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Statement of Qualifications for President of the Evangelical Covenant Church

2008 Presidential Nominating Committee

Section 6.3. The President.

a. Duties and Responsibilities. The president shall provide pastoral leadership to the ECC. The president shall also be the chief executive officer of the ECC and, subject to the authority of the Annual Meeting and the Executive Board, shall have general direction of the ministry and business matters of the ECC, general direction of the officers of the ECC and members of the Council of Administrators, the general powers and duties of management usually vested in the office of president of an Illinois not-for-profit corporation, and all other powers and duties as may be prescribed by the Annual Meeting, the Executive Board, or these Bylaws. Within this authority and in the course of the duties of president, the president shall

i. preside at all meetings of the Council of Administrators;

ii. be an ex-officio member of all boards, councils, commissions, committees, and associations of the ECC, except the Presidential Nominating Committee and any committee of the Executive Board that is reviewing the performance or compensation of the president of the ECC;

iii. be an ex-officio member of the boards and committees of all corporations established by the ECC and their affiliates; and

iv. execute or authorize the execution of legal, financial, and commercial documents in the name of the ECC when authorized by the Annual Meeting or the Executive Board, or when required by law or the regular and ordinary course of business.

b. Term of Office. A president shall be elected or re-elected for a term of four years. Each term shall begin on September 1 following the Annual Meeting at which the president was elected or re-elected.


Section 7.9. Elections and Calls.

c. Election Provisions for the President of the ECC and the Executive Ministers Elected by the Annual Meeting.

i. Only members in good standing of a member congregation of the ECC shall be eligible for election.

ii. Only ordained ministers of the ECC in good standing shall be eligible for election as president of the ECC or as executive minister of the ordered ministry.

The first section, entitled Spiritual Leadership, should be considered as fundamental and prerequisite to other considerations.

I. Spiritual Leadership

A. Commitment to God through Jesus Christ

1. The principal requisite should be a commitment of faith to the living God through Jesus Christ.

2. This commitment should demonstrate “belief in the Holy Scriptures, the Old and New Testaments as the Word of God, the only perfect rule for faith, doctrine and conduct.”

3. This commitment should be manifested in a theological maturity which reflects an ever-deepening experience in an understanding of God’s Word.

4. This commitment should include a demonstrated ability to inspire responsible giving.

5. This commitment should result in a demonstrated ability for effective biblical preaching.

B. Commitment to the Covenant

1. The candidate should merit the respect of Covenant pastors and laity and possess the maturity to relate and speak lovingly and openly to the diversity and freedom which characterizes the Evangelical Covenant Church.

2. The candidate should know the Covenant and appreciate our pietistic and evangelistic heritage, and be capable of leading the Covenant’s ministry and mission in the world.

3. The candidate should be alert to how Covenant people feel and demonstrate a genuine concern for the spiritual well-being of our local congregations and their pastors.

C. Commitment to the Entire Church

1. The candidate should actively represent the Covenant to the entire Christian church which is the Body of Christ

2. The candidate should have the ability to cooperate with leaders of other church bodies in joint witness to the Gospel.

II. Visionary Leadership

A. Demonstrated leadership, not limited to, but including, commitment to the following initiatives.

1. Reach the unchurched, particularly the emerging generations.

2. Press forward in ethnic ministry and diversity.

3. Extend greater measures of compassion and justice to the poor and desperate.

4. Attend to health of existing congregations.

5. Form spiritually mature disciples who live out of obedience to Christ in the world.

6. Calling and equipping women and men for all levels of church leadership.

7. Pursue expanded strategic global opportunities and partnerships.

III. Administrative Leadership

A. Executive and Organizational Ability

1. The candidate should demonstrate wisdom to determine, accomplish and evaluate worthy goals.

2. The candidate should be an effective administrator with skills in leadership, organization, and management of resources.

3. The candidate should demonstrate either by experience or by propensity the ability to manage financial resources and the budgeting process.

B. Staff Effectiveness

1. The candidate should demonstrate the ability to delegate responsibility and authority.

2. The candidate should enable the training of and motivation for administrators and staff including Conference Superintendents.

IV. Personal Qualifications

The Candidate should:

A. have a record of solid achievement, denominational cooperation and service and be widely known to the denomination.

B. be of such health and age as to permit at least two terms of service.

C. be approachable – able to relate to persons of all walks of life.

D. possess maturity and integrity and be of such personal stature as to inspire respect and confidence

E. be informed about and able to speak and write clearly on the issues we face.

F. have energy sufficient to manage a demanding schedule with good humor.

G. have a supportive spouse, if married.