Committees

The Canterbury United Community Church is maintained by the following committees:

Finance Committee
Memorial Fund Committee
Music Committee
Outreach Committee
Pastoral Relations Committee
Stewardship/Audit Committee

Finance Committee

The Finance Committee oversees the functions of the Treasurer and Collector, the Church financial record-keeping policies, and investments and the acceptance of gifts to the Church. The Committee also arranges periodic auditing of the Church’s financial records.

Chair: Stephen Buchanan-Parker
Members: Jim Sojka, Lydia West, Jim Miller

Memorial Fund Committee

The Memorial Fund Committee receives and reports memorial fund information from the Collector, and acknowledges gifts made to the Church. The Committee also reviews requests for expenditures from memorial funds and submits recommendations to the Church Council.

Music Committee

The primary responsibility of the Music Committee is to assist the Organist and Choir Director in providing a quality music program for the Church. The Committee assists and supports the organist/choir director, and consults with her/him about any music concerns. The Music Committee serves as a link between the Church Council, the congregation, the organist/choir director, and helps to coordinate musical events at the Church and in the community.

Chair: Kitty Rodgers
Members: Chuck Sanborn

Outreach Committee

The Outreach Committee plans, recommends, and carries out the Outreach Program of the Church, including the use of benevolence funds and development of the Church’s Outreach mission of service in the community and the world. The Committee evaluates the various needs of the greater local community as well as national and international needs, focusing on food and shelter locally, nationally and also education more frequently needed internationally.

Members: Howard Moffett, Sue Heppenstall, David Lamb

Pastoral Relations Committee

The Pastoral Relations Committee serves as an advisory group to the Pastor and advocates for the Pastor’s leadership in the Congregation. The Committee also serves as a liaison between the pastor and the congregation to communicate suggestions and mediate any issues or concerns which may arise. We make announcements throughout the year to the congregation during the church service morning announcements, to promote awareness of the mission of the Pastoral Relations Committee and to ask for feedback.

Constructive and caring communication in an atmosphere of confidentiality and trust are essential to the work of the Pastoral Relations Committee. We believe that it is always better to be aware of feelings and try and solve problems right away, so they can be handled and resolved equitably and smoothly. We serve as an intermediary to discuss issues to the pastor and then the pastor can follow up directly as appropriate.

The Committee formally meets 4 times a year with the Pastor. One member of the Pastoral Relations Committee goes to the monthly Church Council meetings and records issues discussed during the Church Council executive sessions (at the end of every Church Council meeting). The Committee also organizes the holiday bonuses for the Pastor and choir director.

Chair: Ginny Litalien
Members: David Lamb

Stewardship Committee

The Stewardship Committee educates and encourages church members in use of resources as a gift from God. Members of the Stewardship Committee work with others to encourage giving in support of the church’s operating budget, building projects, town newsletter, and outreach initiatives. The Committee annually plans and completes a Pledge Campaign to encourage church members to pledge, and reports the results of the pledge campaign to the Collector and the congregation.

Co-Chairs: Kathy Southworth-Lundahl and Kim Wieck
Members: Mindy Beltramo, Becca Plue, Kathy Southworth Lundahl, Kim Wieck,
Jim Miller