Congregational Meeting Called for Sunday, December 14

“But all things should be done decently and in order.” (1 Corinthians 14:40, ESV)

Dear friends,

The Provisional Session of Covenant Church has called our annual congregational meeting for Sunday, December 14, 2025 immediately following Morning Worship. All members will have the privilege of the floor and voting.

Covenant Church members, I encourage you to make every effort to attend the meeting. Per the Form of Government of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church, we cannot hold the meeting without a quorum of 1/4 of Covenant's membership.

Every member should have a copy of the Form of Government in their membership packet. To access denominational documents electronically, please visit this link:

Governing Documents | The Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church

The Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church

The goals of this annual meeting are as follows:

1. Approve the budget for 2026
2. Elect a congregational chairman for 2026
3. Elect a treasurer for 2026

Nominations are now open for the roles of congregational chairman and treasurer.

To make a nomination for one or both of these roles, please contact any of the following:

• Provisional Elder Mike Thomason
  mikethomason73@gmail.com
• Provisional Elder Marty Smithhart
  smithhart@gmail.com
• Rev. Brooks Pipher
  brooks@covenantburbank.com

Nomination and Election of a Congregational Chairman

1. The main role of the congregational chairman is to preside over congregational meetings. We typically have only one congregational meeting annually.
2. "Congregations shall have the authority to elect or not elect a chairman from among the communicant membership. The chairman’s office shall be for one year and he shall be eligible to succeed himself." (ARP FOG 3.8)
3. "At all congregational meetings the congregational chairman or someone appointed by the Session shall preside, and the clerk of the Session or someone appointed by the Session shall serve as secretary." (ARP FOG 3.25 H)

Covenant's congregational chairman for 2025 is Angel Moncada. He is eligible to be re-nominated and re-elected.

Nomination and Election of a Congregational Treasurer

1. "There shall be a congregational treasurer or treasurers elected by the congregation from among the communicant membership." (ARP FOG 3.9)
2. "The treasurer’s term of office shall be for one year, and he shall be eligible to succeed himself." (ARP FOG 3.9 A)
3. "The treasurer shall be an advisory member of the Diaconate when not a regular member thereof." (ARP FOG 3.9 B)
4. "The treasurer shall keep an accurate accounting of all receipts and expenditures and furnish such records to the Diaconate and/or Session on a regular basis." (ARP FOG 3.9 C)
5. "The congregational treasurer, who is entrusted with the regular offerings of the congregation, shall be responsible to the oversight of the Diaconate. A monthly financial report of the congregational treasurer shall be included in the minutes of the diaconate. An objective and financially literate party, someone not directly connected to the maintenance of the financial records, or receipt and/or distribution of church funds, shall conduct an annual financial review Such a review shall be designed to provide at least limited assurance that (1) financial assets are properly safeguarded, and (2) the reported financial statements are complete and accurate." (ARP FOG 5.11)
6. Covenant Church's treasurer has a present salary of $200 per month for their work.

Covenant's treasurer for 2025 is Laura Taylor. She is eligible to be re-nominated and re-elected.

Questions? I'm available by text or call any time at 818-237-4251.

-Pastor Brooks