Welcome to the Annual General Meeting (AGM) for Hillcrest Church.
This meeting has three main functions. First, it is a time to look back at the last year. Second, it is a time to anticipate what the Lord has for us in the future. Third, it a time for accountability among the Ministry Council, official members, and the rest of the church family.
STAFF AND BOARD REPORTS
Staff and Board reports give us a chance to look back at what was happening in the previous calendar year. And they also give a glimpse of the path that we are on. Read them prayerfully as we celebrate together what God has been doing and as we look for what the Lord has and will be doing in the next ministry season.
FINANCIAL REPORTS
The Financial Report accomplishes all three of the functions listed above. It helps us to look back, it helps us to look forward, and it helps the Ministry Council to be accountable to the members and the rest of the congregation.
This brings us to polity. The Ministry Council had already approved the budget for 2024 in December of last year. The Ministry Council needs members to affirm their decision. While we recognize that this affirmation does not hold much value for the current year (since we are already half way through it), the affirmation process does inform Ministry Council about any course corrections needed in the following year. Most years, affirmation is not an issue, but if there ever is a time when the board is not being properly accountable to the Lord and the congregation, the members can withhold their affirmation. If you choose to withhold your affirmation, Council would like to hear from you regarding any areas of concern you might have.
Affirming the budget isn’t just about accountability, it is also about commitment. By affirming the budget for 2024 you are indicating that you are ready to do your part to support God’s good work at Hillcrest. There are all sorts of ways that we give here; thank you to all the volunteers who give so much of their time and talents. And your ongoing financial support of the ministry of Hillcrest is crucial to the Mission that we have been given by the Lord.
POLITY
Hillcrest Evangelical Missionary Church is governed by a Ministry Council made up of seven lay leaders and the senior pastor. The staff of the church is accountable to the Senior Pastor who is accountable to the Chair of the Ministry Council as directed by the Ministry Council as a whole.
The Ministry Council is directly accountable to the official membership. The official membership is generally accountable to the Lord, the rest of the congregation, and to the community. All of these groups—the staff, the lead pastors, the Ministry Council, and the official members are responsible to make sure Hillcrest stays true to our calling and to steward our legacy for the sake of the future that God has for us.
The AGM is one of the ways that the Ministry Council demonstrates accountability to the membership. Accountability is also practiced:
Our AGM will be Hybrid again. There will be scheduled times for attendees to ask questions or make comments throughout the meeting. If you are in the Worship Centre, please use the mic whenever you are speaking from the floor. You may also submit questions or comments in writing to the moderator.
If you are attending online, you can use the dialogue box and ask for your comments or questions to be read to the congregation. If you are unable to type your questions, you will be able to call a cell number that will be given online.
Also feel free to use the COMMENTS/QUESTIONS button at the bottom of each AGM 2024 Web Page at any time before the AGM.
VISION
The AGM is a time for us to catch a vision for where the Lord is taking us at Hillcrest. That vision emerges from the ongoing gospel work that was given to the founders and builders who officially incorporated as a church 75 years ago. We have such a rich heritage. We want to build on that legacy as we continue in making disciples of Jesus Christ and giving everyone in our area opportunity to have a personal relationship with Him.
