If you’d like to join one of these committees or teams, please contact the church office for more information.
Mission — This committee assists the Congregation Council in overseeing the mission work of the congregation, including all mission-related organizations within the congregation. It establishes and maintains communication with all functioning small groups within the Congregation for the purpose of fostering and supporting mission. It informs the Congregation of the relationship of the gospel to the pressing needs for assistance and justice at local, national, and global levels. It executes social action programs within the structures of this Congregation. It encourages volunteers from the Congregation to work out their ministries in service with the non-profit agencies in the community that strive to improve the health and welfare of the people. It exhorts and encourages participation in support of various ELCA social response organizations such as Lutheran World Relief and the ELCA World Hunger Appeal. It provides information about the local, national and global ministries of the Congregation and the ELCA to members of the Congregation.
Outreach — This committee assists the Congregation Council in overseeing the Congregation’s work of hospitality and evangelism. It promotes a sense of community in the Congregation by assisting new members in becoming integrated into the life of the Congregation and encourages personal involvement of those who appear not to be integrated into congregational life. It guides the Congregation in extending Christian compassion and assistance to the ill, the aged, the underprivileged, the imprisoned, and all persons in need of justice, mercy, and assistance on all levels by enlisting the efforts of as many as possible of the individuals and groups within the Congregation to further this effort, and by establishing programs and methods of inviting persons to affiliate with this Congregation and to encourage lapsing and inactive members to return to full participation in congregational life. It provides information to various information media about the programs and activities of the Congregation, causing the Congregation to present itself more effectively as a welcoming, inclusive community of believers.
Christian Education — This committee oversee the activities of all educational organizations within the congregation in the interests of lifelong Christian Education. This shall be accomplished by:
Worship — The committee assists the Congregation Council in seeing that the services of God’s house are conducted regularly and within the liturgical traditions of the Lutheran church, that assisting ministers are recruited and trained to serve, and that Service books and devotional materials are provided and properly cared for. It arranges for the care of paraments, vestments, and musical instruments. It sees that a nursery for pre-kindergarten age children is established, staffed, and supplied as needed during worship services.
Property — This committee sees to the proper maintenance and protection of all property of the congregation and takes care that all is kept in good order and repair. This committee establishes, and periodically reviews, guidelines and appropriate payment schedules for the use of all property of the congregation for approval by the Congregation Council. This committee prepares, and annually reviews, a prioritized list of major needs in the areas of facilities, grounds, furnishings, and equipment, which is reported annually to the Congregation Council.
Creation Care — Always seeking new ways to honor creation, heal the Earth, reduce waste, live more simply, reduce energy usage, produce clean energy, and build resilient, sustainable community.
Community Garden – Fostering vital connections among people and God’s good creation by modeling sustainable caring for the Earth, building a community of gardeners, and offering contemplative space.
Finance — This committee exercises oversight of all the financial affairs of the congregation, giving particular attention to the prompt payment of all obligations and benevolence. Subject to council approval, it is responsible for the congregation’s investments and total insurance program. This committee takes initiative for long-range planning concerning the financial life of the congregation. It periodically reviews and revises the fiscal policies and procedures of the congregation. The committee prepares a draft budget each year and submits the budget to the Congregation Council for its action and later presentation at the Annual Budget Meeting. Both the treasurer and financial secretary are ex-officio members of the Finance Committee, with voice and vote.
Personnel — This committee works on behalf of the Congregation and Congregational Council to locate qualified people to hire as salaried staff when vacancies exist. It ensures that position descriptions are current and truly descriptive of the work to be performed. It serves as the primary communication link between the Pastor, Council, other committees, and the applicants for positions advertised. It advertises position vacancies, screens and interviews applicants, and recommends persons to hire to the Congregational Council. It produces and maintains a manual of personnel policies and procedures to be approved by the Congregational Council, and the Committee. The Committee is the first point of contact to resolve questions from employees regarding personnel matters.
Mutual Ministry Committee — This committee is appointed by the Council, based upon recommendations from the president, the pastors(s), and the Mutual Ministry Committee. This committee works to ensure a mutuality of ministry among congregation and pastoral staff, especially by encouraging open communications among all members of the staff and congregation. The committee appraises and evaluates the mission and ministries of this congregation and recommend changes as it sees fit. The committee seeks to provide for the spiritual, emotional, and physical needs of all pastoral staff members of this congregation, including continuing education for pastoral staff. Committee members can hold no other elected position in the congregation during their term.
Audit Committee — Comprised of three voting members who are not members of the Council, the committee performs or oversees a review of the financial records of the congregation and all groups associated with it to ensure that such records are complete and accurate representations of the financial transactions of this congregation.
Stewardship — The Stewardship committee promotes the example and expression of Christian faith in daily living through the appropriate use of money and other personal and congregational resources. It actively promotes the concept of proportional giving and encourages all members to achieve responsible levels of giving. It ensures that an adequate annual program that emphasizes informed, grateful giving is maintained, continued, and adapted to the needs of the Congregation. It fosters the giving of time, talent, and energies by the members of the Congregation to serve in the various ministries of the Congregation. It surveys the talents and skills of the members of the Congregation on a periodic basis so that the needs of the Congregation may be readily met with people willing to donate their skills and effort. The financial secretary is also ex-officio member of the Stewardship Committee, with voice and vote.
Nominating Committee — This committee nominates persons for election to the Congregation Council. It is comprised of of six voting members of the congregation, two of whom, if possible, are outgoing members of the Congregation Council. These members are elected at the annual meeting for a term of one year.
- Ensuring that Sunday Church School is maintained and operated for all school-aged children in the Congregation
- Striving to establish and maintain Christian educational opportunities for all ages of congregation members on a continuing, weekly basis.
- Fostering and promoting the study of scripture by members ofthe Congregation.
- In coordination with the Pastor, staff and Congregation Council, ensuring that confirmation instruction is maintained, promoted, and adapted to the changing needs of our youth.
- Encouraging the use of teaching and worship materials published or approved by the ELCA and striving to introduce periodicals and books of family devotion into the homes of the members of the Congregation.
- Promoting and facilitating the distribution of the official news magazine of the ELCA to all households or members of theCongregation.
- Publicizing the call to the Ministry of the Gospel and to other full-time church vocations to qualified members of theCongregation.
Mission Endowment Fund — The MEF Committee oversees the endowment fund, reporting quarterly to the Congregation Council. The committee is responsible for the fund’s investments and for making distributions of the fund income annually in support of the following goals: (a) outreach into the local community and the Indiana-Kentucky Synod, (b) mission beyond the local community and the Indiana-Kentucky Synod, and (c) special programs, capital improvements, debt reduction, or building programs at St. Thomas. Programs for support are recommended by the committee and ratified by the Congregation Council for funding according to the guidelines established by the congregation.
Call Committee — This committee is created when a pastoral vacancy occurs. It is comprised of six voting members nominated by the Council and elected by the congregation. The committee terminates upon installation of the newly called pastor.
Executive Committee — Composed of the officers of the congregation and the pastor, the committee develops the agendas for the council meetings, acts on behalf of the council when critical action must be taken on a timely basis, and performs assignment as may be given it by the full council.
The pastor(s) and president of the congregation are ex-officio members of all committees, with voice and vote.