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Boards

OUR FELLOWSHIP PRINCIPLES:

“Union Church welcomes all followers of Christ and works with all who work with Him; respecting each person’s conscience; working by love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace.”

Boards are simply a subgroup of the congregation that undertake to contribute to the work and service of the church from specific areas. Together with the officers and pastors, boards work to accomplish the goals discerned by the congregation. All 10 boards support all of our mission priorities, bringing to the table different gifts for:

  • Unbounded Hospitality
  • Intentional and Inspirational Faith Development
  • Passionate Worship
  • Risk-Taking Mission and Service
  • Extravagant Generosity to and for God’s World

Representatives of the boards with the officers and pastors make up the Church Council. The council meets monthly to oversee the program, health, and direction of the church and is empowered in certain ways to conduct business on behalf of the wider church.

Below is a description and information of the boards and their work. The Union Church Constitution 2018.12 helps guide our work.

2021 Officers of the Church

Moderator: Paul Smithson

Vice Moderator & Chair of Church Council: Kim Kobersmith

Clerk: Linda Parsons

Financial Secretary: Reda Hutton

Treasurer: Greg Lakes

Church Council

Subject to the authority of the congregation, the Church Council serves as the Executive Committee for the Congregation.

Decision-making is principally by discussion and consensus but all formal decisions require a majority vote of the voting members present. A quorum consists of one more than half of the voting members.

The Council as executive committee for the congregation, preparing its agenda and serving as interim decision-making body subject always to congregational review, coordinating the various elements of the church program, working with and through the Boards to achieve maximum effectiveness and avoid duplication. The Council also serves to communicate the activities of the Boards to the congregation.

Church Council is made up of the chair of each Board (or another representative), a Chair elected annually by the congregation who serves as Vice-Moderator, all elected church officers, the Pastor and other professional staff as the Church Council deems appropriate.  Pastors and all staff serve as ex officio members without vote.

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Administration Board

Mission:  To guide and support the ministries of Union Church through overseeing staff hiring and evaluation, building use policy, office equipment & technology, and other administrative assistance

Responsibilities and Duties

  • Establishes policies for office operations, in collaboration with pastors, office and church administrators, to ensure smooth functioning of the church, including building use and scheduling;
  • Addresses office information technology, including computers, phone systems, website, and advise re: new IT needs;
  • Oversees Personnel – maintaining position descriptions, terms of call for Pastor(s), annual contracts for other employees, evaluation processes, and works with appropriate Boards to initiate or participate in searches and hiring of staff;
  • Monitors the expenses of the Administration Board in the budget and designated accounts.

The Church Clerk is an ex officio member

Board members for 2020 are Ellen Mink, Lisa Vaughn, Reda Hutton

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Community Life and Growth Board

Mission: To guide and support the beloved faith community of Union Church through welcoming initiatives and fellowship opportunities throughout the year for members and friends of all ages, and establish policies for use of parts of the facility.

Responsibilities and Duties

  • Be concerned for and work to create within our beloved community a hospitable, safe and inclusive space for all;
  • Reach out to the wider Berea community and beyond through advertising of various kinds and through promotional events as opportunities develop;
  • Provide fellowship opportunities such as Wednesday Night Live meals, all-church Potlucks, Lenten lunches, etc., throughout the year;
  • Follow up with visitors, invite to membership, collaborate with Pastor on sessions for prospective or new members;
  • Establish policies/guidelines that facilitate uses of fellowship spaces in association with program needs
  • Monitor the expenses of the CL&G Board in the budget and designated accounts.
  • Be concerned for and work to create within our beloved community a hospitable, safe and inclusive space for all;

2020 Board members: Betsy Whaley, Amy Schill, Sarah Rohrer

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2020 meeting minutes

Faith Development Board

Mission: To envision a holistic faith development program for Union Church and to recruit, assist, and support highly qualified teachers and leaders.

Responsibilities and Duties

  • Be concerned for and provide leadership for thoughtful, inspirational and intentional faith development for persons of all ages, in collaboration with the Associate Pastor
  • Address the recruitment and training of church school teachers, Children’s Church leaders, adult class teachers, small group ministry leaders, and child care workers, as necessary;
  • Conduct background checks as appropriate
  • Provide support for Youth Programs
  • Collaborate with Mission and Service Board to create new educational and/or service activities or programs
  • Monitor the expenses of the Faith Development Board in the budget and designated accounts
  • Ex officio members shall include the pastor(s) and the youth activities coordinator(s)

2020 Board members are Ashley Cochrane, Jenny Hobson, Maria Hartz, Laura Nagle, Tina Parker

Read our Safe Sanctuary Policy: Union Church Safe Sanctuary Policy

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Finance Board

Mission:  To guide and support the ministries of Union Church through sound fiscal management of resources.

Responsibilities and Duties

Generally The Church Finance Board works cooperatively with the staff, Treasurer and Financial Secretary to oversee and manage the financial affairs of the Church.  As the finances impact all aspects of the church coordination of financial matters are usually coordinated through the Church Council.

Specifically the board:

  • Coordinates an annual financial support campaign
  • Administers the finances of the church, including the submission of an annual budget to the congregation
  • Establishes policies for managing monies, investments and financial records, with an annual audit of the church’s books.
  • Monitors the expenses of the Church Finance Board in the budget and designated accounts.

2020 Board members are Charles Hoffman, Martin Hensley, Shirley Carlberg, Cheryl Stone

The Treasurer and Finance Secretary are ex officio members of the board.

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Mission and Service Board

Mission:  To guide and support the Union Church faith community in service and mission engagement locally and globally.

Responsibilities and Duties

  • Is concerned for the church’s service to the wider community through gifts of time, energy, skills, talents, and money.
  • Helps meet the emergency needs of church families;
  • Selects, coordinates, and promotes the church’s local, national, and international involvements in mission;
  • Coordinates the church’s ecumenical activities related to outreach through mission, e.g. Berea Ministerial Assoc., Kentucky Council of Churches, National Council of Churches, Church World Service, etc.;
  • Organizes an annual Bazaar, an Alternative Christmas Market, and/or other fundraising in support of mission giving;
  • Collaborates with the Faith Development Board to create new service and/or educational activities.
  • Monitors the expenses of the Mission & Service Board in the budget and designated accounts.

2020 Board members are Annriette Stolte, Betty Hibler, Tennant Kirk, Dorie Hubbard, Carla Gilbert, Paul Jacobs

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Nurture and Care Board

Mission:  To guide and support the members of Union Church with a compassionate and caring community.

Responsibilities and Duties

  • Communicates effectively with Pastor to nurture the spiritual and physical well-being of church members and friends;
  • Cares for members and friends through visits, rides, in-home communion;
  • Offers and/or arrange special assistance in times of illness, birth, death, or crises of any kind.
  • Monitors the expenses of the Nurture & Care Board in the budget and designated accounts.

2020 Board members are Mary Lou Wiese, Gerry Blanchard, Donna Abner, Stanley Kramer, John Payne, Cheryl Caruso Payne; ad hoc: Hazel Morris, Teri Mehler

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2019 Meeting Minutes:

Pastoral Relations Board

Mission:  To monitor the health of the relationship between the congregation and the pastor(s), providing a mechanism for open communication and mutual support.

Responsibilities and Duties

  • the professional growth of the pastor(s)
  • the well-being of the pastor(s) and the congregation
  • the promotion of mutual ministry between the pastor(s) and the congregation
  • are responsible for evaluation of pastors and the overall ministry, generally every other year
  • members are assigned to a team for monthly meetings of encouragement and accountability with one of the pastors.

2020 Board members are Chris Green, Steve Gowler, Steve Bolster

  • Minutes are not published, as this Board’s meetings are primarily personnel-related.

Properties Board

Mission:  To keep the buildings and grounds of Union Church in functional condition to serve the needs of members and visitors effectively, and in beautiful condition inside and out to inspire members, potential members, and all in the wider community. We work in such a way as to involve many members in sharing the work and fellowship and reflects thoughtful stewardship of financial resources as well as increasingly informed reverence for all of God’s creation.

Responsibilities and Duties

  • Manage the properties of the church, including land, buildings, and equipment, and the acceptance or disposition of property as authorized by the congregation.
  • Identify maintenance conditions in the church buildings that need attention then identify resources and locate expertise to address the condition and monitor progress and quality of repairs.
  • Monitor for improved efficiency of energy usage.
  • Monitor the expenses of the Properties Board in the budget and designated accounts.

2020 Board members are Sally Hindman, Robert Boyce, Howard Carlberg, Jeff Hutton

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Worship Board

Mission:  To guide and support the worship experiences for the beloved community of Union Church.

Responsibilities and Duties

  • Creates passionate worship experiences, in collaboration with Pastor(s) and music staff;
  • Encourages aesthetic/visual qualities of the church conducive for worship;
  • Prepares and serves communion; arranges for ushers to welcome worshipers and collect offering; arranges for acolytes; schedules lay readers;
  • Arranges for pulpit supply, as needed.
  • Monitors the expenses of the Worship Board in the budget and designated accounts.

2020 Board members are Jennifer Melton, Teresa Gowler, Alvera Perman; Doug Hindman, E.J. Stokes; ad hoc: Adria Sutherland

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For more information on these or other church activities, please call or contact us!

Union Church CPO 2105
200 Prospect St (for UPS/Fed EX delivery)
Berea, KY 40404

859-986-3725

 

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Service Times & Directions

Weekend Masses in English

Saturday Morning: 8:00 am

Saturday Vigil: 4:30 pm

Sunday: 7:30 am, 9:00 am, 10:45 am,
12:30 pm, 5:30 pm

Weekend Masses In Español

Saturday Vigil: 6:15pm

Sunday: 9:00am, 7:15pm

Weekday Morning Masses

Monday, Tuesday, Thursday & Friday: 8:30 am

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