Several years ago, MUMC adopted a streamlined governance model in an effort to free people up to engage in the mission and hands-on service in the community. This process led to the birth of the Servant Leadership Board, the group responsible for overseeing the governance of the church and holding the pastor and staff accountable to the mission. Other committees and teams exist to lead and/or support the ministries of the church.
The Servant Leadership Board oversees the governance and mission of the church. It combines what have historically been referred to as the finance, trustee, and staff-parish relations functions for more efficient decision-making. Liaisons to various ministry teams are included on the Board to provide a more robust understanding of our church community. The Board meets monthly. Members of the SLB are elected at annual church conferences to serve three-year terms, on a staggered basis. Interested in serving on the Board? Let us know!
Finance
Finance representatives and the Treasurer serve on the Board; participate on the Financial Stewardship Team; sign checks and work directly with our Office Administrator and Financial Secretaries to ensure timely maintenance of the church’s financial proceedings, record-keeping and reporting.
Counters work in pairs to calculate the financial gifts accumulated throughout the week before writing up and distributing a brief report of their work.
Financial Secretaries input the data they receive from the counters into the church’s financial management software. They send out quarterly giving statements and serve on the Financial Stewardship Team.
Trustees
Trustees serve on the Board and are charged with the oversight and care of the church campus and all property owned or acquired by the church. They work with the Facilities Committee to address building maintenance and related issues, and see that the grounds are well maintained.
Staff/Parish-Relations (SPR)
SPR representatives hold seats on the Board and are named to support the pastor and staff, and evaluate and confer with the pastor and Board Chair around effectiveness and relationships in ministry.
Liaisons to the Board
Liaisons are Board members serving as representatives from the following ministry areas:
- Welcome and Worship
- Mission
- Children, Youth and Family Ministries
- Social Justice
Annual Conference Delegate
Together with the pastor, the lay delegate represents Minnetonka United Methodist Church at the annual, spring session of The Minnesota Annual Conference.
Governance and mission-related committees exist to support the work of the church with direction from the Board. Committees may be assembled for short- or longer-term initiatives.
Nominating
A group charged with recruiting congregants to serve on the Board and to fill other, necessary roles within the church. They present their slate of nominees to the annual church conference for election.
Financial Operations
The gathering of the pastor, financial secretaries, Office Administrator, Treasurer and Board Finance representatives to discuss and make plan related to financial matters. They are committed to overseeing the budget and financial stewardship of the church.
Financial Stewardship
A team gathered by the pastor to plan and implement the annual financial stewardship campaign.
Facilities
A pool of volunteers called upon to address various matters related to building and grounds maintenance.
Caring for Creation
A group focused on tending the grounds of the church and finding ways to help us reduce the church’s carbon footprint.
Hiring
A group assembled to work on interviewing candidates for a specific position and offering a hiring recommendation to the Pastor and the Board (as applicable).
Ministry Teams keep the congregation actively involved in being the church and offering Christ to others.
Welcome and Worship
The Welcome and Worship Team promotes Sunday morning volunteer efforts, brainstorms creative worship possibilities and prepares the Sanctuary for worship and according to sermon series and season.
Worship Enhancement
The Worship Enhancement Team exists to develop a worship experience focused on Jesus’ teaching to love our neighbors through acts of compassionate service. We hope to empower even more people, especially younger generations, to know and live the life-giving ways of Jesus.
Mission
The Mission Team of Minnetonka United Methodist Church takes seriously our call to be the hands and feet of Christ in the world. We coordinate and lead hands-on service opportunities, collect donations for the purpose of blessing others and promote awareness of and fundraising for worthwhile causes and humanitarian organizations.
Outreach
We believe the mission of Jesus is compelling and we want to share it with the world! The Outreach Team meets throughout the year to plan and put on outreach events designed to engage individuals and families in the church and in our larger community.
Caring Ministries
We strive to care for the physical, emotional, spiritual and mental health needs of persons in the congregation through phone calls and visits, sending cards, offering rides and more. We have a team that meets quarterly, as well as individuals who volunteer to help with certain tasks.
Beloved Community Commission (BCC)
The Beloved Community Commission (BCC) (formerly the Commission on Religion and Race) Team is dedicated to fostering brave space for the exploration of race and racism through the lens of faith. We seek to understand cultural difference and deconstruct systems of oppression to build capacity for us to be catalysts in the creation of a more just and equitable world. Please join us in adding your voice to this important work for justice.
Reconciling Ministries
Social justice, the communal participation in establishing equality among all people groups, has been part of the DNA of United Methodists from the very beginning. Reconciling Ministries seek the full inclusion of persons of all sexual orientations and gender identities in the larger church and world.
I'M INTERESTED IN SERVING ON THE BOARD, A COMMITTEE OR A TEAM
