Church Governance

GENERAL Committee Information

Church committees plan the ministry of our church and provide a chance to meet other church members while serving our congregation and the local and global community. Committees generally meet on the third Monday night of each month, September through May, beginning at 7pm. Our Church Council meeting follows the committee meetings. Council meetings, held from 8:30-9:30 in the Seim Room, are open to all members.

Jane Veldman (Moderator); Al Pedersen (Assoc Moderator)

CHRISTIAN EDUCATION Committee

This committee establishes policies and programs for Christian Education in our church, including Sunday school, confirmation, seminars, the Kemper Library, media, and teacher recruitment.  Sub-committees of this committee include Preschool, Children's Ministry, Kemper Library, JRneys, and Adult Christian Exploration (ACE).

Committee Leadership: Jan Fraccaro, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , (Staff liaison); Cathy Bloedorn and Tracey Scodro (Co-Chairs).

CHRISTIAN VENTURES Committee

This committee explores and arranges spiritual pathways in local, national and international settings gathering individuals, families and groups for spiritual growth and fellowship through engaging opportunities of faith and inspiration.

Committee Leadership: Paul Stiffler, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it (Staff Liaison); Paula Benson (Chair).

ENDOWMENT FUND Trustees

The Endowment Fund was established in 1979 as the permanent endowment fund of our church.  It was created to assure the future of our church by providing a source of regular, predictable income while preserving the principal.  The resolution adopted by our congregation states that the fund is to provide income for the religious, charitable and educational purposes of the church.  The principal of the fund is to be preserved and can be accessed only for emergency purposes by a two-thirds vote of the congregation.

Valued at over $1.1 million as of June 30, 2009, the fund pledged $53,000 to the 2009 operating budget of the church.  With the exception of member pledges, the fund is the single most significant income source available for the work and ministry of the church.

Leadership: Rich Kirchherr, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it (Staff Liaison); Doug Brown (Chair).

EXECUTIVE Committee

Proverbs 29:18 "Without a vision the people will perish."

The Executive Committee, consisting of the church officers and three at-large members, serves as the personnel committee of the church, and acts on behalf of the congregation.

Executive Committee Members: Rich Kirchherr, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it (Staff Liaison); Jane Veldman (Moderator); Al Pedersen (Assoc Moderator); (Treasurer); Lori Mitchell (Treasurer), Dal Ingold, Jean Larson, Zada Clarke

FINANCE Committee

This committee is responsible for the financial ministry of the church.  It establishes and monitors the annual budget and the annual financial campaign. This committee and the Properties Committee comprise the Board of Trustees of our church.

Committee Leadership: Rich Kirchherr, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it (Staff Liaison); Mike Spear (Chair)

DIACONATE

This ministry assists the clergy with worship services, including baptisms, communion, Confirmation, Ash Wednesday, new members, ushering, altar flowers and visitation, as well as other caring ministries.  Click here to see the 2012 Usher Schedule.

Committee Leadership: Meredith Onion, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it (Staff Liaison); Alan Launspach (Chair)

MUSIC Committee

We have a full Adult Chancel Choir, which sings most Sunday mornings and two children's choirs, which make frequent appearances in worship. Additionally, we have two steel drum bands and two (an adult and youth) handbell choirs, all of which also periodically contribute to Sunday morning worship. New members are always welcome to come and make a joyful noise! Please read more about the program of particular interest to you under Our Ministries.

Committee Leadership: Ray Klemchuk, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it (Staff Liaison); Gitta Denning and Sarah Huml (Co-Chairs)

NOMINATING Committee

Every spring members of our Nominating Committee work with church staff and lay leaders to fill open committee positions for the following program year (Sept-May). Serving on a committee is one of the best ways to strengthen and solidify your connection to the church and its members. It's a wonderful way to grow God's kingdom and make new friends.

Church Leadership: Linda Conlin, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it (Staff Liaison)

MISSION & OUTREACH Committee

Our Mission & Outreach Committee is divided into three ministry teams: Neighborhood Ministries; Urban Ministries; and Global Ministries. Our shared mission is to follow Christ into the needs of the world while engaging Every Member in Mission. We do this through committing our resources (time, talent, money) towards organizations that provide hope, dignity and tools for the future for those most vulnerable in our human family.

Some of our annual outreach projects include our Spring & Fall Rummage Sales and our Rebuilding Together Project in the Spring. Many other service opportunities are coordinated throughout the year and are featured in Gatherings. Through annual pledge support, our Mission & Outreach Committee is proud to be able to assist more than 50 charitable organizations close to home and around the world.

Committee Leadership: Katherine Willis Pershey, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it (Staff Liaison); Wendy Garrett & Kathy Vega (Co-Chairs).

PROPERTIES Committee

Our Properties Committee works tirelessly to maintain our three-story education building, sanctuary and grounds.

Committee Leadership: Chuck Cavanaugh, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it (Staff Liaison); Ann Porter (Chair).

WELCOME Committee

While the purpose of our Welcome Team is to help both new and old members alike feel welcome in the church, it also focuses on assimilating new members into the life of the church, getting to know them as visitors, through the orientation process, and keeping in contact with them in their membership.

The Welcome Team looks for members who would like to help greet and answer questions of our Sunday morning visitors. Team members need only be available once every six weeks, be friendly and willing to reach out to others. They also host a midwinter party to welcome our most recent new members and their sponsors.

Questions can be directed to our staff liaison at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or at 708/246-1900, ext. 216.