Church Governance

Plymouth Church Governance

Our congregation is governed by our Church Council. It comprises two representatives from each of the 10 boards at Plymouth, a member at large, and our Moderator and Moderator-elect, who act as the chair and chair-elect of the congregation. Pastors and other members of the program staff are non-voting members of Church Council. Each congregation in the United Church of Christ is self-governed, and we operate according to our Plymouth Church by-laws. The work of our congregation is summarized each year in our Annual Report.

Moderator: Rachel Boon

Moderator-Elect: Richard Swanson

  • Mission: Executive Committee members represent the interests of Plymouth’s full congregation as expressed in its mission and strategic plan.

    Moderator: Rachel Boon

    Moderator-Elect: Richard Swanson

    Past Moderator: Darrell Mullins

    Member-at-Large: Sid Ramsey

    Board of Deacons: Perry Klein

    Board of Membership: Lori Brinkley

    Board of Trustees: Chuck Smith

    Senior Pastor: Jared Wortman

  • Mission: It shall be the duty of this board to: supervise, promote and interpret the benevolence activities of this Church; promote representation of Church members in decision-making bodies of the denominational and ecumenical agencies to which funds are given; and advise the Board of Trustees in the most effective use of benevolence resources by presenting a budget at the time designated by the Board of Trustees.

    Benevolence: The disposition to do good; good will kindness; charitableness; the love, of mankind, accompanied with a desire to promote their happiness.

    Chair: Matt McCoy

    Vice Chair: Jim Ferguson

    Secretary: Jane Hemminger

    Members: Randy Breese, Melinda Collins, Thomas Webb, Mary Gillaspey, Debbie Jayne, Marilyn Stone

  • Mission: It shall be the duty of this board to: recruit, train and place the volunteer Christian Education staff; establish Christian Education curriculum and procure necessary material and equipment; establish and execute programs of activities for various groups of young people and adults; and have general supervision of those auxiliary education programs which serve the community and are sponsored by the Church.

    Chair: Heather Groben

    Vice Chair: Jennie Knoebel

    Secretary: Kevin McLean

    Members: Joe Hotek, Lina Tucker-Reinders, Lisa Wieland, Michelle Barker, Kyle Smith, Molly Dolan, Shayla McCormally, Keith Petersen, Caitlin Sulentic

  • Mission: The Board of Christian Social Action grows in love of God and neighbor by exploring the relationship between our Christian faith and contemporary social issues, stimulating dialogues, and initiating and inviting action in response to Christ’s teachings of compassion for others within Plymouth Church and beyond.

    Chair: George Dorsey

    Secretary: Marti West

    Members: Emily Chafa, Poly Welp, Karen Barnhizer, Paula McManus, Virginia Traxler, John Zauche, Colette Louthe

  • Mission: To assist all members and friends of Plymouth Church in understanding the principles of Christian stewardship; encourage all members and friends of the congregation in their growing commitment to the practices of Christian stewardship; develop an ongoing program to receive statements of intention (pledges) to provide financial support for the ministry and mission of the Church; review the manner in which persons fulfill their stated intentions, responding where deemed appropriate; and maintain a channel of communication with other boards and committees to assure an effective stewardship emphasis.

    Chair: David Johnson

    Secretary: Sandee Lyons

    Members: Emily Abbas, Mary Daily Lange, Deb Ledesma, Sally Pedersen, Cynthia Adams, Robb Hill, Maggie Tillman, Alison Cate, Matt Hardin

  • Mission: to assist Plymouth members and friends to grow in our capacity to love God and one another. Looking to follow the example of Jesus, the Board of Congregational Care will focus on opportunities for Plymouth to eat, pray, play, journey, laugh, cry and live meaningful lives together.

    Chair: Jodi Gruening

    Vice Chair: Jon Merkle

    Secretary: Mary Ann Beard

    Members: Mary O’Brien, Chris Lewis, Georgia Sheriff, Mary An Beard, Kirby Nelson, Shana Johnson

  • Mission: It shall be the duty of this board to assist the ministers in ministering to the spiritual interests of the church and community. They shall, with the ministers, have charge of the religious activities of the church, except as otherwise expressly provided in these Bylaws; assist in the preparation and administration of the sacraments, and in caring for the poor, the sick, the sorrowing and the stranger. They shall provide for the Church services in the absence of the minister, and shall provide for the temporary supply of the pulpit, the compensation to be determined by the Board of Trustees. They shall receive the open collections; and shall appoint the ushers. They shall perform the duties relative to the office of the Senior Minister.

    Chair: Perry Klein

    Vice Chair: Carolyn Sabroske

    Secretary: Jim Pierson

    Members: Scott Bixby, Jeff Grimes, Norma Hirsch, Kalya Kothavale, Sharon Lahn, Susan Pohl, Karen Ross, Tom Schoelerman, Carol Sieck, Lois De Waard, Eric Hyde, Lisa Kamphuis, Karen Rasmussen, Jackie Saunders, Mike Baldwin, Mark Haverland, Ronald Klipfel, Marilyn Laughlin, Cathy McMullen, Barbara Yankey

  • Mission: The Board of Membership will promote the welcoming nature of Plymouth Church in the community; encourage, recruit, integrate, and instruct prospective and new members on the life and opportunities provided by membership and to encourage participation in church activities; assist in the growth of Plymouth membership by facilitating, initiating, and supporting opportunities for all persons who wish to join Plymouth; to provide opportunities for caring and support of members and the community.

    Chair: Lori Brinkley

    Vice Chair: Luke Bowers

    Secretary: Diana Graham, Tela Robinson

    Members: Heidi Janecke, Dave Kidder, Ann Hoeppner, Becky Cady, Paula Kerman, Lorraine May, Kathleen Murrin

  • Mission: To develop, organize, promote and evaluate a comprehensive program of music and arts to provide an integral contribution to the overall mission of the church; provide music and art for the worship services of this church; and foster spiritual growth and enrichment of the Plymouth membership through music and the arts.

    Chair: Jason Crowley

    Members: Mark Cruber, Melissa Johnson, Susan Lee, Nancy Cobb, Benjamin Kleene, Cynthia Mercati, Sarah Parrott

  • Mission: Plan, implement, and encourage diverse opportunities for spiritual growth, enrichment, and faith formation for adults. The board will maintain Plymouth’s library.

    Chair: Kristen Boldt

    Members: Bonnie Green, Emily Johnson, Shari Simmons, Don Worrell, Kay Riley, Ruth Staplin, Laura Todd

  • Mission: It shall be the duty of this board to: have charge of the property of the Church and manage its financial, business and contractual affairs; establish compensation for all employees, based on the recommendation of the Personnel Committee, prepare and submit to the Church Council, for approval or amendment, a budget of the estimated revenues and expenses of the Church; provide for an annual audit of the Church’s financial records, elect the treasurer of the Church as provided in Article VII, Section 5; supervise matters pertaining to insurance; designate the depository for Church funds; and act on fundraising requests as provided in Article VIII Section 1(i).

    Chair: Chuck Smith

    Vice Chair: Dave Everett

    Secretary: Jack Porter

    Members: Tim McCulloh, Dan Warren, Tom Downs, Jim Green, Dick Jones, Jay Eaton, Sally Pedersen, Lori Fenton, Annette Weeber

  • Mission: The Foundation was formed in 1979 for the purpose of soliciting and accepting “contributions, gifts, funds, devices and bequests of personal or real property which along with the income therefrom, shall be held, administered, and expended exclusively for the use and direct benefit of Plymouth Congregational United Church of Christ and the furtherance of its purposes.”

    President: Spencer Cady

    Secretary: Mickey Carlson

    Treasurer: Ted Oberlander

    Members: Jan Burch, Bob Burnett, Dave Vaudt, Brian Pattinson, Beech Turner

    Grant Committee Chair: Libby Jacobs

    Investment Committee Chair: Nora Everett

    Investment Committee: Adam Claypool, Franklin Model, Steve Jacobs, Laura Meier, Dick Swanson