When to Involve the Board of Trustees
of the Presbytery of Elizabeth

Sale of a Church Manse

Sale of Property to which a church holds title

Lease or rental of a manse or property

Borrowing money in an amount greater than or equal to 15% of the current year’s budget

Loan to a Pastor

  A Checklist for Sessions

General Steps

  1. Call the President of the Board of Trustees to discuss the transaction and obtain information on the particulars required to present the proposal to the Trustees.
  2. Session then complies the required written proposal information.
  3. The Trustees review the prepared and printed proposal.  This takes place at their monthly meeting (1st Wednesday at 12:30 PM).  The proposal is meant to be a two-page document, at the most, with the attachment of the current year’s church budget when required.
  4. After the Trustees review the proposal, the particulars are presented at a congregational meeting.
  5. The results of the congregational meeting are reported to the Trustees who then present the proposal at the next regularly scheduled meeting of the Presbytery.

  

What type of information is required for a written proposal to the Trustees?

 Sale of a church manse

ü      Two written professional appraisals of the manse or property to be sold

ü      The sale price of the manse or property, which is not less than the lower of the two appraisals.

 Sale of property to which a church holds title

ü      Two written professional appraisals of the manse or property to be sold

ü      The sale price of the manse or property, which is not less than the lower of the two appraisals.

ü      A list of present and potential uses for the property to be sold

ü      An estimate of the expected monetary increase or decrease in the property value over the next five years.

ü      The church mission statement and a determination of how the sale or encumbrance of the property will strengthen or weaken that mission.

ü      A statement of how the proceeds from the sale will be used

 Lease or rental of a manse or property

ü      A copy of the required written lease agreement including a statement from the municipality indicating at what time the rented manse or property returns to the tax rolls.

 Borrowing money in an amount greater than or equal to 15% of the
         current year’s budget

ü      The church mission statement and a determination of how the sale or encumbrance of the property will strengthen or weaken that mission.

ü      The source of funds, interest rate, collateral of liens, amount and frequency of payments, arrangement to liquidate the obligation and current year church budget.

 Loan to a Pastor
               (Note: Trustees, not Presbytery, review required.)

ü      The source of funds, interest rate, collateral of liens, amount and frequency of payments, arrangement to liquidate the obligation and current year church budget.

ü      Arrangements for repayment in the event of departure of the pastor.

 Questions?
Contact the President of the Board of Trustees or the Executive Presbyter
or call the Presbytery office 908-755-3776. 
For further information, please refer to the Bylaws of the Trustees of the Presbytery of Elizabeth.