The following policies and procedures for First United Methodist Church’s leadership structure are presented for approval by First United Methodist Church – Little Rock Church Conference 2025.

These were written to ensure that our structure is in line with The Book of Discipline of The United Methodist Church. Under this model, The Leadership Council replaces all administrative committees of FUMC -LR to allow the church to focus more on its mission & ministries. The Leadership Council is a servant/supporting team that works to align all our ministries under a common vision and mission, while also providing resources for our ministry teams as they lead us in God’s vision for our church, community, and world.

 

LEADERSHIP BOARD

Purpose & Responsibilities

• The Leadership Council’s primary focus will be aligning the resources (disciples, buildings, finances, personnel, etc.) of the church with the mission of the congregation as a United Methodist congregation (“to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the Transformation of the world”and the vision of FUMCLR: “We seek to be good neighbors to make Little Rock a place where all God’s children THRIVE.” The Council will lead the congregation in development of our core values.
• To this end, they will ensure they fulfill the responsibilities as set forth in The Book of Discipline:
• Planning and implementing a program of nurture, outreach, and witness for persons and families within and without the congregation
• Providing for effective pastoral and lay leadership
• Providing for financial support, physical facilities, and the legal obligations of the church
• Utilizing the appropriate relationships and resources of the district and annual conference
• Providing for the proper creation, maintenance, and disposition of documentary record materials of the local church
• Seeking inclusiveness in all aspects of its life
• The Chair and/or the Leadership Council shall create Task Forces to address issues or tasks that arise.

 

Membership

• Voting Membership shall be comprised of NINE professing members and FUMCLR who are elected by the Charge Conference.
• Lay leadership will also elect one ex-officio youth member to serve a term of one year.
• Those elected will sign a covenant as to their commitment to Membership on the Leadership Council. Failure to honor this covenant may be considered a resignation of Leadership Council
• The membership terms shall be designed to have three new persons elected to serve each year
• Members of the team will serve no more than three consecutive years
• Members shall not succeed themselves for a second term without a minimum of one year off of the Leadership Council, with the exception of initial Leadership Council members that are assigned to a one year term in 2026.
• When a member who is elected to replace someone midterm, that is considered one year, not a complete term (i.e., the person would be eligible to serve a term were they to be nominated once more)
• The Council Chair shall be nominated by the Lay Leadership and voted on at Charge Conference.
• At the first meeting at the beginning of each new year, the Council will elect a Trustee Chair to satisfy the corporate resolution requirement. It is recommended that the Council Chair serve as Trustee Chair.
• The Leadership Council Chair will fulfill the duties of Council Chair, SPRC Chair, Finance Chair (and Trustees chair if so voted) as outlined in the Book of Discipline.
• The Council Chair will attend Lay Leadership meeting without vote
• At the first meeting at the beginning of each new year, the Council will elect a recording
• No two persons from the same household may serve on the Leadership Council at the same
• The Pastor serves on the Council and is present for conversations but does not have a vote in voting matters
• Council members will not be allowed to vote on matters where there is a conflict of interest
• Immediate family members of pastors or staff are eligible to serve on the Leadership Council if they fulfill the membership expectations, but will not be allowed to vote on pastoral/staff matters
• The Director of Finance and Administration serves on the Council and is present for conversations but does not have a vote in voting matters
• The Lay Treasurer will be nominated by the Lay Leadership Committee and elected by the Charge Conference. They may serve 3-year terms. The Lay Treasurer will review the bank reconciliations and financial statements and serve as counsel to the Director of Finance and Administration. They may be present at Leadership Council meeting as needed to answer questions concerning finances and will have a voice but no vote when present.

Monthly Meetings

• The Leadership Council shall meet monthly and may call additional meetings as
• The meeting notice shall be posted in the newsletter
• A quorum of the Leadership Council is whoever is present at a duly called
• Video and tele-conferencing for attendance is allowed, but proxy votes are not
• Once a Council member is not present for two regular monthly meetings per year (video and teleconferencing are considered being present), the Council Chair will converse with Council member to see if their seat needs to be vacated.
• The Leadership Council shall approve a calendar for their regularly monthly meetings at the first meeting and will set their normal monthly meeting times by December of each year for the following year.
• Meetings may be called by the Pastor, Leadership Council Chair, or a minimum of three council members to deal with specific issues that cannot wait until the regular meeting, and these may be by electronic communication. Special meetings to address SPRC matters shall only be called and held following the directions of the Book of Discipline paragraph 258.2.
• Monthly Leadership Council meetings are open to anyone who wishes to attend, and the Chair may recognize anyone to speak to the group.
• If someone has an agenda item they wish to bring before the Leadership Council , a written request shall be submitted to the Council Chair no later than one week prior to the meeting.
• Every meeting will have a SPRC agenda, and at that time of the Council Meeting,all non-members of Council will be excused (staff and public) for this portion of the meeting.
• The meetings may be closed when dealing with personnel matters (as the Council is acting in the capacity of SPRC) at the discretion of the Chair with the approval of the Pastor
• When a meeting is closed (to deal with personnel matters), the Leadership Council shall reconvene and report the general topic and any decisions made during that portion of the meeting as soon as possible after ending the closed session (after appropriate persons are consulted).
• The Leadership Council shall keep minutes of all
• Minutes of the meetings will be approved electronically by a majority vote within a week of the meeting by a majority of those members present at the meeting.
• After approval the minutes will be uploaded to the church website and a link will be published in the church newsletter. A written copy will be maintained in the church office.

 

Communication and Evaluation

• The Leadership Council shall seek and receive feedback on ministries of the church to gauge effectiveness of ministries

 

LAY LEADERSHIP COMMITTEE

• The Lay Leadership Committee will be elected at Charge Conference each year for the purpose of overseeing the following nominations process:
  • The Committee will solicit nominations from the entire congregation for Spiritual Leaders
• The Lay Leadership Committee will be chaired by the Pastor.
• The Lay Leadership Committee will also nominate additional persons to fill any vacancies that may occur during the year (if alternates are not in place).
• The Lay Leadership Committee will be intentional to nominate leaders who reflect a commitment to the five vows of United Methodist membership.
• The Lay Leadership Committee will work to build diversity on the Leadership Council, including, but not limited to, racial/ethnic, cultural, social, gender, and age-level diversity.
• The Lay Leadership Committee will also work to build diverse representation from as many ministry areas of the church, including but not limited to, different worship services, small groups, and ministry areas.
• The Lay Leadership Committee will provide training for the future classes of the Leadership Council.

 

SENIOR PASTOR

• The Pastor casts the vision of the church and works with the Leadership Council and staff to discern trajectory.
• The Pastor leads the implementation of the church’s vision with the staff and Leadership Council, holding them accountable for leading their ministry areas and fulfilling the mission and vision of the church.
• The Pastor is responsible for the hiring, supervision, assessing (and if needed, terminating) staff and with consultation of the Leadership Council.
• The Pastor serves on the leadership Council with a voice, but no vote
• The Pastor shall be present for all meetings of the Leadership Council unless a pastoral emergency prohibit it.

MINISTRY COORDINATORS (PAID & UNPAID STAFF)

• Ministry Coordinators and staff are selected by Senior Pastor in consultation with Leadership
• Ministry Coordinators & Staff structure/flow chart will be organized in consultation between Senior Pastor & Leadership Council.
• The Senior Pastor will oversee day-to-day operations of staff & ministry
• Ministry Coordinators (paid & unpaid) will have job descriptions which will include overseeing budget areas, recruiting volunteers, communicating with Leadership Council about goals and needed resources.
• Ministry Coordinators & Staff may be asked to offer written or in-person reports to the Leadership Council.