For many of us, attending worship on Sunday is an essential part of our week. It is a time to pray and reflect, a time to share with our friends and family in the company of the congregation. In a world that can be noisy and intrusive, this special time of faith and fellowship provides a cornerstone to balance our busy lives upon. Meanwhile, in the background, a tireless group of individuals is working to help oversee the church’s many functions. These people are the elders and deacons of First Presbyterian, and they fill many vital roles in our church’s leadership.
Deacons, among their other duties, are responsible for collecting and depositing the offering on Sunday
Elders comprise the Session, which provides spiritual oversight and leadership across various sessional committees. These committees include Personnel, Budget and Finance, Investments, FPC Schools, Long Range Planning, and the Nominating Committee, among others. Elders are responsible for strategic thinking regarding church operations and meticulous planning for future needs. A central question each committee asks is, “How can we best use our resources to glorify God?”
Given that people are the most valuable resource of any church, the Nominating Committee is of particular importance. This season, Rand Ayer, Nominating Committee Chair, advised incoming elders and deacons: “View this as a call. The church has specific needs for particular talents. Keep an open mind and listen to that call for what the church needs.”
Each committee typically involves an elder serving for a year before potentially becoming the committee chair. For example, Abigail James, currently on the Nominating Committee, is expected to become the chair in 2025. In their third and final year, the chair steps down to serve as a regular committee member.
An annual matching process determines where new elders and deacons will serve. Nominees indicate the committees they are interested in serving, and the Session then identifies where the applicants’ skills and talents align with the church’s needs. The committee strives to match personal preferences with the church’s requirements, though sometimes a direct match is not possible.
The College of Elders and Deacons inspect the newly restored Sanctuary in September 2022
In recent years, the Session commissioned the Capital Campaign Committee, chaired by church elder Pete Carlson. This committee was tasked with allocating funding to provide access to early childhood education in the Child Development Center, supporting our global partners, and, in consultation with church leadership, was responsible for the decision to renovate the sanctuary in 2022. This year, the Capital Campaign Committee made the decision to clean and refurbish the church’s beautiful stained glass windows in early 2025.
While the Session is responsible for decisions regarding policy and programming, the mission of deacons, known collectively as the Diaconate, encompasses “gathering, proclaiming, and sending.” Gathering involves worship, congregational care, membership, stewardship, and annual and planned giving. Proclamation covers worship, music, and formation. Sending focuses on advocacy, outreach, and the global mission. Deacons and elders contribute to the church’s Sunday worship by serving communion, collecting offerings, and assisting ushers and greeters, ensuring a smooth worship experience.
Each year’s elders and deacons are called from both lifelong members or newcomers to our congregation, as well as those in between. First Presbyterian Church deeply values their contributions, recognizing their vital roles in nurturing faith, providing care, and leading the church. By embracing these responsibilities, elders and deacons embody the church’s mission to serve God and neighbor, fostering a community rooted in faith and service.