You have probably heard of the Church Council, mostly through the announcement of its monthly meeting. But do you know who they are, and what they do? If not, read on and meet the Church Council!

Article V of the By-Laws establishes the Church Council as an “agency through which all organizations and committees may coordinate their activities into harmonious programs of work and worship.” Specifically, the Council is tasked with formulating church goals and plans to attain them, and recommending them to the Church, and then reporting on the use of resources and success in achieving those goals.

To carry out these tasks, the By-Laws state that the Council be comprised of the Pastor, Church Staff, the Moderator, Treasurer, Financial Secretary, Chairman of Deacons, Sunday School Director, Discipleship Training Director, Baptist Men’s Director, Women on Missions Director, Children’s Ministry Director, Church Clerk, Prayer Ministry Coordinator, Church Hostess, Outreach Director, and the Chairman of all Standing Committees. Some of the posts are currently vacant, and may change with the new Constitution and By-Laws being drafted. Regardless, this is obviously a big committee, and at any given meeting there could be fifteen or more people in attendance.

The Council meets on the second Sunday of each month, and typically each member gives a short report on their activities or brings up a topic for discussion or coordination. Topics could be as varied as approving expenditure of funds for a certain project or reviewing job descriptions for church staff. The Council also serves as a nominating committee for all elected positions as well as committee members. Basically, the Council is most concerned with the day-to-day functioning of the Church.

So if you have any questions or suggestions you would like raised at the Church Council, you should contact any Church staff member, the Chairman of the Deacons, or the Chair of the relevant committee. Some of those folks (in no particular order!) are the following: Chairman of the Deacons, Jim Bradley; Building and Grounds, Jay Robinson; Personnel, Tommy Barham; Finance, Walter Smith; Library and Sunday School, Anne Lennon; Youth, Beth West; Missions, Tommy Canady; Publicity, Kathy Davis; Prayer, Taffy Rivenbark; Ushers, Robert Lennon; Hospitality, Lynda Barham; Technology, John Malone; Women in Touch, Carmen Poindexter. For issues relating to the Children’s Ministry, contact Jodi Roney, for the Music Ministry, Glenda Bohannon, and for the Youth Ministry, Shaun McMahon.

Please keep all these people, as well as the Council as a whole, in your prayers as they strive to make the Church function in a way that serves its members and visitors, and gives glory to the Lord.