Our Church Leadership

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 It's an excellent question because both roles are essential to the life of our congregation.

Our Constitution—which is available on the church website under Forms & Files—describes these two ministries as complementary expressions of called leadership within the church.

Both Deacon Elders and Deacon Trustees are elected from among our Covenant Members and ordained into the diaconate. Both are called to pray, discern, lead, and serve. The distinction is not one of importance or authority, but of calling and responsibility.

 Our Constitution states that the Deacon Elders are responsible for "all matters pertaining to Christ's mission for the Church."

That includes:

• Worship
• Faith Development
• Pastoral Care
• Mission
• Outreach
• Evangelism
• Prophetic Witness

Simply put, the Deacon Elders focus on the congregation's mission and ministry.

They continually ask:

"What is God calling us to do?"

How are we growing in faith? How are we caring for one another? 

How are we serving our neighbors? 

How can our worship, educational programs, and outreach reflect God's vision for our congregation?

The Elders help nurture the spiritual life of the church, encouraging every member to discover and use their gifts in service to others.

 Our Constitution states that the Deacon Trustees are responsible for "all matters pertaining to the corporate management of the Church and its resources."

That includes:

• Stewardship
• Financial Management
• Physical Property
• Personnel
• Technology
• Facilities
• Corporate Administration

The Trustees focus on the faithful stewardship of the resources entrusted to the congregation.

They continually ask:

"How do we faithfully support that call?"

How do we care for our buildings? Are our financial practices healthy and transparent? How do we support our staff? How can our facilities best serve both the congregation and the wider community? Are we wisely preparing for the future?

Their work ensures that the congregation has the resources and organizational support needed to carry out its ministry.

 The Constitution intentionally connects these two boards:

The Elders discern and guide the church's ministry.

The Trustees steward the people, property, finances, and systems that make that ministry possible.

Together, these two boards provide balanced leadership for the church. One keeps us attentive to God's mission; the other ensures we have the resources and systems necessary to carry it out faithfully.

Leadership as Service

Perhaps the most important thing to remember is that neither Elders nor Trustees are simply committee members.

They are servant leaders.

Each has accepted a sacred responsibility to help guide the congregation through prayer, thoughtful discernment, and faithful stewardship. Whether someone has gifts for worship, pastoral care, teaching, finance, administration, buildings, technology, or property management, every gift contributes to the health and vitality of the church.

As we prepare to elect leaders for the coming year, we invite every Covenant Member to prayerfully consider where they might be called to serve. Healthy congregations are built not by a few people doing everything, but by many people offering their unique gifts for the common good.

Together, we become a community where mission is strengthened, resources are stewarded wisely, and every member has the opportunity to participate in the shared work of building a faithful, welcoming, and vibrant congregation.