Organization
Fauntleroy Church is organized around a covenant, meaning that, when we become members, we promise to be responsible for the life of this faith community. The congregation as a whole is the final decision-maker on all major issues, including the calling of pastors, the buying or selling of property, and our annual spending plan. We meet annually in June and as needed when important matters arise.
Council
Acting on behalf of the congregation, the Council is responsible for setting priorities, making policy decisions, and overseeing major projects that transcend any one ministry. The Council is comprised of four officers and seven at-large representatives, all of whom are elected by the congregation for two-year terms.
Officers
Our moderator is lay leader of the congregation and, as such, conducts Council and congregational meetings and is legal agent for the church.
Our vice moderator assists the moderator and acts in the moderator's stead when necessary.
Our clerk is secretary of the Council and congregation and, as such, records actions of those meetings.
Our treasurer is the chief financial officer of the church.
Together with the senior pastor, these officers form the Council’s executive committee, which meets each month to review progress on matters before the church and Council and set the Council's agenda.
At-Large and Ex-Officio Members
After the seven at-large members are elected to the Council, each of them selects a liaison assignment with one ministry or committee. They stay in touch with their assigned group and report to the Council on policy-related matters.
As ex-officio members of the Council, our senior pastor and any associate pastor aid in clarifying goals and evaluating performance.
Ministries
Five ministry groups focus on specific aspects of our common life: worship, Christian education, finance, facilities, and parish life. The congregation elects the chairperson of each ministry for a two-year term, which may be renewed once. Ministry leaders must be members the congregation; others who bring skills and interest to these ministries need not be church members.
The United Church of Christ
The United Church of Christ (UCC) is a distinct and diverse community of Christians who marry faith and action to be where Jesus the healer meets Jesus the revolutionary. Believing that God is still speaking, we strive to weave God’s message of hope and extravagant welcome with actions for justice and peace that effect positive change in communities in the United States and abroad. We are a church that welcomes and accepts everyone as they are, nourishing the mind as much as the soul.
Local Level
One setting of the United Church of Christ does not govern another. At the local level, each congregation is free to act as its members feel guided by the Holy Spirit. Acting in covenant rather than as directed by a hierarchy enables us to listen to one another (though not necessarily agree), to join together when possible, and to hold each other accountable to the teachings of Jesus Christ.
Regional Level
The Pacific Northwest Conference of the UCC is our regional office - one of 39 across the country organized geographically. It is comprised of 82 congregations and two camp and conference centers in Washington, northern Idaho, and Alaska. They support one another's work, do things together we could not do alone, and ordain UCC clergy. The conference meets annually.
National Level
Nearly 5,000 UCC congregations comprised of more than 900,000+ members covenant together at the national level to support one another, act on issues of mutual concern, and provide services that local churches and conferences could not do alone. UCC’s national and global ministries are headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio; representatives convene every other year in a general synod.
