Church Council
MEETING DATES: May 3 | August 2 | November 8
Church Council Meeting | 5.3.26 | 12:15 p.m.
New Hope United Methodist Church
Gathering and Opening (5 minutes)
Welcome and Purpose
In The Book of Discipline (¶244.1), the Church Council is the executive agency of the Charge Conference. This means that between meetings of the charge conference, the Church Council is the group of leaders that guides and furthers the ministry of the congregation. The Church Council exists to create and supervise the strategic plan for a healthy and effective congregation. The Church Council as a group should reflect the character and population of the congregation. Decisions made by the council will shape the future and demonstrate for everyone how God’s kingdom arrives in the immediate community.
The work of the Church Council is to envision, plan, implement, and annually evaluate a congregation’s ministry and mission.
Opening Prayer or Centering Moment
Covenant Reminder
“We speak the truth in love, we listen with charity, and we seek the good of the whole church.”
Celebrations and Signs of New Hope (5 minutes)
A short round of “What good has God done among us since we last met?”
Review of Mission, Vision, and Current Focus (3 minutes)
Following Jesus Christ, our church’s mission is to build relationships of wholeness and hope through acts of worship, grace, and service. Responding to Jesus Christ, our vision is creating a community that is joyful, generous, and just. We embody the love and grace of Jesus Christ with courage, compassion, and hope.
The Church Council aids this work by holding a broad view of the congregation’s future, administering the ongoing life of the congregation, and to seriously evaluate the church’s ongoing ministry.
Required Polity Items
Review and approve previous meeting minutes
Receive the previous month’s approved financial statements
Receive relevant reports from Committees:
SPRC
Finance
Trustees
CDO
BRF Team
Mission Council
Care Team
Report of the Pastor
Report of the Lay Leader
Major Agenda Items / Discernment Work (25–45 minutes)
Review and approve recommendation from Finance Committee and BRF Team for feasibility study
Missionary Update - Gilvren Decal
Discussion and action on the formation of a Church Council Executive Committee made up of the following people: the pastors, the business manager, and the chairs of CC, Finance, SPRC, and Trustees. PURPOSE: “To be authorized to act on urgent matters that arise between regular Church Council meetings, and to review, monthly, the church’s financial position and current financial statements. Urgent matters include pending recommendations and requested actions in line with the church’s mission and vision from committees, boards, councils, or pastors.”
Follow-ups, Assignments, and Timelines (5–10 minutes)
Clear, written commitments:
Who is doing what? By when? With what support? How will this group receive updates?
Pastoral or Congregational Care Notes
Not for confidential matters, but a quick:
“Who needs encouragement? Who needs prayer? How can we bless our people this week?”
Closing Reflection and Next Steps (3 minutes)
Two quick questions:
“Where did we see God at work in this meeting?”
“What do we need to remember before we leave?”
Adjournment
Confirm next meeting date
Closing prayer
Board of Trustees
NEXT MEETING: Sunday, May 17th at 12:15 p.m.
BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEETING | 3.15.26 | 12:15 p.m.
New Hope United Methodist Church
Gathering and Opening (5 minutes)
Welcome and Purpose
Opening Prayer or Centering Moment
Covenant Reminder
“We speak the truth in love, we listen with charity, and we seek the good of the whole church.”
Celebrations and Signs of New Hope (5 minutes)
“What good has God done among us since we last met?”
Approval of Minutes (1–2 minutes)
Review of Mission, Vision, and Current Focus (3 minutes)
“Following and responding to Jesus Christ, our mission and vision are to build relationships of wholeness and hope through acts of worship, grace, and service and create a community that is joyful, generous, and just. Our Board/Council/Committee aids this work by providing oversight of all property and physical assets of New Hope. This includes managing and reviewing the church’s property insurance, ensuring the upkeep and maintenance, and managing all memorials and bequests, ensuring that all funds are used in accordance with the wishes of the deceased. Additionally, they oversee any specific trusts, foundations, endowments or investments on behalf of the congregation.
Major Agenda Items / Discernment Work (25–45 minutes)
Decision on a new church outdoor sign. vote
Decision on a new AV system for the sanctuary. vote
Discussion on updating the outdoor children’s playground. hear report,no vote
Discussion on parking lot repair and/or expansion. no vote
Discussion on temporary building/office space. hear report, no vote
Follow-ups, Assignments, and Timelines (5–10 minutes)
Clear, written commitments:
Who is doing what? By when? With what support? How will this group receive updates?
This matches effective governance practices and prevents meetings from becoming repetitive.
Pastoral or Congregational Care Notes
Not for confidential matters, but a quick:
“Who needs encouragement? Who needs prayer? How can we bless our people this week?”
Closing Reflection and Next Steps (3 minutes)
Two quick questions:
“Where did we see God at work in this meeting?”
“What do we need to remember before we leave?”
Adjournment
Confirm next meeting date
Closing prayer
Finance Committee
MEETING DATES: April 23 | July 23 | October 29
Finance Committee Meeting | 4.23.26 | 6:00 p.m.
New Hope United Methodist Church
Gathering and Opening (5 minutes)
Welcome and Purpose
In The Book of Discipline (¶258.4), the Committee on Finance is charged with all these activities:
• oversee stewardship • compile a budget annually • raise sufficient income to meet the budget • administer funds received by the church • count and deposit the offering • disburse funds • establish internal control policies • review and report annually on the adequacy and effectiveness of internal controls • provide for an annual audit of the church financial statements • report to the annual charge conference on the audit • recommend proper depositories for church funds • use contributions in accordance with donors’ intent • report annually to the Church Council all designated funds that are separate from the church budget.
Opening Prayer or Centering Moment
Covenant Reminder
“We speak the truth in love, we listen with charity, and we seek the good of the whole church.”
Celebrations and Signs of New Hope (5 minutes)
A short round of “What good has God done among us since we last met?”
Review of Mission, Vision, and Current Focus (3 minutes)
Following Jesus Christ, our church’s mission is to build relationships of wholeness and hope through acts of worship, grace, and service. Responding to Jesus Christ, our vision is creating a community that is joyful, generous, and just. We embody the love and grace of Jesus Christ with courage, compassion, and hope.
The Finance Committee aids this work by nurturing the financial vitality of the congregation, providing financial transparency, budgeting missionally, and implementing best practices.
Required Polity Items
Review and approve previous meeting minutes
Review and approve the previous month’s financial statements
Report on bank reconciliations
Major Agenda Items / Discernment Work (25–45 minutes)
External Audit Report and Readiness - Shelly Welch
Direction/approval of fundraising for camps through a Mission Moment
Direction/approval of fundraising for Miracle Sunday through various means
Business Manager progress report
New Finance Chair report
BRF Team progress and need for feasibility study
Follow-ups, Assignments, and Timelines (5–10 minutes)
Clear, written commitments:
Who is doing what? By when? With what support? How will this group receive updates?
Pastoral or Congregational Care Notes
Not for confidential matters, but a quick:
“Who needs encouragement? Who needs prayer? How can we bless our people this week?”
Closing Reflection and Next Steps (3 minutes)
Two quick questions:
“Where did we see God at work in this meeting?”
“What do we need to remember before we leave?”
Adjournment
Confirm next meeting date
Closing prayer
Staff Parish Relations
MEETING DATES (at 5:00 p.m.) : April 12 | June 14 | August 9 | October 11 | December 13 (if needed)
The SPRC met on April 12th to hear a report from Dr. Thomas Hoffmann about sorting through confidential personnel records and improving the system for how they are kept by the church in order for the church to be in compliance with state, federal, and denominational laws and expectations.
The SPRC also discussed the open positions for Business Manager, Operations Manager, and Children’s Ministry Assistant.
Finally, the SPRC discussed the nascent relationship between Wellspring Cleaning Services and New Hope, reviewing the updated contract for services and reporting on relationship building between church members and Wellspring employees.
The meeting concluded with a report from the pastor on supervisory updates and progress made by clergy and lay staff in fulfilling the mission of the church.
Lay Leadership and Nominations
NEXT MEETING: JULY 2026
The Nominations and Lay Leadership Committee is currently working on the selection of our new Finance Committee Chair and on our Ministry Fair coming up on August 9th. The Ministry Fair will provide an opportunity for prospective, new, and existing members of New Hope to find a tangible way to plug into a ministry beyond Sunday morning worship.