The Board of Trustees is responsible for:

• caring for church property and finances
• approving policies
• initiating strategic planning, and
• employing all church staff.

The board consists of:

• executive (President, Vice-President, Treasurer, and Secretary)
• the immediate past-president
• up to six members-at-large, who are elected by the membership at the Annual General Meeting in the fall

The board meets regularly on the third Tuesday of each month, and the Board Executive meets on the first Tuesday of each month. The executive’s decisions are subject to review and ratification by the full board at the next board meeting. Board and executive meetings are open to members and adherents except where matters of a confidential nature are under discussion.

To be nominated for the board, you must have been a member for at least six months.

   News from the Board of Trustees   

Finance Committee

The Finance Committee coordinates overall church financial matters including:

• canvass
• budgeting
• investing
• capital campaigns
• accounting
• auditing
• insurance
• taxation
• special fundraising
• financial policies and procedures
• financial reporting

The committee recommends policies and procedures to the board on financial matters. It comprises members and adherents interested in finance and staff involved in the church’s financial work.

For information about the church’s special funds, ask for a copy of the document Description of Church Funds.

For information about receipts or expense authorization contact our Congregational Administrator.

Investment Committee (sub-committee of Finance)

The Investment Committee oversees the investment of church assets in accordance with policy set by the congregation and board. It recommends and provides liaison for church financial advisors and recommends investment policy.

Current investments are in ethically responsible instruments with low risk and high liquidity. The committee comprises church members with interest and expertise in investment.

Legacy Committee

The committee’s goals are to enhance the church’s financial security by helping interested people in planning legacy gifts and to assist members with their financial planning for death by providing information and consultation about estate planning options.

Program Coordinating Council

The Program Coordinating Council is responsible for facilitating the planning and coordinating of church programs and activities.

It also ensures the well-being of committees, groups, and services, overseeing the initiation of new committees and groups and their termination when they are no longer useful to church life.

The Council recruits chairpersons when necessary, and convenes chairperson meetings (Council of Chairs) at least twice a year.

Nominating Committee

Under our bylaws, the Nominating Committee is responsible for nominating persons to stand for election to the Board of Trustees.

The committee is appointed by the board, normally chaired by the past president (who is automatically a member of the board) and may not include any other incumbent board member.

The committee presents its nominations to the general membership prior to the Annual General Meeting, which takes place in the fall (usually November).

Committee members speak with any member who wishes to consider serving on the board, or has thought of members who might be prepared and qualified to take on this role.

Contact the past president.

Human Resources Committee

An enterprise is a community of human beings, not a collection of ‘human resources’.
– Henry Mintzberg

The Human Resources Committee is a committee of the Board of Trustees tasked with:

• researching, preparing and recommending HR policies and procedures to the board
• overseeing the application of these policies and procedures within the congregation
• providing support and advice to the Congregational Administrator, Staff Management Committees and the Committee on Ministry

In consultation with the senior staff member in each area of work including:

• administration
• caretaking
• music
• education

The committee monitors the conformance of the congregation’s human resources policies and procedures to Unitarian principles and to the BC Employment Standards Act.
The committee reviews:

• job descriptions
• terms and conditions of employment
• compensation
• benefits, reporting relationships
• performance review processes

Committee members may be called upon to:

• participate in an employee selection processes
• provide non-supervisory support for employees on HR issues
• help mediate conflicts involving employees
• investigate best practices on specific human resource questions

The committee consists of at least four voting members of the congregation appointed by the board for staggered two-year terms. Members with experience in the HR field in particular are encouraged to contribute to the important work of this committee and others interested in staff welfare are welcome as well.

The committee is typically chaired by the immediate past-president or someone with professional expertise in human resources.