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Church Organization

FIRST PARISH CHURCH DIRECTORY

Pastors:

  • Reverend John G. Hughes II, Senior Pastor

Organist/Director of Music:

  • Donald Dunn

Church Secretary:

  • Office, Barbara Chew, Secretary
  • Nancy Klebart, Administrative Assistant

Christian Education Director:

  • Priscilla Duda – Has general oversight and direction of Church School.

Youth and Small Groups Ministry:

  • Our Youth Director, Jared Hamilton coordinates middle and high school youth groups.
  • Judy Haley, Pastoral Assistant, runs our Small Group Ministries.

Church Sexton:

  • Charles Hatch

Chapel Custodian:

  • George Nickless

OFFICERS

MODERATOR:

  • Steve Carhart – Presides at all meetings of the Church.

CLERK:

  • George Nickless – Prepares and keeps records of Annual and Special Church meetings; keeps records of baptisms and active and inactive membership lists, recording deaths, new members and demits.

FINANCIAL SECRETARY AND ASSISTANT FINANCIAL SECRETARY:

  • June Nickless – Receives, records and deposits all income of the Church. Keeps records of pledges and prepares quarterly statements of same.

TREASURER AND ASSISTANT TREASURER:

  • Treasurer- R. Mark Decker – Disburses all monies required for bills, etc and keeps the books. Serves as ex officio member of Board of Trustees.
  • Assistant Treasurer-David DeMoura – Acts as an assistant to the Treasurer.

CHURCH ORGANIZATIONS AND COMMITTEES

BOARD OF TRUSTEES:

The Board of Trustees consists of 7 members elected on a staggered basis at the Annual Meeting in June to serve 5-year terms. The Treasurer, Assistant Treasurer and the Pastors are ex-officio members of the Board.

The Board is responsible for the temporal matters of First Parish Church as contrasted with the Diaconate, which focuses primarily on spiritual concerns including the worship services. Specifically, the Board of Trustees has stewardship over the assists of First Parish Church including maintenance of the Meeting House, the Chapel Building including the offices and Sunday School wing, and the Parsonage. The Trustees, through an Investment Committee, manage the endowment funds of Church. The Trustees, with input from the Committees and Boards of the Church and the assistance of the Treasurer, prepare the budget, which goes to the Congregation at the Annual Business Meeting in February for approval. The Board is charged with ensuring that good business practices are followed in managing and disbursing funds of the Church. During the year, with the help of the Treasurer, the Board monitors income and expenses compared to the budget and takes action when significant deviations are forecasted. The Board approves and executes all contracts on behalf of the Church except for those with the Pastors, which are handled by the Executive Committee of the Church. The Chair (or Co-Chair) of the Trustees is a member of the Executive Committee.

The Board meets monthly, year around, normally on the 3id Monday evening each month to hear reports from members on their ongoing assignments as well as act on matters concerning First Parish Church as a whole.

STEWARDSHIP COMMITTEE:

  • Responsible to annually raise funds necessary for operation, missions and other needs of the Church.
  • Stewardship Page

DIACONATE:

  • Carries out the religious matters of the Church, acting as an aid to the Minister. Responsible at Sunday worship for ushering, receiving collections and administering communion.

CHURCH COUNCIL:

  • Consists of all officers of the Church and one member from each committee or board. Meets once a month to coordinate all Church organizations and activities.

CHRISTIAN EDUCATION COMMITTEE:

  • Sets policy for the Sunday School and youth of the Church and aids and advises the Superintendent.
  • Sunday School Page

MEMBERSHIP & GROWTH COMMITTEE:

  • Assists new members and prospective new members to become integrated into the community of our congregation
  • Hosts fellowship events throughout the year
  • Reaches out to prospective new members and inactive members
  • Annually reviews active and inactive membership lists

Chair, Martha Farmer

MISSIONS COMMITTEE:

MUSIC COMMITTEE:

  • Aids the Choir Director/Organist with choirs and music.
  • Music Page

NOMINATING COMMITTEE:

  • Nominates members to fill all Church offices to be elected at the Annual Meeting, and to fill any vacancies which may occur during the year.

DELEGATES:

  • Represents the Church at meetings and conferences of the United Church of Christ.