Church Organization
Fauntleroy Church is organized as a covenant. That is, when we become members, we promise to be responsible for the life of this local church and the community of faith. The Congregation as a whole is the final decision maker of all important issues: the calling of a pastor, the buying or selling of property, the annual spending plan, the affirming of a statement of mission, whether or not to remodel the building, etc. The Congregation meets at least annually, and usually more often, to take up these and other important matters.
Leadership
The Church Council acts as the congregation between meetings. It sets policy, coordinates Ministry Groups and implements the will of the congregation. It is composed of four officers and seven at-large members, all of whom are elected by the congregation for two-year terms, which may be renewed once. The exception is the Treasurer, whose term may be renewed indefinitely. The Council meets monthly and is responsible for supervising the Personnel Committee, website design, and for managing large inter-ministry projects like building remodeling or overseeing the search process for Senior Pastor.
Together, along with the Senior Pastor, the officers form the Executive Committee of the Council, which meets each month to review progress of matters before the church and Council and set the Council's agenda.
Ministries
The Congregation divides the church's life into six Ministry Groups: Christian Education, Worship, Outreach, Finance, Facilities, and Parish Life. The chair of each of these groups is elected by the Congregation for two-year terms, which may be renewed once. The chair must be a member of the congregation; other members of the ministry (usually at least 5) are recruited or volunteer from the congregation and are not necessarily formal members of the church.
Covenant: The Way of Connection
Locally
The notion of covenant, rather than hierarchy, allows the greatest freedom and accountability among the Council, the Ministries and the Pastor. While it is clear that policy issues must be settled by the Council, the Ministries and Council, along with the Pastor, who is the spiritual guide for the congregation, and also Head of Staff, work together to carry out the mission of the church.
In the United Church of Christ, the local church acts as the Body of Christ in its local setting. It is not governed by the regional or national settings, but it is part of a covenant with them.
Conferences of the United Church of Christ
Our Conference is called the Pacific Northwest Conference of the UCC. It is one of 39 conferences, organized geographically. It is composed of about 80 congregations like Fauntleroy, in Washington, northern Idaho and Alaska, who freely join together to support one another's work, do things together we could not do alone and act as the ordaining body for clergy in the UCC. The group meets annually.
The National Setting of the United Church of Christ
Together, about 6,000 congregations, composed of over a million members, covenant together to support another, act on issues of national concern and provide service together that local churches and conferences could not do alone. The national offices of the UCC are in Cleveland, Ohio. The national setting meets every other year in a General Synod.
Each setting of the church is not governed by the others. Each setting is free to act as they listen to the Holy Spirit. It is our tradition that we promise to listen to one another (not necessarily agree), to join together when possible and to hold each other accountable to Jesus Christ, who is the "head of the church."
Updated: 03/21/09: D. Kratz: B. Ackers
