Manual of the Church of Christ Congregational in Milford, Ct, Part 4

Author: Houghton, Roy M
Publication date: 1945
Publisher: Milford, Ct.
Number of Pages: 104


USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > Milford > Manual of the Church of Christ Congregational in Milford, Ct > Part 4


Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).


Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7


47


CHURCH OF CHRIST MILFORD


COVENANT. We are united in striving to know the will of God as taught in the Holy Scriptures, and in our purpose to walk in the ways of the Lord, made known or to be made known to us. We hold it ' to be the mission of the Church of Christ to proclaim the gospel to all mankind, exalting the worship of the one true God and laboring for the progress of knowledge, the promotion of justice, the reign of peace, and the realization of human brotherhood. Depending, as did our fathers, upon the continued guidance of the Holy Spirit to lead us into all truth, we work and pray for the transformation of the world into the kingdom of God; and we look with faith for the triumph of righteousness and the life everlasting.


ARTICLE V. MEMBERSHIP


Section I. The members of this Church shall be persons who have been received by vote of the Church and public acceptance of its covenant, (A) on presentation of satisfactory letters of transfer from other churches; or (B) if letters are not available, by reaffirmation of faith on recommendation of the Church Committee; or (C) on con- fession of faith and baptism (if not previously baptized or exempted because of conviction); or (D) on recommendation of the Church Committee when external baptism is waived because of conviction.


Section 2. Reception. Persons recommended by the Church Com- mittee having been approved by vote at a regular meeting or service of the Church shall be received at a communion service or at some other time as ordered by the Church, by public assent to the covenant. Any who are unable to attend in public after approval by the Church, may be received by the deacons acting in behalf of the Church.


Section 3. Termination of Membership. The continuance of member- ship shall be subject to the principles and usages of the Congregational and Christian Churches, and especially as follows:


(A) Any member in good and regular standing who desires a letter of dismissal and recommendation to another church, upon request is entitled to receive it by vote of the Church Committee. This letter shall be valid as a recommendation for one year only from its date, unless renewed, and this restriction shall be stated in the letter. The right to vote shall be suspended when a letter is voted, and member- ship shall terminate upon notice of acceptance into another church, or at the end of one year after inquiry which fails to give ground for renewal. General letters addressed to no particular church shall not be granted.


(B) If a member desires to join a religious body with which this Church is not in fellowship, or which would not receive its letter, the church may, at his request, give him a certificate of his standing, and his membership shall terminate upon receipt of notice that said


48


CHURCH OF CHRIST MILFORD


member has been received into the body to which the certificate was given.


(C) If, because of change of faith or for other reasons not involving unchristian conduct, a member in regular standing requests in writing to be released from his covenant obligations, the Church shall pa- tiently endeavor to secure his continuance in its fellowship; failing in such efforts, the Church may vote to grant the request and ter- minate such membership.


(D) Members whose addresses have long been unknown or who for a period of two years, in spite of kindly approaches, have not com- municated with the Church or contributed to its support, may, by vote of the Church, be transferred to a retired list. From the date of such transfer such persons shall cease to be reported on the active membership roll. If, after the expiration of a year, their addresses are still unknown or they are unwilling to renew active connection with the Church, their names may be dropped from the roll by a further vote of the Church.


(E) Should a member become an offense to the Church and to its good name by reason of immoral or unchristian conduct, or by per- sistent breach of his covenant vows, the Church on recommendation of the Church Committee may censure such a member, suspend him or terminate his membership by a two-thirds vote at a duly called meeting; but only after due notice and hearing, and after faithful efforts have been made to bring such a member to amendment in accordance with the law of Christ.


The membership of no person shall be terminated (except by Letter) at the meeting in which such action is first made.


Section 4. Restoration of Membership. Any person whose membership has been terminated may be restored by vote of the Church at a duly called meeting; if for any offense, upon evidence of his reformation, or if for any other cause, upon satisfactory explanation.


ARTICLE VI. OFFICERS AND COMMITTEES


Section 1. Officers and Committees. The Officers of this Church shall be a pastor, associate pastor, assistant pastor or pastor's assistant if the Church desires; twelve deacons; twelve deaconesses; nine trustees (two of whom shall be the Church treasurer and the financial secre- tary) a Church Committee; a clerk; a treasurer; a financial secretary; a church school superintendent; a historian; and an executive council.


The committees of this Church (other than the Church Committee) shall consist of a Music Committee of seven members, one of whom shall be a trustee; a Committee on Religious Education; a Welcoming Committee of five men; an Ushering Committee of twelve men; an


49


CHURCH OF CHRIST MILFORD


Auditing Committee of not less than two members; and a Nominating Committee of nine, consisting of one trustee, one deacon, the Super- intendent of the Church School, the President of the Woman's Association, the President of the Men's Organization; and four mem- bers chosen from the Church at large.


Section 2. Election of Officers and Committees. All officers and com- mittees (except the pastor, associate pastor, assistant pastor or pastor's assistant, deacons, deaconesses, trustees, and the nominating committee) shall be elected by ballot at the annual meeting by a majority vote for the term of one year. The deacons and deaconesses shall be chosen for a term of three years, one third of each board to be elected by ballot at each annual meeting. Two trustees shall be elected by ballot at each annual meeting to serve for a term of three years, except that every third year three trustees shall be so elected for a term of three years. No trustee shall be eligible for reelection after serving two full terms until the lapse of one year.


The nominating committee shall be elected by the Church Com- mittee at its first meeting following the annual meeting of the Church.


Section 3. Pastor and Associate Pastor. The Pastor, to be chosen by the Church whenever a vacancy occurs, shall hold his office without limitation of time and may be installed (or recognized by council) when pastor or Church so desires. It shall be his duty to preach the Word, to care for the stated services of public worship, to administer the ordinances and promote the spiritual welfare of the Church and those whom it serves. He shall be ex-officio, a member of all boards and committees, shall preside at all meetings of the Church except when matters concerning himself are considered and shall make a report of the year's work at the annual meeting. Whether installed or not, the pastoral relation may be dissolved either by vote of the Church or by the pastor by a written notice of such intention three months in advance.


If the Church desires an associate pastor, he shall be chosen by the Church and shall hold office without limitation of time. This relation may be dissolved either by vote of the Church or by the associate pastor by a written notice of such intention three months in advance. The associate pastor shall cooperate with the pastor and shall assume such pastoral duties as may appear in the best interests of the Church. He shall be, ex-officio, a member of all boards and committees, and shall make a report of the year's work at the annual meeting.


Section 4. Assistant Pastor or Pastor's Assistant, or Both. The Assistant Pastor or Pastor's Assistant, or both, to be chosen by the Church whenever a vacancy occurs, shall hold office without limita- tion of time. This relation may be dissolved either by vote of the


-


50


CHURCH OF CHRIST MILFORD


Church or by the Assistant Pastor, or Pastor's Assistant, or both, by written notice of such intention two months in advance.


It shall be the duty of this officer to have supervision over all activities for and with young people, and all organizations of young people in the Church; to act as Director of Religious Education, and through the Superintendent to have supervision of the Church School; to make such pastoral calls, particularly on families wherein there are young people, as may be assigned by the Pastor; and to assist the Pastor in every way possible in the fulfillment of his pastoral duties. When the Church shall desire to have both an assistant pastor and a pastor's assistant, these duties shall be divided under the direction of the pastor or by vote of the Church Committee.


Section 5. The Clerk. The Clerk shall keep a faithful record of the proceedings of the Church and of any organization of which he may be a member ex-officio. He shall keep a register of the members of the Church, with date of reception and removal; record baptisms, marriages, and deaths, and make full report to the Church at its annual meeting. He shall issue letters of dismissal and transfer as voted by the Church Committee, notifying the churches to which they are addressed; preserve a file of all communications, documents, and written official reports of all organizations; notify all persons elected to office, to committees or to membership in the Church; give legal notice of all meetings when such notice is necessary; report all communications intended for the Church; and conduct as may be necessary its correspondence.


Section 6. Treasurer. The Treasurer shall keep separate accounts of all money received by him for the support of the Church and those for benevolent interests or for the conduct of any of its organizations. He shall make report at the annual meeting, with vouchers for all disbursements. His records shall be certified by the auditing com- mittee.


Section 7. Financial Secretary. The Financial Secretary shall be charged with the work and responsibility that usually pertain to the office of collector. He shall keep a careful record of all pledges, of money received weekly or otherwise, and pay the same to the Church treasurer, and make a report at the annual meeting of the Church, or quarterly if so requested by the Church. His accounts shall be certified by the auditing committee.


Section 8. The Church School Superintendent. The Superintendent of the Church School, under the direction of the Assistant Pastor or Pastor's Assistant, shall have charge of the Church School as its executive officer, and shall be chairman of the Religious Education Committee. He shall make a complete report of the School at the annual meeting or at such other times as the Church may request.


5I


CHURCH OF CHRIST MILFORD


Section 9. The Historian. The Historian shall have charge of the old records and any other valuable historical data of the Church, the same to be kept at all times in the Church safe; and shall issue at his discretion permits to members or other responsible parties for ex- amination of such records under his supervision.


He shall be expected to compile a current history of the Church each year, covering such events as may not of necessity be recorded in the regular records of the Church; to keep an account of all special services, and a file of special programs (as well as regular Church Calendars) and a record of all occasions of interest from a historical standpoint; and to act as supervising editor of any historical pub- lications which the Church may from time to time vote to issue.


Section 10. The Church Committee. The Church Committee shall consist of the Pastor, Associate Pastor, Assistant Pastor or Pastor's Assistant, or both, the deacons, the deaconesses, the clerk, the super- intendent of the Church School, and four members at large, two of whom shall be women.


Section II. The Executive Council. The Executive Council shall con- sist of the Pastor, Associate Pastor, Assistant Pastor or Pastor's Assist- ant, or both, deacons, deaconesses, superintendent of the Church School, clerk, treasurer, financial secretary, trustees, president of the Woman's Association, president of the Men's Organization, historian, president of the Young People's society of Christian Endeavor, chair- men of all regular committees or active units, and four members at large of the Church Committee.


Section 12. Delegates. Delegates shall be chosen at the annual meet- ing to represent the Church at the State Conference, the District Association, and other fellowship meetings. It shall be the duty of these delegates to prepare themselves for a helpful and intelligent participation in these matters and to cultivate in the members of the Church a wholesome appreciation and valuation of the trusts in- volved in our Congregational and Christian fellowship and to see that they are surrendered, if at all, only after the mutual fellowship, counsel and approval of the Churches concerned.


The Pastor shall ordinarily be considered the delegate of the Church to the General Council meetings of the Congregational and Christian Churches of the United States.


ARTICLE VII. ORGANIZATIONS


All organizations, such as the Church School, the Young People's societies, the Woman's Organizations, the Men's Organizations, the Boy Scouts, and the Girl Scouts, are regarded as integral parts of the Church and shall be under the general oversight of the Church, to which they shall make an annual report, and shall from time to


52


CHURCH OF CHRIST MILFORD


time present their activities and needs for the review of the Executive Council and for its counsel and suggestive help.


ARTICLE VIII. MEETINGS


(A) Public services of worship shall be held each week on the Lord's Day except that union services with other churches may be held during the summer months.


(B) The Lord's Supper shall be observed ordinarily on the first Sunday of January, March, May, July, September, and November.


(C) The annual meeting shall be held on the second Wednesday in January for the purpose of hearing the yearly reports of officers and departments; to elect officers; to adopt the annual budget; and to consider plans for the new year.


(D) Special business meetings may be called by the Pastor, the clerk, or by the deacons, trustees, or any five members by written request, all through the clerk.


(E) Notice of all business meetings shall be placed on the Church calendar, read from the pulpit, and posted on the bulletin board at least three days before such meetings are to be held.


(F) The Church Committee, Trustees, Executive Council, and all regular committees shall have regular meetings as determined by each group, notice of all such meetings to be publicly announced for the information of the Church.


ARTICLE IX. LEGACIES


All gifts of money bequeathed, presented to or coming into the possession of the Church shall be carefully recorded by the clerk in the records of the Church, and, unless otherwise specified by the donor, shall be used only for such purposes as shall be determined by the Board of Trustees, with the approval of the Church.


ARTICLE X. AMENDMENTS


This Constitution may be amended by a two-thirds vote of the members present and voting at any annual meeting of the Church, or at a meeting especially called for that purpose, the proposed amend- ment being inserted in the call. But no change shall be made in Articles II, III, and IV except at an annual meeting and by a two- thirds vote of all members of the Church present and entitled to vote, said proposed change having been laid before the Church in writing at a business meeting held not less than one month before the time of the proposed action and read from the pulpit on the Sunday next preceding such proposal.


53


CHURCH OF CHRIST MILFORD


BY-LAWS


ARTICLE I. ORGANIZATION OF TRUSTEES, COMMITTEES AND EXECUTIVE GROUPS


T THE Pastor shall preside at all meetings of the Church, the Church Committee and the Executive Council. The Trustees and all committees except the Committee on Religious Education, shall elect their own presiding officers.


ARTICLE II. DUTIES OF BOARDS AND COMMITTEES


Section I. Deacons. The Deacons shall care for the preparation and administration of the ordinances of baptism and the Lord's Supper. They shall have direct oversight and care of the poor, the sick, the sorrowing and the stranger, and they shall organize to meet the needs of all such.


Section 2. Deaconesses. The Deaconesses shall visit the sick and needy, call upon new members, introduce new families into the life of the Church and cooperate with the pastor and the deacons in promoting the spiritual interests of the Church.


Section 3. The Church Committee. The Church Committee shall have full charge of the spiritual work of the Church. The committee shall pass upon all applications for membership and shall have power to grant letters of dismissal. It shall be the duty of the committee to recommend measures of discipline and revision of the roll. The com- mittee shall see that the denominational and interdenominational fellowship obligations of the Church are fulfilled and develop a vital fellowship through the missionary program of the Church and de- nomination. The committee shall keep in touch with absent members and assist the pastor in conserving a faithful membership, in pro- moting public and family worship by the use of every legitimate means, and they, the members of the committee, shall be dedicated to the deepening of the spiritual life of the members of the Church and Parish. It shall be the duty of this committee to see that the pulpit is supplied in the absence of the pastor and that the ordinances and services of the Church are observed with regularity and rever- ence. The Church Committee may organize sub-committees, in- cluding in their membership other members of the Church than members of the Church Committee. The Chairmen of such committees shall be members of the Church Committee.


Section 4. The Trustees. The Trustees shall have the care and cus- tody of the property of the Church and have charge of its financial affairs, but shall have no power to buy or sell, mortgage, lease or transfer any real property without specific vote of the Church. The trustees shall provide for the prompt payment of the salaries and


54


CHURCH OF CHRIST MILFORD


current expenses, make full report of all their doings at the annual meeting and present a budget for the ensuing year, making provision for raising it by an every-member canvass not later than the second week in December each year, or as may be suggested by the Church. The Board of Trustees may organize sub-committees, including in their membership other members of the Church than trustees. The Chairmen of such committees shall be trustees.


Section 5. The Executive Council. The Executive Council shall be an advisory body only, counseling the various organizations, co- ordinating their activities, and making such recommendations to the Church as may seem wise, concerning policy and administration.


It shall hold such meetings as may be called by the pastor or by the clerk at the request of any five members. The pastor shall act as chairman and the clerk as secretary, and the Council shall make full report of all its deliberations at the annual meeting of the Church.


Section 6. The Committee on Religious Education. This committee shall have full charge of all matters bearing upon an adequate pro- gram of religious education. The primary function of this committee shall be to adopt the best system of religious education available for all classes of the Church School. The committee shall correlate courses of instruction, secure proper equipment, and represent the Church in all matters of education in the community, denominational and interdenominational enterprises. It shall enlist and train volunteers for Christian Service. The Superintendent of the Church School shall be the chairman of this committee. The committee shall prepare an annual budget of its needs for presentation to the trustees for in- corporation in the annual Church budget.


Section 7. The Music Committee. This committee shall have full responsibility for the music connected with all services of the Church. It shall be the duty of the committee to engage annually the director and organist, all singers, and to arrange for special musical services. The committee shall build up an adequate library of Church Music and present a budget of its needs to the trustees in ample time to include it in the yearly budget.


Section 8. The Welcoming Committee. It shall be the duty of this committee by their presence in the Church vestibule or wherever placed by the chairman, before and after all services of the Church, to create an atmosphere of cordiality and good will toward strangers, to develop friendliness and fellowship, and to perform such other duties as the Church may from time to time suggest.


Section 9. The Ushering Committee. This committee shall have charge of ushering at all the regular services of the Church, striving in all ways to further a feeling of cordiality, good-will, and service toward all strangers, and among members of the Church.


55


CHURCH OF CHRIST MILFORD


Section 10. The Auditing Committee. The Auditing Committee shall 1 audit the accounts of the Church and of all its officers and present a report to the Church at the annual meeting.


Section II. The Nominating Committee. The Nominating Committee shall prepare, prior to each annual meeting a list of nominations of officers and committees (except the Nominating Committee) for the ensuing year. The committee shall cause such a list of nominations to be published in the Church Calendar at least one Sunday preceding the annual meeting, or shall give such other notice of nominations as the Church may direct. The committee shall prepare official ballots for use at the annual meeting, and shall cause to be printed or written on such ballots the nominations as made by the committee. The right of a member to make a nomination from the floor of the annual meeting shall always be recognized, and space shall be provided on the official ballots for writing in names other than those placed in nomination by the nominating committee.


The Committee shall act as a committee on election, serve as tellers and announce the results of the election at the annual meeting.


ARTICLE III. PRESENTATION OF SPECIAL CAUSES


The Church Committee shall have full authority in determining what causes shall be given opportunity to present their work and make financial appeals for support of the same at any of the stated services of the Church.


ARTICLE IV. VOTING PROCEDURE


(A) The right to vote belongs only to active members of the Church. Members who have been transferred to the inactive or retired list have no right to vote.


(B) Voting at any of the meetings of the Church may follow the usual Congregational procedure of a display of hands, or by voice, or by rising, except that at the annual meeting all officers required to be elected by ballot shall be elected by the use of the official ballots provided for that purpose.


(C) A majority vote of the members present shall be decisive. The calling of a pastor, to be done upon the recommendation of not less than a two-thirds vote of the Executive Council, shall, however, require a two-thirds vote of all voting members of the Church present, at a meeting specially called for this purpose.


(D) Members in good standing, eighteen years of age or over may act and vote in all transactions of the Church except legal and financial matters, in which case those voting must be twenty-one years of age.


56


CHURCH OF CHRIST MILFORD


ARTICLE V. QUORUM


Twenty voting members shall constitute a quorum at special business meetings, but not less than forty voting members shall be necessary for a quorum at the annual meeting.


ARTICLE VI. AMENDMENTS


These By-Laws may be amended at any business meeting of the Church by a two-thirds vote of the members present, notice of the changes proposed having been given in writing one week previous.


RESIDENT MEMBERS


C 1916 Abbott, Susan Woodruff (Morris W.)


C 1922 Adams, Georgetta Standen


L 1942 Adzimo, Grace Coby (Stephen)


C 1933 Ahrens, William


C 1933 Ahrens, Louise E.


C 1933 Ahrens, Lillian


C 1915 Ahrens, Alfred J.


C 1935 Ahrens, Maud Hardy (Alfred J.)


C 1939 Ahrens, Howard


C 1941 Ahrens, Dorothy Louise


C 1945 Ahrens, Herbert Irving


C 1915 Ahrens, William H.


C 1923 Ahrens, Anna Vivian Fox (William H.)


L 1939


Alcott, Ralph Henry


L 1939


Alcott, Avis Gale (Ralph H.)


C 1939 Alcott, Dorothy Mae


C 1919 Alison, Grace Platt (John, 2nd)


L 1942 Allen, Harriett R.




Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.