First Baptist Church of Rio
Grande City
Policy # 3
Use
of Facilities
Section
1. General
The property and facilities of
First Baptist Church of Rio Grande City belong to God and not to us. We are to
act as faithful stewards of these possessions and should seek to fulfill this
obligation in a faithful and responsible manner.
First Baptist
Church desires to make its
facilities available for use by local Christian organizations, Christian
Mission Teams, emergency management groups, non profit groups, and community
service oriented organizations at no cost.
First Baptist Church
may receive love offerings for the use of its facilities to be used for
utilities, maintenance and repairs.
In order that church facilities
and possessions are used in accordance with our vision, use should have an
emphasis on ministry, be consistent with the church in content, and be subject
to the appropriate authority we hereby adopt the following church policies.
Section
2. General Guidelines
All groups using our facilities will
be given a copy of this policy.
No requests for use of First Baptist
Church facilities may conflict with
the ministries of First
Baptist Church.
The pastor shall be tasked with the
approving and scheduling of all facility usages.
First Baptist
Church realizes that no
policy can be written to foresee all possible situations. First
Baptist Church
hereby gives its pastor and, in his absence, his appointed designee, the authority
and responsibility to act on the churches behalf and make all decisions concerning
those issues.
First Baptist
Church, through its
pastor and/or the church body, reserves the right to refuse use of the
facilities for any reason to any group.
First Baptist
Church, through its
pastor and/or the church body, reserves the right to require any group using
our facilities to vacate the property at any time.
All uses of the facilities of First Baptist
Church must comply with
this policy and all other applicable policies of the church.
With the exception of weddings,
mission trips and other approved special events, a building may not be reserved
more than three (3) months in advance. Mission trips should be scheduled at least 6 months in
advance.
All scheduling is to be done on a
“first come, first serve” basis. The
first group to schedule an event has priority over all other groups for the
designated time. This applies to all
uses except emergency shelter operations.
No alcohol, drugs, firearms,
gambling or any activity the pastor or church define as illegal or immoral are
allowed in church buildings or on church property at any time.
No smoking or other use of
tobacco is allowed in buildings at any time.
First Baptist
Church will be used for
the emergency sheltering of people during times of severe weather, neighborhood
fire events (not individuals) and other major occurrences. The Church will be opened as an emergency
shelter by the City of Rio Grande City, The County of Starr, The American Red
Cross or the Salvation Army. The
organizations that are sponsoring the shelter are responsible for all aspects
of shelter operations and compliance with these policies and procedure. Emergency Shelter Operations take precedent
over all other groups and activities except Church Worship Services.
Section
3. Responsibilities of Facility Users/Guests
All, persons or groups using the
facilities of First
Baptist Church
shall conform and comply with the following requirements:
- Facilities must be maintained in a clean and orderly
manner
- Facilities must be completely cleaned upon the
completion of use.
- Groups are responsible to repair or correct any
damages that occur during their use.
- Groups may use First Baptist
Church supplies (ice,
paper products, drink mix, etc) if necessary but all supplies must be
restocked by the user.
- Facility users are responsible for the safety and
security of their people or groups.
First
Baptist Church
accepts no liability for illness, injury, theft or any other loss incurred
by those using our facilities.
- The groups using the facilities are responsible for
the safe supervision of the children, youth and adults.
- Facility users must immediately notify First Baptist Church
of any unsafe condition, faulty appliance or other problem discovered.
- Groups using the facilities are permitted to
rearrange tables and chairs to meet their needs; however, tables and
chairs are to be replaced in their original location upon the completion
of their use.
- Church-owned sound system and musical instruments may
be used only with the specific permission of the Director for Music and
the Senior Pastor.
- Groups that wish to have a piano tuned before an
event may make the request to the pastor. Only the church's piano tuner
will be allowed to tune the pianos, and the group will pay all expenses
related to the tuning. Tuning will be done as close to the event as
possible, but will be done on a schedule convenient to the church and its
tuner.
- Groups using our facilities may use the kitchen and
all appliances and cooking utensils provided. Groups are expected to fully clean the
kitchen when through using it.
- Groups using our facilities may use the restroom and
shower facilities as needed and are expected to fully clean the facilities
after use.
- Groups using our facilities may use the church
playground and swing set provided they supply adequate supervision.
- Each group shall designate 1
or 2 representatives to coordinate with First Baptist Church
in facilitating the use of our facilities.
- No item(s) should be attached to building walls,
ceilings, floors or equipment that could leave permanent marks or damage.
Any tape used must be removable.
- Children (and adults) should only be in areas reserved for
or required to be used by the group.
- No inappropriate or abusive behavior will be tolerated.
- Group representatives shall meet with the pastor or his
designee upon the completion of their usage to return all keys supplied
and review the condition of all facilities used.
Section
4. Responsibilities of First
Baptist Church
First Baptist
Church will:
·
Strive to accommodate the needs of each group
using our facilities
·
Provide a safe and operational facility for use.
·
Try to remain flexible with each group while
being good stewards of the facilities God has given us and protection the
reputation of our church and the Kingdom
of God we serve.
·
Provide 2 sets of keys to the representative of
the groups staying overnight.
·
Provide further guidance to each groups
representatives concerning use of thermostats, use of outside appliances
brought into the church and other issues or activities that may not be included
in this policy.
Section
5. Use of Church Facilities for Other Uses
The facilities of First Baptist
Church shall not be used
for commercial purposes.
The Fellowship Hall Facility and
playground area may be used by our members for birthday parties or other
similar gatherings. This use must comply
with this policy. These types of uses
are restricted to church members and their immediate families only.
The facilities of First Baptist
Church may be used for weddings,
funerals and other ministry purposes for the member of First Baptist
Church and their
immediate families.
Members of First Baptist
Church may request the
use of the facilities for ministry purposes for their friends or extended
family. All requests must be made
through the Pastor.
Uses under this section must
comply with this entire policy and any other applicable policy of First Baptist
Church.
Section
6. Actions in case of policy violation
Violation of these policies,
damages to the facilities or failure to properly clean the facility could result
in the following:
- Being required to immediately end use of facility and
return facility to its original status and condition
- Loss of privilege to use the facility in the future
- Be required to pay for any and all damages
- Be required to pay for any and all costs to restock
church consumable items
- Be required to pay any and all costs to properly
clean facilities
4 pages
***Official Signed Copy in Church
Office or Church Library
Passed and Approved on the 16th day of July, 2008
___________________________________July 16th,
2008
Church Clerk Date
___________________________________July 16th,
2008
Pastor Date
Acceptance of First
Baptist Church
of Rio Grande City Policy # 3
“Use of Facilities”
Group Using Facilities:
Date of Use:
Purpose of use:
Designated Group Facilitator(s):
We hereby agree to the policies
and requirements of First Baptist Church of Rio Grande City and do agree that
our group shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless First Baptist Church of Rio
Grande City, its pastor and leadership and its members for any and all demands,
claims, damages to persons or property, losses and liabilities, including
reasonable attorney fees (collectively "Claims") arising out the use
of the church facilities. We recognize
the efforts of First
Baptist Church
to assist us in our ministry and mission and agree to abide by these
regulations and accept all responsibility for our use of their facilities.
_________________________________________________
Group Designee Date
_________________________________________________
Group Designee Date
_________________________________________________
Church Pastor or Designee Date
