Congregational Profile Form (continued)

NARRATIVE-SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
ORGANIZATIONS:
What organizations does your congregation have and what do they do? (For example: women's groups, men's, couple's and youth organizations)

Organizations and Groups Operating within St. Andrew’s

The Women’s Missionary Society meets monthly in the afternoon. The focus is on mission study and monies collected are sent directly to the national church office. See also under Mission (evangelism, community action and world concerns).

With a small group of dedicated workers, St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Women’s Association operates, according to their constitution, "to render service to the church and community while providing Christian fellowship". The women raise funds from an annual bazaar, a thrift shop, funeral receptions, noon-hour concert lunches, and other special undertakings such as collecting Zehr’s tapes. These funds are spent, after careful deliberation at monthly meetings, on running the church kitchens, on purchasing Christmas poinsettias for the shut-ins, on funding capital projects with input from the Board of Managers, and other undertakings as needed in the church. With the way society has changed, we find that women choose now to serve in all aspects of church life, therefore it may soon be time to find renewal for the Women’s Association if they are to continue with their fund raising capacity. All women of the church are welcome to be members.

Session Committees

The Committees, groups and projects listed below come under the umbrella of Joint Council which is divided into Administrative Council and Pastoral Council. Each of these committees report to their respective council and through this council to the session. Each committee has a chair and membership is made up of both elders and non-elders. With few exceptions, all groups that exist in the church are sub-groups of a committee of Session. There are job descriptions for all positions, committees and projects. For a complete overview, please refer to the attached chart.

Joint Council

  • consists of all the members of the Administrative Council and Pastoral Council plus the Chairs of the Board of Managers and the Personnel Committee

  • meets to receive and consider the report of the Board of Managers and Personnel Committee as well as matters that pertain to both councils

Board of Managers

  • oversees clerical and custodial staff
  • ensures that the physical facilities are maintained
  • prepares the yearly budget and monitors the church finances

Personnel Committee

  • a joint committee of Session and Board of Managers
  • responsible for the recruitment of ministerial, music and other program and support personnel, and for overall personnel planning
  • recommends to the Board of Managers the annual budget for staff salaries and personnel policies such as benefits and vacations

 

Pastoral Council

Christian Education

  • Christian Education Committee determines educational policies that pertain to the Church School and Adult Education groups. (see detailed report)

Camp Kummoniwannago

  • Camp K is an non-denominational summer day camp held each summer at Laurel Creek Conservation area (see detailed report)

Visitors in the Parish (VIP)

  • this committee is made up of 20-25 volunteers who visit, on a one to one basis, members of the church who are homebound or in a long-term care facility

Stephen Ministry

  • currently has 12 trained Stephen Ministers and 1 Stephen Leader who have participated in 50 hours of training in order to meet the needs of individuals experiencing crisis in their lives

Prayer Group

  • this dedicated group of people remember others in their prayers daily
  • requests may be made by the individual or by a Minister with all information remaining confidential

Co-ordinators of Team Leaders and Elder Districts

  • the Session of St. Andrew’s has approximately 152 Elders, including 22 Elder Emeriti, which is divided into teams with each team having a leader
  • responsible for managing the districts, ensuring that they have Elders, as well as encouraging team leaders to liase with Elders on their teams

Fellowship Activities

  • annual Golf Tournament
  • Bridge Club
  • Men’s Bowling League
  • Men’s Breakfast
  • Thursday’s Soup and Sandwich Lunch
  • Investment Club

 

 

Administrative Council

Brechbill Bursary Committee

  • receives applications, in cooperation with references from area high school guidance counselors, from needy graduating students who will be pursuing further education under accredited Ontario Programs
  • interview short-listed applicants, with two bursaries awarded each spring

Local Outreach Committee

  • Community Dinners – organized by convenors, offering a hot meal to our downtown friends on New Year’s Day and a BBQ on Victoria Day
  • February Potato Blitz – collecting potatoes in co-operation with House of Friendship Food Hamper project and other local churches
  • Stewart Awards – organized by a committee which annually recognizes three Secondary School teachers for excellence in education
  • Out of the Cold Program – oversees the weekly Monday night opening of the church to overnight guests in need of accommodation from November to April
  • Social Endowment Fund
  • Helping Hands – transportation to and from St. Andrews
  • financial support of selected local social service agencies, through monies provided by the congregation

National/International Outreach Committee

  • communicates regularly with the congregation regarding committee selected outreach projects as well as raising funds through offering envelopes and fundraisers to support Presbyterians Sharing, Fair Trade Products and projects such as Corn Share, the Francisco Coll School in Guatemala and emergency relief funds

Worship Committee

  • oversees hours, forms and modes of worship including Baptism, the Lord’s Supper, guest speakers, physical appointment in the Sanctuary and Chapel, ways of welcoming worshippers
  • sub-committees include: Communion Preparation, Music, Ushers and Greeters, Sanctuary Sound System Team, Noon Hour Recitals and TV Ministry

Membership

  • responsible for welcoming new members and integrating them into the life of the congregation
  • maintains the membership and crib connection rolls
  • ensures that all members are encouraged to use their gifts in the ministry of St. Andrews

Faith Promise/Stewardship/Capital Campaign

  • not functioning at present

 


Committees of Session
 
Board of Managers
(Property, Finance, Administration) 		JOINT COUNCIL
Administrative Council
Pastoral Council
Personnel Committee

- Pastoral Support Committee(proposed)		  
 
  Administrative Council Groups   Pastoral Council Groups  
         
  - Brechbill Bursary Committee   - Christian Education  
  - Local Outreach Committee   - Stephen Ministry  
  - National/International Outreach   - Visitors in the Parish  
  - Worship and Doctrine   - Prayer Group  
  -Membership Committee   - Fellowship Activities  
  - Elder Representative to Presbytery   - Coordinators for Team Leaders and Elder Districts  
  - Stewardship/Faith Promise/Capital Campaign   - Camp Kummoniwannago  
 
  W.A. W.M.S. Nominating Committee  
  Board of Trustees   Session Restructuring  
 

 

Back | Profile Index | Next