The Session consists of the pastor or co-pastors, the associate pastors, and the elders in active service. All members of the Session including pastors and elders (adult and youth) are entitled to vote. The Session includes 16 elders, 15 who will be divided into three equal classes, one class of whom shall be elected each year at a congregational meeting for a three-year term. A youth member of the church shall be elected for a one-year term. Election to Session shall also constitute election to the Board of Trustees of the Corporation (unless the Session member is under the legal age of 18 years).

The Session is responsible for the mission and government of the church. A full list of the responsibilities of the Session may be found in G-10.0102 of the Constitution of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). The Session is called to help the congregation envision and articulate the mission of the church, trusting in God alone as the author and giver of life. As Session directs the mission of the church, it has the responsibilities of providing for the service of worship; the Christian education of children and adults; and service in Christ to the larger community and mission of the larger Church. As the highest governing body of the church, the Session has these specific governing responsibilities: providing stewardship of the church's operation; making fiscal arrangements such as preparing the annual church budget, approving expenditures falling outside of budgeted line items, or purchasing or selling property; and approving or amending personnel decisions involving church staff. When the congregation is seeking a pastor, the Session must follow Constitutional guidelines in regard to installing the pastor or dissolving the pastoral relationship. (G-14.0500 - G-14.0606) Any responsibilities of Session may be delegated to Session committees by the Session in accordance with and following the guidelines of these Operating Policies.

Statements made on behalf of the whole congregation, either as policy or pronouncement, shall have the approval of Session.

Meetings of the Session

Stated meetings of the Session shall be held on the third Wednesday of each month at 7:00 p.m. at the church. (July and December, optional) If the time of a stated meeting is changed by action of the Session, at least two days notice of the new time shall be given to Session members. Special meetings of the Session shall be called in accordance with provisions of the Constitution.

Quorum for any called or stated meeting shall be the pastor or other presiding officer and one-third of the elders. However, for the sole purpose of clearing church membership rolls, the quorum shall be the moderator and two members of the Session. The Session may fix its own quorum at any higher number. (G -10.0201)

Officers of the Session shall be a moderator and a clerk. Session may elect additional officers as necessary or required.

The pastor shall be the moderator of the Session, and the Session shall not meet without the pastor except as provided in G-10.0103 of the Constitution. All meetings shall be opened and closed with prayer and conducted according to the most recent edition of Robert's Rules of Order. In the case of the illness or the absence of the pastor, he or she may invite another Presbyterian minister to moderate a meeting of the Session or give approval to Session to convene and elect another of its own members to moderate. In an extraordinary case of intense conflict or in a crisis situation, either the moderator or two members of Session together may request a moderator from the Presbytery of East Tennessee or agree upon the appropriate kind of consultant, given the details of the situation.

The clerk shall be responsible for recording the transactions of the Session, keeping its

rolls of membership and attendance, preserving its records, and supplying extracts from

church records when required by another governing body of the church. The clerk shall serve as moderator of Session meetings and congregational meetings when the pastor excuses himself or herself for discussions of his/her terms of call or personnel review. However, no motions can be voted on while the clerk is moderator. The clerk also carries out correspondence.

Yearly, the Session will meet for an annual retreat, and at least every other year, the retreat will focus on long range planning which will involve listening to the congregation and appointing task groups or committees for specific projects that are determined to be needed.

Assigning Individual Session Responsibilities

The organization of a new Session shall occur annually at the January stated meeting.

At that meeting the moderator shall announce nominations for the following positions: clerk, treasurer, associate treasurer and assistant treasurer(s). The Session has the right to accept or reject these nominations. If more than one person is nominated for a single office, voting shall be by ballot. The terms of the clerk and treasurers shall be for one year, but there is no limit to how many terms each treasurer may serve.

Prior to the January stated meeting, the moderator will consult with Session members about their preferences for committee assignments and then appoint members of the Session to serve on the various committees. A chairperson and vice-chairperson, or co-chairs, will be named for each standing committee of Session.

All assignments to particular responsibilities on Session shall be for one year (January to December) but Session members may expect to serve multiple years on the same committee. Vacancies may be filled by the action of Session.

The moderator shall be responsible for supplying new Session members with copies of the Constitution, these Session policies and other policies of the church as needed for their committee assignments, and the church Bylaws.

Session Agenda and Reports

The Session agenda and minutes shall be made available to Session members electronically by the Monday prior to Session meeting, through the clerk (minutes) and moderator (agenda). Paper copies will be available for each Session member at the meeting.

Open Meetings and Minutes

Session meetings are open to any member of the congregation, but are only open to non-members by invitation. Session minutes are available to anyone in the congregation and are a matter of record with the Presbytery of East Tennessee and the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). Session, upon careful consideration, may choose to have all or parts of its meeting closed if it is deemed necessary.

Representation at Presbytery

The congregation is entitled to representation at meetings of the Presbytery of East Tennessee in keeping with the provisions of the Constitution. The Session will appoint the appropriate number of Presbytery delegates prior to each stated meeting of the Presbytery. Delegates may be chosen from either currently serving elders or elders on the active roll of the congregation. In the event that the chosen elder is not able to attend the Presbytery meeting, the moderator may appoint a replacement.

SESSION'S OPERATING POLICIES

The Session Operating Policies and the Personnel Policy Manual may be changed only at stated meetings of the Session. Any proposed change(s) shall be submitted in writing at least one month before action is to be taken and a two-thirds majority vote is required for passage. Also specific sections may be temporarily suspended at any meeting by a two-thirds vote.

Additional policies and documents of the church such as Job Descriptions, the Room Use Policy, Social Justice Policies, Emergency Action Plan (for Ushers), Memorial Garden Policy, Wedding Guidelines, and Funeral Guidelines may be amended as necessary by appropriate committees, but the most recent edition of each of these documents shall be maintained in an up-to-date church office manual, and changes made to these documents shall be reported to the Session as they occur. The office manager will be responsible for the upkeep of this manual.

COMMITTEE ORGANIZATION and OPERATION

Standing committees are responsible for planning, implementing, and managing specific areas of ministry in the life of the church. They are authorized to spend the budgetary amounts allocated to them by this policy and/or designated to them by Session. They are responsible for carrying out the work of their committee, and in order to do so, may delegate tasks either to individuals or teams in the church who can then carry them out.

Each committee should meet at least quarterly, or more frequently as determined by its membership and work load. The chairperson will determine the regular meeting schedule and will also notify the membership of the committee of any changes in the schedule.

Committee Membership

There is no limit to the number of members or length of the terms of members wishing to participate in Committees. Participation is encouraged; however, voting is limited to those members who have been approved by Session to the active roles of the committee. Roles shall be reviewed each year at the January meeting, but a new member may be added at any stated Session meeting.

The chair and vice chair of each committee shall be active Session members to facilitate reporting and communication.

Committee Agendas and Reports

Committee chairs shall prepare an agenda for each meeting that includes opening and closing with prayer, any necessary staff or pastor's reports, action or discussion items for the meeting, and calendar items for consideration.

A report on each committee's most recent meeting shall be made available in writing at the next Session meeting. The reports should include: information about the work of the committee, requests for money over or not accounted for in previously budgeted items, and any actions that would require discussion by or approval of the Session.

Pastor and Staff Involvement

The pastor is an ex officio member of every committee. The chairperson of each committee is responsible for notifying the pastor of areas of concern that may require pastoral advice or attention. The pastor shall regularly attend committee meetings, but the committee is not required to have the pastor present to proceed with its work.

Other staff members are assigned to particular committees because of their areas of expertise. Staff persons shall have a voice in their respective committees, but shall not vote.

STANDING COMMITTEES

Ministry Committees:

Worship

This committee shall be responsible for providing for the worship of the people of God. (G-10.0102d) The Session shall set the time for all services of worship, and this committee shall be responsible for lay participation in worship including the ushers, acolytes, and liturgists; and music for worship in cooperation with the pastor, director of music, and organist. The order of service shall be established by this committee and agreed upon by the pastor. The Session shall make provision for the regular celebration of the Sacraments, and this committee shall be responsible for making those arrangements. This committee shall also be responsible for providing a safe and respectful place for the worshiping community, and as such may develop guidelines for things such as: emergency response during worship, liturgical decoration in the sanctuary, and suggested practices for weddings and funerals.

Worship committee shall have responsibility for the use and control of the Worship program budget, Special Music Fund, Organ and Piano Maintenance Funds, and music-related conference funds.

Social Concerns

This committee shall be responsible for leading the congregation in the ministries of personal and social healing and reconciliation in the communities in which the church lives and bears its witness. (G-10.0102g) Areas of interest may include ethics, social responsibilities, human relationships, and other social concerns such as: health services, economic development, low-income housing, international affairs, peacemaking, refugee sponsorship, poverty and welfare, public education, racial equality, justice, environmental stewardship and others as need arises. This committee shall also encourage membership involvement in local causes.

Social Concerns committee shall have responsibility for the use and control of the Social Concerns program budget, Hunger fund, and the percentage kept of the Peacemaking Offering. In addition, Social Concerns committee recommends to Session the distribution of our benevolent giving to Presbytery, Synod, and General Assembly, and also the distribution of benevolences to charitable organizations both local and global. Social Concerns also recommends to Session the dates for and beneficiaries of special offerings.

The Day Care budget for Anderson County Headstart is also given oversight by the Social Concerns committee.

Christian Education

This committee shall be responsible for developing and supervising the church school and the educational programs of the church. (G-10.0102e and G-10.0102f) These efforts may include selecting church school curriculum and recruiting teachers; developing and implementing the youth fellowship program; providing for camp and conference opportunities, recreational events, and ecumenical study programs; and offering leadership education for both adults and children. Christian Education committee shall have responsibility for the use and control of the Christian Education program budget, the Christian Education Special Fund, and the percentage kept of the Pentecost Offering. The Christian Education Committee is also authorized to manage Session-approved fundraising projects for youth programs, and may distribute monies donated through the Sunday School Offering. Christian Education is also responsible for oversight of revolving funds for educational conferences and retreats.

Congregational Care and Outreach

This committee shall be responsible for encouraging and celebrating spiritual growth in the congregation and for equipping its members for ministry through personal and pastoral care, sharing in fellowship and mutual support, and opportunities for witness and service in the world. (G 10.0102e) This includes providing opportunities for church members to both give and receive care and support to one another; showing welcome to newcomers and members in the name of Jesus Christ, nurturing our relationships with one another through times of fellowship and community building, and reaching out to invite other persons in our community into a new life in Christ. Congregational Care and Outreach is also responsible for the health ministries of the church in cooperation with the ministry of our Parish Nurse.

Congregational Care and Outreach committee shall have responsibility for the use and control of the Congregational Care and Outreach program budget and the revolving funds for special dinners, which may also be authorized by members of the Hospitality Ministry Team as designated by the committee.

Christian Stewardship

This committee shall be responsible for challenging the people of God with the privilege of responsible Christian stewardship of money, time, and talents; developing effective ways for encouraging and gathering the offerings of the people; and, with the treasurer, assuring that all offerings are distributed to the objects toward which they were contributed. (G 10.0102h)

Stewardship of money includes interpreting both local congregational goals and the goals of the denominational entities to which the congregation contributes. Finance and Christian Stewardship committees shall work together to set target goals for a budget development presentation to Session.

Stewardship of gifts includes developing the ways and means for helping people discover what time and talents they may be able to offer the church.

Christian Stewardship committee shall have responsibility for the use and control of the Christian Stewardship program budget in years that money is requested for the development of a stewardship campaign or congregational gifts survey.

Administrative Committees:

Finance

This committee shall advise the Session in matters of establishing the annual budget, interpreting the financial status of the church to both the Session and the congregation, and administering the church's budget by using the financial policies outlined in the Session's Operating Policies. (G-10.0102i)

Property and Maintenance

This committee shall provide for the management of the property of the church, including determining the appropriate use of church buildings and facilities, and obtaining property and liability insurance coverage to protect the facilities, programs, and officers (in consultation with Finance Committee). (G-10.0102o) This committee shall maintain the existing facilities and plan for equipment replacements and building renovations as they become necessary. General guidelines for use of the facilities shall be kept current and be available to anyone making a request.

Property and Maintenance committee shall have responsibility for the use and control of the Property and Maintenance program budget, including the routine expenses incurred in the maintenance of the buildings and grounds. This committee is also responsible for oversight of the Major Maintenance fund, both in monitoring this fund to ensure it is replenished through acts of Session and determining the best use of its resources.

SPECIALIZED COMMITTEES

Personnel Committee

The Personnel Committee shall be nominated in January by the pastor for Session approval. Membership shall consist of two members from Session, one of whom shall be the committee chairperson, and one member from the congregation. Continuity on the committee will be maintained from year to year through the Session members.

Duties of the Personnel Committee include: conducting an annual review of all personnel policies of the church, reviewing performance items in each individual's job description and setting yearly goals with each staff member and head of staff, evaluating performance based on those objectives, addressing other matters of concern, recommending appropriate compensation for each staff member to Session, maintaining confidential records of their work, and making sure that each employee has his or her most up-to-date job description and his or her own copy of the church's Personnel Manual, which is also to be maintained in the church office manual.

Pastor Support Committee

The role of the Pastor Support Committee is to provide personal and collegial support to the Pastor and the Pastor's family. The Committee also works alongside the Personnel Committee to offer guidance and encouragement for the Pastor to meet his or her own set of professional goals, to address issues identified in the congregation, and to help the pastor be successful in his or her ministry.

The Pastor Support Committee will be composed of not fewer than 5, or more than 7 lay persons, representative of the whole congregation. One of the members shall be a young adult. One of the members may be a senior high youth. All shall be active members of First Presbyterian Church. No staff member or immediate family member of a pastor or other staff member may serve on the committee. Only one person from an immediate family shall serve on the committee at any given time.

The members, including the chairperson, shall be elected by the Session upon joint nomination by the Pastor and Personnel Committee. In order to secure experience and stability, the membership shall be divided into three classes, at least one of which shall be elected for a three-year term. Retiring members are discouraged from succeeding themselves on the committee.

The committee shall meet at least quarterly. It shall meet additionally at the request of the pastor, the committee chairperson, the Personnel Committee, or the Session. The committee shall meet only with the knowledge of the pastor. The pastor should be present at all meetings except when the pastor voluntarily excuses himself or herself.

The committee reports to Session through the Personnel Committee. In order to maintain alignment with Session objectives, and staff procedures, it will work with the Personnel Committee on the specific work assignments of establishing pastor goals and objectives, and performing the annual review for the pastor. All other work will be performed independently unless the committee requests outside assistance.

Nominating Committee

The Session shall nominate two its members to serve on the church nominating committee, designating one of them to act as chairperson. The chairperson is responsible for seeing that the three other members be chosen by the congregation and duly elected at the annual meeting as stated in the congregational Bylaws, #15. Elder members of this committee are to provide continuity; therefore, terms may be staggered accordingly. The pastor is an ex officio member of this committee.

Nominating committee shall consult with the Christian Education committee for recommendations on which high school students may be qualified and committed to serving as an elder in any given year.

PERSONNEL POLICIES OF SESSION

Ordained Staff

Recognizing that Christ alone is head of the church, there are also those set aside through calling and training to become Ministers of Word and Sacrament in Christ's church. The office and responsibilities of such pastors are outlined in section G-6.0200 of the Constitution. A pastor or associate pastor is employed through the identified call process of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). For administrative purposes, one pastor will be designated by his or her terms of call as the administrative head of the church.

Lay Staff

The permanent lay employees of the church (e.g., Office Manager, Office Assistant, Director of Music, Director of Christian Education, Parish Nurse, Organist, Nursery Attendants, and Custodian) are considered staff. The administrative head of the church has full authority to direct the work of this staff as long as it remains in cooperation with the roles and responsibilities as defined by the Session, or our health care partner - Covenant Health. The administrative head may also use this authority to make corrective measures in the instances of behavior inconsistent with the purposes of the church, for disobedience, or poor performance, but shall make recommendations through Personnel Committee to Session for either hiring or terminating any employee.

Personnel Reviews

All employees of the church shall be interviewed and reviewed annually by the Personnel Committee with respect to their job descriptions and personal goals. The Personnel Committee may choose to use information gathered during these interviews to recommend salary figures to the Session. The Personnel Committee may also make recommendations to the Session with regard to the structure of the staff or time needed to complete particular jobs.

Salary advances

Salary advances may be granted by request from the administrative head of the church with the approval of the chairperson of the Finance Committee and the chairperson of Personnel Committee. Vice-chairs or the Clerk of Session may act in a chairperson's absence. If a salary advance extends beyond the current monthly pay period, the advance becomes a loan. An appropriate repayment schedule will be agreed upon in written form and signed prior to the advance. The chairperson of Personnel Committee will report the loan transaction to Session. (This does not apply to the Parish Nurse Contract.)

Vacation

Two weeks (ten working days) of paid vacation per year are provided unless otherwise approved by Session. After six months' service an employee is entitled to one week of vacation. After one year of service an employee is entitled to a two-week vacation, except during the first eighteen months in which no more than three weeks' vacation may be taken. After five years' service, an employee is entitled to three week's vacation, and after ten years, four weeks. Vacation may be taken with prior approval of the administrative head of the church.

Work Schedules

The work schedule of individual employees will be established in consultation with the administrative head of the church. A record of time worked will be kept in the church office.

Other Leave

Absences with pay for sickness or extenuating personal circumstances may be granted for up to one day per month of service at the discretion and with the approval of the administrative head of the church. Accrued sick leave time shall not accumulate beyond twelve days at any time. Absences beyond twelve days per year shall be approved by the Personnel Committee.

Absences without pay must be approved by the administrative head of the church and reported to the Personnel Committee.

Other Policies

Personnel Committee will maintain a separate manual of the policies needed to maintain order and encourage respect among the staff. Specific expectations for individual staff members may also be documented through the routine operations of Personnel Committee.

FINANCIAL POLICIES OF SESSION

Organizing principles

Session is responsible for administering the budget, but Finance Committee is responsible for helping the Session make wise decisions about financial matters. Session shall refer any non-budgeted item, or request for additional funds for a budgeted item to the Finance Committee for review before making a decision. If an expedient decision needs to be made, Finance Committee may authorize additional administrative expenditures that are reasonable and necessary up to 1% of the budget for the current fiscal year without Session's approval. Any such action shall be reported to the Session.

The fiscal year shall be the calendar year.

The accounting records shall be kept on a modified cash basis. Income is entered only when actually received and expenditures are entered when incurred.

Major changes in our accounting system or practices shall be approved by Session.

Pledges

The office manager and treasurer shall keep yearly records of pledges made by individual members and the amounts given toward those pledges. These records shall be treated in a confidential manner and used only for the purposes of effective administration of the stewardship and financial programs of the church. Statements shall be sent to those members who have made a pledge at least each calendar quarter showing the amount pledged and the amount paid. Unpaid General Fund pledges shall be written off after one year.

General Fund Expenditures

At the time of the organization of Session each year, the Session shall designate appropriate committee chairs as responsible for the oversight of particular items in the budget beyond those already listed in these policies.

The treasurer, associate treasurer, and assistant treasurers shall be the only persons authorized to sign checks for church funds. On checks with amounts exceeding $5,000, two signatures are required.

All payments in excess of $50.00 shall be approved in writing by the committee chair responsible for the expenditure. All payments shall be made by check except for payments for minor items, which may be made from a petty cash fund.

Property and Maintenance Committee is responsible for recommending large items of capital equipment to the Finance Committee and Session for inclusion in the budget.

Annual budgets are prepared normally for a 12-month period. Sometimes an annual budget for an activity may not all be disbursed in a given year. An unspent amount may only be carried over to the new accounting period with Session approval, provided that the unspent monies shall be spent as originally intended.

Vouchers

The chairs of committees that are responsible for overseeing particular budgets shall sign vouchers for any expenses charged to their particular budgets, whenever possible before those disbursements are made. Committee chairs may refuse to either approve or reimburse a particular expense if it does not agree with the purpose of the account or runs over the allotted amount. Anticipated expenses that would exceed budgeted amounts shall be recommended through the Finance Committee and brought to Session for approval.

Funds

Fund accounting with self-balancing funds shall be used.

Money given to the church will be deposited in the General Fund unless otherwise specified. Specific funds may be created for other purposes. Whenever a new fund is established, the following shall be stipulated: the purpose of the fund, the basis on which interest shall be added to the fund, any restrictions as to disbursement of the fund money, who has authority to spend money from the fund, and when the fund may be closed out.

Other Accounting and Fiscal Practices

Good accounting and fiscal practices shall be followed to the extent practicable, such as: duties shall be divided for adequate internal control; receipts (including stocks) shall be promptly deposited; counting and recording of all offerings shall be done by at least two duly appointed persons; an appointee of the Finance Committee will give prompt reports of the financial status to the Session; a "Working Capital" in excess of 10% of the annual budget or as appropriated by Session will be kept in the General Fund; and all financial records shall be regularly maintained and properly stored to prevent possible damage or loss.

Where practical, funds outside operating monies shall be deposited in financial institutions recommended by the Finance Committee and approved by the Session.

The Session shall provide for an annual audit of the financial records. The audit shall also provide reviews of the fixed assets to determine the need for replacement, repair, or excess; such reviews shall be made with the Property and Maintenance Committee. This audit shall be made by a qualified person or persons selected by the Finance Committee. The result of this audit shall be presented to the Session on or before the August stated meeting.

Donations of stock, or any other gift given to the church become property of the church and may be used or sold as the church sees fit.

DESIGNATED FUNDS

Josephine Jeffress Memorial Educational Loan Fund

(Revised April 18, 2007)

The monies in the Josephine Jeffress Memorial Education Fund shall be used to help finance educational programs for students with need or to give awards to students who desire to pursue a career in the fields of ministry or service-related professions. This may include, but not be limited to fields such as: counseling, social work, or education.

The granting of either loans or scholarships through this fund, and the administration of these loans or scholarships, shall be the responsibility of the Educational Fund Committee, which comprises the pastor(s) of the church, the Director of Christian Education (when this position is staffed), and two elders nominated and approved by the Session.

The determination of the extent of need of an applicant, the use to be made of the scholarship or loan, and the amount of each scholarship or loan given shall be the responsibility of the Education Fund Committee, and each of these decisions shall be made by a unanimous vote of the Committee. The committee will recommend to the Session as needed when funds should be dispersed. When there are several applicants for this program, the Educational Fund Committee may determine an application process as it sees fit. Such loans and scholarships must not be made to relatives of Committee members.

Any loan recipients who have been out of school for one year shall be sent an annual statement of the unpaid balance of their loans. Loans shall be secured by a promissory note and shall bear no interest as long as the recipients are enrolled in school. However, beginning one year after graduation or otherwise leaving school, the recipient shall be charged interest on the unpaid balance of the loan as determined by the committee. The committee may also, if it deems advisable, waive interest charges on any loan. Any portion of a loan outstanding for any period of time may only be forgiven by a unanimous recommendation by the committee, and with the approval of Session. The committee may also recommend service to the church as a way of paying back a loan.

The Education Fund Committee shall, at least annually, review the financial status of the Fund and make an annual report to the Session. It is to be understood, however, that the names of the Educational Fund loan recipients will be held in confidence, available only to the Education Fund Committee members and to the Session as prudent. Names of scholarship recipients shall be reported to Session and to the congregation

Replenishment of this fund may happen through donations to the fund or memorial gifts.

Also, any loan repayments shall be put back into the fund for future use. Each year, on or around the birthday ( date ) of Josephine Jeffress, it is recommended that the Session request a special offering to support the efforts of this fund.

Minister's Discretionary Fund

This fund has been established for the use of the pastor in helping meet temporary or emergency needs of members of the congregation or others who come to the church for help. Proceeds are received into the fund by discretionary offerings that will be collected at times to be determined by the Session. Anyone at any time may also designate a gift to this particular fund. The pastor and/or office manager in the pastor's absence are authorized to sign vouchers for this fund. Total fund amounts received and expended shall be reported to the Session annually. The names of recipients are confidential.

Program-Related Funds

Special funds that have ties to a particular program area of the church (i.e. Christian Education Special Fund, Jack Davidson Memorial Lecture Fund, the Special Music Fund, or undesignated benevolences) shall be spent in accordance with the overseeing committee's intended use as approved by the chair of the committee. The committee may also give authorization to a staff member to disburse these funds. A committee may not spend more than has been accrued into a fund without the permission of Session. Permission to solicit money for these funds rests solely with Session.

Policies for Receiving Memorial Funds

A memorial fund will be created in the name of any church member for any contribution received in the name of that member. Donations in the name of a non-member will be added to the General Memorial Fund unless there is a request for a designated fund.

Donations for designated purposes will be referred to the Memorial Fund Review Committee. This Committee will make a recommendation to Session only after consultation with the appropriate committee chair on whether to accept the gift for its designated purpose or whether to approach the donor and/or estate executor about an alternative use. Following action of Session, the Clerk or Session designee will contact the donor.

The Memorial Fund Review Committee will consist of the chairs of Finance, Property and Maintenance, and Congregational Care and Outreach committees, with the pastor serving as an ex officio member. The chairperson of the Memorial Fund Review Committee will be the chairperson of Finance. The committee will maintain a record of when a fund was created and the purpose of any designated fund.

The use of designated funds will be referred to the appropriate committee for recommendation. The committee will return to Session for authorization before drawing on such funds unless they are deposited to a currently existing fund of the church. Requests for any undesignated memorial funds (either named or general) may be made to Session by committee chairs.

The Memorial Fund Review Committee should review the status of the memorial funds twice a year. Two years after the creation of a named fund, the Memorial Fund Review committee should either recommend to Session either a specific use for the fund or recommend transferring the monies into the General Memorial Fund.

Contributions to memorial funds will be published in the church newsletter and a letter will be sent to surviving family members of contributions made in their loved one's memory. Donors may request to remain anonymous.

PROPERTY POLICIES OF SESSION

The church facilities shall be made available for use by our membership and also by non-profit organizations whose principles and purpose are in harmony with the principles for which we stand. In the event that there is a question whether an organization fulfills the above requirements, the administrative head of the church shall forward the request to Session.

The church shall not be available for concerts, recitals, or other activities engaged in making a profit, but it may be used for productions of the arts that are free and/or open to the public.

The use of the church facilities by groups or individuals within this church or by outside organizations shall be scheduled through the church office. Priority will be given to groups within this church.

All persons or organizations using church property shall be held financially responsible for any and all damage to the church property if such damage occurs due to their negligence or repeated abuse.

Persons or groups using church facilities shall be responsible for closing windows and doors, turning off lights, resetting heat or air conditioning, and generally restoring the facility to its normal condition.

Permission to borrow church equipment for church sponsored or church approved functions shall be obtained from the church office and the equipment must be returned promptly on the date set by the office manager. The church reserves the right to "call in" all property at any time.

The church office shall maintain a record of all equipment removed from the church premises.

Subject to the approval by the administrative head of the church, equipment may be made available to local churches on a temporary basis for non-profit use.

The church will provide childcare as requested for any church-sponsored meeting. It is strongly recommended that two caregivers will be on duty.

The church has a no-smoking policy for inside the church facilities.

Memorial Garden Policies

A Memorial Garden subcommittee of the Property and Maintenance Committee shall maintain the church's Memorial Garden in perpetuity as a consecrated repository for cremated remains in accordance with the Interment Policies for First Presbyterian Church's Memorial Garden. Such policies shall be kept in the church operating manual and amended as necessary through Property and Maintenance Committee.

USE OF CHURCH DIRECTORY

The directory of church members, their addresses, telephone numbers, and email information shall only be made available to organizations or persons within the church. The use of church mailing lists shall require specific authorization by the administrative head of the church or by the Session if requested by an outside organization.

*Constitutional references come from Part II of the Constitution of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Book of Order. In any instance of needing clarification from the Constitution, the most recent edition should be used.