Manual of Administrative Operations
for
First Presbyterian Church
Mabank, Texas

 
I. Statement of Purpose or Mission: The purposes for which the Corporation is formed are set forth in the Articles of Incorporation and in the Constitution of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) including: “The great ends of the Church are: the proclamation of the gospel for the salvation of humankind; the shelter, nurture, and spiritual fellowship of the children of God; the maintenance of divine worship; the preservation of the truth; the promotion of social righteousness; and the exhibition of the Kingdom of Heaven to the world” (see F-1.0304).
II. Relation to the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.): First Presbyterian Church of Mabank, Texas is a member congregation of Grace Presbytery in the Synod of the Sun of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).
III. Governance of the Church: This church shall be governed in accordance with the Constitution of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), the Articles of Incorporation and the bylaws of the Corporation. Consistent with these, this Manual of Administrative Operations shall provide specific guidance for this church. Roberts Rules of Order (Newly Revised) shall be used for parliamentary guidance. All federal and state laws will be followed including all provisions in the Internal Revenue Code. Where there are differences, the Articles of Incorporation and the Bylaws take precedence.
The documents listed in the Document Control Master List (FPCM-8-1) detail many the operations of this church, and are by definition a part of this manual, and are to be incorporated as attachments. Any changes to these documents shall be approved by the Session and the revised date shall be noted on the document and on the master list (FPCM -8-1)
IV. Meetings of the Congregation: All meetings of the congregation shall be held in accordance with the Constitution of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) (see G-1.0501). There shall be an annual meeting of the congregation as called by Session.
The following items of business shall be presented as information at each annual meeting of the congregation: (1) annual reports from the session and other organizations of the church, (2) a financial report for the preceding year, and (3) the budget adopted by the session for the current year.
The following items of business will be voted upon at the annual meeting: (1) changes, if any, in the terms of call for the installed pastor and associate pastors, (2) the report of the nominating committee and election of church officers, and (3) the election of members to serve on the nominating committee.
The only other items of business permitted at a congregational meeting are listed in the Constitution of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) (see G-1.0503).
Special meetings of the congregation may be called by the session. Such calls shall state clearly the purpose of such special meetings, and business shall be restricted to that which is specified in the call (see G-1.0501).
V. Notice of Congregational Meetings: Adequate public notice of all congregational meetings shall be given, including notice given at all regular services of worship at least seven days in advance of the meeting (see G-1.0502).
VI. Moderator: The pastor shall moderate the meetings of the congregation and the session. If there are co-pastors, they shall alternately preside at meetings. When the church is without a pastor, the moderator appointed by the presbytery shall preside. If it is impractical for the pastor or the moderator of the session appointed by the presbytery to preside, he or she shall invite another teaching elder minister of Grace Presbytery to preside. When this is not expedient, a ruling elder member of the session may be invited by the moderator to preside (see G-1.0504).
VII. Secretary: The clerk of session shall serve as secretary. If the clerk of session is not present or is unable to serve, the congregation shall elect a temporary secretary. The duties and authority of the clerk of session are listed in the Constitution of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) (see G-3.0104). Additional duties may be assigned by the session and congregation.
VIII. Minutes of the Congregational Meeting: The minutes of all congregational meetings recorded by the secretary shall be attested by the moderator and the secretary, and recorded in the permanent minutes of the church (see G-1.0505).
The clerk of session is the custodian of the permanent records of the congregation and corporation, including: the minutes of session meetings, minutes of congregation meetings, minutes of corporation meetings, minutes of meetings of the trustees, and the rolls of baptized, active, and affiliate members (see G-1.0401, G-1.0402 and G-1.0403).
The permanent records shall be documented and stored in such a way as to be protected from extreme temperature, humidity, fire and other hazards.  At the option of the session, the records may be archived with the Presbyterian Historical society, or other agency that provides the necessary protection.
IX. Quorum for the Congregational Meeting: The quorum for all meetings of the congregation shall be the secretary, and one-fifth of the active membership of the congregation or one hundred active members, whichever is lower. The quorum for all meetings of the Corporation is defined in the bylaws of the Corporation.
The secretary shall determine that a quorum is present. All active members of the congregation present at either annual or special meetings are entitled to vote (see G-1.0501). Voting by proxy is not allowed (see Roberts Rules of Order, Paragraph 45 Voting Procedure, Absentee Voting).
X. Incorporation: Both ecclesiastical and corporate business may be conducted at the same meeting of the congregation (see G-1.0503 and the bylaws of the Corporation).
There shall be three trustees who serve as the corporate officers, one treasurer, and one or more assistant treasurers who shall be elected and serve as specified in the By-laws (FPCM-2-1).
 
 
XI. Nominating Committee: The congregation shall elect a nominating committee at the annual meeting or any special meeting called for that purpose. The session shall recommend who should serve on the nominating committee, and the congregation shall elect the members of the nominating committee (see G-2.0401) in accordance with the following: The Nominating Committee shall be composed of one Ruling Elder who is currently serving on the Session plus three members of the congregation who are not currently serving on the Session. The Pastor shall serve ex-officio and without vote.  (G-2.0401) Full opportunity shall always be given to the congregation for nominations from the floor of the congregational meeting by any active member of the congregation. All nominees must have given prior approval for their names to be placed in nomination. A majority of all active members present and voting shall be required to elect.
XII. Elders: Ruling elders, together with teaching elders, exercise leadership, government, spiritual discernment, discipline and have responsibilities for the life of a congregation (see G-2.0301).
The congregation shall elect nine elders to serve on the session divided into three equal classes, one class shall be elected each year at the annual meeting for a three-year term. No elder shall serve for consecutive terms, either full or partial, aggregating more than six years. An elder having served a total of six years shall be ineligible for reelection to the session for a period of at least one year.
The session, at its first meeting following the annual meeting, shall elect a clerk of session and shall form such committees as necessary to carry out its work. At that same meeting of the session, the session shall annually elect a treasurer. A quorum for the session shall be the moderator and one third of the elders. The duties and authority of the session are listed in the Constitution of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) (see G-3.0201). Electronic meetings are permitted when conducted in accordance with Robert’s Rules of Order (see Paragraph 9, Particular Types of Business Meetings, Electronic Meetings) and in accordance with the General Assembly (2004) Authoritative Interpretation of F-3.0205.
The session will adopt, implement, and record each year in the session minutes adequate liability insurance, fire and other multi-peril insurance, directors and officers insurance and the following policies: equal employment practices, sexual misconduct prevention, child protection and background checks for all employees and volunteers.
XIII Committees: There shall be five committees that have been delegated authority by the session to conduct the ministries, as detailed in the following documents:

1. Administration and Finance (FPCM-4-1)

2. Building and Grounds (FPCM-4-2)

3. Christian Education (FPCM-4-3)

4. Congregational Care (FPCM-4-4)

5. Worship (FPCM- 4-5)

Details of the make- up, responsibilities and duties of each committee is explained in the referenced documents.
XIV. Vacancies: Vacancies on the session may be filled at a special meeting of the congregation or at the annual meeting, as the session may determine.
XV. Vacancies on the board of trustees may be filled in accordance with the bylaws of the Corporation.
 
XVI. Deacons: Deacons serve in a ministry of compassion, witness, and service, sharing in the redeeming love of Jesus Christ for the poor, the hungry, the sick, the lost, the friendless, the oppressed, those
The congregation shall elect three deacons divided into three equal classes; one class shall be elected each year at the annual meeting for a three-year term. No deacon shall serve for consecutive terms, either full or partial, aggregating more than six years. A deacon having served a total of six years shall be ineligible for reelection to the board of deacons for a period of at least one year.
The board of deacons, at its first meeting following the annual meeting, shall elect a moderator and a secretary from among its members and shall form such committees as necessary to carry out its work. The moderator of the session shall be an advisory member of the board of deacons. A quorum for the board of deacons shall be one third of the members, including the moderator.
Vacancies on the board of deacons may be filled at a special meeting of the congregation or at the annual meeting, as the session may determine.
XVII. Amendments: This Manual of Administrative Operations may be amended majority vote of the members present at any stated meeting of the session or special meeting of the session called for that purpose, providing that the proposed changes in printed form shall have been distributed at the time of the call of the meeting at which the changes are voted upon. All amendments must be consistent with the bylaws of the Corporation and the Articles of Incorporation.
 

 
 
                                                           
(Revised May 19, 2019) (05/19/2019 approved by Session)