Church Committees

The Board Of Trustees:

Committee Members:

Loy Gravholt (Chairperson), LaVilla Tessier, Kevin Olson, Ken Bertsch, Charles Ditmar, Jane Gilmore, Jane Walser & Reid Sorensen

Committee Description:

“The Board of Trustees is responsible for the maintenance and upkeep of church property including the church building and parsonage. In some cases the trustees do the work that needs to be done on their own or find other persons from the church who can do it. If the project is bigger than can be handled with volunteers, the trustees take bids and hire the work done. The trustees meet monthly (presently on the fourth Wednesday of each month at 6:30pm). The Book of Discipline suggests that at least one-third of the committee be laywomen and at least one-third be laymen. One-third of the committee may also be non-church members.” –Loy Gravholt

The Church Council:

Committee Members:

Don Kudrna (Chairperson), Toby Gall, Craig Sherman, Darwin Tessier, Kristi Palecek, Melissa Pratt, Julie Dykstra, Michael Erickson, Dave Cornemann, Bill Heubaum, Sharon & Randy Heisinger, Bob Cappel (Secretary), Diane Kisch, Loy Gravholt, Marc Mooney, Chrissie Wieseler (Vice Chairperson), Janice Powell (Treasurer), Susie McCorkell , Keri Stilwell , Dee Carson, Ken Halverson, Gena Brandt, Evie Sime, Vivian Van Essen, Carol Becker, & Linda Nelson

Committee Description:

“The Church Council has general oversight of the administration and program of the church. Responsibilities of the Church Council include: planning, establishing objectives, adopting goals, authorizing action, determining policy, receiving reports from committees, evaluating the church's ministries, and reviewing the mission and ministry of the church. The Church Council meets quarterly. Members of the Church Council must be members of the church.” –Tom Gilmore

The Committee On Lay Leadership:

Committee Members:

Rev. Dean Trapp (Chairperson), Rhonda Hofer, Karen Miller, Susan Schavee, Neta Thompson, Darwin Tessier, Don Boyd, Mark Giziewski, Marilyn Holzwarth, Gail Kudrna, Laurie Baily & Marsha Bertsch

Committee Description:

“The Committee On Lay Leadership looks at the members of the church and seeks to identify persons to serve as leaders and committee members. Once these persons have been identified, members of the committee contact them and ask them if they would be willing to fill the position. If they are willing to serve, this committee then nominates them to the Charge Conference. The committee typically meets two or three times each year, usually during the month of October, in preparation for the Charge Conference. Members of this committee must be members of the church.” –Rev. Dean Trapp

The Education Committee:

Committee Members:

Vivian VanEssen (Chairperson), Dustin Olson, Nick Kisch, Kristi Peterka, Ashley Reiner, James Reiner, Connie Sawatzke, Beth Parr, Laura Slowey, Susie McCorkell , Keri Stilwell, Gena Brandt, Diane Kisch (Treasurer), Heidi Olson & Rev. Dean Trapp

Committee Description:

“Every year the Education Committee plans and oversees several activities through sub-committees. In April, the children carry in palms for Palm Sunday and the committee arranges the Confirmation reception. In May, the committee hosts teacher appreciation and the graduation reception. Each summer, we plan Vacation Bible School. Each fall the committee oversees the Bible Lock-ins and Presentation of the Bibles to the Third Grade class. The committee also oversees Christian Education Sunday, Acolyte Lock-ins, the Christmas Program, and the Christmas Party (The Birthday Party for Jesus) treat bags. The committee also oversees Roses for the Newborns, Children's Church, and Teacher's day off. Our fundraiser for this year (2007) is an Ice Cream Social. Look for us at the city concert again this year for root beer floats and ice cream cones. We also help with the Turkey Supper.” –Sandi Mathis

The Evangelism Committee:

Committee Members:

Carol Becker (Chairperson), Boyd Dennis, Shar Peterson, Joan Neubauer, Sandi Mathis, Rhonda Hofer, Valerie Hummel, Mitch & Anne Hofer & Rebecca Parish

Committee Description:

“The Evangelism Committee is the outreach ministry of the church. This committee seeks ways to minister to members of our congregation who are homebound or in the nursing home. They also work to minister to persons who are not a part of this church, inviting them to become a part of the church and join in the church's ministry. This committee also provides opportunities for the spiritual growth of families and individuals. An example of this is the Gary Smalley video series. The committee meets monthly (presently on the first Wednesday of each month at 6:30pm).” –Barb Hirsch

The Finance Committee:

Committee Members:

Marc Mooney (Chairperson), Mike Miller, Barb Olson, Barry Schroeter, Larry Young, Merle Brandt, Jess Dennis, Dick Fox, Ted Mickelson, Diane Kisch, Don Kudrna, Loy Gravholt, Bob Cappel, Chrissie Wieseler, & Rev Dean Trapp

Committee Description:

“The Committee on Finance manages the church’s money concerns. This committee prepares an annual budget which is presented to the Church Council. The committee also plans and implements a stewardship campaign in the fall of each year. If there is a special project which is going to cost more than has been budgeted, this committee plans and implements the way in which that money will be solicited. An example is the purchasing of the lots West of the church and the purchasing of the new van. The committee meets monthly (presently on the second Wednesday of the month at 6:00 or 6:30).” –Michael Erickson

The Missions Committee:

Committee Members:

Linda Nelson (Chairperson), Joleen Pietrzak, Ross DenHerder, Jeremy Koerselman, Steve Kasik, Karen Miller, Jan Lyso, Todd Strom, Mary Alice Halverson & Jessica Mathis

Committee Description:

“The Missions Committee works to call attention to the needs of others in our community and throughout the world. The committee uses monies provided through the General Fund as well as donations from members of the congregation to support various mission projects. In addition, the committee organizes work trips to places such as Tree of Life, McCook Lake UMC, and Haiti. Some of the missions we support are: the Dakota Conference Missionaries, Native American Ministries/Tree of Life, Food Resource Bank, Heifer International and The Ingathering. Each month we have a different mission focus and provide information to the congregation about the project and how their donations will be used to support the mission. Last year, the congregation donated more than $7,000 towards mission projects. That, combined with our budget allowance, came to more than $12,000 in support of mission projects. In support of local missions, the committee organizes the food and servers for the Yankton Banquet twice a year and uses donations from "Red Bucket Sundays" (months with a 5th Sunday) for local organizations such as the Contact Center.” –Denise Erickson

The Staff/Pastor/Parish Relations Committee:

Committee Members:

Chrissie Wieseler (Chairperson), Denise Erickson, Ken Halverson, Curt Dykstra, Greg Anderson, Lesley Hale, Karen Chesley, Travis Hansen, Calvin Buchholz, Dave Holzwarth, & Bob Cappel,

Committee Description:

“The Staff/Pastor/Parish Relations Committee works with the pastor and staff members of the church. The committee also receives feedback from the congregation on how they feel the pastor and staff are carrying out their work and makes suggestions on how they might improve. The committee makes recommendations to the Church Council concerning the staffing needs of the church as well as salary recommendations. It works with the Cabinets of the Bishop and District Superintendents concerning matters of pastoral leadership. The committee meets at least quarterly and as needed. Members of this committee must be members of this church.” –Susan Schavee

The Worship Committee:

Committee Members:

Evie Sime (Chairperson), Kevin Iverson, Bob Walser, Dena DenHerder, Barb Hirsch, Kristi Hunhoff, Syndee Droppers, Brook Thurman, Jeff May Carolyn Cappel, Susie Trapp, & Sue May

The Worship committee oversees the worship ministry of the church. The committee gives direction to the pastors as to the style and content of our worship services and helps to find lay persons to be involved with the worship services (ushers and greeters, etc). They also help to plan special events such as the recognition of our 50-year members, the honoring of our veterans on Veterans Day, and our Lenten and Holy Week services. This committee also supports the music ministry of the church, which includes our choirs. They also line up special music for our services.