ECC SPRINGFIELD CHURCH GOVERNANCE SYSTEM All authority for managing the church is derived from God; He is the Head of the church. We believe our congregation is gathered by God, united in Christ, and empowered by the Holy Spirit to obey the Great Commandment and the Great Commission. Our common experience of God's grace and love in Jesus Christ continues to sustain us as an interdependent body of believers that recognizes but transcends theological differences. We are committed to reaching across boundaries of race, ethnicity, culture, gender, age, and status in the cultivation of communities of life and service. The church leaders are elected by the congregation, and all are accountable to the congregation. To accomplish its mission and purpose the congregation has always employed a Council system of government. However, the Evangelical Covenant Denomination has developed a Leadership Team governance model that our Church Council recently voted to propose to the congregation this year as a Bylaws change. Click here to view the Leadership Team Bylaws. Its intent is to increase management flexibility and streamline decision making thereby allowing the church to be more responsive to community and congregation needs. For the present time our Council system has the following Boards:  Board of Christian Education The Board of Christian Education, through the teaching of God's Word, seeks to guide individuals toward knowing and experiencing God's purpose for their life through Christ and to equip them for ministry. Board of Church Music The purpose of the Board of Church Music is to establish policy for and to supervise all the musical activities of the church, and to assist the Senior Pastor in the oversight and coordination of the worship services of the church. Board of Deacons The purpose of the Board of Deacons is to nurture the spiritual life of the congregation. Board of Finance and Stewardship The Board of Finance and Stewardship shall be responsible for the care of the financial assets of the church. Board of Missions and Outreach The Board of Missions and Outreach shall suggest and implement policies relevant to the home and foreign missions programs of the church and encourage the development of appropriate evangelistic dimensions in all programs and activities of the church. Board of Trustees Subject to the direction of the Church Council, the Board of Trustees shall be responsible for the property of the church, except the financial assets, in accordance with the decisions of the church. Board of Community Ministries The Board of Community Ministries shall be responsible to increase the awareness of the congregation to the needs of people in the inner city of Springfield and to provide opportunities for members of the church as they are called by the Lord to become involved in ministries to those people, to learn from them, and to expand the vision of the Kingdom of God.