This weekend is a time of thanksgiving for those who God raises up as
elders in our church. A Presbyterian church is, by definition, a
church which is ruled by “elders.”
Elders are those who the congregation nominates and elects to be the
spiritual leaders of our affairs from setting vision and direction, to
encouraging the members, worshippers and staff in their spiritual growth, to
maintaining the finances, programs, property and policies of the church. It is a huge responsibility which cannot be
undertaken without energy, intelligence, imagination and love all tempered by
spiritual discernment and teamwork. The
body on which the elders serve is called the “Session.” Elders serve three-year rotating terms on the
Session.
I say with all sincerity that the renewal
Eastminster has and is experiencing is a direct result of the call to service
and the competencies of your elders.
Elders who rotate off Session at this time include Bryan Becker, Ed
Bowers, Melissa Ketterman, and Bill McCaslin.
We thank them for their service!
Bryan Becker
served as the chair of our Missions Committee.
During his tenure our Missions giving has increased in both dollars
given and time invested on the part of our congregation in mission beyond the
local church. He also oversaw the recent “Mission Match” where our congregation
raised $25,000 for relief to Madagascar and $25,000 for local mission relief
over and above our budgeted giving. He has chaired a great committee on which
he will continue to serve.
Ed Bowers served as
the chair of the Nominating Committee and co-chair of Personnel and
Administration. Ed coordinated the
congregation’s nomination of excellent leaders to guide our church, he ensured
staff stability and excellence through the recruitment and care of staff
members, and he helped shape and administer policies which give our church
direction yet ability to be flexible to address the opportunities and
challenges of ministry during this time.
Melissa Ketterman served as Clerk of Session, a role which coordinates the affairs of
the church from setting the agenda for the board meetings, to keeping track of
membership, baptismal and other rolls, to writing minutes of all proceedings,
to making sure we do things “decently and in order.” This is a huge role in which she served with
excellence, thus maximizing the effectiveness of all our elders. Melissa also serves on the Pastoral Relations
Team, a team which provides me with invaluable wisdom and guidance.
Bill McCaslin
served as chair of the Outreach Committee.
Bill first suggested the church form an Outreach Committee five years
ago. The Outreach Committee has led efforts
to include the community in the life of the church, to welcome all persons
genuinely, to practice hospitality, and to grow the church. Their efforts are bearing fruit as
Eastminster is recognized as a church of excellence in these areas, and
Eastminster realized the highest net membership growth of the 60+ churches of
our presbytery last year.
This Sunday we ordain and install elders for
service in the class of 2022 and welcome a new Clerk of Session. Elders being ordained and/or installed
include Nancy Fowler, Richard Schuette, Todd Uebele, and Brooke Wheeler. Claire
Gibbs will serve as our Clerk of Session. In the process, we have broadened our
committee roles, adding committees which relate specifically to Adult Education
and Spiritual Formation and Youth and Young Adult Ministry. These committees will lead us to grow deeper
in faith and ability to reach new generations for Jesus. See the back of your worship guide for the
roles of this year’s Session and the contact information for your elders. Thank you, God, for those you call to serve
as elders!
Blessings,
Pastor Tim
