Announcing Our New Faith Formation Program Councils: Enhancing Connection, Streamlining Support

Within the Ministry side of our Organizational Structure, Faith Formation, Religious Education and (internal) Community Building programming programs fall under the supervision of the Director of Lifespan Religious Education (DRE) and are organized by teams sharing their development and implementation. To continue to better support this vision, we are implementing three specialized Program Councils to act as supportive pillars for each respective ministry area. Working alongside the DRE, these councils will share accountability for developing, launching, and nurturing ongoing initiatives. Their overarching goal is to ensure that all fellowship offerings remain robust, engaging to members, welcoming to non-members, and deeply aligned with the organization's shared mission.

The newly implemented specialized structures include the Children’s and Youth Faith Formation Council, which oversees age-specific programming for individuals ages 0–18, including Sunday RE, supplemental classes, and youth groups; the Adult Program Council, which coordinates diverse enrichment, educational, and social options for adults 18 and older; and the Congregational Life Council, which focuses on multi-generational, community-building events like Community Sundays and church-wide events to serve the entire fellowship.

To effectively distribute this workload, each council will operate with a clear internal structure with important roles. Co-Chairs serve as the primary points of contact, running regular meetings and collaborating hand-in-hand with the DRE. A designated Secretary/Communications member keeps essential meeting records and interfaces directly with the Communications Team to promote upcoming events. Finally, At-Large Members bring unique perspectives to the table, serving as direct advocates and liaisons for specific programs within the fellowship.

Empowering the DRE and Supporting Our Front-Line Teams

It is important to emphasize that these councils are explicitly designed to act as a dual support system.

First, they will provide crucial administrative oversight and collaborative partnership to our DRE so that programmatic decisions are deeply collaborative and sustainable.

Second, and just as importantly, they exist to support and uplift the front-line teams doing the actual work on the ground —our RE teachers, discussion leaders, and event creators. Teams will retain the creative freedom to run their programs as they see fit. The Councils are not there to micromanage; they are there to carry the administrative weight of budgeting, coordinate publicity, handle staff communication, and clear the path so our volunteers can focus entirely on what they love doing.

Look for Upcoming Meetings in July!

To kick things off smoothly, we will be holding Informational and Organizing Meetings this July. These sessions will give everyone a chance to ask questions, learn how they can get involved as a council member or a team volunteer, and begin shaping our shared goals. By organizing during the summer, we can seamlessly support all of our ministry teams before the rush of the new program year begins this fall.

Stay tuned for specific July dates and times—we look forward to building this exciting new chapter of community and learning together!