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
contains additional information on the Council’s responsibilities. The voting membership of the Church Council is comprised of:
Church Council Chairperson – Carolyn Darnell
The chairperson of the church’s governing body.
Recording Secretary – Kathy Brizius
Records and maintains the minutes of the Church Council and Charge Conference meetings.
Church Lay Leader – Jimmy Darnell
Annual Conference Representative – Sarah Meadows
Lay Leadership Chairperson – Pastor
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.
Staff⁄Pastor Parish Relations Chairperson – Greg Chambers
Trustees Chairperson – Lee Stallings
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. Additional information on the Music Ministry can be found at
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. Additional information on this position can be found at
Christian Education Overview
Auditor – Mary Hundley
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 – Susan Masciangelo
Responsible for keeping accurate records of all membership rolls and shall report regularly to the church council.
UMM – Phillip Darnell
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 – Yvonne Chambers
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.
Members At Large
Carrie Byrum Wallace Ownley Mary Ruckle
Anne Chambers Barbara Winslow Donna Godfrey Gerri White
Council Members
The non–voting membership of the Church Council is comprised of:
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,
Sharon Darnell, Mary Hundley, Lee Stallings,
Sarah Meadows, Pat Capps, Marvin Ownley
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 – Donna Godfrey
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).
Additional information on this position can be found at the following web site
Historian Overview
Communications Coordinator – Mary Ruckle
Responsible for all internal and external communication, e.g., newsletter, 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, 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. Additional information on this position can be found at the following web site
Communications Overview.
Web Steward/Coordinator – Pat Murphy
Responsible for all matters relating to the church website. Supports all staff and ministry teams to communicate their events, classes, missions, and worship services via the World Wide Web.
Additional information on this position can be found at the following web site
Web Servant Overview
Office Secretary –
Responsibilities include but are not limited to the following: Responsible for office budget and supplies; Maintains and assigns passwords for copier users;
Schedules use of office equipment by members of congregation; Maintains church building use schedule and books reservations;
Maintains church calendar; Assists with communication between the different ministries within the Church; Prepares announcements and Sunday Bulletins;
Assists with Church mailings; Manages facility and equipment use in cooperation with Trustees; Custodian of all Books and Records of the New Hope United Methodist Church Burial Garden;
Maintains a record of all income and expenses associated with the New Hope United Methodist Church Burial Garden;
Receives applications for the purchase of burial plots; Determines, in consultation with the Board of Trustees, that applications for purchase of burial plots are in proper order and that applicants are eligible persons;
Initiates, updates, and maintains the Church Resource Guide; Establishes and maintains a Church Endowment Fund; Updates, maintains, and distributes all job descriptions to incoming lay people, and outsourced positions;
Prepares packets for new members and baptized members of the Church; Assists Pastor with confidential church conference matters;
Determines if requests for priority information may be released; Reports to the Pastor.
Other Ministries In New Hope UMC
Finance Committee –
2010 George Brizius, Chairperson Ann Butt
2011 Greg Chambers Lee Stallings
2012 Jimmy Darnell Carolyn Darnell 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. Additional information on this position can be found at the following web site
Finance Committee Overview
Committee On Lay Leadership –
2010 Pastor Bill, Chair Sally Morgan
2011 Sara Meadows Mary Lou Ownley
2012 Jimmy Darnell 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. Additional information on this position can be found at the following web site
Committee on Lay Leadership Overview
Staff⁄Pastor–Parish Relations Committee –
2010 Greg Chambers, Chairperson Jim Darnell
2011 Lee Stallings Kathy Brizius Donna Godfrey
2012 Pat Capps Jimmy Darnell
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. Additional information on this position can be found at the following web site
Pastor–Parish Relations Committee Overview
Trustees Committee –
2010 Lee Stallings, Chairperson Gene Morgan Liz Saunders Phillip Darnell
2011 Jamie Godfrey John Sirmon Rickey Godfrey
2012 James R. Loftis,Jr. Danny Perry
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. Additional information on this position can be found at the following web site
Trustee Committee Overview.
Disaster Preparedness – Carroll Small, Director
James R. Loftis, Jr. Danny Perry
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.
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, Don Oglesby
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 –
2010 Helen Godfrey, Chairperson Barbara Winslow Pastor
2011 Sharon Darnell Carolyn Darnell Gretchen Ownley
2012 Cindy Harris Cathy Perry Ann Butt
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 – 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 – 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.
Choir Director –
Direct the adult choir on Sunday mornings and for other special worship events. Plan and lead weekly rehearsals during the regular choir season.
Select and plan special music, to the extent possible, in coordination with the worship themes of the morning and/or the season of the
Christian year. Provide information regarding anthems and special music in a timely manner for the church secretary to prepare the bulletin.
Select new music and oversee the music library of the Choir according to budget resources. Procure instrumentalists when needed for various
choir presentations according to budget resources. Present annual budget requests to the committee on worship for music ministries. Report directly to the Worship Committee.
Membership Committee: – Susan Masciangelo, Secretary; Anne Chambers; Sally Morgan; Yvonne Chambers; Carolyn Darnell; Barbara Winslow; Ann Butt; Sarah Meadows
The Membership Chairperson/Secretary is the first point of contact for members and prospective members upon joining New Hope United Methodist.
S/he assists in maintaining accurate membership records so that the congregation can help its members grow as Christian disciples. The committee
also prepares and distributes the Membership Directories, processes new membership applications and renewals and communicates all necessary
information. Duties also include the following: Update the membership roster as new members join, members transfer, and cease affiliation with
the local church; Work with pastor to contact inactive members and initiate removal of names from church roster through appropriate process;
Keep records of baptisms and deceased; Assist pastor with preparing Charge Conference Report; Coordinate New Members Classes quarterly or as needed;
Coordinate Confirmation Classes at least annually as needed; Collect visitors’ cards from ushers and send letter/postcard to first time visitors the week following the visit;
Investigate placing sign-in books in the pew to take weekly attendance; Keep attendance records in order to follow up when members are missing from church;
Recruit new members.
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.
Older Adult Ministries – June Proctor, Coordinator
The responsibilities of the local church coordinator of older adult ministries are to: Assist the congregation in developing, implementing,
and evaluating an intentional ministry by, with, and for older adults; Develop and coordinate a S.E.N.I.O.R.S. Ministry that includes: spirituality,
enrichment, nutrition and fitness (wellness), intergeneration, outreach and mission, recreation, and service. Additional information on this
position can be found at the following web site
Older Adult Ministry.
Prayer Chain – Pat Capps, Coordinator
Responsibilities include the ability to organize the prayer chain network, provide training for new prayer chain participants, support and
encourage those who serve in this ministry, processes the prayer requests and recruit new participants. The prayer chain is the spiritual
alarm system which communicates and takes prayerful action on the needs of the congregation, community and global needs.
Prayer Shawl Ministry – Ethel Yezdanian, Coordinator
This ministry reachs out with love and care to others who are hurting or who may need a special blessing by making prayer shawls.
Food Bank Ministry – Yvonne Chambers, Chairperson; Pat Capps; Gene Corona; & June Proctor
The team is responsible for planning, organizing and monitoring food acquisition, storage, and distribution to eligible people in the New Hope area.
Recommends a Food Bank budget, prepares grant proposals, and plans fund raising activities and public relations efforts to enhance public
awareness of hunger. Provides direction and technical support for food distribution.
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.
Outreach Ministries – Bob Pardue, Chairperson & Sara Meadows, Co–Chairperson;
Ann Butt, David Capps, Gene Corona, Carolyn Darnell, Jim Darnell, Helen Godfrey, Julie Goss, Joyce Harrison, Rebecca Patterson, Cathy Perry, June Streeter, & 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.
Sound & Video– Ashley Ownley, Gretchen Ownley, Marvin Ownley, Susan Masciangelo, Jessika Yezdanian, Donna Godfrey, & Michael Redenbo
The 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. Additional information on this position can be found at the following web site
Sound & Video Technology in the Church
Special Projects– Jenny Eure
Evaluation, incubation, and development of current and proposed New Hope UMC projects, events, and ideas. Coordination with other committees to
promote analysis of the projects and their communities. Pursuing funding to support New Hope UMC projects and efforts.
Installation of 2010 Leadership Team
On Sunday, January 3rd the New Hope UMC 2010 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.
|
