This web page contains information from the booklet titled Council of Ministries Handbook distributed at the 2005 Parish Annual Meeting in January.
You can download a copy of the Handbook here: Link to download Council of Ministries Handbook
If you want to propose a ministry, please fill out a Growing a Ministry Fact Form (Link to download a Fact Form ) and return to anyone on the Council of Ministries or to the church office. The form helps the Council manage and keep track of parish ministries, and helps you obtain the resources you need for a successful ministry.
The creation of the Council of Ministries was announced at the Parish Annual Meeting in January 2005. Since then, background activities to organize the Council have been underway: a Chair was selected by the Vestry, heads for the Commissions were interviewed and selected, basic operating policies and practices were discussed. Small, ad hoc activities - the premise of the new organization - were taking place: the Silent Auction, St. Thomas' Festival and 5K Run, the Yard Sale, and many others.
This web page presents the background of the Council of Ministries: what it is, why and how it is organized, where it has its roots, how it changes things, and how it will operate to simplify and open the work of the church.
But more importantly, it explains what the Council of Ministries means to you. A new approach to the lay organization of the church will rejuvenate the parish and the Vestry.
Come, learn more about the Council of Ministries. Learn how you can become part of the many ministries of St. Thomas'. Come grow with us.
Back to the topThe Council of Ministries is a new lay organization for St. Thomas'. It was created by the Vestry in late 2004, and approved at the 2005 Parish Annual Meeting. It is designed to organize, lead, and instill new life into the work of the lay commissions. The simpler structure encourages more grassroot initiatives to develop and thrive. The Council of Ministries also enables the Vestry to focus on the business and financial aspects of the church.
"Where does St. Thomas' want to be in the next ten years? What do we want to look like? What ministries are important to our community? What should our priorities be? How should we be organized to support the growth and development of those ministries? What is the plan to get there?"
These were some of the questions Christopher Luedde, St. Thomas' Rector, asked a group of parishioners to wrestle with. The purpose of this committee was to assess the present mission and ministry priorities of St. Thomas', develop a vision of St. Thomas' in ten years, and develop a plan to accomplish that vision. Over the course of the year, the men and women of the Futures Committee brainstormed ideas, received feedback from the Vestry and fellow parishioners, interviewed the clergy and Diocesan resources, studied concerns and suggestions, and did research.
Based on this work, the Futures Committee developed a strategy and a set of global recommendations, and presented them to the clergy and the Vestry. The next step was for the Vestry to take the strategy and recommendations and create the necessary changes.
In 2004, the Open to All Capital Campaign was seeing the results of years of planning. Fundraising activities were winding down. The work to make the building fully accessible was almost completed. The Highland Avenue loop was installed and landscaped. Our worship space was enhanced with the installation of new stained glass windows. Now the Vestry had the time and energy to re-look at the life of the church. The Vestry believed that in order for St. Thomas' to thrive, to grow, and to attract new members, it needed to foster a broad and unifying sense of purpose or mission, driven and sustained by its laity.
What did the Vestry see? Over the past few years, the Vestry noticed that while many areas of parish life were vigorous and well populated, others required rejuvenation, and some were entirely missing. Time pressures and calendar constraints of contemporary life limited how much time people were able, or willing, to contribute to the church. New parishioners often found it difficult to become integrated into the life of the church. Better coordination with, and awareness of, other activities and groups within the parish, the Diocese, and the community would help focus efforts and eliminate duplicate efforts. Some areas of parish life needed to be more open and inviting to new talent and energy - much like the building had become.
The Vestry thought that smaller, parishioner-initiated, ad hoc activities would rejuvenate parish life activities. They particularly wanted to encourage a bottom-up approach, enabling parishioners to take ownership of the lay ministries that interested them.
Both studies pointed to the same conclusions: change the lay organizational structure of St. Thomas'. A new approach would rejuvenate the parish and the Vestry. Ad hoc activities, requiring bite-sized commitments would encourage participation. Commissions could be empowered by directing results, not actions. Encouraging a bottom-up approach could enable parishioners to "own" lay ministries. A more flexible organization could promote new and fresh possibilities, changes, and ideas.
The Council of Ministries was created in 2004 to better focus and free the lay work of the parish.
Back to the topYes, we still have a Vestry. The Vestry, Wardens, and Rector constitute the Trustees of the Parish. In accordance with Canon Law, the Vestry will continue to address the business and financial aspects of the church and are the church's legal representatives in all matters concerning its corporate affairs. They also serve as a council of advice for the rector. The members of the Vestry are responsible for ensuring the financial viability of the parish, for staffing, and for maintaining the property - what many consider the "business side" of the church.
What kinds of things have to go through the Vestry and what goes through the Council of Ministries?
The Vestry is responsible for selecting the rector and overseeing the church's secular affairs. The Vestry handles the parish's business matters (church finance, endowment, building and property matters, and long-range planning) and serves as a council of advice for the rector.
The Council of Ministries is made up of the heads of the commissions and other interested people. The council sets its own rules and policies regarding the ways in which commissions are run and sustained. The Council of Ministries oversees the ministries and non-worship programs of the parish. It reports to the Vestry, but is independent from it. Any ministry request that requires funding still needs to be approved by the Vestry.
Back to the topThe Council of Ministries consists of a Council Chair, a Vice Chair, and eight commissioners. The Council Chair and Vice Chair are elected at the parish annual meeting.
The following commissions are included within the council organization. The commission oversees the areas listed after its name.
A ministry is an act of serving. These acts can take many forms, benefiting many different groups of people or organizations. Here are just a few of the many ministries that St. Thomas' has been involved in.
Do you have an idea? You can propose a ministry! To help you get started, you are asked to complete a simple form (available from the Church office or download the "Growing a Ministry Fact Form") that helps to manage and keep track of parish ministries. Return the form to anyone on the Council of Ministries or to the Church office. Based on your proposal needs, the Council of Ministries will help find and connect you with resources, facilitate requests for financial support, encourage participation, and publicize the ministry. The person who initiated the ministry request is responsible for carrying it out, with help from the Council of Ministries.
Creating a ministry has become simpler, is more streamlined, making the work of the congregation more possible, more manageable, and more meaningful. More members of the parish can be involved in opportunities that they create and for which they have a passion.
Back to the topThe Council of Ministries was designed to support, guide, and ease the creation, sustaining, and ending church ministries. The Council can help shepherd your vision of a ministry to reality. The simplified process will expand opportunities for your involvement in the work of the church.
And what of ending a ministry? This new approach to the lay work of St. Thomas' means that as you create opportunities, they have a start and a finish. You aren't committed for life unless that's what you want!
Back to the top| Chair | Dawn Wilkins (586-7111) |
| Vice Chair | Richard Yates (442-2909) |
| Worship | Mike Finn (288-5005) |
| Education -Church School | Shelly Davis (473-5651) |
| Evangelism/Marketing | Deb Cougler (482-4404) |
| Member Resources | Janet Morse (342-1876) |
| Member Enrichment | |
| Mission | |
| Parish Life | Shelly Davis (473-5651) |
| Youth | Denise Burns (473-6139) |
Please contact anyone on the Council of Ministries (telephone numbers above) if you want to propose a
ministry or have a question. Forms to start a ministry are available here "Growing
a Ministry Fact Form" or from the Church office (442-3544).
Please take time to fill out the Time and Talent Survey located here and return to any member of the Council of Ministries, the Church Office, Janet Morse or Vicky Rupley . It will take you just a few minutes and is very helpful. Thank you.
publishing date: 25 January 2006 (Home)