Lay/Volunteer Leadership - 2008
Charge Conference
The Charge Conference is the connecting link between the local church and the general church and has general oversight of the Church (Administrative) Council. The primary responsibilities of the Charge Conference in the annual meeting is to review and evaluate the total mission and ministry of the church, receive reports, and adopt objectives and goals recommended by the Church Council that are in keeping with the objectives of the United Methodist Church (Discipline ¶245.3). The membership of the Charge Conference shall be all members of the Church (Administrative) Council (Discipline ¶245.2).
Church Council
The Church (Administrative) Council provides for planning and implementing a program of nurture, outreach, witness, and resources in the local church. It also provides for the administration of its organization and temporal life. It envisions, plans, implements, and annually evaluates the mission and ministry of the administrative agency of the charge conference (Discipline ¶251.2).
Church Council Overview
The membership of the Church Council is comprised of:
Church Council Chairperson – Jenny Eure
The chairperson of the church’s governing body.
Recording Secretary – Debbie Stallings
Records and maintains the minutes of the Church Council and Charge Conference meetings.
Church Lay Leader⁄Annual Conference Representative – Dave Capps
Alternate Church Lay Leader⁄Annual Conference Representative – Jim Darnell
Attend the Annual Conference as representatives of New Hope United Methodist Church. Serve as an interpreter of the actions and programs of the Annual Conference and relay the information to the New Hope UMC congregation.
Lay Leadership Chairperson – Pastor
Staff⁄Pastor Parish Relations Chairperson – Greg Chambers
Trustees Chairperson – Bob Murphy
Church Treasurer – Ann Butt
Responsible for accounting, reporting, oversight and management of pledges and other contributions to New Hope UMC. Supervises volunteer count team. Reports weekly cash receipts, makes bank deposits, handles cash receipts from church events, and administers investment accounts. Posts contributions and maintains financial database. Produces periodic statements of giving to members and constituents. Creates reports as needed by the Pastor and the Church Council. Handles and resolves questions from members and constituents relating to their contributions and pledges. Responsible for disbursement of church funds. Is a member of the Finance Committee. The records are preserved in a safe place, outside the church building, (such as a bank safe deposit box) for at least five years. Each year the oldest set of records are destroyed under the direction of the Finance Committee.
Finance Chairperson – George Brizius
Worship Chairperson – Helen Godfrey
Music Ministry – Ann Butt
Manages overall music program. Responsible for church music budget and purchasing. Performs at worship services, weddings and funerals, and music programs. Expands the music program by involving members of the congregation. Collaborates with the pastor and Worship Committee in planning worship.
Music Ministry Overview
Sunday School Superintendent/Education – Sally Morgan
Responsible for creating and implementing teaching methods, curriculum and procedures that support the church’s Mission, Vision, Core Values and other spiritual principles. Resolves conflicts, promotes collaboration and receives input from the congregation and staff regarding education, class content and curriculum issues. Cooperates with staff and other members of the congregation in creating and implementing teacher training. Recruits Sunday School Teachers. Coordinates the selection and use of educational resources, supplies and the resource library with the Children's Ministry Director. Develops new Sunday School classes when there is a need.
Christian Education Overview
Auditor – Jenny Eure
Responsible for the annual audit of all financial records in the church, to assure the church that all records are accurate and any errors will be corrected before they become too complicated. Auditing assists those who are responsible for financial record keeping to discover new and better ways of doing their work. Aids in the development of policies and procedures for handling and recording funds. Audits are made within one month after the close of the fiscal year, or as soon as the financial records can be assembled, or when there is a change of persons keeping these records, there is an audit. The Discipline requires that a report of the audit be made to the charge conference. The records of the annual audit must be preserved in a safe place, outside the church building, (such as a bank safe deposit box) for at least five years. Each year the oldest set of records should be destroyed under the direction of the Finance Committee. Audit Committee members cannot be related to any person who
keeps the financial records for the church.
Membership Secretary – Pat Murphy
Responsible for keeping accurate records of all membership rolls and shall report regularly to the church council.
UMM – George Brizius
Responsible for providing a dedicated ministry for building men spiritually and involving the men in the total ministry of the Church. Hold activities such as Monthly Men's Breakfast, church maintenance, Clean Up Day, and a variety of social events. Responsible for annual recertification through the General Commission.
UMW – Carolyn Darnell
Responsible for providing opportunities for the women of New Hope UMC to reach out, connect, develop friendships and grow with their faith. Support missions ministries (such as: Samaritan’s Purse International Relief and Food Lion MVP Card For Missions) by participating in projects that reach out to those in need–especially women and children .The UMW Board meets monthly to discuss goals and plan activities.
Council Members
Alternate Annual Conference Representative – Sara Meadows
Responsible for attending the Annual Conference as a representative of New Hope UMC if the Lay Leader or Alternate Lay Leader is unable to attend.
Christian Advocate Representative – Mary Ruckle
Responsible for reading, The North Carolina Christian Advocate, the statewide newspaper for United Methodists in North Carolina, and disseminating pertinent information to the Church Council and Pastor.
Ten Dollar Club Representative – Pat Capps
Responsible for collecting contributions for the Ten Dollar Club which provides grants of $50,000 for land purchase and church building construction for new churches. One hundred percent of Ten Dollar Club member contributions go to projects. No administration or Club promotion expense is taken from these gifts.
Certified Lay Speakers – Bob Pardue, David Capps, Jimmy Darnell, Phillip Darnell
Phillip Darnell, and Jimmy Darnell
Responsiblities include a desire to serve the Church, being well informed on the Scriptures and the doctrine, heritage, organization, and life of The United Methodist Church. Has received specific training to develop skills in witnessing to the Christian faith through spoken communications, church and community leadership, and care–giving ministries. Has received certification as a lay speaker.
Church Historian – Ethel Yezdanian
Responsible for keeping the historical records up to date; serve as chairperson of the committee on records and history, if any; cooperate with the annual conference commission on archives and history; provide an annual report on the care of church records and historical materials to the charge conference; and also provide, with the pastor and the committee on records and history, if any, for the preservation of all local church records and historical materials no longer in current use. Records and historical materials include all documents, minutes, journals, diaries, reports, letters, pamphlets, papers, manuscripts, maps, photographs, books, audiovisuals, sound recordings, magnetic or other tapes, or any other documentary material, regardless of form or characteristics...."(The Discipline ¶247.5 a–b).
Historian Overview
Communications Coordinator – Pat Murphy
Responsible for all internal and external communication, e.g., newsletter, website, media relations, advertising etc. Supports all staff and ministry teams to communicate their events, classes, missions, worship service, and stewardship to New Hope UMC and the community at large. Through writing, editing, web development, graphics, marketing and public relations, communicates to the congregation and community an invitation to to get involved in activities that keep Christ at the center of our lives.
Communications Overview and
Web Servant Overview
Members At Large
Carrie Byrum Pascal Lancaster Mary Ruckle
Philip Darnell Sarah Meadows Barbara Winslow
Donna Godfrey
Other Ministries In New Hope UMC
Resource Ministries
Finance Committee –
2008 George Brizius, Chairperson Ann Butt Jenny Eure
2009 Greg Chambers David Capps
2010 Bob Murphy Pastor
Responsible for monitoring and controling the financial income and expenditures of the church in relation to the budget so that the goals and objectives of the church are accomplished. Recommends changes in the current year budget and funds allocations as required by the ongoing programs. Makes budget projections and recommendations for the next year. Recommends policies for depositing money, counting money, etc. Provides oversight to policies and procedures related to outsourcing some accounting services. Records and reports the financial information to the congregation and Administrative Board. Members are elected for three year rotating terms.
Finance Committee Overview
Committee On Lay Leadership –
2008 Pastor Bill, Chair David Capps
2009 Sara Meadows Sally Morgan
2010 Kit White Mary Ruckle
Coordinator of all ministries that care for our church membership (formerly called the Nominating Committee). Is chaired by the Pastor (according to The Discipline). Adds to existing committees/task forces throughout the year as new interest is shown and vacancies occur. Regularly discusses with the Pastor the state of the church and the need for ministry. Encourages lay leadership development opportunities at the conference level, district level, and local church level. Reports to the Charge Conference annually and to the Church Council during the year. Recommends to the charge conference, at the annual session, the names of people to serve as officers and leaders of designated ministries of NHUMC. Members are elected for three year rotating terms and should include at least one young adult. One member may be a youth.
Committee on Lay Leadership Overview
Staff⁄Pastor–Parish Relations Committee –
2008 Pat Capps Yvonne Chambers Mary Lou Ownley
2009 Martin Sawyer Jim Darnell
2010 Greg Chambers, Chairperson Frank Lathrop
Responsible for developing and maintaining job descriptions for the lay and clergy staff. Serve as the liaison between the lay and clergy staff and the church. Counsel with the pastor and staff in making an effective ministry. Keep the pastor and staff advised concerning conditions within the congregation as they affect relations between the pastor/staff and the people. Responsible for administrative functions relating to the process of hiring, evaluating, promoting, retiring, and dismissing staff members. Develops and approves job descriptions for Pastors. Responsible for developing proposals for compensation, travel expenses, insurance, pension, housing, and other practical matters affecting the work and families of the pastor and staff. Make the annual recommendations to the District Superintendent on the strengths and needs of the church that the cabinet uses in determining clergy appointment/reappointment. Recommends salaries for the next year to the Finance committee based on the economics of the church and community. Reports to the Church Council. Members are elected for three year rotating terms.
Staff⁄Pastor–Parish Relations Committee Overview
Trustees Committee –
2008 Matt Byrum Ted Barber Lee Stallings
2009 Phillip Darnell Gene Morgan Liz Saunders
2010 Bob Murphy, Chair Jamie Godfrey Pascal Lancaster
Responsible for maintaining the church’s physical facilities, overseeing the maintenance, repair, and replacement of church equipment, buildings, and property. Develops a program of planned maintenance of church property, serves as custodian of deeds and legal papers, oversees property and liability insurance, monitors maintenance of church buildings, grounds and parsonage; and oversees the capital improvement fund. Submits budget requests for facility related expenses such as: mortgage, repairs, improvements, expansion projects. Oversees contracts and volunteer workers doing repairs and improvements to the facility. Establishes and administers Building Use Policy. Shares responsibility with the pastor to administer memorial funds. Sees that designated memorials are used as the giver intended. Promotes and emphasizes the importance of a property maintenance fund for church buildings and parsonages. Reports to the Church Council. Members are elected for three year rotating terms. Sub–committees are: Parsonage; Gifts and Endowments; and Building.
Trustee Committee Overview
Disaster Preparedness Director – Carroll Small
Responsible for developing and updating a disaster preparedness plan for the Church. Takes an inventory of the Church's resources. Decides on the scale of the Church's response according to the Church's resources and abilities. Maintains an up–to–date list of people in the church and in the community, their ability to help, their needs and frailties. Maintains an up–to–date county road map to mark the location of each person that can help and each person that will need help. Takes steps to protect important records and items within the building. Meets with the Trustees to determine what can be done to protect the church exterior. Reports to the Trustees.
Gifts and Endowments Sub–Committee – offers training to church members on the importance of using wills, trusts, charitable gift annuities, insurance proceeds, etc. as a means of including the church in a person’s estate planning. Coordinates dates of activities impacting the whole church with the Church Council and the church office. Reports to the Trustees.
Building Sub–committee will be established when additions to existing buildings or new buildings are required. The Committee will estimate the facilities needed. Develop preliminary architectural plans. Ascertain preliminary costs. Develop a financial plan for defraying the total cost. Continue with the building process until completion of the project as outlined in The Discipline. Report to the Trustees.
Nurture Ministries
Children's Ministry – Lindsay M. Chambers
Responsible for all Children’s Ministries including Children's Church, Vacation Bible School (VBS), and the Nursery Program. Recruit and train Children's Church and VBS teachers and Nursery caregivers. Coordinate programs for children with the Sunday School Superintendent. Prepare activities for special events such as Easter, Christmas and summer programs. Supervise the Children's Church, VBS, nursery caregivers and the Nursery Program. Coordinate the selection and use of educational resources, supplies and the resource library with the Sunday School Supervisor. Maintain nursery supplies, equipment and toys. Develop curriculum in coordination with Children’s Ministries. Create a nurturing and safe environment for children in compliance with all state guidelines. Also, responsible for promoting Children's Church, VBS, and Sunday School for children within New Hope UMC and the surrounding community. Reports to the Pastor and Church Council.
Family Ministry – James R. Loftis, Jr. and Stephanie S. Loftis
Responsible for planning family ministries programs and opportunities, such as: Church Family Camp and workshops. Plan for coffee and fellowship times and seek out and introduce new families to others in the congregation. Offer nursery/child care for every event held by the congregation. Promote faith formation in families with children, single parent families, married couples with no children, and families with grandparents raising grandchildren.
Scholarship Committee – Yvonne Chambers, Jim Darnell, Stephanie Loftis, Danny Perry, Martin Sawyer,
Responsible for selecting high school graduates from Perquimans County to receive the Umphlet Scholarship. Interfaces with the administers of the Scholarship Fund the law firm of Douglass & Douglass, Raleigh, NC.
Worship Committee –
2008 Helen Godfrey, Chairperson Sally Morgan Barbara Winslow Pastor
2009 Ann Butt Carolyn Darnell Gretchen Ownley
2010 Phillip Darnell Sharon Darnell James Loftis
Coordinator for all ministries that relate to worship. Coordinates dates of worship activities that will impact the whole church with the church office. Makes recommendations to add creativity to the worship services through the use of children, youth, banners, liturgies, music, media, and art on special days/seasons such as: Lent, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Thanksgiving, and Advent. Makes recommendations for improving the worship experience. Creates and manages the process for receiving feedback from the congregation regarding the worship experiences at New Hope. Responsibilities also include coordinating the schedule and issuing responsibilities for the acolytes, alter guild, greeters, liturgists, and ushers. Collaborates with the pastor and Music Ministry in planning worship.
Altar Guild Sub–Committee – has two main focuses at New Hope UMC, host communion and beautify the altar area. The monthly communion service requires purchasing supplies and set–up and clean–up. The altar area composes several parts: Banners, plants,candles, weekly flower sign–ups for Sunday services, poinsettias at Christmas and lilies at Easter. Serves on the Worship Committee.
Greeters Sub–Committee – are responsible for: greeting parishioners as they arrive to attend church services; handing out bulletins, etc.; counting the number of parishioners attending service; asking two people to take the offering; asking one person to help the Pastor in the distribution of the elements on Communion Sunday; collecting pew pads, trash, bulletins at the end of the service. The schedule for Greeters is set up for a month at a time. Reports to the Worship Committee.
Acolyte Coordinator –Trainer – Gretchen Ownley – Recruits, trains, and coordinates Acolytes for Worship Services. Serves on the Worship Committee.
Young Adult Ministries – Jimmy Darnell
Responsible for developing disciples for Christ through a community that provides spiritual support, nurtures faith, organizes service oppurtunities, and offers fellowship events for young adults (ages 18-40). Actively works at assimilating new and inactive members into the young adult fellowship. Attends and participates in Church Council meetings. Communicates and strategizes activities and needs with other staff and the congregation through appropriate church meetings, church bulletin and newsletter. Creates, directs and assists with fund raising efforts. Coordinates literature requests with the Finance Committee. Coordinates dates of activities impacting the whole church with the church office.
Youth Ministry – James R. Loftis, Jr. and Stephanie S. Loftis
Responsible for organizing and promoting youth ministry (youth grades 6–12) including study, social events, and fellowship times, District and Conference camps, Sunday School, Bible Studies, and Youth Mission trips both at church and away. Actively works at assimilating new and inactive members into the youth fellowship. Plans and conducts occasional Youth Sunday Worship services. Encourages and recruits youth for confirmation training. Proposes and directs methods of outreach to the community (youth and others). Recruits and provides training for adult youth sponsors and teachers, including curriculum selection. Implements and coordinates youth participation in church wide activities, including worship, music, and drama. Guides and strengthens leadership skills through monthly youth council meetings.
Attends and participates in Church Council meetings. Communicates and strategizes activities and needs with other staff and the congregation through appropriate church meetings, church bulletin and newsletter. Plans, leads, and coordinates several youth retreats annually. Creates, directs and assists with fund raising efforts. Coordinates literature requests with the Finance Committee. Coordinates the youth program in cooperation with adult sponsors and youth leadership. Coordinates dates of activities impacting the whole church with the church office.
Sound & Video–James Loftis, Jr., Ashley Ownley, Gretchen Ownley & Marvin Ownley
Team is responsible for the sound system during Sunday services, as well as the extensive PowerPoint slides and videotapes. Responsibilities include preparing slides and videos and working closely with the Worship Planning Team to enhance New Hope’s worship experience. Also supports special events such as musicals, dramas, and weddings.
Sound & Video Technology in the Church
200th Anniversary–Pastor Bill, Ann Butt, Pat Capps, Anne Chambers, Debbie Godfrey, Gayle Godfrey, Mary Lou Ownley, June Proctor, John Sirmon, Barbara Winslow, Meredith Wood & Ethel Yezdanian
Team is responsible for all aspects of the 200th anniversary of New Hope UMC.
Outreach Ministries
Health and Welfare – Helen Godfrey
Responsible for coordinating the blood drive with the American Red Cross and members of New Hope UMC and New Hope Township.
Visitations/Evangelism – Co-Chaired: Bob Pardue and Sara Meadows
Ann Butt, David Capps, Carolyn Darnell, Jim Darnell, Helen Godfrey, Frank Lathrop, & Barbara Winslow
Responsible for organizing the following teams for visitation: Hospital Visitation Team; Homebound Visitation Team; Nursing Home Visitation Team; Inactive Member Visitation Team; and Visitor Follow–Up Team.
Witness Ministries
Prayer Chain –
The prayer chain supports our church family through a prayer ministry. Requests for prayer are phoned in. The group meets on a quarterly basis.
Installation of 2008
Leadership Team
On Sunday, January 6th the New Hope UMC 2008 Leadership Team was installed. The Leadership Team is essential to the mission and ministry of New Hope UMC. They help to form Christian disciples in covenant community within New Hope UMC through spiritual formation and guidance for Christian living in the world.
