Session and the Board of Deacons

 

United Presbyterian Church has 17 active Elders and 34 active Deacons.  At the January 2003 congregational meeting, it was decided that over the next three years, the number of Elders would be reduced from 18 to 15 and the number of Deacons would be reduced from 36 to 30.  Church officers are elected in June of each year and installed in July.  The Pastor conducts a training session for all new Elders and Deacons prior to installation.

 

Session Committees

Building and Property

Christian Education

Evangelism

Fellowship

Finance

Membership

Mission

Personnel

Worship

Nominating Committee

 

Session members serve on a Session committee and often chair that committee.  Highlights from each Session meeting are reported in the monthly newsletter, The Voice, and posted on the church bulletin board.  A member of Session is available one Sunday a month after each service for members to voice concerns and ask questions.

 

Deacon Committees

Calling and Caring

Communion

Compassion

Homebound

Hospital Visitation

 

Deacons serve on at least one committee and are responsible for the visitation and care of at least one homebound member.  The Deacons pack Care Packages for selected members at Christmas and one other time during the year.  They deliver Easter flowers and Christmas poinsettias to homebound members.  The Deacons have recently begun to participate in the ongoing Hope Totes project to prepare bags of useful items that are distributed to folks using Haven of Rest Mission in Akron.  The Deacons work closely with the Membership committee and the Pastor to identify members in need of care.

 

Session, the Board of Deacons and all Session committees meet monthly and keep written minutes of their meetings.  Each committee and the Board of Deacons have written mission statements or a description of duties.  Many committees also have written descriptions of groups, events or tasks for which they are responsible.   Binders containing minutes and written materials for Session, the Board of Deacons and each Session committee are permanently stored in the church library.

 

from Self-Study 2003

Self-Study Index