Church Leadership
Peakland United Methodist Church
Ministry Teams
2024
(* Denotes Chairperson/Team Leader)
“The local church shall be organized so that it can pursue its primary task and mission in the context of its own community – reaching out and receiving with joy all who will respond; encouraging people in their relationship with God and inviting them to commitment to God’s love in Jesus Christ; providing opportunities for them to see strengthening and growth in spiritual formation; and supporting them to live lovingly and justly in the power of the Holy Spirit as faithful disciples.”
The Book of Discipline (BOD) 2016, ¶243
Common Table
“The Common Table shall provide for planning and implementing a program of nurture, outreach, witness, and resources in the local church. It shall also provide for the administration of its organization and temporal life. It shall envision, plan, implement, and annually evaluate the mission and ministry of the church. The Common Table shall be amenable to and function as the administrative agency of the Charge Conference.” BOD 2016, ¶252
“(A Lay Leader) shall function as the primary lay representative of the laity (by) fostering awareness of the role of the laity, meeting regularly with the pastor, (serving on the various ministry teams of the church), involvement in study and training opportunities, assisting in advising the Common Table of the needs for effective ministry in the church, and, informing the laity of training opportunities.” BOD 2016, ¶251.a.b.c.d.e.f
Chairperson: Don Wechsler
Recording Secretary: Kim Ness (Staff)
Lay Leaders: Fran Inge , Laura Brooks
Lay Member, Annual Conference: Sharyn Marks, Fran Inge (Alternate: David Inge)
President, Trustees: Rick Anderson
Worship Table: BJ Thomas
Mission Table: Daneen Garcia
Tech Table: Paul Perrone
Nurture Table: Andrea Salas
Chair, Staff-Parish Relations Committee: Anita MacNeill
Chair, Finance Committee: Whitney Rinella, Bryant Haskins
Treasurer: Harriett Darst
Chair, Lay Leadership Committee: Pastor
Chair or Rep, Pre-School Board: Kim Geier
Representatives, Youth/YA Ministry; Children’s Ministry:
At-Large (Minimum of 3): Connie Coleman, Rod Lorence, Barbara Lyne, Jann Brown
Pastor: Joe Cailles; Associate Minister: Andrew LaBar-Dietz
Program/Administrative Staff (Ex-officio): Annie Williams, Cindy Harding, Kim Ness, Jane Whitehead
Lay Leadership (Nominations) Committee
“The charge of this committee is to identify, develop, deploy, evaluate, and monitor Christian spiritual leadership for the local congregation.” BOD 2016, ¶258.1
2024: Sandy Wolanski, Linda Napior
2025: Diane Wilson, Kim Ness
2026: Rhonda Sydnor, Don Wechsler
Staff/Pastor Parish Relations Committee
“The committee shall reflect biblically and theologically on the role and work of the Pastor(s) and staff as they carry out their leadership responsibilities. The committee shall assist the pastor(s) and staff in assessing their gifts, maintaining health holistically and work-life balance, and setting priorities for leadership and service. The SPRC shall meet at least quarterly, in closed session, and (maintain strict confidentiality).” Duties include, “To encourage, strengthen, nurture, support, and respect the pastor and staff and their families; to promote unity in the church; to confer and counsel on matters pertaining to effectiveness in ministry; to provide an evaluation at least annually; to communicate and interpret to the congregation the nature and function of ministry in the United Methodist Church; to develop and approve job descriptions and titles for all but the Senior Pastor; to consult concerning continuing education, to enlist, interview, evaluate, and recommend lay preachers and ordained ministry candidates; (to serve as the personnel committee in the absence of a committee); to educate the congregation on the value of diversity; to consult on matters of pulpit supply.”
BOD 2016, ¶258.2
2024: Linda Milam, Pam Jones, Jeff Gray
2025: Anita MacNeill, Bridget Spencer, Joe Camarda
2026: Charlie Joseph, Duane Souers, Lisa Bowers
One (1) Lay Member of Annual Conference: Sharyn Marks
One (1) Lay Leader: Fran Inge
Board of Trustees
“Subject to the direction of the charge conference, the board of trustees shall have the supervision, oversight, and care of all real property owned by the local church and of all property and equipment acquired directly by the local church or by any society, board, class, commission, or similar organization connected therewith… (the board) shall not interfere with the pastor in the use of any of the said property for religious services or other proper meetings recognized by law or customs of the United Methodist Church, or permit the use of said property for religious or other meetings without the consent of the pastor…(the board) shall conduct annual reviews of the property and insurance… subject to the direction of the charge conference, the board shall receive and administer all bequests, all trusts, and invest all trust funds (unless the charge conference delates that responsibility to a permanent endowment committee)… (and) conduct an annual accessibility audit.”
BOD 2016, ¶2533.1.2.5.6
Chairperson: Rick Anderson
Vice Chair: To be elected by trustees
Secretary: To be elected by trustees
2024: Amy McAvoy, * Rick Anderson, Elizabeth Austin
2025: Paul Perrone, Ed Frisa,
2026: John Vincent, Larry Redmonds, David Wodicka
Related to the Board of Trustees
Memorial and Honorary Gifts Chair: Gail Pond
Columbarium Chair: Elizabeth Austin
Grounds Coordinator: Mike Ohl
Kitchen Coordinator: Charlotte Souers
Landscaping Coordinator: Krista Wilson (2)
Safety Shepherd: Dick Potekhen (3.5)
HVAC Coordinator: Rich Judy
Handyman: John Buckley
Finance Committee
“The committee on finance shall give stewardship of financial resources as their priority throughout the year. Responsibilities include to plan, strategize, and implementing ways to generate more resources for mission and ministries of local churches and beyond…. It is strongly recommended that the committee on finance, in collaboration with the common table, find creative ways to turn their congregations into tithing congregations…. The committee shall compile an annual budget and submit it to the common table for review and adoption…. It shall administer funds received according to instructions from the common table. The committee shall carry out the common table’s directions in guiding the treasurer(s) and financial secretary.” BOD 2016, ¶258.4
2024: Whitney Rinella , Brent Helms, Stewart Husted
2025: Andrea Salas, Susan Zlomke, Bryant Haskins
2026: George Mallis, Buster Crouse, Sandra McDaniel
One (1) Lay Member of Annual Conference: Sharyn Marks
Chair, Common Table: Don Wechsler (5)
President, Trustees: Rick Anderson (1)
Chair, SPRC: Duane Souers (1)
Chair, Permanent Endowment: Brent Helms (1)
Chair Stewardship TF: TBD
Treasurer: Harriett Darst (3)
Chair, Preschool Board: Kim Geier
Staff (Ex-officio): Cindy Harding
Related to the Finance Committee
Assistant Treasurers: Rod Lorence (4)
Permanent Endowment Committee
“The purposes of the committee include the responsibilities to: subject to the direction of the charge conference, receive, administer, and invest (assigned) bequests; emphasize the need for all adults to have a will and an estate plan; stress the opportunities to make provisions for giving through UM churches, institutions, etc.; arrange for the dissemination of information that will be helpful in preretirement planning.” BOD 2016, ¶2534. 1.3.4.5.
Chair: Brent Helms
Treasurer: Harriett Darst
Asst. Treas: Rod Lorence (4)
Finance Chair: Julie Gerhardt
Staff Rep.: Cindy Harding
Discipleship Table
“In each local church there shall be a variety of small-group ministries, including the church school, for supporting the formation of Christian disciples focused on the transformation of the world. These small groups may concentrate on teaching and learning, fellowship, support, community ministries, and accountability. Members of small groups will build their knowledge of the Bible, the Christian faith, The United Methodist Church, and the societal context in which the church finds itself.”
BOD 2016, ¶256.1
Nurture Table
“The nurturing ministries of the congregation shall give attention to . . . . Christian formation, membership care. Attention must be given to the needs of individuals and families of all ages.” This includes fellowship opportunities, promoting prayer and mobilizing the church to pray, nurturing and assimilating visitors to become new members.
BOD 2016, ¶252.2
Table Leader: BJ McGraw (4)
Elizabeth Austin (9) (Funeral receptions)
B.J. McGraw (7) (Member Care)
BJ McGraw (6) & Linda Napior (6) (New Member Dinners)
Lee Ohl (3) (Prayer Quilts)
Barbara Roberts (20) (Homebound/Prime Timers)
Barbara Lyne (4) Grief Books.
Mission Table
“We make disciples as we send persons into the world to live lovingly and justly as servants of Christ by healing the sick, feeding the hungry, caring for the stranger, freeing the oppressed, being and becoming a compassionate, caring presence, and working to develop social structures that are consistent with the gospel.”
BOD 2016, ¶122
This committee oversees the mission and service projects the church engages in locally, nationally, and globally.
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Chair: Daneen Garcia (2)
Randall Carter (Youth/Young Adult)
Associate Minister, Andrew LaBar-Dietz
At-Large:Fran Inge (4) Gail Johnson (4) Diane Wilson (2)
Mission Coordinators
REFP/Bloodmobile Coordinator: MJ Pearson
Churches for Urban Ministries: Andrea Salas
Fort Hill Community School: Susan Cox
Meals on Wheels: Sandy Wolanski
Park View: John Buckley
Interfaith Outreach Association: Jan McKee
Worship Table
The worship table focuses on short and long range planning of worship and on developing the congregation as an active, vital worshiping community.
Table Leaders: Sharyn Marks and Harriett Darst
Scot Wilson (IT, AV)
TBD (Acolytes/Crucifiers)
Jan Hickey (Readers for Horizons)
Pat Thompson (12) (Horizons Communion Steward)
Jan Hickey (Flowers)
Barbara Lyne, Marty Smith, Susan Cox (Funeral Liaisons)
Lloyd Bryant (Liturgists – Trad.)
TBD (Greeters)
TBD (Ushers)
TBD (Weddings)
Jan Hickey (5) (Lent Coordinator)
Claudia Mann (5) (Easter Hospitality)
Lloyd Bryant (5) (Communion Coordinator)
Harriett Darst, Sharyn Marks (Advent Coordinators)
Barbara Roberts (at-large)
Staff: Linwood Campbell, Andrew LaBar-Dietz
Related to Worship Table
Altar Guild: Peggy Nolley
Flower Guild: Jan Hickey (Coordinator)
Funerals: Barbara Lyne, Marty Smith, Susan Cox
Weddings: TBD
Communion Stewards: Lloyd Bryant (8:30), Pat Thompson (Horizons), Lloyd Bryant (11:00)
Peakland Preschool Board
“The purpose of Peakland United Methodist Preschool is to provide a program for the social, emotional, physical, and cognitive development of preschoolers, respecting each one’s individuality, all within an atmosphere of Christian love and concern. The school is a part of the non-profit, educational ministry of Peakland United Methodist Church and is offered as a service to the community. The school is open to all children regardless of race, nationality, creed, or gender.” - Mission Statement
2022/23: Kim Geier*, Pam Jones, Michelle Uhl, Joe Crosby
2023/24: Nancy O'Brien, Kelly Camarda, Harriett Darst, Nan Buckley
2024/25: Courtney Camden, Rachel Armstead, Kevin Porterfield, Charlotte Souers
Ex-officio:
Director: Annie Williams
Assistant Director: Alyssa Filiberto
Pastor/Assoc.: Joe Callies/Andrew LaBar-Dietz
Financial Secretary: Carolyn Kobek