Nominate
Serve On A NYAPC Board!
The Nominating Committee is seeking members to serve on the Session, Deacons, and the Board of Trustees, or the Nominating Committee. Terms start in June of 2026, with board positions lasting three years and the Nominating Committee one year.
At NYAPC, our ministry thrives and grows thanks in part to the faithful and joyful service of individuals on these leadership councils. In the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), elders and deacons are ordained to particular ministries of leadership, service, and compassion. These roles are not just administrative or programmatic; they are spiritual callings, expressions of God’s work through the gathered community.
Have you sat in our beautiful sanctuary and wondered how the lights are changed in the chandeliers? You might be interested in joining Trustees! Have you received a card in the mail after requesting prayer and hoped to help pass the care forward? You may be a future Deacon! Do you like thinking about the big-picture current impact and future health of NYAPC? You should be on Session!
Yes, sitting on a council or a board is a commitment—but it’s also an opportunity to deepen your faith through shared service and leadership.
Curious? Read on!
Schedule of Service
Nominees will be selected between now and early February 2026 and then voted on at the Annual Congregational Meeting on March 1, 2026.
There will be four required sessions of Officer Training for those accepting Officers will be ordained and installed in early May for three-year terms for the councils and boards.
What Do The Boards Do?
Session
The Session is responsible for guiding the mission and ministries of the Church in faithfulness to the Way of Jesus. In the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), elders are called “ruling elders” not because they rule over others, but because they are entrusted with measuring and guiding the church’s faithfulness, its “rule,” to the Word and Spirit of Christ.
Session members are spiritual leaders who help the congregation to grow vision, discern God’s call for mission, nurture its ministries, and ensure that all we do reflects Christ’s love and justice. Together with the pastors, they pray, plan, and make decisions that shape our common life and witness.
I have so valued my service as a member of the Session. After being a member of NYAPC for a few years, I felt called to engage more deeply with the community, and agreed to serve on the Session when asked by the nominating committee. Being on the Session has shown me how committed our membership is to cultivating each other’s faith and embodying God’s love and justice. It has been challenging at times but also incredibly rewarding to play a small part in furthering our mission in Washington, DC.
The Board of Deacons
The Deacons lead the congregation’s ministry of care and compassion, both within the church family and out in the wider community. Rooted in Jesus’ call to serve “the least, the lost, and the lonely,” Deacons embody the heart of Christ’s love through acts of presence, prayer, and service.
In coordination with the pastors and Session, Deacons provide ongoing care for members who are hospitalized, homebound, or experiencing times of special need and celebration. They extend the church’s compassion through visits, cards, meals, and practical support, deliver flowers, host receptions, support the columbarium, and they help the congregation respond faithfully to those who are hurting or in need.
“I have the pleasure of serving on the Board of Deacons, a role that helps me fulfill God’s call to love and community. Deacons have the opportunity to get to know so many members through connecting with those in need of care, those experiencing loss or difficult situations, and those celebrating joyful milestones. The intergenerational nature of NYAPC is important to me and never is that more evident than in the work the Deacons do. I enjoy serving with a diverse and welcoming group of people. When it comes to the Deacons, I often think of the phrase “many hands make light work.” There’s a lot of work involved in caring for our thriving community but the Deacons were able to make it a joyful and collaborative experience.”
Trustees
The Board of Trustees is entrusted with the faithful care of the church’s physical resources—its building, grounds, and financial investments—so that NYAPC can continue to thrive in ministry and mission. Under the authority of the Session, the Trustees manage the corporate and legal affairs of the church with both prudence and boldness, balancing careful stewardship with a vision for how our resources can best serve God’s purposes in this time and place.
As part of this work, the Trustees receive, hold, safeguard, and manage all church property, real and personal. They oversee the receipt, custody, and expenditure of church funds in accordance with budgets approved by the Session, and they manage special funds that further the church’s mission. Trustees also hold authority to execute contracts and ensure compliance with civil and fiduciary obligations.
In all they do, Trustees serve in partnership with staff, pastors, and Session, supporting the vibrant ministries that take place within and beyond our historic walls. The Board seeks individuals with experience in areas such as finance, engineering, construction, architecture, or project management—and a heart for stewardship in service to the Gospel.
I grew up at NYAPC and the building means a great deal to me. Our building is the Congregations' physical home and touches nearly everything we do. We have used our central location near the White House to stand witness in happy and challenging times, support meaningful causes, and provide a refuge to those needing help. Working to preserve the building as member of Trustees is a way I can help support these important missions. I am continually inspired by the other members of Trustees. Keeping a decades old building functioning and comfortable isn't easy. Each person offers their time and talent to help address the issues that arise. It is an intelligent, collegial, hardworking, good humored, and service-oriented group of people. I am grateful for their fellowship and example. I didn't expect that working with this group to tackle problems arising from concrete and steel would help connect me more deeply to my own faith, but that is what has happened.
Nominating Committee
The Nominating Committee is entrusted with the joyful and prayerful work of calling members into leadership and service within the church. Guided by the Holy Spirit, the committee helps the congregation discern who might be called to serve as elders, deacons, or trustees, individuals whose gifts, wisdom, and faith can strengthen the life and witness of the church.
Tasked by the Session, the Nominating Committee identifies and presents nominees to fill positions on the Session, the Board of Deacons, and the Board of Trustees, as well as for the Nominating Committee itself, for terms beginning in the spring of 2026 (Class of 2027). Members of the committee serve one-year terms and include representatives from each board, along with at-large members elected by the congregation.
Through this work, the Nominating Committee reminds us that leadership in the church is not about status, but about call—a response to God’s invitation to serve Christ and the community with humility, faith, and joy.
Committee members are:
- Diane Douglas (Session Elder)
- Bonnie Milam (Deacon Representative)
- Karin Lohman (Trustees Representative)
- Whitney McColley
- Dena DeBonis
- Melanie Dann
Serving on the Nominating Committee is one of the most important ways to help NYAPC define its future. We have an amazingly talented and diverse membership, and through the Nominating Committee we can ensure that all members have the opportunity to bring their incredible gifts to the church, as we together seek to live God's Word in our world and community. It's also a great way to re-connect with friends and fellow members!
We hope the answer is yes but we can’t answer that question for you. What we can tell you is that God’s call to shared leadership comes in all shapes and sizes. It may be a call or email from a friend suggesting you consider serving. It may be a reminder from a family member of the fulfillment they felt as a church leader. Or it may be another member affirming that your talents align with the needs of one of the boards. We have yet to hear an actual thundering voice from on high but God works in mysterious ways so never say never!
The members of the Nominating Committee would love to talk with you to help discern which board may be the right fit for you. Feel free to reach out to any of the current members: Diane Douglas (Chair), Bonnie Milam, Karin Lohman, Melanie Dann, Dena DeBonis, and Whitney McColley.
Thank you for considering and discerning God’s call.