Genesis Cooperative Community Constitution
Revision February 2026

Genesis Cooperative Vision Statement:
We are a Faith Community Celebrating the Beauty of God’s Presence 

Genesis Co-operative Council Constitution
Within the United Church of Canada

The Genesis Cooperative Council consists of representatives from Trinity (Vankleek Hill),
Kirk Hill and Cassburn United Churches.
The Cooperative Council Structure
  1. Personnel
    1. One full-time ordered minister
    2. Part time permanent Community Faith Manager (8-10 hours per week)
    3. Treasurer with honorarium
    4. A Secretary for the Genesis Council may be appointed. This is a non-voting position. Alternately, a secretary may be elected from the Council members.
 
  1. Cooperative Council
    1. Membership:  Two representatives elected from each participating congregation.  All terms are for two years with an additional two year renewable if desired. After a break from the Council for one year, a member may be re-elected for an additional term. (One exception applies, please see D 2 below).
    2. A Genesis Cooperative budget shall be prepared with costs to be shared equally by all congregations, including: cost of office and meeting space, personnel costs, LLWL costs, other joint expenses.
    3. The Ministry and Personnel Committee shall consist of one representative from each congregation and shall report to the Genesis Cooperative Council.
    4. As necessary, the Council shall appoint a committee to employ personnel; the committee shall include one member of the Ministry and Personnel Committee.
    5. An Annual General meeting must be held on an annual basis.  The location of these AGMs would rotate amongst the churches.
 
  1. Responsibilities of the Genesis Cooperative Council
    1. All matters relating to worship including the schedule of services including the special and joint services; all matters relating to sacraments, membership and weddings, including policy and provision of such instruction as may be required.
    2. Christian Formation including Sunday School, Youth Programming, Adult Education and Spiritual Formation, Seniors’ Ministry.
    3. Genesis Council is responsible for the formation of required committees, terms of office and any guidelines with respect to representation.  Committees may be formed as deemed necessary and helpful to the Cooperative’s efforts and shall address specific responsibilities and initiatives (e.g. Congregational Care, Music and Worship, Outreach).  Committee membership shall be from all congregations.  Committees will report to the Cooperative Council.
    4. The Council shall function as the Court of the Church for participating congregations in matters relating to Section 207 of the United Church Manual including: disciplining of members, transmission of proposals and appeals, ordering of formal appeals, liaison with the EOORC
    5. The Genesis Council shall provide an annual report to the participating congregations, direction for the trustees in each congregation, oversight for pastoral care, and all such matters as required by the United Church Manual and not otherwise stated.
 
  1. Functioning
    1. The Council shall meet at least quarterly.
    2.  If the Genesis Cooperative Council and the present chair are in agreement, the present chair may stay on for an additional year.  For this additional year the chair would also remain on as his/her church representative.  This can take place even if the chair has already served their two years and their additional two years.
    3. A quorum shall require the presence of the minister (called, settled or appointed) or an appointee of the Eastern Ontario and Outaouais Regional Council and at least one member from each congregation.
    4. Members of the Genesis Council must be in full membership in one of the Genesis congregations.
    5. Churches may appoint up to two alternate members who could replace at Genesis Cooperative Council meetings if neither member of the Genesis Council from their church can attend the Genesis meeting. The alternate will have voting privileges at the Council meetings.  The chair must be notified in advance if an alternate is to take part in a meeting.
    6. There shall be equal financial contributions from each congregation to the central treasury of the Genesis Cooperative Council for staff costs and other costs related to its mandate.
 
  1. Worship Services
    1. The Genesis Cooperative Council shall schedule three services per Sunday except in the case of special or joint services.
    2. The Genesis Cooperative Council shall arrange for regular joint services amongst the three congregations.
 
  1. Annual Review
    1. The Genesis Cooperative Council shall provide an Annual Review of the functioning of the Genesis Cooperative and the life and work of each of the congregations at an Annual General Meeting.
 
 
  1. Congregational Executive
                   Individual congregations shall elect an Executive who shall:
  1. Provide for the election of representatives to the Genesis Cooperative Council.
  2. Determine the number of members of the Executive required and their term.
  3. Appoint a treasurer, establish a budget, and engage with the Genesis treasurer on a monthly basis.
  4. Conduct an annual meeting of the congregation and submit a report to the Genesis Cooperative Council for inclusion in the Annual Report of Genesis Cooperative.
  5. Be responsible for all matters relating to church property management.
  6. Elect a Board of Trustees according to the terms of the United Church Manual.
 
  1. Additional Responsibilities
    1. Proposed capital expenditures with costs in excess of $25,000 shall be reviewed by the Genesis Cooperative Council with respect to the appropriateness and feasibility of the project.
    2. Local fundraising projects shall be at the discretion of the local Executive.
    3. The formation of special interest groups not provided for by the Genesis Cooperative Council shall be the responsibility of the local Executive.
 
  1. Office Space and Duties:
    1. Tasks of the Community Faith Manager shall include, for example, support to the Minister with content management for weekly services and announcements; update Genesis website content; coordinate timing and dates among Genesis committees; manage advertising for weekly services and special events; regular update of church lists; direct primary contact and responsibility for the welcome and integration of new members) and managing office equipment.
    2. Genesis Cooperative will maintain an office space for use by the minister and the Community Faith Manager.