Illinois Great Rivers Conference 2025 Journal-Yearbook
study); area 20’ x 25’ for entertaining; separate dining room; separate freezer facilities; appropriate floor coverings; garage adequate for two cars and storage. 3. Maintenance: a) The parsonage family shall be good stewards of the property entrusted to it. The parsonage family is responsible for: i. Proper and timely attention to household routines such as lawn mov- ing, house cleaning, yard and house orderliness, and routine protection and care of the house and its appurtenances. ii. Repair of damages beyond normal wear and tear caused by the fam- ily, pets or hobbies. This applies during the pastoral tenure and at the time of vacating the parsonage at a pastoral change. iii. Ensuring that the parsonage is vacated, clean, and, in cooperation with the church/charge, in good repair when a pastoral change takes place. b) The church/charge also shall be good stewards of the property which it provides as a parsonage. The church/charge is responsible for: i. Providing an annual budget sufficient to provide for quality long- term maintenance. ii. Diligence in providing an energy-efficient parsonage. iii. Maintaining the furnishings and appliances provided by the church/charge. iv. Having draperies and carpets professionally cleaned, as needed, at church/charge expense. v. Regular painting inside and out, good roof, prompt repairs. vi. Testing of the parsonage for radon and corrective action taken if necessary. vii. Installing and maintaining an adequate number of smoke detectors, a carbon monoxide detector and, if the home has LP or natural gas, a gas leak detector. viii. The care of permanent plantings (shrubbery, shade or other trees). ix. Ensuring that the parsonage is in good repair, and in cooperation with the pastor, vacated and clean when a pastoral change occurs. c) On multiple church charges, a percentage of yearly maintenance shall be paid by each local church, on a basis determined by the Charge Conference. 4. Long-term Property Stewardship a) The church/charge shall be good stewards of the property entrusted to them by providing an annual budget sufficient to provide for quality long-term maintenance. b) When a pastoral change takes place, the church/charge shall ensure that the parsonage is clean. 5. Testing a) Mandatory testing of the parsonage water supply, regardless of source, should be conducted annually. This testing shall be at the church/charge expense. If a public water source is used, their testing results may be utilized, as long as the testing laboratory meets USEPA-certification standards for organic and inorganic chemicals and includes nitrogen and bacteria testing in accordance with the guidelines established by the Division of Environmental Health of the Illinois Department of Public Health. A copy of the testing results must be attached to the report, regardless of whether it is from a public water company or independent
346 Standing Rules
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