As the Administrative Council Chairperson, I want to welcome you to the first Saint Mark United Methodist Church Administrative Council Blog. There are many church activities and opportunities available to us and our community. It is important for us to develop a consistent method of communicating to each of our congregants. We are hopeful this blog will highlight those activities of interests and available opportunities for all.
For those not familiar with the Administrative Council, the Council is a group of members tasked with a wide range of responsibilities on behalf of the congregation. These responsibilities include overseeing the physical health of our facilities, managing our finances and most importantly, setting the vision for our congregational ministries.
As we began our work this year, as your representatives, we agreed to focus on growing and strengthening our Church family. As a result, we have spent some time researching the community around us in an effort to understand which programs may appeal to them. We plan to create opportunities to invite our neighbors to join us in worship and special events.
We are also very focused on creating a comprehensive hospitality program. The scope of our hospitality efforts is more than shaking hands and welcoming attendees as they enter our Red Doors. It also includes follow up with visitors to acknowledge their visit and offer encouragement to visit with us again.
We have many opportunities to grow and strengthen our church family. As a result of these opportunities and the work of many, I am confident we will see great progress over the year. I am excited about our growth and the potential to put a MARK on our neighborhood. Please take some time to review the various committees listed in the newsletter.
Prayerfully consider where your gifts and talents might best make a MARK. Join us in making this a great year!
Activities and Recreation
Plans are being made for a variety of recreational, creative and sports activities based on the results of a survey provided to members. Look for updated information in ReMarks and in the Sunday worship folder.
Breakfast Club
Rob Medley - medgib@aol.com
Breakfast Club on Saturday mornings, and Supper Club on Tuesday afternoons, cook and serve over 6000 meals a year to the homeless and working poor. These two programs are as much about love, respect, and serving, as they are about the delicious, hot, healthy meals we serve. Duties include cooking, serving and cleaning. Both programs are a great way to get to know others and an extremely rewarding and important aspect of who we are at Saint Mark.
Buildings and Grounds
Dale Becker - debecker@yahoo.com
Our primary focus is the day-to-day operation and maintenance of our facilities including the HVAC, plumbing, and electrical systems and the maintenance of the interior and exteriorincluding landscape. We also oversee capital expenditures that improve or enhance the buildings or grounds. Many hours of labor and supplies are provided by the members of this committee. Additional support and volunteers are always welcome to join this team.
Children’s Council
Kathy Fazenbaker -fazenbakers@earthlink.net
The Children's Council works with the Children's Minister to provide educational, worship, and fellowship experiences for all children of the church through the 5th grade and acts as an advocate for our children throughout the ministries of the church.
Drama
Diane Haase Clausen - drama@stmarkumc.org
The Drama Ministry provides an outlet for people to find and use their talents and gifts to glorify God and serve their church; to achieve growth for the benefit of the church and the whole community through the process of producing, rehearsing, and presenting large and small scale theatrical productions. It brings people together in fellowship, giving them an opportunity to share their gifts and talents through acting, producing, set designing, lighting, costuming, and all aspects of theatrical productions.
Finance
Taylor Yarbrough -taylor_yarbrough@yahoo.com
The Saint Mark Finance Committee creates the church budget and oversees the use of funds required to maintain our facility, operates our programs, and grow the church mission. We monitor income and expenditures, to make sure we able to cover known and unexpected expenditures, track our real income, versus funds pledged, and report our our budget operating status to the congregation on a regular basis. Additionally, we go though an independent audit every fall to ensure compliance. Please see the Remarks and weekly bulletins for up-to-date financial reporting.
Food for the Hungry Soul
Katie Olliff - katieolliff@gmail.com
The Food for the Hungry Soul committee helps plan a variety of short-and long-term classes designed for spiritual growth and nourishment including Disciple, Bible Study, Companions in Christ, and Christian Believer. Short term classes include Knitting for the Hungry Soul, The Divine Knitter, The Good Book: Reading the Bible with Mind and Heart, and Theology on Tap. You are invited to give us your suggestions and work with us.
Hospitality
Regina Robuck - rrobuck@oaug.com
The Hospitality Committee strives to uphold our vision which is to offer Christ like hospitality as a welcome, continued ministry and fellowship to all potential, new, and current members and help spread the word of Christ through St. Mark within the church community and community at large. You are invited to become a part of the committee.
Missions
Camille Foster - lcfgolf@yahoo.com
2010 is shaping up to be an exciting year for missions and local outreach. Local outreach projects are planned including Make Your Mark Day and other exciting projects. Goals include: pursuing two regional trips and 2 International trips. Stay tuned for more information.
Property
Steve Brooks - sbrooks2@bellsouth.net
The Property Committee is charged with addressing short-term and long-term issues regarding the buildings purchased by Saint Mark along Juniper Street. The Committee operates under the strategic plan adopted by the Administrative Council to consolidate the Saint Mark campus on the west side of Juniper Street and acquire certain targeted properties as they become available and as the acquisitions make sense for Saint Mark. Recommendations from the Property Committee are submitted to the Administrative Council, and often, require a church conference for approval.
Publicity and Promotions
Joe Miller - joe@joecmiller.com
The Publicity & Promotions (P&P) Committee serves God's purpose for Saint Mark by raising awareness in our community about all the church has to offer. P&P's core members serve as creative consultants to many of the ministries and programs in our church, helping to create and execute promotional strategies as needed.
Saint Mark @ Home Groups
Nancy Monroe - nmonroe@mindspring.com
Saint Mark @ Home is an enriching, small group, intimate setting worship experience that meets, typically the first week of each month, in someone's home. This in-house setting provides a small, intimate, personal environment to talk, catch up, and worship. Typical meetings are 1-1/2 to 2 hours long.
For Saint Mark @ Home Group locations and facilitators, contact Nancy Monroe.
Technology Committee
Mark Sandifer - mmsandifer@comcast.net
The Technology Committee has oversight and responsibility for: Local Area Network, Desktop and Software Support, Communications System, Technology Training, Office Equipment, Church Technology Infrastructure, Audio/Video/Media Services, Domain Name and Web Hosting System. We develop Technology policies and provide provide guidance, direction, and support to staff, members, and committees on the use of technology.
Special Events
Phil Hulst - stmarkspecialevents@gmail.com
The Special Events Committee is responsible for planning and managing events at Saint Mark that involve Saint Mark members and often the community at large. Receptions for special occasions and Pride along with participation in community events such as the Midtown Festival are among the events planned for the year.
Staff Parish Relations
Leslie Elliott-Earby - ljearby@comcast.net
The Staff Parish relations committee functions somewhat like an office of human resources. SPR confers with our District Superintendent on all matters related to the pastor appointed our Church. The group helps develop job descriptions for any full-time or part-time staff that may be employed by the congregation, and participates in the annual evaluation of pastors and staff.
Trustees
Ashley Johnson - Ashhome@bellsouth.net
The Trustees oversee, maintain, and supervise church property, equipment and investments and receive and administer the gifts and bequests made to the church making certain all trust funds are invested properly. The activities of the Trustees are accountable to the church counsel and charge conference.
