A Covenant for Shared Ministry Between the Lutheran and United Congregations of Redvers and Manor, Saskatchewan

1.  The name of this shared ministry shall be Redvers-Manor United and Lutheran Shared Ministry (RMULSM).   Our vision shall be Sharing the Faith.

2.  Statement of Mission

The following statement of mission has been adopted at a duly called meeting of the congregations.  This statement of mission shall be evaluated periodically with the intent of possible amendments in the midst of changing conditions in our community and in society.

            We believe in One God, Creator of all people, revealed in Jesus Christ        and the Holy Spirit, who calls us to be a sharing, caring community based          on Christian ministry.

3.  Definition                        

Since this community of faith is not a traditional congregation in that it has a relationship to more than one denomination, and permits full membership to those who adhere to the membership requirements of the denomination of their choice, it has a unique character.

4.  Relationship to Participating Denominations

a)     These congregations covenant to support faithfully, with prayer, personal service and offerings, the work of the Church, through the participating denominations.  

b)     The communities of faith will relate to denominations through its respective denominational members.

c)      The congregations welcome the visits of the representatives of the participating denominations.

d)     The congregations shall provide for the participation of its members in denominational functions.

e)     Links with the participating denominations will be maintained by each congregation.  Each shall annually evaluate its life and work and include a copy of its report to the annual meeting of the participating denominations.

5.  Membership      

a)     The Redvers-Manor United Lutheran Shared Ministry is comprised of the boards and members of the Lutheran and United congregations.

b)     The membership of each congregation is determined by the rules and regulations of each congregation.

c)      Each member is encouraged to adhere to the conditions of membership and communicant status of his or her denomination (i.e. conditions regarding baptism, confirmation, membership in good standing, etc...)

d)     Members shall be expected to support the life and work of this community of faith by sharing time, talent, and money.

6.  The Minister

a)     A minister of these congregations shall be a person whose soundness of faith, aptness to teach, and educational qualifications have been examined and approved by the denomination of which he/she is a member and who has been ordained or commissioned and recognized.  The request for a minister for the Redvers-Manor United and Lutheran Shared Ministry will initially be forwarded to the Lutheran and United denominations.  The minister shall be in good standing in his/her church and adhere to its discipline.  No term of office for the minister is stated, but may serve a number of years agreeable to him/herself and the congregations.  A review of his/her ministry will be conducted every three (3) years by the Ministry and Personnel committee (see #10b) with a report submitted to the Joint Council.  At the time of a change of minister, a rotational basis for each denomination involved could normally occur (as the community of faith progresses in its life together it may wish to decide simply to select the best person for the call).

b)     In the selection of a minister, the two denominations, at a joint meeting or through its church councils, will appoint a search committee to define the needs of the Redvers-Manor United and Lutheran Shared Ministry (RMULSM) and work with the appropriate denominational leaders to select candidates for call.  The first choice candidate shall be presented to a joint congregational meeting for approval.  An affirmative vote of 2/3 with voting privileges is required.

c)      As soon as practicable after entering upon his/her duties, the new minister of the congregations shall be duly installed by the proper body of the denomination of which he/she is a member, along with representatives of the other denomination participating, at a joint service.

d)     In order that the minister may devote himself/herself fully to the duties of his/her office, he/she shall receive an adequate salary negotiated with the denominations.

e)     The minister shall keep the membership rolls of the congregations, reporting thereon periodically to each church council.  He/she shall be responsible for recording pastoral acts in the official register of each participating congregation. 

f)       The minister, once installed, shall be ex officio a member of all committees of each congregation, excepting any committee formed to seek a new pastor or the Ministry and Personnel committee.

g)     As part of his/her responsibilities to the congregation the minister shall be a full member of the higher courts or levels of the church in the denomination of which he/she is a member, and shall be invited and may attend the higher courts or levels of the other denomination involved.  Thus he/she shall keep members of the congregation informed of major developments and activities within their particular denominations, encouraging them to participate in these, where possible.  The costs for such activities will be paid by the RMULSM.

h)     When the minister of these congregations desires to terminate his/her period of service, he/she shall submit his/her resignation to the appropriate denominational authority and the Joint Church Council for report to the congregations.  Unless otherwise agreed, the resignation shall normally become effective three months after the date on which it is submitted.

i)        The minister and/or members of either congregation shall bring any concerns to the Ministry and Personnel committee.  The Ministry and Personnel committee shall attempt to address concerns brought before them.  Confidentially of those bringing forward concerns shall be ensured.

j)        Where the relationship of the minister and the congregations threatens the welfare of either congregation, the Joint Church Council shall inform the denomination of which the minister is a member and ask it to investigate and take appropriate action.  The congregations and the minister each may appeal to the denomination of which the minister is a member for counsel and assistance concerning the relationship of minister and congregation.

k)      At the time of a vacancy, a temporary minister and/or provisions for pulpit supply shall be named after consulting with the participating denominations.

l)        The minister shall have the right to some time each year for continuing education.  The number of weeks permitted and other conditions shall normally adhere to that of the denomination of where he/she is a member and specified in the Call.

7.  Joint Congregational Meetings  

a)     Every person on the roll of members (i.e. baptized persons) of either congregation who is eighteen years of age or older shall be eligible to vote in all joint congregational meetings.

b)     Special joint congregational meetings may be called by the minister, the joint council or either church council or shall be called at the written request of twenty (20) members.  The call for each special meeting shall specify the purpose for which it is to be held, and no other business shall be transacted thereat.

c)      Notice of all joint congregational meetings shall be given at the services of worship the preceding two Sundays or by mail to all members at least ten days in advance of the date of the meeting.

d)     A minimum of six (6) voting members from each denomination shall constitute a quorum.            

e)     Roberts or Bourinot Rules of Order, latest edition, shall be the governing parliamentary laws of this joint congregation, except as otherwise provided for in the bylaws.  Roberts Rules of Order will normally be used when the RMULSM has a United minister, and the Bourinot will be used when there is a Lutheran pastor.

8.  Joint Church Council    

a)     Members of the initial joint church council shall be appointed by each church council for a three-year term.  Subsequent councils shall have staggered terms using a formula to be determined later.  Vacancies occurring ad interim shall be filled by the respective church council.

b)     The joint church council shall consist of the minister (ex officio) and at least ten (10) selected members (five from each denomination), at least one from each participating congregation.  The appointed member's place on the governing body shall at once be declared vacant if the member:

            1)  ceases to be a voting member of their congregation

2)  is absent from three (3) successive regular meetings of the joint   church council without reasonable cause

c)      The duties of the joint church council shall include the following:

i) To do long-range planning, to set goals and priorities, and to evaluate joint congregational activities in the light of its mission and goals.

                  ii) To oversee the administration of the funds of the joint church council.

iii) To maintain supportive relationships with the minister and any other professional leaders.

iv) To be examples individually and corporately of the style of life and ministry expected of all baptized persons.

v) To promote a congregational climate of peace and goodwill and to use any difference and conflicts which may arise to foster mutual understanding and growth in faith together.

vi) To arrange pastoral service during the sickness or absence of the minister.

vii) To emphasize partnership with agencies of the participating denominations as well as cooperation with other congregations.

viii) To recommend and encourage the use of suitable program resources and to seek to introduce church periodicals and books of family devotion into the homes of the congregations.

ix) To raise up the call to both lay and ordained service in the church to all the members of the congregations.

d)     The joint church council shall be responsible for the maintenance and protection and insurance of joint church property and the management of the joint church councils fiscal affairs.  It shall have the power and be subject to the obligations that pertain to such boards under the laws of the civil province.

e)     It shall prepare an annual budget for approval by the joint congregation at an annual general meeting, shall supervise the expenditure of funds in accordance therewith following its adoption. The joint church council shall ascertain that its financial affairs are being conducted efficiently, giving particular attention to the prompt payment of all obligations.  The joint church council shall see that a liability insurance program is provided.  It shall provide for annual audits of all the accounts of the joint church council of the Redvers-Manor United and Lutheran Shared Ministry.

f)       The joint church council shall see that the provisions of this constitution and its bylaws are obeyed and that the resolutions of any joint congregational meetings are carried out.

g)     The joint church council shall be responsible for the supervision of the salaried lay workers of the Redvers-Manor United and Lutheran Shared Ministry.

h)     The joint church council shall encourage the attendance of duly elected representatives of the congregations at the conventions and official meetings of the participating denominations.  The joint church council shall encourage members of the congregations to make use of all other events of participating denominations in order to enhance skill in ministry.

i)        The joint church council shall meet quarterly.  Special meetings may be called by the minister, chairperson, or at the request of at least one-half (1/2) of its members.  Notice of each special meeting shall be given to all who are entitled to attend.

j)        The joint church council shall submit a report at the annual joint meeting.

k)      A quorum for meeting shall consist of a majority of the members of the joint church council.

9.  Officers

a)  The minister shall be an ex officio member of the joint council.

b)  At the first meeting of the calendar year, the joint council shall elect a chairperson, a vice-chairperson, a secretary, and treasurer.

c)  In the event of the chairperson's inability to perform his/her duties, the vice-chairperson shall act.

d)  The joint council shall be made up of ten (10) voting membersfive (5) from each denomination.  Each individual council will choose their respective representatives based on their own criteria; however, representatives must be at least 18 years of age.

e)  All officers shall be appointed by their respective councils.  If any of them ceases to be such, his/her office shall at once be declared vacant by the joint council.  The vacancy for the unexpired term shall be filled by the council of the departing officer.

f)  The secretary shall keep accurate minutes of all meetings of the joint congregation and of the joint council in a volume provided by the joint congregation.

g)  The treasurer shall keep the books of account of the joint congregation and council.  He/she shall receive all joint funds and disburse them on proper orders.  The treasurer should be of the same denomination as the minister or pastor.     

h)  The treasurer shall make written reports to the joint council at each regular meeting and annually to each congregation, together with a satisfactory audit.

10.  Committees     

a)  At the first meeting of the calendar year, the joint church council may appoint as many committees as the local and wider concerns of the joint council shall require.  Each committee shall have on it one or more members of the council.  Although appointed by and responsible to the joint council these committees shall be recognized as representative of the interest of, and performing essential service for, the congregations as a whole.  Such other task forces as may seem necessary may be appointed by the joint council from time to time.

b)  The Ministry and Personnel Committee (M & P) shall be comprised of four members:  two appointed by each denomination.  If necessary, the M & P committee shall report concerns to the joint council.

11.  Covenant  

The Redvers-Manor United and Lutheran Shared Ministry shall, at its organizational meeting, adopt a covenant approved by the participating denominations.

12.  Amendments

a)  Amendments to the covenant may be made at any joint congregational meeting by a two-thirds vote of the members of the congregations present and voting.  Proposed amendments must be approved by the joint church council and then submitted to voting members at least thirty (30) days before the meeting at which final action is to be taken.  Following the adoption of an amendment, the secretary of the joint church council shall forward a certified copy thereof to the higher levels of each participating denomination.  The amendment shall go into effect only upon receipt of notice that such amendment is approved by the higher levels of each of the participating denominations.

b)   Any one of the participating denominations in this shared ministry may propose changes to the covenant. 

13.  Property

The properties of each congregation shall continue to be held by each congregation.

14.  Bylaws

Bylaws may be adopted which are not in conflict with this covenant.

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This document, A Covenant for Shared Ministry Between the Lutheran and United Congregations of Redvers and Manor, Saskatchewan, was approved by the congregation of Dannevirke Lutheran Church, Redvers on February 17, 2002 and the congregations of Redvers Knox United Church and Manor Knox United Church on March 3, 2002. Accordingly, the Redvers-Manor United and Lutheran Shared Ministry adopts this covenant as approved by the participating denominations.   Signed this _________ day of ___________________, 2002.

________________________________                   ___________________________________

RMULSM Chairperson                                             RMULSM Treasurer

________________________________                   ___________________________________

RMULSM Board Member (Manor United)       RMULSM Board Member (Redvers United)

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RMULSM Board Member (Dannevirke Lutheran)