The name of this Committee (hereinafter known as the Committee) shall be: D.C. Metro Finance Committee
This is a Committee made from the members of the Unification Washington Metro Church or congregation (hereinafter known as the Congregation) -- also known as the DC Family Church. Its purpose is to support God, the True Parents, and the Congregation in carrying out the financial aspects of their efforts to advance the Divine providence. The Committee shall have authority over the budget and financial affairs of the Congregation and any of its sub-Congregations.
The Regional Director, appointed by the True Parents, has ultimate authority over and responsibility for the affairs of the Congregation and over its budget. He, in the role of parent, shall act as advisor to the Committee.
The Committee shall be made up of from seven to twelve Delegates, plus the Pastor of the Congregation. (Hereinafter known as Committee Members.)
Since the Congregation now comprises twelve districts, each district shall have the right to choose one Delegate and one Alternate Delegate for the Committee. Should the structure of the Congregation change with respect to local units, each unit shall have the right to choose an equal number of Delegates so that the total number of Committee Members shall be seven to twelve plus the Pastor. In the event that a restructuring of the Congregation is necessary or takes place, it shall be the responsibility of the Committee existing at that time to decide, in good faith, how the structuring of the Committee and the apportioning of Delegates shall be done.
The first Delegate selections are to be carried out within two weeks of adoption of these by-laws by the Congregation. In subsequent years, the choosing of Delegates is to be carried out by the Districts or other units in April.
Delegates shall serve for a period of two years, and be chosen in alternate years. (For the first Delegate selection, all Delegates shall be chosen for a one year term, and a lottery shall be conducted by the Pastor and held among the Delegates by which half of those Delegates are given two-year terms. The Pastor shall announce to the Congregation, and to the districts they represent, which Delegates have been given two-year terms.) Delegates may be reelected as many times as their district wishes to do so.
Each Delegate shall attend each meeting of the Committee, and have full rights of discussing and voting on all issues. If a Delegate is unable to attend a meeting of the Committee, the Alternate for that district or unit shall attend in place of the Delegate, and shall have all rights and responsibilities of the Delegate. If a Delegate is unable to carry out his duties, his Alternate shall become the Delegate, and a new Alternate shall be chosen by the members of the district or unit in question.
The Chairperson, or another designated agent from within the Committee, shall meet with the Treasurer each month to go over the financial statement and plan the agenda of the Committee's meeting for the next month.
If the Chairperson is unable to carry out his or her duties, the Vice-Chairperson shall become Chairperson and a new Vice-Chairperson shall be elected by the Committee.
The packet for each meeting, and any papers or other materials distributed at a meeting become part of the record, and the secretary shall keep copies of these. At least three additional copies shall be made of these; one copy is to be given to the Chairperson, one to the Pastor, and one to the Regional Director. The secretary shall be the repository for all financial reports, all sub-committee reports and any other reports or recommendations made to the Committee. All these items shall be made available to any Delegate upon request. The entire record, except in specific cases where decided otherwise by the Regional Director or by 2/3 vote of all members of the Committee, shall be public and available to the Congregation.
If the Vice Chairperson is filling in for the Chairperson, and the Secretary is also not present, a temporary secretary shall be chosen to keep the minutes and voting information. If the Secretary is unable to complete his or her term, a new Secretary shall be elected by the Committee.
The meeting shall be called to order by the Chairperson, who will establish that a Quorum of Delegates (or their Alternates if a Delegate is missing) is present.
Discussion will proceed according to the packet distributed to each Delegate to the Committee. The packet shall include:
Discussion may be limited to Delegates or opened to observers if the Committee elects to do so.
The Committee and its Delegates are encouraged to promote tithing by all members of the Congregation. They have the responsibility to develop, implement, and coordinate strategies and methods for raising funds to meet the budget, and review and approve any written solicitations or fundraising appeals made to the Congregation.
The Committee's Delegates are to oversee the accuracy of collections and distributions of funds. Delegates are to be careful, honorable, informed, and mindful of the whole- purpose in preparing and voting on the budget.
The Committee should receive, review, and approve by voting the quarterly reports prepared for the Congregation. After approval, these quarterly reports will be made available to the Congregation.
The Committee is to prepare operating and capital budgets (short-term and long-term).
The Committee may appoint sub-committees, either of its own members or of whatever other persons it deems appropriate, to study, make recommendations, do investigations, or whatever other work the Committee, by vote, regards as necessary. No funds are to be spent by any sub-committee without an approving vote by the Committee.
Between regular Committee meetings, needs may arise outside of the normal allocation and month's projection. Additional funds of up to $500 may be released upon approval of the Chairperson and two additional Delegates. Such allocations must be reported to the full Committee at the next regular meeting. The Pastor has special privilege for allocating funds for exceptional occasions, but the Chairperson, Vice Chairperson, Treasurer, and Secretary shall all be informed of all such events and a report must be given to the full Committee at the next regular meeting.
The Committee shall make up a 12-month budget for the Congregation. If there are sub-Congregations, budgets shall be made for them also. The Committee shall allocate funds, by line item, for each such budget.
Detailed reports of all receipts and allocations of funds are to be kept by the Treasurer or by whatever other agent the Committee may designate. These reports are to be made public to all members of the Congregation. Copies of the reports are to be made available to every member of the Congregation at three-month (quarterly) intervals, or at whatever other intervals either the Committee or the Regional Director may deem appropriate.
Delegates should report on the affairs and deliberations of the Committee to their Districts or other units.
Amendments to these by-laws shall be by 2/3 majority of the total number of Delegates to the Committee. Proposals for amendment must be reported to the Congregation and must be submitted in detail to the Committee at least one full meeting prior to discussion and voting.
These by-laws will be ratified and take effect upon approval by the Regional Director and by vote of the majority of the Congregation present at a Sunday Service. The contents of these by-laws and the coming vote for ratification must be announced.
(Adopted by unanimous vote of the ad-hoc drafting committee, 3/16/98, ratified by vote of the Congregation and containing an amendment adopted in September 1999.)