Church Leadership
Board of Trustees

Introduction

In accordance with the Constitution of the Presbyterian Church (USA), and the By-laws of San Marino Community Church, the Board of Trustees shall have nine members elected in three classes of three members each. The term of service shall be limited in the same manner as Session. The Church Nominating Committee shall bring to the annual meeting or a called special meeting of the congregation/corporation nominees in a number sufficient to fill each class and any vacancies. Members on the active roll shall be eligible for election as trustees. The Board of Trustees shall annually elect from its number the following officers: President, Vice President, and Secretary (the Treasurer is elected annually by the Session).

The Board of Trustees is vested with specific and reserved responsibilities as follows:

Book of Order: G-7.0402
The corporation so formed, or the individual trustees, shall have the following powers: to receive, hold, encumber, manage, and transfer property, real or personal, for the church; to accept and execute deeds of title to such property; to hold and defend title to such property; to manage any permanent special funds for the furtherance of the purposes of the church, all subject to the authority of the session and under the provisions of the Constitution of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), provided further that in buying, selling, and mortgaging real property, the trustees shall act only after the approval of the congregation granted in a duly constituted meeting. The power and duties of the Board of Trustees shall not infringe upon the powers and duties of the Session or the Board of Deacons.

In addition, the San Marino Community Church Session, subject to its authority, delegates to the Board of Trustees the additional responsibility to manage the financial affairs of the church. These responsibilities include the following:

In accordance with the funding priorities of Session, and in consultation with the Session Committee Chairs, the Trustees shall annually submit for Session approval a balanced General Fund Budget;

• The Trustees shall manage the General Fund Budget and all other church accounts and funds, with  monthly financial reports to Session;

• The Trustees shall recommend to Session the use of undesignated gifts and bequests;

• The Trustees shall be responsible for all matters pertaining to the operation and
equipping of the church office (except personnel matters); insurance, maintenance, improvement, and use of church grounds and facilities.

Duties

The duties and powers of the Officers of the Board of Trustees are as follows:

President: The duties of the President are as follows:
• Supervise and control all of the business activities of the corporation, and perform all duties incident to the office of President and such other duties as may be prescribed by the Board of Trustees from time to time;
• Preside at all meetings of the Board of Trustees;
• Ensure that all Motions, Resolutions and Orders of the Board of Trustees are carried out;
• Ensure that a draft annual budget is presented to the Session for consideration at its January meeting each year;
• Ensure that the Session approved budget is adhered to, and that an operating deficit is not incurred;
• Ensure that in January of each year the funds available for maintenance of the Church and associated facilities during the current year are identified, and that the Board of Trustees approves a schedule of maintenance activities consistent with the available funds.
• Submit to the Congregation at its Annual Meeting both a written and an oral report on the state of the Church;
• Attend all meetings of the Session and report to the Session on the major activities of the Board of Trustees and the financial status of the Church;
• Ensure that representatives of the Session and of the San Marino Community Church Foundation attend all regular and special meetings of the Board of Trustees and report on the major activities of their respective organizations;
• Call special meetings of the Board of Trustees as needed;
• Serve as ex officio member of all committees of the Board of Trustees; and
• Not serve on the Nominating Committee that nominates members of the Congregation for service as members of the Board of Trustees.

Vice President: The duties of the Vice President are as follows:
• In the absence of the President or in the event of the President's inability or refusal to act perform the duties of the President, and when so acting, the Vice President shall have all the powers of and be subject to all the restrictions upon the President; and
• Perform duties as from time to time may be assigned by the President or by the Board of Trustees.

Treasurer (elected annually by Session): The duties of the Treasurer are as follows:
• Have charge and custody of and be responsible for all funds and securities of the corporation, ensure that accurate records thereof and of all receipts and disbursements of the corporation are maintained, and ensure the deposit of all monies and other valuable effects in the name and to the credit of the corporation with such depository or depositories as shall be designated by the Board of Trustees.
• Present a report on the financial condition of the Church at each Board of Trustees meeting;
• Prepare a draft annual budget for the coming year for distribution to, and consideration by, the Board of Trustees at its December meeting;
• Participate in the annual audit of the affairs of the Church and furnish the annual audit report to each member of the Board of Trustees; and
• Perform all duties incident to the office of Treasurer and such other duties as from time to time may be assigned to the Treasurer by the Board of Trustees.

Secretary: The duties of the Secretary are as follows:
• Prepare minutes of all meetings of the Board of Trustees;
• Prepare articles for the Church bulletin describing the activities of the Board of Trustees;
• See that all notices are duly given in accordance with the provisions of the bylaws or as required by law;
• Perform all duties incident to the office of Secretary and such other duties as from time to time may be assigned to the Secretary by the Board of Trustees.

In the absence of the Secretary at any meeting, a secretary pro tempore shall be appointed by the presiding officer.