Southminster Presbyterian Church

Loving Hearts Learning Place

Financial and Administrative Policies

Loving Hearts Learning Place (LHLP) is a ministry of Southminster Presbyterian Church.  The Southminster Session exercises its oversight of LHLP through the LHLP Board, the members of which are appointed by Session.  Daily administration of the LHLP is carried out by the LHLP Directors, who are employed by Session.

 I.      Administration

 A.   LHLP shall be subject to the governance of the Session through the LHLP Board.

 B.   The Chair of the LHLP Board, on behalf of the board and the church, shall, in coordination with the Pastor (Head of Staff) and Session Chair of Personnel, oversee the general policy of and the senior administrative staff of the LHLP.

 C.   The Chair of the LHLP Board shall work with the Co-Directors of the LHLP, especially as they ask for the Chair's assistance.

 D.   The LHLP Board shall be an advisory committee and resource, and shall have those governance responsibilities that are specifically delegated to it by the Session.

 E.    The LHLP Board members shall be appointed by the Session for 3-year terms, renewable. The Chair of the LHLP Board shall nominate persons for consideration for service on the Board.  The Co-Directors of the LHLP shall be ex officio members of the Board, with voice but without vote.  The Director of Children's Ministries and Christian Education shall be an ex officio member of the Board, with voice but without vote.

 II.   Finances

Loving Hearts Learning Place is one of the revenue and expense centers of Southminster Presbyterian Church.

 A.     The Church Business Administrator shall maintain all accounts associated with the LHLP.

 B.     The annual budget shall be prepared by the Co-Directors of the LHLP and submitted to the Budget and Finance Committee after review and approval by the LHLP Board.  The Budget and Finance Committee shall recommend the LHLP Budget to Session for approval.

 C.    The annual budget shall include a detailed income and expense schedule, as salary schedule for each class of employee, and a recommended tuition charge for each class.  The salaries and wages of all LHLP personnel below the level of Director shall be recommended by the LHLP Co-Directors upon consultation with the Chair of the LHLP Board and approved by the Personnel Committee.

 D.    The Co-Directors of the LHLP shall be church staff, and their work shall be reviewed annually by the Pastor (Head of Staff), Personnel Committee Chair, and Chair of the LHLP Board.  The Personnel Committee shall review the adequacy of compensation and shall make an annual salary recommendation for the Co-Directors to Session.

 E.    The LHLP Board, with the approval of the Budget and Finance Committee and the Church Business Administrator, may establish special funds for reasons of scholarships, endowment, and major equipment purchases.  These accounts may be funded by special LHLP fund-raisers, special gifts, or interest from an endowment.

 F.     LHLP Classroom and daily supplies shall be purchased by LHLP staff using budgeted LHLP funds.

 G.    Custodial care shall be provided by the Building and Grounds Committee, using LHLP budgeted custodial funds.

 H.    Utilities and general maintenance shall be provided by the church.

 I.      The church shall provide officers and liability insurance for the LHLP Board and LHLP staff.

 J.      LHLP staff may purchase durable supplies, buy equipment and make Session-approved capital improvements, which will then become church property under the care of Session.

 K.   Revenue exceeding the approved LHLP expense budget in any given year shall remain in the general fund for the ongoing ministries of the church.