Church Governance
Plymouth Church Governance
Our congregation is governed by our Church Council. It comprises two representatives from each of the nine boards at Plymouth, as well as one member from Plymouth Women, a member at large, and our Moderator and Moderator-elect, who act as the chair and chair-elect of the congregation. Ministers 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: Pam Duffy
Moderator-Elect: Darrel Mullins
-
Mission: Executive Committee members represent the interests of Plymouth’s full congregation as expressed in its mission and strategic plan.
Chair: Pam Duffy
Vice Chair: Darrel Mullins
Secretary: Emily Pontius
Members: Pastor Jared Wortman, Judy Stark, Lisa Merkle, Rachel Boon, Greg Kenyon
-
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: Maggie Tillman
Secretary: Jeanne Lyle
Members: Mike Baldwin, Karen Barnhizer, Randy Breese, Melinda Collins, Tom Drake, Robin Maharry, Janie Wine, Linda Shelley
-
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: Tracy Codel
Vice Chair: Rachel Bruns
Secretary: Alice Fuglsang
Members: Chloe Bodenhammer, Jen Fox, Heather Groben, Joe Hotek, Emily Leder, Jess Patterson, Lina Reinders, Jennifer Wigton
-
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: Lauren Linnenbrink
Vice Chair: Erin Riker
Secretary: Marti West
Members: Holly Craiger, Jim Ferguson, Michael Glover, Brian Leckrone, Scott Morrison, Mary Nelson, Artis Reis, Barb Yankey
-
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: Dave Everett
Vice Chair: Deb Ledesma
Secretary: Steve Jacobs
Members: Emily Abbas, Barbi Hamor, Rob Hill, David Johnson, Lee Konfrst, Alissa McKinney, Chuck Offenburger, Sally Pederson
-
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: Judy Stark
Vice Chair: Christine Woods
Secretary: Adam Danielson
Members: Barb Adams, Lucy Anderson, Carroll Bennick, John Bunz, Becky Cady, Adam Danielson, Sue Davis, Betty Fosburgh, Jeff Grimes, Norma Hirsch, Dixie Hoekman, Ann Hoeppner, David Isch, Perry Klein, Sharon Lahn, Anita Lindfield, Fred Maharry, Cathy McMullen, Jim Pierson, Susan Pohl, Karen Ross, Lorenzo Sandoval, Tom Schoelerman, Carol Sieck, Marilyn Stone, Bill Wedeking, Kiran Kothavale
-
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: Lisa Merkle
Vice Chair: Elaine Van Dyck
Secretary: Taylor Crawley
Members: Dani Christensen, Rick Hollis, Heidi Janecke, Darin Johnson, Dave Kidder, Lorraine May, Kathleen Murrin, Beth Stelle Jones, Ruth Townsdin
-
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: Dan Warren
Vice Chair: Elizabeth Belden
Secretary: Carol Stratemeyer
Members: Cynthia Bahls, Jason Crowley, Mark Gruber, Melissa Johnson, Susan Lees, Kate McLean, Julie Nolan, Caroline Peterson, Christine Polson
-
Mission: Plan, implement, and encourage diverse opportunities for spiritual growth, enrichment, and faith formation for adults. The board will maintain Plymouth’s library.
Chair: Neil Fagan
Vice Chair: Anna Osborne
Secretary: Joy Wilhem
Members: Kristin Boldt, Larissa Hadley, Rick Miller, Craig Shives, Cheryl Sypal, Don Worrell
-
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: Rachel Boon
Vice Chair: Wade DeWald
Secretary: Katharine Murthy
Members: Wendy Bellus, Jim Green, Irene Hardisty, Amber Leon, Benton Maas, John Sabroske, Chuck Smith, Linda Sullivan, Dick Swanson
-
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: Hallie Still-Caris
Vice President: Spencer Cady
Secretary: Mickey Carlson
Grant Chair: Libby Jacobs
Members: Jan Burch, Bob Burnett, Nora Everett, Beech Turner, David Vaudt
Foundation Treasurer: Chris Sidwell
Board of Trustees Liaison: Dick Swanson
Ex Officio/Investment Committee: Adam Claypool, Franklin Codel, Steve Jacobs, Laura Meier, Dick Swanson, Brian Pattinson.