Our Purpose Statement:

 

Following our retreat in January 2008, our session adopted the following purpose statement:

Purpose Statement:

The Book of Order states that the six great ends of the church are:

 

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Our Mission Teams:

 

Like most Presbyterian USA churches, Hodges Boulevard Presbyterian Church (HBPC) uses committees to run the programs of the church.  At HBPC we call our committees "Mission Teams," and an outline of our Mission Teams is provided below:

 

OUTREACH MISSION TEAM

Mission Description: 

To determine and develop programs that meet the needs of the surrounding community and beyond, including expressions of our congregation's concern for social justice and our church's participation in world missions.

Specific duties:

1. Educate the congregation regularly regarding the theology of missions and our church's programs of mission.
2. Involve as many members as possible in community and world mission.
3. Supervise and coordinate current mission programs of our church, such as:
 A. Beaches Soup Kitchen (Mission House)
 B. Arlington Community Services (ACS)
 C. Beaches Meals on Wheels
 D. Urban Ministries of Springfield
 E. Florida - Georgia Blood Alliance
 F. CROP Walk
 G. Campus Ministries
 H. Habitat for Humanity at the Beaches
I. Personal Involvement Program (missionary sponsorship to provide emotional and spiritual support)
J. Jamaica Mutual Missions (Youth Exchange, Medical Mission, 2¢ a Meal)
4. Lead our church in its contribution to various mission offerings throughout the year (One Great Hour of Sharing, Presbyterian Retirement Communities, Pentecost Offering, Blanket Sunday, Peacemaking Offering, Joy Offering, etc.).
5. Provide a special program of focus on missions annually.
 

HUMAN RESOURCES MISSION TEAM

The Human Resource Mission Team is new to HBPC in 2002.  The team formed as an offshoot of the Administration Mission Team.  We plan to tackle all personnel and staff issues that arise within our church and to make recommendations to Session. 

CHRISTIAN EDUCATION MISSION TEAM

Mission Description: 

To develop strong Christian Education programs that teach the Gospel, and to foster spiritual growth in adults, youth and children.  To provide a strong youth program which will nurture our youth and prepare them for responsible roles in service, worship, education, and decision making.

Specific Duties:

 1. Determine curriculum and provide appropriate instructional resources for the church school.
 2. Recruit and train church school teachers.
 3. Develop and supervise the youth program.
 4. Promote and advertise church school classes and educational events throughout the whole church.
 5. Provide a quality nursery for the whole church on Sunday mornings during church school and worship services.
6. Train church leaders, such as church school teachers, youth advisors, officers, etc., including promoting and facilitating our members' participation in Presbyterian camps and conferences.
 7. Organize and promote the Rally Day breakfast in September of each year, including the meal and the program.
 8. Promote and oversee small group studies at other times than the church school hour (Bible and book studies, etc.) in our congregation.
 9. Organize special study programs for children and adults: Lenten studies, Vacation Bible School, etc.
10. Arrange nursery and study hall for each Committee Night.
 
 

FINANCE MISSION TEAM

Function: 
To manage, maintain records and report information regarding financial matters.

Responsibilities:
1. Manage and report monthly actual performance against the approved budget for consistency with income and disbursements.
2. Manage and account for all funds received and disbursed through the use of accepted accounting procedures.
3. Maintain records of the financial contributions of the congregation and provide semi-annual reports of the individual contributors.
4. Prepare periodic reports of financial conditions of the church for review by the Session and for information to the Presbytery and the congregation.
5. Recommend policies whereby all funds received from individual, organization or group of the church are accounted for and designated contributions are channeled to those causes for which they are intended.
6. Maintain records of all gifts and memorial giving.
7. Annually, gather budget needs from the Session and prepare a proposed annual budget for approval by the Session (need a date).
8. Cause annual audit of all operating accounts with report to the session by (date).

9. Prepare each year, a 3-5 year financial forecast of income and expense for budget planning.
10. Maintain the church files on finance, cooperate matters, legal matters, mortgages and government forms.
11. Administer the church’s insurance program including property, casualty, and public liability coverage.
12. Administer health insurance in coordination with the Human Resources Committee.
13. Committee should keep Session advised of matters which will incur attorney fees and obtain approval of the Session before such fees are incurred.
14. Committee shall be available to the Session and the ministers for consultation of church legal matters of all kinds.
15. Supervise church Treasurer and Financial Secretary assure bonding of those handling church funds.
 

EVANGELISM MISSION TEAM

Mission Description: 

To foster in our church a strong commitment to Christian evangelism through word and deed, and to lead this congregation in its effort to add and assimilate members from all races and socioeconomic groups in our community.

Specific Duties

1. Advertising our church in the community and inviting outsiders to join.
2. Welcoming visitors to worship and other church programs.
3. Keeping an accurate and current record of visitors to worship.
4. Educating prospective members about the Presbyterian faith and the privileges and responsibilities of church membership (this should include conducting orientation classes for those interested in membership).
5. Contacting prospective members after they have visited our church with phone calls, letters, and visits to further express our welcome and provide them with information about our church.
6. Assimilating members who have joined into the life and ministry of the congregation (assigning sponsors, making sure the new members are invited to join fellowship groups and to attend church activities, follow-up visits to make them feel welcome after joining, etc.)
 

CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY MISSION TEAM

Mission Description: 
To maintain an open and friendly congregation, sensitive to the spiritual, physical, and mental needs of all members, and to create programs which will result in the growth of a close Christian community.  See Acts 2:43-47.

Specific Duties:
1. Foster small fellowship groups in the congregation that will facilitate mutual acquaintance and friendship among all rather than the development of exclusive groups.
2. Plan larger social and recreational events that will celebrate seasons of the church year or the secular year and other events which enable church members to enjoy each other and have fun together as they get better acquainted (Christmas dinner, Halloween party, etc.) 
3. Plan an annual congregational retreat, including program, speaker, registration, and all other arrangements.
4. Arrange for refreshments and coffee for the church school and worship on Sundays as needed (to be determined by committee).
5. Serve as committee of liaison and oversight for the Presbyterian Women and Presbyterian Men's organizations of the church.
6. Distribute schedule of assignments for Committee Night refreshments for the year in January.

DEACONS

Hodges Boulevard Presbyterian Church elected its first board of deacons in March 12, 2000. 
The congregation has been divided up into 12 parishes and each deacon given the responsibility of care of the families in one parish. Deacons do the following: 
1. organize the needs for various parish members; 
2. provide prayer for and support to the community; 
3. provide specialized ministry involving pastoral care such as: 
    transportation, prayer chain, meal delivery, flower delivery; 
4. assist in communion and actively participate in ministries of the church. 
 

PROPERTY MISSION TEAM

Mission Description: 

Provide a place of worship and fellowship for the community.  Provide and maintain a multi-purpose facility appropriate to the church's goals and mission.  Meet the needs of the community by providing space that will be in use throughout the week.

Specific Duties:

1. Provide liaison between Session and Building Committee.
2. Maintain building and grounds in good condition, once the building program is complete.
3. Schedule and supervise janitorial services/staff in consultation with the pastor and Administration Committee.
4. Receive and evaluate requests for building use by the community, recommending action by the Session.
5. Establish policies governing use of building by community groups, to provide liaison, communication, and supervision of such groups in their use of the building.
6. Other related duties.

STEWARDSHIP MISSION TEAM

Mission Description: 

Lead the members to practice Christian stewardship through committing our whole lives to Christ, giving Christ's kingdom priority in all areas of life, including our management of the earth's resources, our personal time, our health, our gifts for ministry, our citizenship, and our financial resources.

Specific Duties:

1. Educating the congregation regularly about Christian stewardship.
2. Conducting a time and talent campaign at least annually.
3. Soliciting time and talent information from church members regularly and keeping the information in a useful, accessible, and current form for committees, and conveying new time and talent information received to committee chairs in a timely manner.
4. Conducting a financial campaign at least annually.
5. Other related duties.
 

WORSHIP AND MUSIC MISSION TEAM

Mission Description: 

Provide for the worship of God through celebration of the Good News of Christ through Word, sacrament, prayer, and music, in keeping with the Directory of Worship of the Presbyterian Church U.S.A.

Specific Duties:

 1. Provide an appropriate setting for the people of God to engage in worship in the Reformed tradition.
 2. Providing education in worship to all age groups in the congregation including acolyte training.  A Children's Church liaison has been established to help children understand the meaning and value of worship.  For children remaining in church, clipboards are provided using activity sheets with biblical themes.
 3. The selection of hymnals, songbooks, and service books, and their acquisition, with the concurrence of the pastor.
 4. Oversight of the music program of the church, except for the responsibility of the selection of music for worship, which is the responsibility of the pastor in consultation with the Liturgical Arts Director.
 5. Approval of order and sequence of the parts of worship proposed by the pastor.
 6. Providing for space, furnishings, and decorations for worship including flowers.
 7. Arranging for scheduling of lay liturgists; acolytes; and worship service teams to open and close building and set up sanctuary for worship services; and elders to serve Communion.

 8. Planning and arranging special services, e.g.:
 A. Christmas Eve Communion
 B. Ash Wednesday Communion
 C. Maundy Thursday Communion
 D. Easter Communion
 9. Making policies and arrangements for weddings and funeral services.
10. Preparation of Communion elements and vessels with water for baptisms.
11. Arrange for pianist each Committee Night.