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Scripture Reading Team Charter

MAYFLOWER CHURCH

Scripture Reading Team Charter

Streamline System 06 — Team Charters

DRAFT for consideration by the Servants Council at its meeting on July 11, 2026. Not yet ratified. Upon ratification this becomes a standing charter, reviewed at each August Leadership Summit and re-ratified on material change.

Governing Principle

Give attention to the public reading of Scripture.

The reading of God's Word in the gathering is itself a means of grace, not a transition between other parts of the service. This team's care is that the Word is read clearly, reverently, and well, so the congregation hears God speak.

1. Oversight (the home)

Overseeing board: Elders (Bylaws Art. II §B 1.c, the ministry of the Word within the Lord's Day Gathering under the elders). Day-to-day point person: Senior Pastor. Every team has a home; this team works first with the elders.

2. Purpose

This team prepares and delivers the public reading of Scripture in the Lord's Day Gathering. It exists so that the Word is read aloud to the gathered church with clarity and reverence, taking its proper place as an act of worship and a means of grace, not a filler between songs.

3. Priority-ministry link

This team serves the Ministry of the Word (System 01). The public reading of Scripture is the Word itself, read to the people in the gathering.

4. The Commission

The elders commission this team to prepare and deliver the public reading of Scripture every Lord's Day and at appointed special services. The work has a steady weekly scale and a small team to carry it. Each week the team confirms the passages to be read, in coordination with the Senior Pastor and the order of service, recruits and prepares readers, and ensures the Word is read clearly and reverently in the service. Where the service includes responsive readings or congregational recitations of Scripture, the team coordinates those as well. The measure is faithful, clear reading that lets the congregation hear God speak through his Word.

5. In scope / Out of scope

In scope:

  • Confirming the Scripture passages for each Lord's Day in coordination with the Senior Pastor and order of service.
  • Recruiting, preparing, and scheduling readers so each is ready to read clearly and reverently.
  • Coordinating responsive readings and congregational Scripture recitations within the service.
  • Placing the readings well within the order of service in coordination with worship planning.

Out of scope:

  • Preaching and the exposition of the text. That belongs to the Senior Pastor and the elders; this team reads the Word, it does not expound it.
  • Worship music selection and leadership. That is the Worship Team's charge.
  • The technical sound and projection of readings. That is the Audio-Visual Team's; this team states its needs.

6. Scale

Shape: a small permanent team of prepared readers scheduled across the Lord's Days, with readers added for special services. Commitment categories are drawn from the Volunteer Chapter (System 06). Leadership is one appointed Scripture Reading Team Leader (System 07).

7. Key responsibilities

  • Confirm the passages to be read each Lord's Day with the Senior Pastor and order of service.
  • Recruit, prepare, and schedule readers; ensure each reads clearly and reverently.
  • Coordinate any responsive readings or congregational recitations of Scripture.
  • Communicate reading plans and needs to worship planning and the elders.

8. Coordination

  • Senior Pastor and elders: receives the sermon text and the passages to be read, and serves the ministry of the Word in the gathering.
  • Worship Team (Elders): coordinates the placement of readings within the order of service.
  • Audio-Visual Team (Elders): states its sound and projection needs for the readings; the AV Team operates the equipment.

9. Resources

No budget line is specifically named for this team; any incidental need is coordinated with the Elder Chair (Purchasing Policy). Facilities needs are coordinated with the Trustees. Scheduling runs through Planning Center.

10. Health indicators

Faithfulness-shaped signs the team is alive, not a measure of polish. The year's specific targets live in the System 11 annual goals, set with the elders each August.

  • The Word is read clearly and reverently every Lord's Day; the congregation hears it well.
  • Readers come prepared, knowing the passage before they stand.
  • A small roster of readers is maintained and trained, so the reading does not fall to one or two.
  • Readings are confirmed and placed in good time, in step with the order of service.

11. Review and approval

Standing charter, reviewed annually at the August Leadership Summit. Re-ratified by the Servants Council on material change. Escalation beyond the team's or elders' authority follows the Decision-Making Framework (System 09). Leadership succession follows the Leadership Handoff Guidelines (System 12).

Commissioned by: Elder Chair ____________________________ Date __________

Ratified into the operations documentation by: Servants Council ____________________________ Date __________

Sources

  • Mayflower Church Constitution and Bylaws, Art. II §B 1.c (ministry of the Word under the elders); Art. II §B 4.c.7 (Servants Council receives and approves Ministry Team charters).
  • Streamline System 01 — The Five Priority Ministries We Guard (Ministry of the Word).
  • Streamline System 06 — Team-to-Board Oversight Map; Volunteer Chapter.
  • Streamline System 07 — Role Clarity, "26 — Scripture Reading Team Leader."
  • Streamline System 09 — Decision-Making Framework; System 11 — Annual Goals; System 12 — Leadership Handoff Guidelines.
  • Worship Team Charter and Audio-Visual Team Charter (sibling forms for parallelism); Team Charter Standard, this folder.
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