ARTICLE VI Ad-hoc Committees

Section 1. General Guidelines for Ad-hoc Committees. Ad-hoc Committees shall be designated by the moderator, any board or committee when necessary; shall meet within one month of designation; shall be dissolved when their assignments have been completed.

Section 2. Search Committee.

A. Terms of Office. In the event of a pastoral vacancy, a special meeting of the Church shall be called for the nomination and election of a Search Committee composed of nine Church members. At this meeting, Council shall present eight nominees on the following recommendations; one each by and from the Board of Trustees and the Diaconate; one each by and from the Christian Education, Mission and Social Action, and Senior Outreach Committees; and three by Council. One at-large nominee shall be named from the floor. Vacancies on the Search Committee by members’ resignation or death shall be filled by Council on recommendations of the appropriate committees. The Search Committee shall hold office until such time as a new pastor is affirmed by a two-thirds vote of the Church, thereby sending a "call", and then shall be dissolved.

B. Responsibilities.

The Search Committee shall work with the appropriate official of the New Hampshire Conference, United Church of Christ, in securing candidates for pastor; shall have exclusive authority to interview candidates; shall recommend candidates to the Church; shall negotiate with the pastor and the Finance Committee the initial contract between the pastor and the church that shall be affirmed by a two-thirds vote of the Church. (See Article VIII, Section 1.)