Congregational Leadership
Our congregation derives its governing authority from its members, who meet annually (our constitution schedules this meeting to be held following worship on the third Sunday in January). The congregation can also meet during the church year to vote on matters arising which concern the entire congregation.
The Council Representative and Committee Chair for each committee are elected to two-year terms by the congregation at the annual congregational meeting. Each standing committee recommends the annual budget for its particular area of responsibility to the Congregation Council. Each committee reports monthly to the council and annually to the congregation at the annual congregational meeting.
Congregation Council:
The Congregation Council is elected by the congregation members to handle day-to-day activities of the church, and to communicate actions of the various committees with each other. Council representatives are not the chairs of their representative committees. The Council meets monthly (on the third Sunday of each month) at approximately 1:00 p.m.; there is an open forum period during which members may speak to Council members about areas or topics of concern to them.
Standing Committees:
Standing Committees oversee the many facets of our congregation's life. Duties of the Standing Committees are briefly summarized in this section of our web site. With a few exceptions, Standing Committees consist of a Committee Chair, a Council Representative, and several volunteers from the confirmed membership of the congregation.
2013 Council Members & Committee Chairs:
Executive Committee |
President: Jeff Walters
Vice President: Jennifer Less
Treasurer: Ed Hayes
Recording Secretary: Christine Blossom |
The Executive Committee is responsible for oversight and management of the church council and congregation. The committee is made up of the officers of the congregation and the pastor. The Executive Committee develops mission, vision, and values statements; develops long-range goals and action plans to achieve those goals. The Executive Committee oversees the budget preparation process and prepares final recommendations for Congregation Council review and approval. The committee oversees the financial business of the congregation, employee relations and other administrative matters.
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Evangelism Committee |
Committee Chair: Mike Murphy
Council Representative: John Barr Sr. |
The Evangelism Committee is responsible for the Evangelism (Outreach) Programs of the congregation. The committee provides for the education of the congregation about opportunities for evangelism. It is responsible for publicity in the media, such as advertising and announcements in the local newspaper's community calendar. The Evangelism Committee plans outreach to the unchurched and works with the pastor and the Membership Committee to maintain a prospective membership file. The committee recruits and trains members for visiting teams. It trains and recruits greeters. Greeters provide a vital service by welcoming both regular members and visitors when they attend worship. The committee evaluates the Evangelism program annually and develops programs for the future.
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Finance Committee |
Committee Chair: Richard Timmons |
The Finance Committee has an elected Committee Chair and volunteer members, but no elected Council Representative. The elected Vice-President and Treasurer are automatically members of the Finance Committee.
The Finance Committee develops and maintains a strong financial program for the congregation. The committee oversees the congregations' financial investments, solicits budget requests from the congregation's committees, and prepares an annual budget for approval by the Congregation Council. The committee monitors the budgeted accounts, annually reviews the congregation's insurance policy, and assures that those with access to congregation funds are bonded.
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Membership Committee |
Committee Chair: Linda Wilber
Council Representative: Duane Lau |
The Membership Committee oversees the maintenance of membership records and attendance records. This committee makes an annual determination of the active membership of the congregation. The committee encourages fellowship and provides a welcome for all new members. The Membership Committee plans and supervises outreach to inactive members. It supervises the periodic publication of membership directories. The committee works with the pastor for visitation to sick and shut-in members, and to provide Holy Communion for them.
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Parish Education Committee |
Committee Chair: [Open]
Council Representative: Heidi Fredrick |
The Parish Education Committee includes the Sunday School superintendent. The Parish Education Committee (sometimes referred to as the Christian Education Committee) is charged with providing opportunities for all members of the congregation to grow in their Christian faith through learning experiences. They recruit and train teachers for the Sunday School and other Parish Education activities. They recommend candidates for Sunday School superintendent and assistant superintendent to the Congregation Council. The committee helps to plan Bible Study groups and other opportunities for Parish Education. The committee also evaluates the Parish Education program on a regular basis and recommends changes if required.
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Property Committee |
Committee Chair: Charlie Kyle
Council Representative: Mike Srock |
The Property Committee is responsible for overseeing all of the physical church property, including the building, the contents of the building, and the grounds. The committee develops and supervises a preventative maintenance schedule for all aspects of the building. It oversees the work of employed maintenance staff and outside contractors. The committee evaluates employed maintenance staff annually. It evaluates the maintenance program on a regular basis and develops programs for the future.
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Resource Committee |
Committee Chair: Linda King
Council Representative: [Open] |
The Resource Committee is responsible for planning and overseeing a comprehensive stewardship program for the congregation, including the stewardship of time, abilities, and money. In coordination with other committees, the Resource Committee conducts member visitations, if required, to obtain financial and other support for the congregation's programs. Periodically, the committee provides members with the opportunity to register ways in which they would like to use their abilities to serve their congregation. They contact new members in the congregation to determine their interests and talents.
The Resource Committee provides members with an annual statement of giving. The committee administers the congregation's Memorial and Student Aid Funds, which are dedicated accounts, in accordance with the provisions of the congregation's constitution.
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Social Concerns Committee |
Committee Chair: Pam Chevalier
Council Representative: Jamie Mulvenna |
The Social Concerns Committee is responsible for developing and maintaining programs that promote spiritual principles of social justice through action in the community. The committee coordinates with other local social concerns organizations, other organizations of the ELCA, and with the pastor and Congregation Council to develop social concerns programs for this congregation.
The Social Concerns Committee supervises the activities of the Clothes Closet, Food Pantry, Medical Loan Closet, and similar activities. Volunteers are always needed to help sort and distribute clothing and to pack food boxes to be distributed.
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Worship Committee |
Committee Chair: Erik Lokensgard
Council Representative: Sam Bornhorst |
The Worship Committee is responsible for planning and overseeing programs to provide spiritually meaningful worship experiences. With the pastor, the committee plans and coordinates worship services in conjunction with the church year. Also with the pastor, the committee plans worship in both traditional and innovative forms. The Worship Committee oversees worship-related matters such as music, choirs, choir directors, organists, and lay participation in the worship services. With the Membership Committee, the Worship Committee provides Holy Communion to the sick and to shut-ins.
The Worship Committee also recruits, trains, and schedules Assisting Ministers and Communion Assistants.
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Youth Committee |
Committee Chair: Sarah Harmych
Council Representative: Sally Harmych |
The Youth Committee is responsible for planning and overseeing programs to provide spiritually and socially uplifting programs for the youth of the Congregation. The Youth Committee develops programs to fit various age levels of the youth and the congregation and looks for ways to involve the youth in the life and mission of the congregation. It evaluates the youth program annually and develops programs for the future.
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The strength of a society depends on the number of its faithful members.
Are you a member of one of these societies? If not, YOU SHOULD BE.
Attend the meetings of your Church. Lend your advice in Her deliberations
and your hands in Her work.
-- From an ELC worship bulletin, dated January 24, 1943
