THE CHURCH COUNCIL

At the first Annual General Meeting of the Tema Joint Church held in November 1993,

fifteen (15) members were elected into office as Council Members.

The Council held its first meeting in December, 1993 and thereafter there have been

regular meetings every third Thursday of the month.

The Council of the Church meets to deliberate and take decisions on:

CHURCH FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION

CHRISTIAN EDUCATION AND

OTHER CHURCH ACTIVITIES

The duties can be grouped into three categories, namely:

a)    SPIRITUAL OVERSIGHT

b)    TEMPORAL AFFAIRS

c)     SPECIAL DUTIES

A. SPIRITUAL OVERSIGHT

1. The Council is charged with the spiritual oversight and the welfare of all 

    members of the congregation; the maintenance of Christian order and 

    discipline, the administration of the temporal affairs of the congregation.

2. The Council assists the Resident Minister in the keeping and maintenance

    of accurate roll of members.

3. The Council has the oversight of all groups within the congregation. No 

    group can be recongnised as congregational without first receiving the 

    approval of the Council.

B. TEMPORAL AFFAIRS

1. The Council is responsible for the management and care of all property  

    belonging to the congregation and ensures that the place of Worship,

    Church Institutional buildings and Congregational Houses for the Ministers

    and other agents are well maintained and adequately furnished.

2. The Council is responsible for the administration of all congregational

    funds, the safe- guarding of which a Finance Committee and a Treasurer

    are appointed. The Finance Committee is responsible to the Council.

C. SPECIAL DUTIES OF COUNCIL MEMBERS

1. The Council members give advice at meetings of the Council along with 

    the Ministers about the spiritual and temporal affairs of the congregation.  

    They are bound to regular attendance and must give notice when     

    absenting themselves from Council meetings.

2. They help in the oversight of christian life in the congregation, especially

    family life and the training of children.

3. They see to it that Sundays are hallowed, that services are attended

    diligently and in an orderly manner and that family prayers are  

    encouraged.

4. They try, in love and sympathy, to bring the wayward under control 

    and actively seek the erring and the excluded to bring them back 

    to the fold when possible.

5. With the assistance of their respective Community Cells, they visit the  

    sick and bring them the comfort of the Gospel.

6. With evangelism lying on their hearts, they endeavour to win non-christians 

   for the Lord in all things and at all times.

7. They take turns to exhort other members to stick to Christian principles

    and offer opening prayer during devotions at Council meetings.

8. They receive offertory on Sundays and meet new visitors to the Church  

    with one of the Ministers.

9. They assist the Clergy, during the celebration of the Sacraments, i.e. Holy

    Communion, and Baptism and other functions.

10. They perform other duties that the congregation may entrust to them.