CHURCH ORGANIZATIONS [Home]

The Church’s Session is composed of the Pastor as moderator and twelve elders. All elders serve on committees, and an elder chairs each of the five standing committees. This system attempts to distribute the various responsibilities equitably among the active elders.

The pastor is the only full-time employee of the church. Our organist/choir director and sexton are part time employees. A dedicated team of 14 lay volunteers has been organized to support the office.

Administration Committee

Our by-laws require establishment of the Administration Committee, which is responsible for the well-being of the Church’s finances and its property. The Administration Committee conducts the annual Stewardship Campaign and also oversees Capital Campaigns when necessary. They propose the annual budgets for Session approval. The Committee collects and reports all monies received by the Church and pays all approved expenses. This includes managing the Church’s funds and assets in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. The Committee oversees the buildings and grounds and apprises Session of maintenance and repairs needed. The Committee also reviews monthly income, expenses, and account balance reports as prepared by the Treasurer and Financial Secretary.

Worship Committee

The Worship and Sacraments Committee provides support for the weekly worship service. The committee prepares elements for the sacraments of Baptism and Communion; it organizes ushers, greeters, and lay readers; and it provides the sanctuary floral arrangements and decorations. To encourage the congregation’s participation in Sunday service scripture readings, the church recently purchased eighty large-print copies of the NRSV Bible. The committee also obtains worship leadership during the Pastor’s vacation and study leaves. The Committee sponsors and organizes an annual all-congregation fall retreat. With the Pastor, it plans the special worship services on Ash Wednesday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Christmas Eve, and other high holy days.

The church is proud of its director of music and volunteer choir. In addition the church occasionally draws upon the skilled musicianship of its members and guests. The church uses the 1990 edition of the Presbyterian Hymnal and has recently added a sanctuary piano to complement its organ.

Personnel Committee

The Personnel Committee conducts performance reviews (including salary recommendations to Session) of paid staff (pastor, organist/choir director, and sexton).

We have established a clear process to evaluate our pastors. The process gathers input from congregation members, identifies areas which would benefit from special attention, and establishes a support plan to help meet the goals of the individual and the congregation.

Another responsibility of the committee is to work with other appropriate members on recruiting paid staff and establishing contracts with them.

Christian Nurture Committee

The Christian Nurture Committee is responsible for providing the Congregation with opportunities for Christian growth through education, fellowship, and sharing.

The primary duty of the committee is to plan and organize Sunday school classes for children and adults. The children’s class is typically for ages four through twelve and is taught by volunteers from the congregation. The “One Room Sunday School” curriculum (Cokesbury) is currently being used. Class meets during the worship service and is usually held throughout the entire year.

Older children participate in more advanced Bible study, which has been lead by the pastor in recent years. These classes typically meet before the worship service, and may be combined with confirmation classes if needed.

Volunteers from the congregation also lead the regular Sunday adult class, which meets before the worship service. The class is a vibrant group of 12 to 14 regular participants that meets during the academic year. In addition, the adult education includes a monthly literary reading group as well as a monthly summer lecture series.

During the Lent and Advent seasons, the Committee coordinates with the pastor to develop seasonal programs of adult study. Additionally, seasonal programs have been held in conjunction with other area houses of worship. During the summer, the Committee may work to develop other educational programs or special presentations.

The committee also organizes and schedules volunteers for the church Nursery.

Several special events are organized by the committee throughout the year. A brunch and egg hunt are held on Easter, Mother’s and Father’s Days are recognized, Youth Sunday is held at the end of the academic year, camping and baseball trips are organized in the summer, a church picnic is held at the beginning of the academic year, a Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF party is held in October, Thanksgiving is recognized, and a church caroling event is planned at Christmastime.

Outreach and Evangelism Committee

The Outreach and Evangelism Committee strives to provide opportunities for witness and service by the Congregation locally and worldwide. The Committee strives to witness for Jesus Christ by responding to spiritual and material needs and seeks to lead the Congregation in understanding world mission.

The committee obtains volunteers to staff an inner city soup kitchen several times each year and supports Habitat for Humanity through volunteer work by members of the congregation and by raising money for materials. They also sponsor the annual “Men Who Cook” Fat Tuesday benefit dinner to raise money for the East Bay Coalition for the Homeless and Tap-In (Touch a Person in Need), a local service group that provides support for those in need.

Other projects include the Thanksgiving and Christmas food and gift collections, the OGHS program, and participation in “Beyond Our Walls,” an interfaith community organization made up of nine faith-based organizations from the town of Barrington. “Beyond our Walls” is committed to supporting those in need while working with and learning from one another and respecting the spiritual beliefs of all. The committee also sponsors mission events throughout the year, such as lectures and presentations.

The church has just produced an up-to-date photo directory of its membership. The Outreach Committee sends well wish cards and letters of support or sympathy to members of the congregation in distress or with illness and congratulations on special occasions. They also reach out to new families in town by sending a welcome letter along with information about BPC. They also assume responsibility for setup and refreshments for the new member brunch and other church events.

Women’s Association

The Women’s Association provides another supportive arm of the church on an ad hoc basis. The Women’s Association plans and hosts receptions for memorial services and other special occasions for the church, provides meals for people who are ill or have lost a loved one, and makes quilts for newly married couples. The Association has given monies to the pastor’s discretionary fund and gifts to the pastor at Christmas. They provide financial support for the Presbyterian Women in the Presbytery of Southern New England (PWSNE), with two members serving on the Executive Committee. Additionally, the Association participates in the Mission Opportunities of the PWSNE.