Our church is blessed with many capable administrators that are generous with their time and talents, but there is always room for more. We hope all members take an interest in doing the work of the church. It's easy to joke about the number of committees we have, but it is an effective means by which to balance the responsibilities across the organization. More than just committees, these are small groups that fellowship together while furthering God's kingdom. Committee members are nominated and appointed annually and typically serve three years. If you are interested in serving Christ in this manner, we encourage you to speak to the pastor or any of the leaders listed below.
Church Council Susie Moffett, Chair The Council is the body that oversees all committees and church business. It is made up of the pastor, all committee chairs, and "at large" members of the congregation. Meetings are open to all members of the church, but only committee members have voting privileges. Meetings are at 8:00 on the second Monday of every month, held in the Patton Library.
Worship Committee Jeff Canter, Chair The Worship Committee is responsible for all elements of the contemporary and traditional worship services. Meeting quarterly, members work with the pastor, music minister, and worship leader to plan and shape the worship experience.
Board of Trustees Bob Fulton, Chair While the church is the people, we do rely on our building as a place for worship, fellowship, and as a cornerstone of the community. It's a large, historic structure, and it must be cared for and maintained. Committee members meet at 6:30 pm the second Monday of every month in the Patton Library to discuss and review all issues pertaining to the church building, parsonage, and grounds.
Finance Committee Joe Boward, Chair Pam Hess, Treasurer Pattie Darin, Financial Secretary To perform the work of our Lord in this age requires a business. The Finance Committee is charged with maintaining the economic health of the church. Committee members meet with the treasurer and financial secretary at 6:30 pm the second Monday of every month in the Simpson Room.
Staff Parish Relations Committee (SPRC) Cheryl Fulton, Chair Meeting quarterly, this group's charge is to nurture and support the church staff and pastor, conduct performance evaluations, and fill open positions that become available.
Nurture, Outreach, & Witness (NOW) Donna Sawhill, Nurture Chair Martha Boward, Outreach Chair Diane Bartley, Witness Chair This trio oversees the planning and execution of the many ministries, programs, and events that share God's love within our church family and out in the world. In many ways, these are the lifeblood of our church. For more information about their activities, see the Ministries section of the website.
Memorial Committee Atleah Grubb, Chair Many members of our church have been generous contributors over the years, establishing a Memorial Fund used to make meaningful purchases for the church in memory of those that are now with the Father. Members oversee the fund and disbursements.
Lay Leadership Committee Pastor Russel Shuluga, Chair Using Jesus as our servant model, this committee meets annually to consider the gifts and skills of members of the congregation and makes requests to individuals to serve on the various committees of the church.
Library Committee Warren Kinneer, Chair Members meet once a year to oversee the business of the Patton Library. This group takes on special projects such as Christmas gift giving for the Birthday Breakfast for Jesus, the annual Church Picnic with AME Zion Church, and the presentation of Bibles to graduates.
Education Committee Tonya Bollman, Chair All Sunday School classes, Bible Study, Children's Church, Youth Group, Nursery, and Vacation Bible School fall under the purview of the Education Committee. Members are responsible for planning the curriculum and lining up volunteers to teach. All teachers of children's Sunday School are required to have Act 33/34 clearances.
Strategic Planning Committee Jeff Canter, Chair Sewickley United Methodist Church is over 125 years old. Its success hasn't come without change. When the first organ was purchased for the church in 1864, some members were against its use, and it was secretly removed one Saturday night and placed on Thorn Street, where it was found Sunday morning. Though we often resist it, the church must change to remain relevant to society. The Strategic Planning Committee is figuring out what we need to do to effectively make disciples for Jesus Christ today and in the future.
