THE PLAN OF UNION

Wesley United Methodist Church and

Calvary United Presbyterian Church

Amended by Congregation April 30, 2000

 


I - PROLOGUE

As members of the United Methodist Church and the Presbyterian Church (USA) through Christ's Church Methodist and Presbyterian United of Monmouth, Oregon, we covenant together to establish a united parish congregation, a community of faith in which we recognize and celebrate God's love for us all as revealed in Jesus Christ.

It is our belief:


That there is "one Lord, one faith, one baptism." There is one calling toward which we advance; the Kingdom of God.

That God is a loving God, who calls all people into a vital relationship, that they might know God's grace and might become vehicles for that grace in the world.

That the Church is a present-day witness to God's grace and manifests it for the strengthening of the faithful and the redemption of the world.



We therefore establish this covenant relationship:

 

That we might more clearly give witness to the oneness of Christ's body. We believe that we are called to be one people of God and to the extent that we previously have been divided we neither have been faithful to the claim of our faith nor have we been fully effective in our communities.

That we might experience a broader membership in age, occupation and residency that has been experienced by either congregation to this time.

That we might know a more efficient witness realized in the joining of our staffs and the uniting of our church functions than we have known separately.

That we might foster a more effective diversified staff. We are convinced that the utilization of ministers with un-duplicating and specialized professional talents will be of more benefit to the membership and to the
community than true when our ministers function in very similar styles and areas separately.



II - THE MISSION OF THE CHURCH

We believe that the Christian Church is an ongoing witness to the work of Jesus Christ and testifies to his living presence with us, bringing hope, justice and peace to the world. Accordingly, we believe it is our mission not only to be recipients of the blessings of the Church, but to the Church, to carry on the witness to which we are called in the name of Jesus Christ. We believe that we are better equipped to carry on this task together than we have been apart. Specifically, we commit ourselves to making known the Christian witness of the Church in the communities in which we live, work and study: the academic community of Western Oregon University and the ethnic and economic communities of Monmouth and Independence. We believe we have a special mission to proclaim God's love and justice in society. To this end we pledge our energies, our time, our talents and our spirits in the name of the church of Jesus Christ, believing that service to one another in His name is the true calling of our faith.

III - THE PROPOSAL

 

We propose that these two congregations combine as a Union Church, known, as Christ's Church, according to provisions in the constitutions of the United Methodist Church and the Presbyterian Church (USA). These provisions are attached to this document.

As a Union congregation, Christ's Church shall retain denominational affiliation with both denominations, joined in covenant relationship made visible in the following ways:

 

1.    The two congregations shall function from one building, known as Christ's Church Center. This building shall be the present Wesley United Methodist building, as it now exists but subject to change as need and mission direct.

 

2.     Christ's Church, a Union congregation affiliated with United Methodist Church and the Presbyterian Church (USA), shall be incorporated to conduct business and hold property (real and personal).

3.    Christ's Church Center shall refer to the building and Christ's Church shall refer to the union congregation with our separate memberships, United Methodist and Presbyterian Church (USA); but united in worship, learning, witness and other activities of the Church.

 

4.    Real property in our two traditions is held in trust by the local congregation on behalf of the Annual Conference or the Presbyter. Christ's Church is recognized as the holding entity for these local real properties, with their respective trustee relationships with the Annual Conference or the Presbytery. Should the union of these congregations at some future date be dissolved, the properties shall revert to the denominational group which held them previous to the union.

 

It is agreed that any addition to the presently-owned Wesley United Methodist Church property in Monmouth shall revert to the United Methodist congregation in case of dissolution (see sections XI and XII).

Division of other real property acquired by the united congregations after the effective date of the union shall be divided equally among the denominational groups.


IV - MEMBERSHIP

The membership of Christ's Church shall be the membership of the Wesley United Methodist and the Calvary United Presbyterian Churches. It also includes the constituent membership, friends, inactive members and non-resident members of each church. The membership shall include such other persons as later may wish to join Christ's Church and one of the denominations during the life of the Christ's Church. Provision also shall be made for associate and/or affiliate membership in accordance with our denominational practices.


There shall be one membership roll which shall note in its initial forming the former membership of each member. The governing body of Christ's Church shall report an equal share of the total membership to each judicatory of jurisdiction, and such membership shall be published in the Minutes of each church involved with a note to the effect that the report is that of a Union church, and with an indication of the total actual membership. A similar report of the church school members, baptisms, etc., and financial expenditures, shall be made by the governing body of Christ's Church and noted by each judicatory involved.

V - CHURCH STRUCTURE

The Church is a community of faith, organized for worship, learning and witness. We believe that our service is to the whole life of all persons in our communities and through our denominations to the entire world. We believe that we are called by God to be the Church in this location and give thanks for the richness of the gifts of person who are part of our community.

 

Christ's Church shall strive in every way to maintain the heritage of the Church and of our respective denominational traditions and local church expressions. We accept the policies of our respective denominations and do not seek to perpetuate any one to the exclusion of any other. We believe we are called above all to be in mission and that our structures must be open to renewal for this purpose under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.


The Church Board in its normal function of program-planning and evaluation shall review each standing and special committee, group and organization and consider their renewal, discontinuance, restructure, or other modification. The Trustees, Staff Parish Relations Committee, Finance Committee, and Nominations Committee are specifically required by this document and are not subject to discontinuance. This shall be done each even numbered year.


 

 

 

 

VI - GOVERNANCE

1. Church Board

The representative governing board of Christ's Church shall be the Church Board. This body shall be responsible for the [program,] operational, business and financial concerns of the church.

The Church Board shall have the following members:

á     The pastor(s) of the church (non-voting)

á     The Church Board Secretary

á     The Church Treasurer

á     Presbytery Elder commissioner (Presbyterian)

á     Congregation Lay Leader (United Methodist)

á     Youth Representative

á     Chairperson of the Trustees

á     Chairperson of the Finance Committee

á     Chairperson of the Staff/Parish Relations Committee

á     Chairperson of the Education Committee

á     Chairperson of the Worship Committee

á     Coordinator of Missions and Social Concerns

á     Coordinator of Nurturing Groups (e.g. Stephen's Ministry, Christ's Church Women)

 

At least four (4) Board members shall be of each denomination.

A quorum for the transaction of the Church Board business shall be the Board Chairperson (or designate) and five (5) members.

Alternative representatives:
Each group with representation to the Church Board shall also name one alternate representative who may participate and vote in the absence of the representative. It is the responsibility of the representative to notify the alternate of meetings which the alternate is asked to attend.


The powers of the Church Board shall be the same as those of a Presbyterian Session and a United Methodist Administrative Board. The Church Board shall establish standing and special (e.g. Memorials Committee) committees necessary to conduct the affairs of the church. The Church Board shall publish a document describing the purpose, membership and responsibilities of those committees.

 

Task Groups may be formed by action of the Church Board where needed to carry out program responsibilities. Members for a Task Group may be dismissed by action of the Board when the needs have been met or the group is no longer relevant

Each year there shall be a "Service of Commissioning and Installation" as part of a regular service of worship. At this time, newly elected members of the Church Board shall be commissioned and/or installed. Presbyterian members may be ordained as elders in accordance with the BOOK OF ORDER.

No person, except for the chairperson, shall serve on the Church Board in a voting capacity longer than six (6) consecutive years.

All meetings of the Church Board shall be announced publicly to the membership and shall be open to visitors from the membership. Visitors may have the privilege of voice, but not vote.

The Church Board shall meet monthly for regular business  and may be called into special session by the Chairperson.

The Chairperson (or Moderator) for the Church Board shall be the pastor or his/her designate.

2. Trustees

There shall be a Board of Trustees for Christ's Church. There shall be three classes of trustees, two to be elected each year for a three- year term. There must be at least two members from each denomination and have representation of both men and women.

The Board of Trustees shall serve as the corporately responsible body for Christ's Church and its properties and shall be accountable to the Church Board.

 
3.  Nominating and Lay Personnel Committee:

The Committee shall be made up of six (6) members elected by the congregation for three-year terms giving fair representation to all who make up the congregation. Two members shall be nominated from the floor each year. The Committee shall be chaired by the Pastor. For the June Church Meeting of the Congregation, the Committee shall prepare a list of at least one nomination for each position and chairperson to be filled for the ensuing year. Provisions shall be made for nominations from the floor.

4. Staff-Parish Relations Committee

There shall be a Staff-Parish Relations Committee composed of six elected members with reasonable representation from each denominational group.  Two members shall be elected yearly for a three year term at the fall Parish Meeting.  In addition the United Methodist Lay Leader and the Presbyterian Elder Commissioner shall be ex-officio members of the committee. The Staff-Parish Relations Committee shall meet regularly to review with the Pastor(s) the needs of the parish, the pastor's responsibilities and the concerns of the staff and the membership about the effectiveness of the ministry.

The Staff-Parish Relations Committee shall also function as the representative of the congregation in the process of pastoral appointments and shall fulfill the function of the Pastor Nominating Committee in the Presbyterian Church USA system.

5.  Annual Meetings

There shall be an annual congregational meeting (charge conference) each year. Church officers will be elected in June and all other required business shall be conducted at its continuation in the Fall.

VII - CHURCH FINANCE

The Church Board of the united church shall annually propose to the congregation a general mission or benevolence program which shall be divided equitable among the officially approved causes of each denomination. The proportions shall be as the governing body shall decide in response to the requests of the higher judicatories. The giver may designate the cause or causes to which their personal gift shall go. Per capita apportionmentŐs or assessments shall be paid to each judicatory or jurisdiction.

Capital, endowments and trust funds may be retained by the constituent denominational groups and their disposition is to be determined by the trustees of that denomination in consultation with the full Christ's Church Board of Trustees. Memorial funds are to be managed by a Memorials Committee. The purchase of any memorial is to be approved by the Church Board on recommendation of the Memorials Committee and the Board of Trustees,
in consultation with the family.

VIII - MINISTERIAL STAFF

In Scriptures we learn that all Christians are ministers of the Gospel. However, some Christians are set apart in the representative ministry. These person, ordained (or eligible for ordination) in either of our respective denominations, may be appointed as ministers of Christ's Church. All ministers of Christ's Church shall be subject to annual appointment by the resident Bishop of the United Methodist Church and the concurrence of the Presbytery.

POLICY STATEMENTS FOR MINISTERIAL SUCCESSION:

Christ's Church: Methodist and Presbyterian United is a united church which includes members associated with both the United Methodist Church and Presbyterian Church (USA) denominations. As such, it is important that ministerial succession due to reassignment, resignation, or other reason should allow the possibility of succession by a minister from either denomination, if there is only one, or a mixture of the two if there is more than one minister. At the time that it is apparent that there will be a vacancy in a ministerial position, Christ's Church will proceed in the following way:

 

1.       The Staff-Parish Relations Committee, with the addition of two members-at-large from the congregation, nominated by the committee on Nominations, will determine the suitability of obtaining a United Methodist pastor or a Presbyterian pastor as a succession to the current pastor. Priority will be given to a clergyperson of the denomination not presently serving the congregation. These decisions will be made with great care. Representatives of the Oregon-Idaho Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church and/or the Presbytery of the Cascades will be consulted as appropriate.

 

 

         If the decision is for a Presbyterian pastor, the procedure for calling a designated pastor with limited term of not less than two years or more than four years, renewable by agreement for an additional term of not less than two years or more than four years. The Book of Order (G-14.0501) will be followed. 

 

2.       After a decision is reached, the decision shall be conveyed to the Church Board for its consideration.

.

         3.       The Church Board will proceed in an orderly and timely manner to select a minister, in                      accordance with the current BOOK OF ORDER or THE BOOK OF DISCIPLINE.

At anytime there may be one, two, or more pastors (not necessarily full time) for Christ's Church. Where there is more than one appointed pastor, the Staff-Parish Relations Committee shall consult with the United Methodist Conference and the Presbytery of the Cascades for recommendation regarding titles and other matters. They shall recommend to the membership of Christ's Church the titles for each minister (such as pastor, co-pastor, associate pastor, minister of education, etc.). The action of the membership in this regard shall be reported to the two administrative groups for concurrence and for purposes of appointment.

Any minister appointed to serve Christ's Church shall be expected to associate with both the Annual Conference and the Presbytery.

The pastor(s) shall participate in the denominational Pension Plan of one of the denomination. If the pastor is already participating in one plan, membership in that plan shall be retained.

IX - SACRAMENTS

We recognize two sacraments, Baptism and Holy Communion, as the means of Grace. They are the Word in action, the visible presence of the Spirit of God. The sacraments not only symbolize but also convey God's love for all people. The sacraments involve us not only as witnesses to this love, but as participants in its expression. Baptism and Holy Communion were instituted by our Lord and are to be presided over by a fully ordained minister of the Word.

Baptism:

Baptism is a proclamation of the Gospel to the people of God and to those outside that fellowship. Baptism proclaims both the redeeming death of Jesus of Nazareth and the might act of God, who by raising him up, made him both Lord and Christ. It is not a private affair but a corporate act of the church under the authority of the living Lord. At each baptismal service the faith of all baptized members is reaffirmed.

Through baptism God receives the individual into his people and makes him/her a living member of the body of Christ, a member of the church universal. Baptism is a symbol, ordinance, and sacrament. It is a divine mystery and forms the visible basis of our unity in Jesus Christ. Since it is an act of God in Christ and the sign of entrance into the whole church, we are baptized but once.

When infants are baptized, it emphasizes, among other things, our helplessness, God's initiative and grace on our behalf and the initiation of that child into the corporateness of the Christian life. Where baptism of those who reach the age of consent is practice, it symbolizes, among other things, our freedom and personal obligation to respond to God's grace and is also a witness to the church as a fellowship of believers united in the Holy Spirit. The new life of all baptized persons must be confirmed in the person baptized and continued in full, glad commitment of Christian discipleship. In the baptism of adults, this act of confirmation/commissioning is normally a part of the entire ritual. In the baptism of infants and children, confirmation/commissioning normally occurs when the child reaches the age of consent and prior to voting membership in local church.

Holy Communion:

The sacrament of the Lord's Supper is at the heart of the church's life. It is variously called "The Eucharist," "The Lord's Supper," "The Holy Communion," "The Divine Liturgy," and "The Mass." Each term relates to the symbolic nature of the event, but words never can fully express the redemptive mystery of the act. The church's action of sharing together in this mystery is response to the Lord's invitation and command is altogether more decisive than any effort on our part to think alike about it.

 

God's grace, love and justice precede our worship at the table. The joyous action of the church in the celebration is at once an act of redemption in Christ for all people and of hope anticipating the future consummation. The past is remembered, recalled as past events, but also remembered by way of being represented in the present as now operative and powerful.

In the Lord's Supper, symbols are used and symbolic actions are performed. They are effective signs: The action of the church becomes the means whereby God in Christ acts and Christ is present with his people. Our affirmation that the churchŐs Eucharist has effective significance is based upon the institution. The bread which we break is a partaking of the body of Christ. The cup from which we drink is the partaking of the blood of Christ, Spiritually we receive Christ himself in the sacrament and are fed and nourished with his own life.

 

Christ is the minister, the high priest of the Lord's table, In Christ the church corporate and its members art renewed in the covenant of grace, receive forgiveness of sins, participate in the divine life and receive eternal life. In the Holy Communion the church is built up ever anew and its unity is both signified and brought about through the Holy Spirit.

 

The Lord's Supper shall be celebrated in such a manner as to include the use of Christ's words of institution and of the two elements ordained by him. The form shall include the visible acts of taking of the bread and the cup, the giving thanks or 'blessing' over them for the gifts of God in creation and redemption, the breaking of the bread and the partaking of the elements by the congregation in communion. There shall also be a prayer invoking the Holy Spirit.

 

The LordŐs Supper shall be presided over by an ordained minister of the Word, but all of Christ's people are co-celebrants of the LordŐs Supper, Thus, it is desirable that deacons, elders and lay persons assist appropriately in the service.

 

Any Christian who is a member of another church and who is eligible to receive Holy Communion in his/her church may communicate in Christ's Church.

 

X - ECCLESIASTICAL DISCIPLINE

All members of the united church shall be under the discipline of the governing body according to rules agreed upon in harmony with the mandatory provisions of the Constitution of the denomination where the others are permissive, and at the choice of the governing body where they may be contradictory.

 

Appeals or complaints against the actions of the governing body shall be made to one judicatory only at the choice of the members and all subsequent appeals or complaints shall be in the courts of the members' original choice and decisions so finally made shall be binding on the governing body and on the members.

 

The pastor(s) shall be subject to the discipline of the judicatories provided that when one shall begin an action, it shall invite a committee from the others to join the commissioner, prosecutor, or prosecuting committee in formulating and pressing the charges. In the event of appeal the case shall be finally decided by the highest court to which the appeal is taken in the church which commenced the action and that decision shall be equally binding on the judicatories of jurisdiction.

 

Complaints against the administrative acts of the governing body may be taken under the constitutional provisions of only one denomination, according to the choice of the complainant, and once being complained to one judicatory, no other denomination shall accept jurisdiction in the same matter.

 

Wherever the Constitution of the denominations differ, the mandatory provisions of one shall apply in all cases when the otherŐs are permissive.  Wherever there are conflicting mandatory provisions (except as provided in paragraph one above), the governing body of the united church shall petition the judicatories of immediate jurisdiction to overture their respective highest courts to resolve the conflict either by authoritative interpretation or by constitutional amendment.

 

XI - ENABLING AGREEMENTS

The following agreements shall guide and facilitate our plan:


1.       The current assets of each denomination used to provide housing for the pastor(s) shall be reserved for that use. The value of these assets shall revert to the denomination which held them prior to the union in case of dissolution.

 

2.       Title to the current church buildings and other real properties in Independence and Monmouth shall be transferred to Christ's Church: Wesley Methodist and Calvary Presbyterian United.


a. Decisions affecting the sale of the present Calvary church property in Independence shall be reserved to the United Presbyterian membership and the Presbytery and any proceeds from such possible sale shall be reserved to the use determined by that denominational group.


b. Decisions affecting the disposition, enlargement, etc., of the present Wesley Church property in Monmouth shall be reserved to the United Methodist membership and the Annual Conference.

 

3.       Christ's Church shall be subject to the Constitutions (THE BOOK OF DISCIPLINE and BOOK OF ORDER) of each denomination as stated above. Efforts shall be made to maintain continuity in mission emphasis avoiding shifts from one denominational emphasis to another. Christ's Church is fully United Methodist and Presbyterian (USA) and should reflect both heritages in its mission.

 

4.       All ordained ministers of Christ's Church shall be under the discipline of their own denominational regulations. They shall serve under the appointment of the resident Bishop of the United Methodist Church who in consultation with Associate Synod Executive of the Presbyterian Church (USA) appoints pastors whose ordination and ministerial relations are acceptable under the BOOK OF DISCIPLINE and the BOOK OF ORDER.

 

5.       Ordained elders of the Calvary Church and members and former members of the Church Board  of Christ's Church Methodist and Presbyterian United shall be eligible for membership and office in the higher judicatories of both participating denominations.

 

6.       Should either or both of the participating denominations at some future date during the existence of Christ's Church: Methodist and Presbyterian United seek to develop or approve the formation of another congregation with the parish bounds it is agreed that such plans will be considered by both judicatories and every effort will be made to form the new congregation under a model of interchurch cooperation such as the existing Plan of Union for Christ's Church: Methodist and Presbyterian United.

 

XII - DISSOLVING THE COVENANT

 

Christ's Church: Methodist and Presbyterian United may be dissolved by a two-thirds vote of two Parish Meetings, held not less than one year and not more than two years apart, subject to the concurrence of the judicatories involved. In case of dissolution, title to real property formerly held by one of the denominational groups shall revert to that group. Any addition to the present Wesley Church building shall also be considered to revert to the United Methodist group. However, should there be Presbyterian denominational funds (as distinct from contributions by individuals) used making such an addition, it shall be repaid to the United Presbyterian group, on an agreed-on schedule and subject to approval by affected judicatories. This would include the monies from the sale of Calvary Church and the adjacent property. Other real property acquired by Christ's Church: Methodist and Presbyterian United after the effective date of union shall be divided equally among the congregations.

If one denominational group wishes to dissolve the covenant:

1.       One YearŐs notice must be given the congregation and the other judicatory.

2.       The other judicatory must act to concur in the desire of the first to pull out.

 

3.       The judicatory initiating the action has no right to reclaim salary amounts or shared expenses paid into the project during the time it participated.

 

4.       Provisions stipulated above shall be adhered to regarding title to the disposition of real property and other assets.

 

5.       Payment of such amounts specified in item 4 above shall be made at a rate which the congregation reasonably can afford.

 

XIII - AMENDMENTS

Provisions relating to the ongoing functioning of Christ's Church: Methodist and Presbyterian United may be amended by a Parish Meeting announced for this purpose. Such amendments will require a two-thirds majority approval by those present and voting and will be in accordance with the current provisions of the BOOK OF DISCIPLINE and BOOK OF ORDER.

 

Approved by the congregation at a congregational meeting April 30, 2000.

 

Reviewed and approved by john C. Huenink, Interim General Presbyter, Presbyterian Church (USA) May 24, 2000.

 

Reviewed and approved by Karen Crooch, District Superintendent, Oregon/Idaho Annual Conference, United Methodist Church,

May 31, 2000.