Jesus has called us to turn the love we have received outwards to compassionate and life-giving work in the world. Right here. Right now.
At Pennington Presbyterian Church, we believe that as people of God, we are called out by God to join in God’s redemptive work in the world. The way we see it, this is both a humbling privilege and a huge responsibility.
Below you’ll learn a little bit about the various ways to lead and serve in our church. In 2021, we adopted a new structure to how we work together in the church. The new structure is designed to engage more people in the life and leadership of the church and to lessen the workload of others to prevent burnout.
As you will discover, there are many opportunities to get involved and use your gifts and talents to provide care, spiritual leadership, and practical hands-on help, whether at a one time event or in an ongoing capacity.
“God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you. If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.”
Romans 12:6-8
Board of Deacons
Responsible for a broad range of congregational care and ministry support, the Board of Deacons is the organizational resource that keeps our church life running smoothly. Working largely behind the scenes, these are the dedicated people who handle everything from sanctuary preparation to coffee hour to flower delivery to college care packages to summer picnics to memorial services. In many ways, our Deacons serve as the lead hosts ensuring the consistently welcoming and caring hospitality of our church home.
Session of Elders
The Session of Elders are tasked with serving as the spiritual leaders of the church. Their work is focused on strategic thinking, developing a church-wide vision, and fostering the spiritual growth of the congregation. As they keep the Big Picture in mind, they also commission our Centers (see below) to create the objectives to meet the goals.
Centers
The Centers work to implement the strategic direction of Session and act as the “center” between the Session’s vision and the Teams’ work — furthering communication, support, encouragement, and accountability.
o The Discipleship Center strengthens and nurtures the faith of the congregation through worship, study, and service.
o The Belonging Center welcomes people to the church, fosters relationships within the church, and encourages and nurtures acts of love, comfort, and care for the congregation.
o The Support Center manages and maintains the Church’s buildings/grounds and investments, including the budget, stewardship campaigns, technology, and church-wide communications.
o The Nominating (Center) Committee is required by the Presbyterian Book of Order. The committee identifies and calls church leaders, subject to the congregation’s approval. The Nominating Committee matches members’ gifts with the skills needed to serve on Session and as Center leaders.
o The Personnel (Center) Committee, like the Nominating Committee, is required of Presbyterian churches. It addresses professional staffing needs by guiding, reviewing, and assessing staff performance.
Lots of Teams
Our Teams are where the energy and “on the ground” activities occur. Teams help carry out the vital work of our church while developing our relationship with God and those whom we are called to minister to and with. The key to Teams is their flexibility! They can be proposed for short-term or long-term projects by anyone who has an idea or goal they want to put into action.
Our new structure frees Team members from Committee meetings – providing them with more time to devote to the direct ministries of the Church. Even Team members who have limited time for volunteering can share their talents and gifts by working on a Team with a specific task that is completed within a specified time, such as organizing a volunteer day at a local food pantry. Teams also allow participants to share a specific gift or talent by focusing on one area, such as teaching a Sunday morning Adult Education class. Teams also allow for long-term ministries, such as our continued mission work with Living Waters.
Get Involved
For more information about ways to use your gifts in the church, please complete the form below: