Church Officers 2010
President of Congregation – Geoff Osborne
Secretary of Congregation – Denise Harlow
President of Consistory – Fred Wookey
VP of Consistory—Diane Campbell
Secretary of Consistory – Kathy Wachsmuth
Treasurer – Dan Gorge
 

Job description for Elders, Deacons, and Trustees

 Elders

FROM THE BYLAWS: The duties of the Elders shall be: to exercise, with the minister, the spiritual guidance and leadership of the church; to maintain the roll of membership; to appoint a chair of the ushers. 

General Description: There shall be six Elders as directed by the Bylaws one of whom will be chosen each year in January to serve as chair. The chair shall prepare a written report of the activities of the Elders each year in October for inclusion in the church’s annual reports. In consultation and cooperation with the Pastor, the Elders shall exercise spiritual oversight in the church. The Elders shall serve as the primary support for the Pastor and as a liaison between the Pastor and Consistory. The Elders shall also be responsible for the review of all staff and shall develop and review appropriate job descriptions for each position. Following the tradition of the Church as recorded in Acts 2:43-47, the Elders shall see that the purposes of the church – worship, discipleship, mission, community, and outreach – are accomplished within the life of our congregation. Each Elder, other than the chair, shall have oversight for one purpose.

Worship – The Worship Elder shall oversee the worship ministry of the church including all services, music, and appointments for worship. Since the church’s worship is its most important work and the heart of our life together, it shall always be our goal to provide meaningful, beautiful, edifying, and challenging worship.

Responsibilities: The Worship Elder

·         in consultation with the Pastor who has primary responsibility for the conduct of worship, shall establish and maintain a worship ministry that will enable the church to meet its goals and fulfill its mission as outlined in the mission statement;

·         in consultation with the Pastor, shall organize and maintain a schedule of services for the year including holidays and festival days and a schedule for the celebration of Holy Communion;

·         shall maintain a schedule of Elders to prepare the elements and serve at each celebration of Holy Communion;

·         in consultation with the Pastor, shall organize and plan as needed for the celebration of Baptism within the Sunday worship;

·         in consultation with the Pastor and the Director of Music, shall seek to improve and expand the music ministry of the church including all choral and instrumental groups;

·         through the Chancel Guild, shall oversee the care and maintenance of altar appointments for all services of the church;

·         shall establish and maintain a schedule for altar flowers and shall organize flowers for special days including but not limited to Christmas and Easter;

·         under the direction of the chair and on or before October 15 each year, shall prepare and submit a written report of activities, accomplishments, and goals to be included in the church’s annual report booklet.

Discipleship: The Elder for Discipleship shall oversee the church’s ministries of Christian nurture including Sunday School, Adult Education, Confirmation, Youth Ministry, and all programs of spiritual growth and study. Since Discipleship is the most important work of the church after Worship, it shall be the goal of our Discipleship ministry to teach the Christian faith creatively and effectively to all of our people, young and old.

Responsibilities: The Discipleship Elder

·         shall establish and maintain a comprehensive ministry of Christian nurture that will enable the church to meet its goals and fulfill its mission as outlined in the mission statement;

·         in consultation with the Pastor and the Director of Christian Education, shall oversee the ministry of Christian nurture to the end that it shall meet the developing needs of our congregation;

·         in consultation with the Nursery Coordinator, shall oversee the work of the Child Care Worker so that safe, loving nursery care shall be provided for our youngest ones;

·         in consultation with the Pastor, shall oversee the Confirmation program for young people preparing for adult membership in the church;

·         in consultation with the Youth Advisor(s) shall oversee the church’s Youth Ministry;

·         shall develop policies and procedures for the Nursery, Sunday School, and Youth Ministry so that a safe environment for Christian learning and experience shall be provided for our students, teachers, and others;

·         in consultation with the Pastor, shall oversee the growth and development of a vital program of adult Christian education;

·         under the direction of the chair and on or before October 15 each year, shall prepare and submit a written report of activities, accomplishments, and goals to be included in the church’s annual report booklet.

Community: The Community Elder shall oversee the programs and activities that foster and enhance the rich life and spirit of our Christian community. Since a vital sense of community is central to the life of the church, it shall be our goal always to strengthen the bonds of unity and affection within our congregation.

Responsibilities: the Community Elder

·         shall establish and maintain a growing sense of community that will enable the church to meet its goals and fulfill its mission as outlined in the mission statement;

·         shall establish and maintain a schedule for ushers and greeters for all services of the church;

·         shall organize and plan special congregational celebrations as appropriate including but not limited to the reception for Confirmands and their families and the breakfast for teachers and volunteers in the Christian Education program;

·         shall encourage and support the establishment of activities and programs designed to enhance the quality of our life together and the spirit of community that exists within the congregation;

·         under the direction of the chair and on or before October 15 each year, shall prepare and submit a written report of activities, accomplishments, and goals to be included in the church’s annual report booklet.

Mission : The Mission Elder shall oversee the local, national, and worldwide mission work of our church that is undertaken both independently and through the instrumentalities of the United Church of Christ. Since mission is at the heart of our faith and life together, it shall be our goal to offer to our congregation many opportunities for involvement in mission through direct service as well as through contributions. 

Responsibilities: The Mission Elder

·         shall establish and maintain a mission ministry that will enable the church to meet its goals and fulfill its mission as outlined in the mission statement;

·         shall oversee the church’s mission work through various mission organizations and service agencies in our area as well as through the Conference and the United Church of Christ;

·         shall be in consultation with our existing Mission Teams to the end that their work will be strengthened and expanded;

·         as need and/or opportunity arises, shall assist with the organization of new Mission Teams;

·         shall report to the congregation at worship and in the newsletter on the mission work of the church with particular emphasis on opportunities for service by our members;

·         in consultation with the Pastor, shall plan a schedule of mission offerings throughout the year including but not limited to One Great Hour of Sharing and Neighbors in Need;

·         in consultation with the Pastor, shall oversee and support the planning and organization of the annual Youth Mission trip;

·         in consultation with the Pastor, shall seek opportunities and plan for a Mission Trip experience for adults;

·         in consultation with the Pastor, shall seek to identify and meet emergency needs within the congregation and the community;

·         under the direction of the chair and on or before October 15 each year, shall prepare and submit a written report of activities, accomplishments, and goals to be included in the church’s annual report booklet.

Outreach: The Outreach Elder shall oversee the programs and activities that welcome and integrate newcomers into the life of our congregation. Since it is God’s will that the church always grow, we shall create a welcoming atmosphere within our church that shall draw in and embrace all who are seeking the meaning and purpose offered by faith and by participation in the community of faith. We shall extend the highest level of Christian hospitality to all who enter our doors.

Responsibilities: The Outreach Elder

·         shall establish and maintain an outreach ministry that will enable the church to meet its goals and fulfill its mission as outlined in the mission statement;

·         shall establish and maintain a schedule for ushers and greeters for all services of the church;

·         shall organize a means by which visitors and newcomers shall be appropriately welcomed at worship and later contacted and invited to return to the end that they shall finally unite with us;

·         shall establish and maintain a schedule for social hour hosts who will provide refreshments and setup for and cleanup after the social time following all services of the church;

·         in consultation with the Pastor and as needed, shall organize orientation programs for potential new members and plan for the official reception of new members at the Sunday worship;

·         under the direction of the chair and on or before October 15 each year, shall prepare and submit a written report of activities, accomplishments, and goals to be included in the church’s annual report booklet.

Deacons

  FROM THE BYLAWS: The duties of the Deacons shall be: to procure funds for the church; to foster the principles of stewardship and to keep the members of the congregation intelligently informed as to the financial needs of the church; and to dispense the charity of the church; to annually appoint a Treasurer to account for all financial matters of the church.

  General Description: There shall be six Deacons as directed by the Bylaws one of whom will be chosen each year in January to serve as chair. The chair shall prepare a written report of the activities of the Trustees each year in October for inclusion in the church’s annual reports.

Trustees 

FROM THE BYLAWS: The duties of the Trustees shall be: to maintain church property and authorize necessary repairs; to submit to the Consistory in time to be included in the next year’s annual budget, a detailed list of anticipated maintenance; to submit to the Consistory annually a long-range forecast of needs and problems related to church property; with the authorization of the Consistory, to buy, sell, erect, or remodel church property – should the cost of any proposed transaction exceed $10,000 then prior consent of the congregation shall be obtained . ; to consult the Esthetics Committee . ; to appoint a sexton and to determine the duties and compensation for such person.

General Description: There shall be six Trustees as directed by the Bylaws one of whom will be chosen each year in January to serve as chair. The chair shall prepare a written report of the activities of the Trustees each year in October for inclusion in the church’s annual reports.