church organization and governance
At the end of 2019, as part of our Vital Church Initiative (VCI) Prescription for becoming a more vital church, the White Lake United Methodist Church (WLUMC) abandoned the decades-old United Methodist Church administrative model which was characterized by numerous committees headed by an administrative board comprised of the chairs of all those church committees. Heading into 2020, WLUMC adopted the Single-Board Governance model which streamlined decision-making, allowing members more time to devote to their ministry and less time attending meetings.
The Single Board Governance model is now referred to as the Simplified Accountable Structure (SAS) model.
The Leadership Team
Under the SAS model the White Lake United Methodist Church is governed by a Leadership Team which handles many of the administrative tasks involved in managing the church. It can consist of seven to nine members which must include the pastor, the Lay Leader, the Leadership Team Chair, and the Team Leaders from Finance, Staff Parish Relations Committee (SPRC), and Trustees. This team schedules a minimum of six meetings a year and is the visioning group that sets the course for the mission and ministry of WLUMC. For more information contact the church office via this website or call (231) 894-5789.
The day-to-day activities, programs, and ministries of the church are directed by the following teams and the Lay Leader, each with their own responsibilities. These groups then make recommendations to the Leadership Team:
Trustees
The Trustee Team supervises and maintains all church property. It also develops an annual Trustee budget, completes forms for the Annual Church Conference, and plans and/or performs authorized maintenance and repair of our facilities and grounds. Trustees meet as needed. For more information contact the church office via this website or call (231) 894-5789.
Finance
The Finance Team includes a Team leader, a financial secretary, and a treasurer. This group is responsible for receiving and recording income, issuing payment for expenses, and generating and presenting reports based on this data. The Team Leader generates a brief finance report for the church’s monthly newsletter and provides financial reports to the Leadership Team. Each year this person works with the treasurer and the heads of the other church teams to generate a church budget for the upcoming year. The Finance Team meets as needed to fulfill these duties. For more information contact the church office via this website or call (231) 894-5789.
SPRC
This team assesses the church’s staffing needs, provides job descriptions, makes salary recommendations, and assists the pastor in his supervisory role with staff when requested. Prior to each Annual Church Conference, this group meets to evaluate the pastor as required by the Conference, and then meets with the pastor to review his/her evaluation and set pastoral goals for the coming year. The team also completes the Conference’s Pastoral Compensation Recommendation, setting the pastor’s salary for the coming year, for approval by the Leadership Team prior to its presentation to the congregation at the Annual Church Conference. For more information contact the church office via this website or call (231) 894-5789.
Lay Leader
The Lay Leader fills many roles in the local church while serving as the main liaison between the pastor and the congregation. S/he must be aware of all the programs, ministries, and inner workings of the church to best interpret its needs and ministries and assist the pastor in guiding the congregation. For more information contact the church office via this website or call (231) 894-5789.
Stewardship Team
The Stewardship Team of the WLUMC helps to create and/or support programs and activities that provide opportunities for the members and friends of its congregation to live abundantly and give generously in all aspects of their lives. This team strives to improve and support the church’s visibility, accessibility, and outreach. It also encourages others in this work knowing that the church can accomplish more acting together as the body of Christ than we can individually. Stewardship meets periodically, usually at 10 AM on a Wednesday at the church. For more information contact the church office via this website or call (231) 894-5789.
The Single Board Governance model is now referred to as the Simplified Accountable Structure (SAS) model.
The Leadership Team
Under the SAS model the White Lake United Methodist Church is governed by a Leadership Team which handles many of the administrative tasks involved in managing the church. It can consist of seven to nine members which must include the pastor, the Lay Leader, the Leadership Team Chair, and the Team Leaders from Finance, Staff Parish Relations Committee (SPRC), and Trustees. This team schedules a minimum of six meetings a year and is the visioning group that sets the course for the mission and ministry of WLUMC. For more information contact the church office via this website or call (231) 894-5789.
The day-to-day activities, programs, and ministries of the church are directed by the following teams and the Lay Leader, each with their own responsibilities. These groups then make recommendations to the Leadership Team:
- Trustees
- Finance
- SPRC
- Lay Leader
- Stewardship Team
Trustees
The Trustee Team supervises and maintains all church property. It also develops an annual Trustee budget, completes forms for the Annual Church Conference, and plans and/or performs authorized maintenance and repair of our facilities and grounds. Trustees meet as needed. For more information contact the church office via this website or call (231) 894-5789.
Finance
The Finance Team includes a Team leader, a financial secretary, and a treasurer. This group is responsible for receiving and recording income, issuing payment for expenses, and generating and presenting reports based on this data. The Team Leader generates a brief finance report for the church’s monthly newsletter and provides financial reports to the Leadership Team. Each year this person works with the treasurer and the heads of the other church teams to generate a church budget for the upcoming year. The Finance Team meets as needed to fulfill these duties. For more information contact the church office via this website or call (231) 894-5789.
SPRC
This team assesses the church’s staffing needs, provides job descriptions, makes salary recommendations, and assists the pastor in his supervisory role with staff when requested. Prior to each Annual Church Conference, this group meets to evaluate the pastor as required by the Conference, and then meets with the pastor to review his/her evaluation and set pastoral goals for the coming year. The team also completes the Conference’s Pastoral Compensation Recommendation, setting the pastor’s salary for the coming year, for approval by the Leadership Team prior to its presentation to the congregation at the Annual Church Conference. For more information contact the church office via this website or call (231) 894-5789.
Lay Leader
The Lay Leader fills many roles in the local church while serving as the main liaison between the pastor and the congregation. S/he must be aware of all the programs, ministries, and inner workings of the church to best interpret its needs and ministries and assist the pastor in guiding the congregation. For more information contact the church office via this website or call (231) 894-5789.
Stewardship Team
The Stewardship Team of the WLUMC helps to create and/or support programs and activities that provide opportunities for the members and friends of its congregation to live abundantly and give generously in all aspects of their lives. This team strives to improve and support the church’s visibility, accessibility, and outreach. It also encourages others in this work knowing that the church can accomplish more acting together as the body of Christ than we can individually. Stewardship meets periodically, usually at 10 AM on a Wednesday at the church. For more information contact the church office via this website or call (231) 894-5789.