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BOARDS AND COMMITTEES
Council
This governing
body of the Church is comprised of the Chair and Vice Chair of
each of the four Boards, as well as the following elected
positions: Clerk,
Historian, Moderator, Women’s Guild Representative, and
Chair of the
Nominating Committee.
Committees
of the Council:
Fellowship Committee —Organizes the
refreshments after worship
and coordinates opportunities and events for congregants to engage in
meaningful interaction.
Membership Committee—Oversees membership of the Church.
Diaconate
The principal mission of the Diaconate is to assist and support the Minister in
the
spiritual affairs of the Church. The Deacons and the Minister work
cooperatively
to prepare a worship service that is reverent and respectful of
tradition, yet dynamic and vital to the entire community
so that every
worshipper, church member or not , will feel embraced by our welcoming spirit.
Committees of the Diaconate:
Worship Committee—Includes all members
of the Diaconate as
well as the Pastor,
the Music Director, and several parishioners.
Visiting Committee—Provides visits
to the sick and shut-in.
Music/Arts
Committee—Provides practical support to the Director
of Music and the worship
music program by helping to maintain the
music library, instruments and
other projects. This group also
facilitates the ministry of music in the other areas of church life, such
as education, fellowship and mission outreach.
Board of Stewards
This board is responsible for the operating budget of the Church, and for the
use and maintenance of the buildings. It oversees bank accounts and
investments,
and ensures that the will of the congregation is carried out
regarding the use of the Church’s assets. The Stewards also coordinate the
Annual Stewardship Campaign.
Mission Board
The primary mission of the Home and World Mission Board is to develop
a
program whereby every individual, and the congregation as a whole, becomes a
witness to the power, love and purpose of God
in the community of mankind.
To satisfy this charge, the Mission Board distributes
money provided by the
congregation to local and international mission efforts; holds fund-raising
events; and maintains an
information kiosk in Fellowship Hall, highlighting
mission opportunities and accomplishments.
Each year, the Mission Board has annual drives that it collects
for. In
September, the Yellow School Bus drive gathers new back-to-school items
for
children in shelters. Thanksgiving food is contributed to local food pantries. A
Giving Tree, that lists on its ornaments gift items to be purchased for those in
need, is erected each December. The Missions Board also coordinates several
other
programs throughout the year, such as the Mother’s Day Plant Sale,
and 3 special UCC offerings each year: Neighbors in Need (fall), retired
clergy offering (Christmas), and One Great Hour of Sharing (Spring).
Our current mission outreach includes:
Church World Service—Global ministry, disaster relief, sponsorship of
Blanket Sunday, Crop Walk and other events.
United Campus Ministry—Provides spiritual support for UNH
students.
A Safe Place —A shelter for families
who have subjected to domestic
violence.
Cross Roads House—A homeless shelter in
Portsmouth.
My Friend’s Place—A homeless shelter in
Dover.
Habitat for Humanity—Builds
low-income housing in our area.
Seacoast Hospice—Assists
people with terminal diseases and their
families, through counseling and direct care.
Avis Goodwin Community Health Center—Provides low cost health
care for low-income people.
Andover-Newton Theological Seminary—This is a UCC supported
seminary. Donations have
helped to pay for in-care students affiliated
with our congregation.
Dover Friendly Soup Kitchen--Our
congregation provides meals on
any fifth Thursday of a month to this community soup kitchen.
Children International--We sponsor 4 Honduran children by
corresponding with them, and
providing financial and physical needs.
Christian Education Cabinet
The CE Cabinet works closely with the Christian Education Director and
Pastor Mary
Westfall to provide opportunities and educational programs for
the children, youth, families and adults of our church to learn
more about the
Christian faith. See more about these programs under “Christian
Education
Opportunities”.
Nominating Committee
This committee is responsible for selecting and encouraging
members to serve in
Board and Committee positions. The nominees are then
elected by the membership at
the Annual Meeting.
Memorial
Garden Trustees
The Trustees oversee the
Memorial
Garden, located down the hill behind the
church. In the Garden, ashes of those who have passed are interred. A
special
Memorial Book of Remembrance records interments, photos, obituaries and
biographical sketches. The Trustees also maintain the physical upkeep of the
Garden.
Open and Affirming Committee
This
committee was instrumental in providing two
years of educational
programs and forums, exploring the topic of the church
becoming an Open
and Affirming congregation, which it did on November
20, 2005. This
designation signifies that the Community Church of
Durham is open and
welcoming to all of God's people. See more
information on the Open and
Affirming page on this website.
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