Philosophy of Leadership

CMCL members and regular attenders are encouraged to become members of small groups that select representatives to form a Congregational Council. The council meets regularly to formulate vision and set agenda for regular congregational meetings. All major church decisions are made by consensus at these congregational meetings.

Committee chairs meet every other month as a Program Commission where administrative decisions are made to carry out the vision and goals set by the council.

This structure makes several assumptions about leadership:

• Communication and interaction among members shape a corporate vision.
• Leadership resides among members of the congregation.
• Leaders enable all members to use their gifts in the life of the church.
• Leaders are assertive about shaping the process of decision making so that all members can contribute their ideas.
• There is a persistent call to seek God's voice in prayer, Scripture study, reflection on tradition and experience, and brotherly and sisterly confrontation.
• There is adequate time and opportunity for discussion so that decisions ultimately reflect the best judgment of most members.
• Leaders are free to advocate personal views but not to invoke the authority of their office to elevate their opinions above those of any other members of the congregation.

Pastoral Service

T he pastor and four elders make up CMCL's pastoral team. Elders are chosen from the congregation by a leadership selection process. Elders complement the pastor's gifts to provide vision, nurture and care in the congregation. Care and nurture also occur as members of small groups interact among themselves sharing their joys, concerns and challenges.

The pastor leads by being a servant. Specifically, this is reflected in the fact that the pastor participates in the consensus process at congregational meetings along with all other members. The pastor participates ex officio at Congregational Council and Program Commission meetings.

The pastor shares leadership in worship with the worship committee.

CMCL Committee Task Lists

Adult Christian Education

• Select topics, book studies, special emphases for Adult Christian Education classes for fall, winter and spring quarters.
• Secure teachers or group leaders.
• Determine format for presentation: large group, small group.
• Work with office staff to locate space for classes.
• Publicize program through bulletin, newsletter and/or posters.

Children and Youth Christian Education

• Develop appropriate curriculum for kindergarten through 12th grade children.
• Provide teachers for children and youth Christian Education program.
• Provide material and other supportive resources for teachers.

Child Care Coordinators

• Acquire and maintain appropriate play equipment for childcare areas.
• Schedule volunteers to supervise child care during worship and Christian Education periods Sunday morning.
• Publicize schedule.

Hospitality Committee

• Provide coffee and tea service during Sunday morning fellowship hour.
• Initiate and organize fellowship gatherings of the congregation (fellowship meals, Easter bagel breakfast etc.).
• Organize meals for special events.
• Provide meals for households in times of special needs: birth, illness.

Small Group Committee

• Create a healthy, dynamic, diverse and welcoming church life for church attendees and newcomers through the formation and nurturance of small groups.

Facility Committee

• Oversee maintenance and repair of physical structure.
• Coordinate a semi-annual church cleaning.
• Review insurance policies.
• Set policy regarding use of facility by outside groups.
• Set policies and procedures for building security.

Justice and Spirituality Committee

• Initiate and manage outreach and spiritual nurture opportunities for the congregation.
• Select local agencies to receive grant monies from CMCL.
• Select annual recipients for SEND grants (monies to support building or church growth projects outside the immediate CMCL community).
• Coordinate meal service at local Dinner Out program.
• Plan periodic one-day spirituality retreats.
• Invite speakers to make brief reports to the congregation of special initiatives or work of agencies involved in peace, justice or community service missions.

Worship Committee

• Give guidance to overall order and tone of worship services.
• Work with pastor(s) to develop seasonal worship themes.
• Invite persons from the congregation to serve as Sunday morning worship leaders, song leaders, and prelude and offertory musicians.
• Coordinate or oversee special worship experiences as needed, e.g. Christmas Eve service, Jazz Sunday, etc.
• Oversee usher and greeter responsibilities and personnel.
• Provide worship environment to fit theme (banners, artwork, plants, symbols).

Senior Youth Leaders

• Over see Senior Youth Program with exception of Sunday morning Christian Ed.
• Assist youth in planning weekly or biweekly events with balance among service, peace and justice, social and spiritual emphases.
• Organize the following yearly events on a rotating schedule:

1. Year 1: MCUSA/MC Canada Youth Convention
2. Year 2: Local service project
3. Year 3: Cross-Cultural awareness event
4. Year 4: Service project with established organization (MDS, SWAP etc.)

• Assist youth in planning fund raising activities to fund yearly projects.
• Address topics concerning relationships, sexuality, peace and justice, tolerance and acceptance, and spirituality at developmentally appropriate levels.

Venture Club Leaders

• Organize a monthly event for children grades 3 - 5, seeking a balance of group building, social, skill building, service, educational and spiritual emphases.
• Address topics concerning relationships, sexuality, peace and justice, tolerance and acceptance, and spirituality at developmentally appropriate levels.

Junior Youth Leaders

• Organize a monthly event for children grades 6 - 8 seeking a balance of group building, social, skill building, service, educational and spiritual emphases.