Council Descriptions
Lay Member to Annual Conference
As a representative of our church at Annual Conference, you help carry the hopes, concerns, and vision of our local congregation to the wider church community. During Annual Conference, you may be asked to vote on items that affect our shared ministry, especially those that relate to laity.
After the conference, you’ll have the opportunity to share a report with the congregation about the decisions made, updates, and other important business that was discussed.
Time Commitment
- Attend Annual Conference once a year (about 3 days)
- Participate in monthly Administrative Council Meetings
- 3-year term
This role is a meaningful way to help connect our local church with the broader mission and work of the United Methodist Church
Treasurer
The church treasurer helps steward the financial health of our congregation. This important role includes:
- Keeping accurate records of the church's finances
- Paying bills and managing bank accounts
- Preparing financial reports for church leadership and the congregation
- Assisting with the development and monitoring of the annual budget
- Ensuring responsible spending and compliance with church policies and procedures
The treasurer works closely with the financial secretary, finance committee, and other church leaders to maintain transparency and accountability, supporting the mission and ministry of the church through faithful financial management.
Time Commitment
- Participate in monthly Administrative Council Meetings
- Meet as needed for financial meetings
- 3-year term
Finance Committee
An effective finance committee helps guide the church in faithful stewardship. This team proposes an annual budget and then raises, manages, and distributes the congregation’s financial resources to support and strengthen the mission and ministry of the church.
Spiritual Gifts and Qualifications Helpful for the role:
Members of this committee often bring gifts such as giving, faith, wisdom, administration, discernment, helping, leadership, exhortation (encouragement), and teaching.
Helpful skills and experience include:
- A passion for financially supporting the mission of making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world
- The ability to listen well and communicate clearly with people of all ages
- Skills or interest in financial and budgetary matters
- A collaborative spirit for working with ministry teams and church leaders
The chairperson of the finance committee should have a solid understanding of biblical stewardship and how to manage what God has entrusted to the church. While some knowledge of financial practices is helpful, the collective skills of the entire committee help ensure wise and faithful financial management.
Time Commitment:
- Participate in monthly Administrative Council Meetings
- Meet as needed for financial meetings
- 3-year term
Trustee
Effective trustees serve as Christian stewards of the property and resources God has entrusted to our congregation. This includes overseeing and maintaining the church’s physical property and managing gifts and assets so that our ministries can thrive, all while ensuring we meet legal and ethical responsibilities related to the property.
Spiritual Gifts and Qualifications Helpful for the Role:
Trustees often bring gifts such as servanthood, helping, discernment, leadership, administration, and giving.
The chairperson should demonstrate prior experience in ministry leadership—especially in stewardship of assets—and show evidence of active and growing discipleship.
Helpful skills and experience include:
- Knowledge of property and asset management
- Ability to listen carefully and communicate well with people of all ages
- Collaborative spirit to work closely with other ministry leaders
- Skills in presiding over meetings, delegating tasks, and following up to ensure completion
Trustees should also have a genuine interest in serving the wider community and a willingness to partner with local groups and organizations when appropriate.
Time Commitment:
- Participate in monthly Administrative Council Meetings
- Take care of church property and parsonage when needed
- 3-year term
Pastor/Staff-Parish Relations Committee
The Pastor/Staff-Parish Relations Committee (P/SPRC) exists to nurture a healthy, positive relationship between the church staff and the congregation, so that together, we can make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. The committee partners with the lead pastor and other staff to fulfill our legal and ethical responsibilities related to church personnel.
Spiritual Gifts & Qualifications
Members of this committee ideally bring one or more of the following spiritual gifts:
- Exhortation (encouragement)
- Wisdom
- Discernment
- Administration
- Shepherding
- Helping
- Servanthood
- Leadership
We value a diverse committee—reflecting different ages, backgrounds, and interests—to represent the full life of our church. Helpful qualities include experience in human relations, personnel management, and communication. Most importantly, members must be good listeners, respectful of confidentiality, and focused on the church’s mission.
Role of the Chairperson
The chairperson serves as the main link between the congregation and the district superintendent or bishop regarding clergy appointments. Responsibilities include:
- Preparing and sharing meeting agendas
- Leading meetings with grace and clarity
- Following up on action items by assigning and tracking responsibilities
- Becoming familiar with United Methodist resources and networks to better guide the committee
Responsibilities of the Committee
- Foster spiritual growth: Members maintain a healthy personal spiritual life and reflect on biblical leadership and the church’s mission.
- Encourage and support staff: The committee nurtures, affirms, and respects the pastor(s), staff, and their families, supporting a balanced life and ministry.
- Communicate openly: Engage in regular, honest conversations with the pastor(s), staff, and congregation.
- Guide staffing needs: Work with the pastor(s) and leadership team to recommend needed positions and develop clear job descriptions.
- Recommend financial matters: Advise the church council, through the finance committee, on staff compensation, housing, travel, and other financial considerations.
- Create fair policies: In partnership with the pastor(s), recommend procedures for hiring, evaluating, promoting, retiring, and dismissing staff not under episcopal appointment—always in compliance with local and state laws.
- Ensure safety: Oversee background checks and proper screening for staff and volunteers.
- Advise on clergy leadership: When meeting with the district superintendent or bishop, consider the congregation’s life stage, community needs, and the congregation’s feelings about clergy leadership and appointments.
- Conduct evaluations: Provide an annual review of the pastor(s) and staff to encourage effective ministry.
- Support ministry candidates: Identify, evaluate, and recommend candidates for professional ministry to the charge conference each year.
- Collaborate in teams: Form subteams (e.g., a parsonage committee or volunteer staff group) as needed, working with the nominations committee to find the right people.
- Develop and update the church profile: In partnership with the pastor and district superintendent, help create and annually review a church profile that highlights the church’s mission, context, and opportunities, as outlined in the Book of Discipline (¶427 & ¶428).
By serving on this committee, members help create a supportive and faithful environment where staff and congregation can thrive together—so that the love of Christ shines through everything we do.
Time Commitment:
- Inspect parsonage once per year along with trustee (usually Trustee Chair)
- Participate in monthly Administrative Council Meetings
- Meet annually for pastoral and staff evaluations
- 3-year term
Committee on Nominations and Leader Development
An effective committee on nominations and leader development helps the congregation discover, nurture, and support Christian spiritual leadership so that our ministries can transform lives and the wider community. This committee also guides the church’s leadership team—whether called a church council, administrative board, or another name—on matters related to laity in leadership.
Spiritual Gifts and Qualifications Helpful for the Committee:
The committee consists of up to nine people, including at least one young adult, with one-third elected annually by the charge conference. Members often bring spiritual gifts such as administration, discernment, exhortation (encouragement), helping, knowledge, servanthood, teaching, and wisdom.
Committee members should show evidence of growing discipleship and a willingness to help others discover where God is calling them to serve. According to The Book of Discipline of The United Methodist Church, the pastor serves as the chair, and a layperson serves as vice-chair to represent the committee at meetings of the church leadership team.
Responsibilities of the Committee:
- Care for their own spiritual growth and engage in biblical and theological reflection about God’s call and the mission of the church
- Help members of the congregation identify their spiritual gifts, skills, and life experiences and how these can be used in ministry
- Lead the congregation to understand that God equips every believer with unique gifts for the transformation of the world—whether through church roles, personal relationships, workplaces, or schools
- Develop systems to get to know members of the congregation better, track spiritual gifts, and gather information about skills and interests
- Work with other ministry teams to create clear and helpful job descriptions tailored to the church’s needs
- Learn about each leadership role and thoughtfully match potential leaders with opportunities where they can serve faithfully and effectively
- Invite people to serve, receive their responses, and provide training and support
- Present a slate of nominees to the charge conference for key leadership roles, including:
- Church council chair
- Staff/pastor parish relations committee and its chair
- Board of trustees
- Finance committee (including chair, financial secretary, and treasurer)
- Lay member to annual conference
- Lay leader
- Collaborate with the church council (or leadership team) year-round to fill other leadership positions that help fulfill the mission of the congregation
Through prayerful discernment, thoughtful planning, and encouragement, this committee plays a vital role in equipping and empowering the congregation for faithful ministry.
Time Commitment:
- Meet annually to nominate new leadership
- Meet as necessary for leadership development
- 3-year Term
Lay Leader
An effective lay leader serves as the primary representative and role model of Christian discipleship—living out faith both within the church and in daily life. The lay leader partners with the pastor to help fulfill the mission and vision of the congregation.
Spiritual Gifts and Qualifications Helpful for the Role:
- Be a living example of someone who loves God and neighbor
- Listen well and communicate effectively with people of all ages
- Work collaboratively with clergy, laity, and various ministry teams
- Keep a broad perspective of the congregation’s ministries and help align them with the church’s mission
- Have an interest in connecting the congregation to the wider community and the world, participating in God’s mission (missio Dei) through:
- The Great Commandment (Matthew 22:37–39): loving God and neighbor above all
- The Great Commitment (Matthew 16:24): embodying God’s love through personal spiritual practices
- The Great Requirement (Micah 6:8): living out God’s love through justice, kindness, and humility
- The Great Commission (Matthew 28:19–20): making disciples and teaching faithful obedience
Responsibilities of the Lay Leader:
- Represent the laypeople in the congregation and serve as a visible role model of Christian discipleship
- Work closely with the pastor to advance the mission and vision of the congregation
- Engage in spiritual practices that cultivate attentiveness to God’s will and guidance
- Help launch or strengthen ministries that deepen discipleship
- Advise the church council on opportunities and needs for a more effective lay ministry in the community
- Partner with other leaders to celebrate the ministry of laity throughout the year, especially on Laity Sunday
- Meet regularly with the pastor to discuss the state of the church and emerging opportunities for ministry
- Continue studying and training to deepen understanding of the church’s mission and how to serve more effectively
- Share information with the laity about training opportunities offered by the annual conference
- Consider becoming a certified lay servant to better serve the congregation
The lay leader is a voting member of several key church committees:
- Charge Conference
- Church Council
- Pastor-Parish or Staff-Parish Relations Committee
- Finance Committee
- Nominations and Leadership Development Committee
In these roles, the lay leader represents the laity, helps interpret the work of the annual conference and the wider church, and ensures that the voices and gifts of the congregation are reflected in the church’s ministries.
To further strengthen this role, it’s recommended that the lay leader also serve as a lay member of the annual conference.
Through prayer, collaboration, and faithful leadership, the lay leader helps the congregation live out its calling to make disciples and share God’s love in the world.
Time Commitment:
- Participate in monthly Administrative Council Meetings
- Meet with the Pastor as needed
- 3-year Term
Church Council Chairperson
An effective church council chairperson provides initiative, coordination, and collaborative leadership for the team that plans, sets goals, implements, and evaluates ministries to fulfill the mission and vision of the congregation.
Spiritual Gifts and Qualifications Helpful for the Role:
This leader often brings spiritual gifts such as leadership, administration, faith, shepherding, servanthood, discernment, and teaching. The chairperson should demonstrate evidence of prior effective ministry leadership and show active and growing discipleship.
Helpful skills and qualities include:
- The ability to listen to and communicate with people of all ages
- Working well with other ministry leaders and teams
- Presiding over meetings effectively and creating an atmosphere where everyone feels heard
- Delegating responsibility and ensuring follow-up so tasks are completed
- A genuine interest in understanding and responding to the hopes and concerns of people in the congregation and the wider community
The congregation’s committee on nominations and leader development may also set specific standards for this position.
Structure:
The church council serves as the administrative agency of the charge conference, tasked with envisioning, planning, implementing, and annually evaluating the ministry of the congregation (The Book of Discipline of The United Methodist Church, 2016, ¶252). The chairperson of the church council is elected annually by the charge conference (¶251.3).
Responsibilities of the Chairperson:
- Work closely with the pastor, lay leader, and others to help fulfill the mission and vision of the congregation
- Serve, along with the pastor and lay leader, as a primary spokesperson for the church’s vision and mission, encouraging and supporting other ministry leaders
- Organize and lead an annual planning meeting to set ministry goals and align efforts with the church’s vision
- Become familiar with United Methodist resources, organization, and best practices for church leadership
- Prepare and share meeting agendas, preside over meetings, and coordinate follow-up actions by assigning tasks and responsibilities
- Help coordinate the activities of the church leadership team throughout the year
- Maintain a healthy and growing personal spiritual life to model faithful discipleship
Through prayerful leadership, thoughtful planning, and collaboration, the church council chairperson plays a vital role in guiding the congregation to live out its mission and vision in meaningful and transformative ways.
Time Commitment:
- Participate in monthly Administrative Council Meetings
- Meet with Lay Leader/Pastor as needed
- 3-year Term