Officer Nominees Class of 2029

At our congregational meeting immediately following the 11 a.m. worship service on Sunday, August 30, our Officer Nominating Committee will present the following slate of nominees for the offices of ruling elder, deacon, and trustee. If elected, these men and women will complete officer training in the fall, be examined by the Session, and begin their terms in January.

This year’s Officer Nominating Committee, elected by the congregation, includes Alan Hewitt (chair), Fran Morris, Lucinda Harpeneau, Barbara Hayslip, Brian Hurst, Leland Keller, Sue Koch, Reed McMullan, and Linda Butler.

We invite you to prayerfully consider these nominees as we prepare to elect those who will serve our congregation in these important offices. Below are descriptions from the PC(USA) Book of Order of the responsibilities and calling of each office.

The Office of Ruling Elder (Book of Order, G-20301): As there were in Old Testament times elders for the government of the people, so the New Testament church provided persons with particular gifts to shareg in discernment of God’s Spirit and governance of God’s people. Accordingly, congregations should elect persons of wisdom and maturity of faith, having demonstrated skills in leadership and being compassionate in spirit. Ruling elders are so named not because they “lord it over” the congregation (Matt. 20:25), but because they are chosen by the congregation to discern and measure its fidelity to the Word of God, and to strengthen and nurture its faith and life. Ruling elders, together with ministers of the Word and Sacrament, exercise leadership, government, spiritual discernment, and discipline and have responsibilities for the life of a congregation as well as the whole church, including ecumenical relationships. When elected by the congregation, they shall serve faithfully as members of the session. When elected as commissioners to higher councils, ruling elders participate and vote with the same authority as ministers of the Word and Sacrament, and they are eligible for any office.

The Office of Deacon (Book of Order, G-20201): The ministry of deacon as set forth in Scripture is one of compassion, witness, and service, sharing in the redeeming love of Jesus Christ for the poor, the hungry, the sick, the lost, the friendless, the oppressed, those burdened by unjust policies or structures, or anyone in distress. Persons of spiritual character, honest repute, exemplary lives, brotherly and sisterly love, sincere compassion, and sound judgment should be chosen for this ministry.

The Office of Trustee (summarized from Book of Order, G-4.0101–G-4.0102): Trustees are entrusted with the legal and fiduciary responsibilities of the congregation’s corporation, including receiving, holding, managing, and transferring church property and managing certain permanent funds, subject to the authority of the Session and the Constitution of the PC(USA).

Deacons

Ruling Elders

Trustee