Nominate
Serve On A NYAPC Board!
The Nominating Committee is seeking church members to serve on the boards of the church including the Session, Board of Diaconal Ministers, and Board of Trustees to begin a new service cycle in April 2025.
God calls each of us to consider how we use our time, treasure, and talent.
NYAPC thrives and grows thanks in part to the faithful and joyful service of individuals on these boards. 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 Diaconal Minister! Do you like thinking about the big-picture current impact and future health of NYAPC? You should be on Session!
Yes, sitting on 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 by early February 2025 and the NYAPC Congregational Meeting in early spring will vote on the slates. There will be four sessions of Officer Training. Officers will be ordained and installed in early May for three-year terms for the Boards.
What Do The Boards Do?
Session
The Session is responsible for the mission and government of the Church. Its duties and responsibilities include receiving and instructing new members and removing members from the rolls as appropriate; leading the congregation in mission, providing for worship, including the music program; providing for Christian Education; encouraging stewardship; supervising the work of other Church boards; and maintaining a regular and continuing relationship with the higher governing bodies of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). The Session also determines the uses to which the real and personal property of the Church may be put.
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.
Diaconal Ministers
The Board of Diaconal Ministers, in addition to other responsibilities and authority delegated to them from time to time by the Session, shall arrange for regular visitation of members who are hospital or home-bound and anyone who is in need of special attention. They shall work in coordination with the ministers of the Church and Session in a ministry of compassion, witness, and service, sharing in visitation and care.
I have the pleasure of serving on the Board of Diaconal Ministers–a role that helps me fulfill God’s call to love and community. Diaconal Ministers 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 Diaconal Ministers do. I enjoy serving with a diverse and welcoming group of people. When it comes to the DMs, 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 with the Diaconal Ministers we’re able to make it a joyful and collaborative experience.
Trustees
The Board of Trustees shall, subject to the authority of the Session, be responsible for the management of the corporate affairs of the Church. As part of that responsibility, it shall receive, hold, safeguard, and manage property, real or personal, for the Church. It shall have charge of the receipt, custody, and expenditure of the monies of the Church, in accordance with the budget, or amendments thereto, approved from time to time by the Congregation and the Session as set forth in Article XII.1 of these Bylaws or, in the case of non-budget designated funds, in accordance with the instructions of the organizations of the Church which are responsible for their use. It shall manage special funds established to further the purposes of the Church. It shall have the sole authority to execute contracts obligating the Church under the civil law. The Board seeks people with experience in budget/finance, engineering, construction, architecture, and/or project management.
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 NYAPC Nominating Committee is tasked by the Session to provide nominees to fill positions on three NYAPC Boards—the Session, Diaconal Ministers, and Trustees—as well as for the Nominating Committee, for openings that will begin in Spring 2023 as the Class of 2025. Members of the Nominating Committee serve one-year terms, and represent the three boards as well as at-large positions.
Committee members are:
- Karen Feret (Co-chair; Session Representative)
- Diane Douglas (Co-chair)
- Karin Lohman (Trustees Representative)
- Whitney McColley
- Dena DeBonis
- Melanie Dann
- Cameron McGlothlin
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: Karen Feret (chair), Diane Douglas, Melanie Dann, Dena DeBonis, and Whitney McColley.
Thank you for considering and discerning God’s call.