Congregational Care & Fellowship Ministry Team

Second Tuesdays at 7:00 p.m.

Choir Room

​

“Jesus said to him, “Tend my sheep.”

John 21:16c (NRSVUE)

​

The purpose of the Congregational Care & Fellowship Ministry Team is to “tend [Jesus’] sheep” at Westminster by encouraging and nourishing fellowship and compassion for the congregation as a whole and as individuals. In addition to general administration, responsibilities for this ministry team fall into three general focus areas:

• Connecting

• Gathering

• Feeding

 

The Congregational Care & Fellowship Ministry Team has a special responsibility to ensure that all of its work conforms to the requirements detailed in the current PC(USA) Book of Order, especially:

• G-1.01 – The Congregation

• W-5.0206 – Other Gatherings

• W-5.0204 – Pastoral Care

 

Congregational Care & Fellowship, in consultation with the Building & Grounds Ministry Team, has primary responsibility for managing the use and readiness of the following areas of the facility:

• Upper Level Education Wing

  • Fellowship Hall

  • Kitchen and adjacent small dining area/work room

  • Joe Getty’s classroom

  • Pantries and storage areas 

• Parlor

 

Congregational Care & Fellowship Special Membership Requirements

The ministry team is chaired by a Ruling Elder. The members are at-large volunteers with spiritual gifts and skills aligned with the work of the ministry team. The Congregational Care Ministry Team provides one ex officio member to the Wedding Ministry Team.

​

General Administration: Duties and Responsibilities

• Planning for and managing the Congregational Care & Fellowship budget

• Providing periodic ministry team status reports to the Session

• Coordinating with external entities that use facility areas for which Congregational Care is responsible, in accordance with the Facilities Use policy and any long- or short-term agreements, such as leases, with that entity

Connecting: Duties and Responsibilities

• Praying individually and corporately for the needs of the church and its members and friends

• Identifying and sharing prayer concerns with the Pastor and the newsletter editor

• Contacting and supporting individuals with special needs, such as illness, bereavement, mobility limitations, loneliness, and life milestones; includes telephone calls, visits, notes, and cards; e.g., birthday cards from The Church Mouse 

• Following up with members and friends who have been absent from church participation to reengage them and offer support, if needed

• Welcoming new members and friends into active participation in the life of the congregation; e.g., inviting them into ministry teams and studies, connecting them with appropriate groups

• Maintains oversight for new member packets created and distributed by office personnel

Gathering: Duties and Responsibilities

• Implementing periodic whole-church fellowship and educational activities, in partnership with other ministries and ministry teams, to maintain connections throughout the entire congregation (see also Feeding, below); e.g., for a Family Night Supper, Congregational Care Ministry Team provides the meal and another ministry team provides the program

• Coordinating with congregation members, friends, and external groups regarding gatherings that use the Fellowship Hall, kitchen, and related areas in accordance with the Facilities Use policy 

• Assisting with church-sponsored large- and small-group gatherings, especially those that use the Fellowship Hall, kitchen, and surrounding areas

Feeding: Duties and Responsibilities 

• Preparing and delivering meals to individuals with special needs, such as illness, mobility limitations, and bereavement

• Planning for and providing meals or refreshments for periodic church-sponsored large- and small-group gatherings, such as Family Night Suppers, receptions, and parties

• Ensuring that Congregational Care’s areas of the building are kept clean, supplied, and ready for use

• Organizing the kitchen, and maintaining stored and refrigerated items

• Ordering and maintaining supplies for the kitchen in support of the ministries of the congregation