Download Committee Descriptions

COMMITTEE GUIDELINES

The responsibilities of our church are many, from evangelism to budgeting to serving college students to many, many more things.  Our church’s government is congregational, meaning that governing power is vested in the congregation and not in the pastor, the staff, or any other body.  However, it is not convenient to ask the whole church to take care of all those responsibilities in a business meeting, with the entire congregation voting on the most minute of details.  To do so would be a recipe for gridlock and ministerial paralysis.  Therefore, it has been found helpful to establish specialized committees that enable the church to handle its responsibilities before the Lord in an efficient and orderly manner.

Because of this reality, the committees of The Woods are where ministry happens.  Each committee has been tasked with leading a particular part of the mission of the church, and each one is vital to that mission.  Each committee, elected by the church, represents the whole body in carrying out its assigned duties.

These guidelines are meant to help the church and its committees more effectively carry out the mission that Jesus has given to us to reach and teach as many people as we possibly can with the gospel of Jesus Christ.


General Committee Guidelines

  1. The calendar for committees begins on January 1 and ends on December 31.  Committee members will begin and end their service on these dates.
  2. Committees should meet regularly according to the needs of the committee.  This should generally be at least once a quarter.
  3. A committee should have at least half of its members present in order to conduct business.
  4. The task of each committee is expressed in the committee descriptions approved by the church.
  5. Committees should be prepared to make reports of their work to the church.
  6. Committees may meet either formally or informally.  In either case, an account of the meeting should be kept and filed with the church office.
  7. Recommendations from a committee to the church should be written out as approved by the committee with a copy provided to the church office.
  8. Committees should think creatively about their task, not simply continuing what went before without evaluating it.
  9. If a member of a committee finds that they are not able to help the committee fulfill its mission, then they should voluntarily resign from the committee.
  10. When appropriate for their work, a committee should gather a team that will help them accomplish their task.

Committee Chairperson Guidelines

A committee chairperson will:

  1. Set the tone and pace for the committee and help it stay on task to accomplish what the church has asked it to do.
  2. Meet together once a quarter with other committee chairpersons to discuss ministry plans, encourage one another, and pray for one another.
  3. Help the committee members take ownership of their task as a specialized ministry team of The Woods Baptist Church.
  4. Prepare an agenda for meetings.
  5. Be the hub of communication between committee members, letting them know about upcoming ministry projects, meetings, etc.
  6. Encourage discussion during meetings.
  7. Lead meetings in an orderly, efficient, and timely manner.
  8. Lead the committee to seek the will of God in all things.
  9. Communicate the work of the committee to the church.

BAPTISMAL COMMITTEE

Type
Standing Committee                                   

Purpose
To assist the pastor in preparing candidates for the ordinance of baptism.

Composition
Committee membership shall be composed of not less than four (4) members.

Responsibilities of Committee

  1. To see that baptismal dressing rooms are clean, neat, and suitably furnished prior to baptismal services.
  2. To be available in the dressing rooms immediately prior to baptismal services to help the pastor and the candidates as they prepare for the baptisms.
  3. To see that baptismal robes are in good condition and that ample towels are available.
  4. To launder robes and towels after baptismal services and insure they are stored appropriately.
  5. To see that the baptismal dressing rooms are left clean and orderly after baptismal services.

BUDGET AND FINANCE COMMITTEE

Type
Standing Committee

Purpose
To promote biblical stewardship in the church by developing an annual budget and administering the budget and financial program of the church.

Composition
Committee membership shall be composed of the following – Church Treasurer, Asst. Treasurer, and not less than five (5) members including at least one (1) deacon.  Persons elected to serve on this committee should be committed church members who are concerned for the overall ministries of the church.  They should have a good working knowledge of business affairs and exhibit sound fiscal responsibility.

Responsibilities of Committee

To present an annual operating and capital budget to the church by no later than the November regular business meeting.

  1. To administer the church-approved budget throughout the fiscal year.
  2. To recommend policies to the church for the taking of special offerings.
  3. To recommend policies to the church for accepting and tracking designated gifts.
  4. To be responsible for prudent administration of all funds on deposit in the church accounts.
  5. To present quarterly financial reports to the church.

BUILDING AND GROUNDS COMMITTEE

Type of Committee
Standing committee

Purpose
To coordinate maintenance of the building and grounds of The Woods Baptist Church.

Composition
Committee membership shall be composed of not less than five (5) members.  Some members should have experience with construction, repairs, or maintenance of buildings, grounds, and gardens.

Responsibilities of Committee

  1. To coordinate the maintenance, upkeep, and volunteer cleanup efforts of all church buildings and to make beneficial proposals enhancing those activities.
  2. To coordinate the planting, replanting, upkeep, and maintenance of all church grounds.
  3. To oversee preparing and operating the baptistry for baptismal services including it being filled, heated, and drained at the conclusion of the service.
  4. To submit an annual budget request to the Budget and Finance Committee to cover anticipated expenses.

CHILDREN’S MINISTRY COMMITTEE

Type
Standing Committee

Purpose
To work closely with staff to plan, implement, and evaluate church ministries to children (nursery, pre-school, and elementary) and their families.

Composition
Committee membership shall be composed of not less than five (5) members.

Responsibilities of Committee

  1. To assess specific needs and determine the priorities for the church’s ministries to children.
  2. To plan, organize, and implement a ministry to include outreach and discipleship to children and their families.
  3. To evaluate the effectiveness of the church’s ministries to children and recommend needed improvements.
  4. To enlist and equip an adequate number of volunteer workers for children’s ministry events including caring for nursery and pre-school children during church services and churchwide events.
  5. To select teaching materials and age-appropriate equipment for use in nursery and preschool classroom areas, and to purchase or submit purchase requests for necessary child care supplies.
  6. To work in consultation with the Personnel Committee in the selection of paid child care workers.

To develop policies and procedures for the proper maintenance of toys and materials in the entire ministry area, and to develop policies and procedures for the general welfare and protection of children in the church’s care including check-in and check-out procedures during ministry events.

COLLEGE COMMITTEE

Type of Committee
Standing Committee

Purpose
To serve as a support system for all church ministries to college students.

Composition
Committee membership shall be composed of not less than five (5) members.


Responsibilities of Committee

  1. To reach out to college students and involve them in the church ministries of TWBC.
  2. To provide regular activities for college students.
  3. To serve as leadership or help enlist leadership for the college student ministries of TWBC.
  4. To provide opportunities for discipleship and spiritual growth of college students.
  5. To determine effective ways to reach and teach the gospel to college students.
  6. To partner with the Baptist Student Ministry of The University of Texas at Tyler and Tyler Junior College.

COMMITTEE ON COMMITTEES

Type
Standing Committee

Purpose
To select and recommend church members to fill positions on active committees.  Note:  The following descriptions and responsibilities are adapted from the church bylaws, which formally governs its responsibilities.

Composition
Committee membership shall be composed of not less than five (5) members plus the pastor. *

Responsibilities of Committee

 To review the responsibilities of any standing committee previously established and suggest to the church such amendments to the responsibilities of the committee as may be desirable.

  1. To recommend to the church that a standing committee of the church previously established be dissolved by action of the church.  The Committee on Committees shall also communicate to the committee the action of the church.
  2. To communicate the responsibilities of each committee to the elected members of said committee.
  3. To operate as a body to nominate members of the church (on a yearly basis) to serve as the church clerk and assistant(s), church treasurer and assistant(s), trustee, member of a committee, or other church leadership position – other than the pastor, deacons, or other position – where responsibility for filling such position is assigned to another committee.
  4. To recruit and nominate members to reflect a broad cross-section of the talents and diversity of the members of the church so as to fill each position or office with a person whose talents, gifts, abilities, leadership potential, and commitment match the requirements of the office or position.
  5. To first approve the person considered for a position before approaching the person for recruitment, and no person shall be presented to the church for election unless the person has first accepted the invitation to serve.
  6. To notify each committee that they may adopt rules for its own governance not inconsistent with these Bylaws, the Articles of Incorporation, or any policies adopted by the church.

* Replacements for Committee on Committees members whose terms are expiring shall be nominated by the active deacons who, prior to presentation of nominees to the church, shall have followed the same rules herein stated for the Committee on Committees in its nomination of other committee members.

DEACON SCREENING COMMITTEE

Type
Standing Committee

Purpose
To discern candidates called to deacon service by the Lord and recommend them to the church for election.

Composition
Committee membership shall be composed of not less than five (5) members.

Responsibilities of Committee:

  1. To receive input from the deacon body and other church members regarding candidates to serve as deacons.
  2. To review information regarding candidates and inform them of the qualifications, duties, and responsibilities of deacon service.
  3. To prayerfully seek discernment regarding a candidate’s readiness and willingness to serve.
  4. To adhere to and abide by the deacon qualifications outlined in the document “Qualifications of Deacons.”
  5. To recommend to the church for election candidates being called by the Lord to serve as a deacon.

DIGITAL MEDIA COMMITTEE

Type
Standing Committee

Purpose:
To plan, implement, support, and maintain the website and social media communications of the church.

Composition
Committee membership shall be composed of not less than four (4) members.


Responsibilities of Committee:

  1. With input from the staff and church committees, set the vision, standards, and security of the website and social media technology.
  2. Evaluate social media efforts and make recommendations for increased effectiveness.
  3. Make recommendations for changes and updates to the social media platforms and website.
  4. Make budget recommendations for social media and website-related expenses.
  5. Support and/or assist staff, committees, and teams in the use of social media and the church website for communication to the church body and the community.
  6. Create educational opportunities for members and staff to learn how to utilize social media and website technologies
  7. Conduct bi-annual audits of user accounts and access to the social media platforms and website. Audits recommended to occur in January and July.
  8. Recruit and supervise a team of volunteers with the necessary skills to effectively manage and execute social media and website technology.

EVANGELISM COMMITTEE

Type
Standing Committee

Purpose
To propose and expedite effective ways to obey Christ’s command in the Great Commission along with accomplishing the purpose statement of The Woods Baptist Church (to magnify God by evangelizing the lost) through reaching and teaching as many as possible with the gospel.

Composition
Committee membership shall be composed of not less than five (5) members.

Responsibilities of Committee

  1. To keep the work of evangelism as a primary ministry of our church.
  2. To provide for continual evangelism training that is relevant and effective for today.
  3. To enlist every born-again believer to assume his/her responsibility in sharing the gospel.
  4. To work with the pastor in planning special emphases in spiritual renewal.
  5. To suggest ways in which each organization of the church can incorporate evangelism into its programs.
  6. To identify and expedite off-site evangelism work such as in colleges, youth groups, jails, prisons, etc.

FACILITY CLOSE UP COMMITTEE

Type
Standing Committee

Purpose
To properly secure and close up church buildings after Sunday and Wednesday services and activities.

Composition
Committee membership shall be composed of not less than three (3) members.


Responsibilities of Committee

  1. To turn off all sanctuary, classroom, bathroom, and hallway lights.
  2. To know the location of all thermostats.
  3. To adjust all thermostats according to seasonal weather conditions: to 75 degrees for AC or 65 degrees for heat.  Thermostats should not be turned off but set within these ranges.
  4. To close doors into all classrooms to assure heating and cooling efficiency.
  5. To make sure all exits including the kitchen door are locked.
  6. To confirm that Youth/Church Office building is locked.
  7. To set the security alarm after assuring that all other persons are out of the building

FAMILY CARE AND BENEVOLENCE COMMITTEE

Type of Committee:
Standing Committee

Purpose:
To coordinate our church’s response when there is a bereavement or some other crisis event or life change within our church family.

Composition
Committee membership shall be composed of not less than five (5) members.

Responsibilities of Committee

  1. To see that a family in crisis receives food and other necessities as soon as possible.
  2. To see that a meal for up to 35 people is provided for bereaved families on the day of the funeral.
  3. To assist the pastor and deacons with any special needs in crisis situations
  4. To develop and recommend to the church a policy for providing assistance to non-church members.
  5. To coordinate responses through Sunday School classes or directly through the committee.
  6. To handle each situation on an individual basis.

KITCHEN AND HOSPITALITY COMMITTEE

Type
Standing Committee

Purpose
To foster fellowship within the church family and oversee operation of the church kitchen.

Composition
Committee membership shall be composed of not less than five (5) members.


Responsibilities of Committee

  1. To plan church-wide fellowship activities and church dinners.
  2. To supervise setup and cleanup of the large room for fellowship activities and enlist volunteer help as needed.
  3. To coordinate and supervise table decorations for church dinners.
  4. To continue existing kitchen use policies and formulate necessary policy for use and care of the church kitchen as changes are advisable.
  5. To purchase staple goods and kitchen supplies.
  6. To supervise all food service activities and necessary volunteer help.

Kitchen Use Policy

Considerable thought and expense have gone into equipping and supplying the church kitchen.  As a matter of good stewardship, the Kitchen Committee requests the utmost care, cleanliness, and attention to safety details be given as The Woods Baptist Church groups and members use the church kitchen.  The kitchen will be open for use by any TWBC groups for church functions scheduled through the TWBC office.  The policies outlined below apply to any group using the kitchen.

Kitchen Policies

  1. Kitchen space and kitchen equipment will be used only by The Woods Baptist Church groups for TWBC functions.
  2. Equipment removed from the kitchen for an off-campus TWBC function must be checked out through the church office and returned within two (2) days after the conclusion of the function.
  3. A calendar for kitchen use is kept in The Woods Baptist Church office. Requests for use should be made well in advance and will be honored on a first-come, first-served basis.
  4. TWBC groups who use the kitchen should become familiar with the organization of the kitchen area and return items where they were found before use.
  5. TWBC groups using the kitchen linens should clean and return them after use.
  6. TWBC groups using the kitchen should have one person knowledgeable about the use of the kitchen appliances. That person will be responsible for checking to make sure all appliances are turned OFF when the group is finished using the kitchen.

LONG-RANGE PLANNING COMMITTEE

Type
Standing Committee

Purpose
To lead The Woods Baptist Church in developing 1-year, 3-year, and 5-year plans for ministry priorities to include planning and preparing for the implementation of plans that are approved and adopted by the church.

Composition:
Committee membership shall be composed of not less than seven (7) members.  Committee members shall represent a broad cross-section of  church members, programs, and ministries.

Responsibilities of Committee 

  1. To work in close consultation with the pastor, church staff, deacons, church committees, Sunday School teachers, and other church leaders to carry out all of the committee responsibilities.
  2. To improve and expand existing ministries.
  3. To develop new ministries.
  4. To project facility needs.
  5. To project volunteer and paid staff needs.
  6. To serve as a rapid-response team in the event of an internal or external crisis (i.e. building damage, evacuation site, etc.).

MISSIONS COMMITTEE

Type
Standing Committee

Purpose
To promote and recommend mission projects, organizations, and offerings to involve TWBC in local, state, and global missions.

Composition
Committee membership shall be composed of not less than five (5) members.  Members should have a heart for helping people and a desire to be involved in mission outreach activities.


Responsibilities of Committee:

  1. To lead our church to be on mission both locally and globally.
  2. To identify caring ministries in which our church may be involved and find avenues of participation for church members.
  3. To help our church support mission organizations and mission work.
  4. To plan and implement worthwhile mission projects and trips that show the love of Christ in practical ways.
  5. To provide information to the church family about mission needs and mission offerings and encourage support of these offerings.

PERSONNEL COMMITTEE

Type
 Standing Committee

Purpose
To recruit and employ the best candidates to serve on the church staff* and to develop and administer effective personnel policies.

Composition
Committee membership shall be composed of not less than five (5) members.  Members should be chosen prayerfully after careful consideration. Members should be persons of spiritual discernment, who are active in the ministries of the church and display good judgement. 


Responsibilities of Committee

  1. To develop personnel policies and procedures for recommendation to the church.
  2. To survey the need for church staff positions and make recommendations to the church as to needed positions.
  3. To prepare written position descriptions of the job responsibilities of each person serving on the church staff.
  4. To enlist, interview, and recommend for employment the best available persons to fill needed staff positions*.
  5. To develop and recommend salaries and benefits for church employees in close consultation with the Budget and Finance Committee.

*Staff positions referenced above do not include the Senior Pastor.

TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE

Type
 Standing Committee

Purpose
To oversee all transportation needs of The Woods Baptist Church.

Composition
Committee membership shall be composed of not less than five (5) members.

Responsibilities of Committee

  1. To evaluate the transportation needs and to develop and recommend plans to the church for meeting all transportation needs of the church.
  2. To develop policies for use of church-owned vehicles.
  3. To make recommendations to the church for purchasing vehicles.
  4. To oversee maintenance and keep up-to-date records on all church-owned vehicles.
  5. To ensure there is an adequate number of qualified drivers for all church-owned vehicles.
  6. To secure lease vehicles when needed for church activities.

YOUTH MINISTRY COMMITTEE

Type
Standing Committee

Purpose
 To work closely with staff serving as a support system for all church

ministries to middle school, junior high, and high school youth.

Composition
Committee membership shall be composed of not less than three (3) members.  Members should be persons who feel specifically called to work with youth. 


Responsibilities of Committee

  1. To reach out to middle school, junior high, and senior high youth to involve them in church activities.
  2. To supervise regularly scheduled youth activities including Sunday School, Wednesday evening Bible study, and recreational events.
  3. To assist with teaching and discipling youth as needed.
  4. To serve as sponsors or to help enlist sponsors for all off-campus youth activities such as Disciple Now, youth camp, and other youth events.