The mission of the Finance Committee, of which the Treasurer shall be a member ex-officio, is to prepare a draft budget for the succeeding year, including this congregation's full indicated share in support of the wider ministry being carried on in its behalf by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and the Metropolitan Chicago Synod, and shall submit such draft budget to the Congregation Council for its action and later presentation to a congregational meeting. The committee shall exercise oversight of all the financial affairs of the congregation to make certain that they are being conducted efficiently, giving particular attention to the prompt payment of all obligations and to the regular forwarding of benevolence monies to the synodical treasurer. It shall, subject to the approval of the Congregation Council, be responsible for the congregation's investments and its total insurance program. It shall also provide for annual audits of the accounts of the treasurer(s) and the financial secretary, as well as of the accounts of the School(s) and organizations within the congregation.