke’s property. The Chair shall preside over meetings in partnership with the Director / Executive Pastor of Finance and Administration. This Board shall meet as scheduled by its Chair.

The Executive Committee is subject to and reports to the Board of Stewards and shall be generally responsible for the day to day governance of St. Luke’s and for overseeing the implementation of the ministries, policies and programs in accordance with the budget as approved by the Board of Stewards. If any person is unable to fulfill any position elected at the Church Conference, this Committee may fill such position until the next Church Conference. The Chair of the Board of Stewards is the Chair and shall preside over meetings in partnership with the Senior Pastor. This Committee shall meet as scheduled by its Chair.

The Personnel Committee is subject to and reports to the Executive Committee and shall be generally responsible for overseeing employment decisions, policies and procedures, including salaries. The Chair shall be the immediate past Chair of the Board of Stewards and shall preside over meetings in partnership with the Senior Pastor. This Committee shall meet at least quarterly and as scheduled by its Chair.

The Finance and Administration Commission is subject to and reports to the Executive Committee and shall be generally responsible for overseeing the human, physical and financial resources of St. Luke’s, including recommending an annual budget to the Executive Committee. The Chair shall preside over meetings in partnership with the Director/Executive Pastor of Finance and Administration. This Commission shall meet as scheduled by its Chair.

The Worship Commission is subject to and reports to the Executive Committee and shall be generally responsible for the ministry areas involved in personal and corporate worship, including prayer, music and fine arts. The Chair shall preside over meetings in partnership with the Director / Executive Pastor of Worship. This Commission shall meet as scheduled by its Chair.

The Outreach Commission is subject to and reports to the Executive Committee and shall be generally responsible for ministry areas involved in outreach, missions, evangelism, involvement (volunteers) and communications. The Chair shall preside over meetings in partnership with the Director / Executive Pastor of Outreach. This Commission shall meet as scheduled by its Chair.

The Discipleship Commission is subject to and reports to the Executive Committee, and shall be generally responsible for ministry areas involved in growing and equipping disciples within the church community, including stewardship, caring ministries, and age level education and programming. The Chair shall preside over meetings in partnership with the Director/Executive Pastor of Discipleship. This Commission shall meet as scheduled by its Chair.

All councils, ministries and guilds included on the Charts approved by the Executive Committee shall be subject to and report to the Commission under which they are organized. Each board and committee may create task forces as necessary, and each commission may create task forces and other entities as necessary, but such other entities shall not be called a board, committee or commission.

All members selected for each position listed herein will not serve in any one role for more than two years unless specifically authorized by the Executive Committee or otherwise permitted by this Plan or The Book of Discipline. Each of the following boards, committees and commissions shall be comprised of the following positions and members, and each position and member listed below shall be initially elected by the Church Conference. Unless otherwise indicated, all members of each board, committee and commission shall have a vote.