In the Church
To support the programs and activities of Mountain Rise UCC, members and friends can contribute by joining a church committee or team and sharing their ideas, learning new skills, and working with fellow members and friends to serve God and the community.
The responsibilities of the various committees and Council are briefly described below. For more details about the governance of Mountain Rise UCC, consult the complete Bylaws of the church.
Church Council
As the executive body of the church, the Council develops yearly priorities as well as long-range plans for the church, maintains accurate records of all Council proceedings as well as a record of church-wide policies, provides reports for congregational meetings, presents an annual budget to the congregation for its approval, and authorizes emergency expenses or actions as necessary.
Council Members
- John Amrine – Chair
- Janie Pierce – Vice Chair
- Kathy Nixon – Secretary
- Nick McClain
- Jen Leger
- Nancy Stark
- Rick Watkins
Ministry Committees
Spiritual Life & Worship
- Ted Nixon, Chair
Provides for a variety of spiritual growth and worship opportunities for the congregation.
Service & Advocacy
- Gail McClain, Chair
Encourages and mobilizes church members and friends to serve people in need and advocate for justice, peace and harmony in the world.
Faith Formation
- Steve Grace, Chair
Provides opportunities for children, youth, adults and families to learn Christian values and history, experience and reflect on a variety of faith practices, explore other religious traditions, and appreciate and care for God’s creation.
Fellowship
- Dave Ackroyd, Chair
Provides opportunities for the congregation to become better acquainted and encourages and creates opportunities for social interaction and engagement.
Caring Connections
- Sherry Shaffer & Cheryl Pipkin, Co-Chairs
Oversees and helps the Caring Connections teams in offering emotional, spiritual and material support for the congregation.
Governance Committees
Finance Committee
- Jerry Kersting, Chair
Develops annual budget, implements pledge campaign, monitors the approved congregational budget, and provides Council with the financial implications of proposed projects and long range planning. The church Treasurer, Council Chair, and Financial Secretary are members of the Committee.
Nominations Committee
- Gail McClain, Chair
Maintains and makes available to the congregation a list of elected positions with skills required, identifies candidates, and presents a yearly slate of candidates for open elected positions.
Communications Committee
- Nick McClain, Chair
Creates processes to enhance the collection and dissemination of information about the activities of the church and the thoughts of members and friends of the church in coordination with the church Secretary, maintains updated content on the church website and social media sites, and assists in communication efforts with local media outlets and local and national ecumenical organizations.
Church & Pastor(s) Committee
- Faye Eaton, Chair
Promotes and maintains an effective relationship between the Pastor(s) and the congregation, conducts an annual evaluation for each Pastor using congregational feedback, coordinates annual self-assessments by church committees, staff and Council, consults with Pastor(s) regarding personal needs, works with Finance to adjust salaries appropriately, and monitors Pastoral Relations Teams.
Property Committee
- Walt Hazelton, Chair
Maintains building, grounds and equipment, supervises use of property, including lease agreements, insurance and contracts, establishes long range plans for property, and provides Council with expertise for proposed capital projects.
Endowment Committee
- Hank Till, Chair
Manages the endowment funds of the church, submits to Council, for approval, recommendations regarding changes in investment policy, provides semi-annual reports to Council and the congregation.
