The Board of Managers
"162. The duties of the board of managers have special regard to the temporal and financial affairs of the congregation. It is their duty to co-operate closely with the session, which is responsible for all aspects of stewardship, in encouraging the liberality of the people in support of the congregation's total ministry, and to disburse all moneys received for this purpose, subject to the approval of the congregation; to provide for the payment of the minister's stipend and other salaries; and generally to administer all matters committed to their charge as the congregation may from time to time direct."
The Board of Managers at Clarkson Road is a group of people chosen from the congregation at our Annual General Meeting. Where the Session looks after the Spiritual well-being, leadership, and oversight of the congregation, the Board of Managers has the responsibility of looking after all the "Temporal" matters. In other words: the day-to-day physical and financial matters of the congregation. This includes managing financial assets, ensuring that the staff and bills are paid on time, that the facilities are well-kept, as well as arranging and negotiating outside rentals of our facility.
Unlike the Session, membership on the Board of Managers does not require one to be a professing member of the congregation. An adherent, someone who regularly attends and participates in the life of the congregation, yet hasn't taken up formal membership may serve on the Board. As with all committees of this congregation, the Board of Managers reports to Session regularly, but because of their specific responsibilities are also accountable to the congregation as a whole. For example, in the face of major capital expenses as defined in the Book of Forms, the Board is required to bring the issue to the whole congregation.
One of the most exciting things that the Board of Managers at Clarkson Road does is put out a "Congregational Wish List." On a yearly basis, they ask the congregation to dream about material needs around the church buildings. The list is compiled with the understanding that the list is precisely that, a wish list. Not everyone will get their wish, but it allows people in the congregation as a whole to think very creatively as to what some of the needs of the congregation might be. So successful is this element of the Board's life that the Session is beginning to adapt some of its principles into a "Spiritual Wish List."
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