Session Committees
Our committees are the life-blood of our church. We are proud to have so many willing and talented volunteers to help make our MISSION POSSIBLE!
Administrative
The committee is charged to act as good stewards of the financial resources given to advance the ministry and mission of Shallowford Presbyterian Church. The Committee shall be small—three to four members. At least one elder serving on the Session will serve on the committee and will function as the liaison between the two. The chair will not necessarily be an elder. The duties of the Administrative Committee:
- Manage all costs included in the Administrative section of the church budget and implement actions for cost savings as appropriate.
- Make repair vs. replace and purchase vs. lease decisions for equipment used by the church.
- Select approved vendors for acquisition of equipment and services.
- Review equipment used by the church to insure cost effectiveness and to insure that technology needs are met.
- Prepare and submit budget for future equipment purchases.
- Maintain inventory of equipment leased or owned by the church.
- Assist Church Associate Administrator, staff members, the church Treasurer, and other Session committees (Stewardship, Finance, Building and Grounds) with the acquisition of materials and services.
- Report on the committee’s work and recommendations to the Session regularly.
- Perform any other duties as directed and assigned by the Session.
Chair: Vernon Duty
Buildings & Grounds
The committee oversees and attends to repair needs of the buildings and the church campus and works with the administrative staff to control all of the utilities and improvements.
- Maintenance of church buildings, including furnishings (work and cleaning)
- Maintenance of grounds
- Maintenance of vehicles
Chair: Steve Hopkins and David Rosselo
Church Family Ministries
The committee assists in the care of the members of the congregation by augmenting the pastoral care responsibilities of the Pastor and the Congregational Care Committee. The committee is charged with the development and oversight of:
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Shallowford Presbyterian Women
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Shallowford Family Counseling Center, including nominating members to the SFCC Board through Session
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75 Diner, including Kids Club
- Church Food Ministries, sub-committee
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Church Family Retreat
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Athletic Teams: Basketball (youth and adults), Softball (youth and adult)
Chair: Jessica Camp
Christian Education
The committee is responsible for the spiritual growth of the members of the church, coordinating the following:
- Sunday School for all ages
- Resource Room Audio-Visual equipment (purchase, inventory, repair, arrange set up for use)
- Leadership Training for teachers
- Church Library
- Confirmation Class
- Vacation Bible School and Day Camp
- Worship Education
- Clipboards for children in worship
- Nursery and Extended Child Care for preschoolers
- Christian Health Issues at Shallowford (CHIS)
Chair: Prue Swerlick
Congregational Care
The role of the Congregational Care Committee is to focus on the training, support and structuring of the congregational care ministry to the congregation at Shallowford and community beyond the church. Christ calls us to “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind, and love your neighbor as yourself.” (Luke 10: 26 RSV). Our pastoral care ministry encourages this kind of loving in our community and in the world. We affirm the doctrine of the priest-hood of all believers in which we share this ministry as clergy and lay people alike. To this end, we deliberately and proactively plan, support, and carry out initiatives that encourage the love and care to which Christ calls believers.
Chair: Barbara Park
Finance
The committee works with the commitments we make with our money, time and talents as we serve, study, witness and worship including:
Support and Endowment Committee, sub-committee
Many of our members aren’t aware that this church committee exists, but it does vitally important work for our congregation
and community. It was founded in 1988 to encourage bequests, donations, and long-term gifts to the
church. Members are appointed by the session and are responsible for distributing these gifts to further the mission
of the church and the work of Jesus Christ - a beautiful way to honor a special loved one.
There are three (3) funds within the Support and Endowment Plan:
- The Endowment Fund provides income to support the other two funds. Monies in this fund are invested
and only the interest is available for use.
- The Special Church Support Fund is used to support special projects related to the upkeep and maintenance
of the church’s physical environment and special ministries, including outreach.
- The Mission and Benevolence Fund is used to support Shallowford’s extended mission work and benevolences.
The most common ways to contribute to the Support and Endowment Plan are through outright gifts and wills and
bequests. Outright gifts include memorial gifts, donation of securities, real estate, and life insurance. Wills and bequests
include one-time gifts, trusts, etc. There are also many others ways to contribute, just contact a member of
the committee for more details.
Chair: Nancy Phillimore
Treasurer: BJ McMillan
Support & Endowment Subcommittee: Alan Rosselot (Chair), Nancy Phillimore, Mike
Johnson, Vernon Duty, Barbara Snelling, and MC Graves.
Local Missions
The committee is responsible for the witness of Shallowford Presbyterian Church to the love and justice of Jesus Christ in the world within the environs of Atlanta. The committee shall oversee the congregation’s involvement in ministries of service in the name of Christ, including, but not limited to:
Chair: Dave Billet
Long-Range Planning
The committee shall recommend to the Session a series of long-range goals for the upcoming two to five years. This committee is further charged with monitoring the church’s progress toward the achievement of these goals and with recommending to the Session modifications and revisions of these goals as circumstances warrant. The areas in which the Long-range Planning Committee shall focus its attention shall include, but are not limited to, stewardship and finances, membership growth, church physical facilities, staffing, and program. The Long-range Planning Committee shall seek to recommend to the Session the establishment of congregational and Session priorities in each of these areas, to identify goals that are in concert with the priorities, and to suggest the major steps needed within the next two to five years to achieve the goals. The Long-range Planning Committee shall develop its recommended priorities and goals in close consultation with the various Session committees already charged with the implementation of particular aspects of the church’s ministry.
Chair: Davis Stewart
Personnel
The Personnel committee works with the administrative staff in the areas of employees, salaries, schedule, continuing education, and counseling. The committee reviews the performance of non-ordained staff annually and consults with the Head of Staff concerning all personnel matters or concerns.
Chair: Carolyn Carl
Preschool Board of Directors
Shallowford Presbyterian Preschool nurtures the whole child, accepting each child's uniqueness and encouraging each child to develop his or her potential through new experiences promoting physical, emotional, social, cognitive, and spiritual growth. A Board of Directors, comprised of parents of the students and church members, oversees the school. Parents volunteer for various programs to help the school accomplish its goals. SPP is a member of The North Georgia Association of Preschool Directors, The Georgia Association of Weekday Church Schools and The DeKalb/Gwinnett Preschool Association. The SPP reports directly to the session through an elder appointed to the board.
Chair: Tania Gourley
Stewardship
The committee’s primary responsibility is to develop and plan for the response to the gifts received by being a faithful Christian. This charge involves developing awareness campaigns for the gifts received. The responses come in the form of time, talent, and financial resources. The committee plans and executes the annual stewardship program and has primary responsibility for coordinating the establishment of an annual budget.
Chair: Barton McMillan
Welcoming
The committee is responsible for outreach to those seeking a church home. It seeks to foster a welcoming atmosphere that is attractive to visitors, and to follow up with visitors, providing information and invitations to return to Shallowford.
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Visit prospective members
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Administer the Inquirer’s Class
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Coordinate new member services, including the New Member Book, photos of new members, New Member Dinner
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Oversee A-Team sub-committee (Assimilation of new members)
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Design and coordinate Time and Talent Sheets annually
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Coordinate greeters and volunteers before and after Worship Services and special events to provide information for visitors and prospective members
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Insure an elder is present at the baptismal font following worship to answer visitor’s questions
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Coordinate volunteers for the information table and telephone reception on Sunday mornings.
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Develop and administer a cohesive publicity program, including
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Advertisements and brochures
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Newsletters (24 per year)
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Church Directory (published in February and September)
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Banners
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Prepare monthly Membership Reports, including audits of records and recommendations to the Session regarding membership status
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Coordinate preparation and distribution of videos and audio recordings of worship services for shut-ins and others
Chair: Newt Fuller
World Wide Ministries
The committee is responsible for the witness of Shallowford Presbyterian Church to the love and justice of Jesus Christ in the world beyond Atlanta. The work of this committee begins in gathering information about matters of global, national, and/or regional concern, especially in the areas of peace and economic and social justice. It is further charged with responsibility for educating the congregation about these matters, interpreting them theologically, and encouraging prayer and Christian action. The committee shall regularly provide information and inspiration to the church concerning the mission work of our presbytery, synod, and the General Assembly of the PC(USA). The committee shall also make recommendations to the Session on the annual distribution of the Worldwide Ministries budget. It shall implement the distribution of the Worldwide Ministries budget.
Chair: Nick Villaume
Worship
The committee is responsible for provision for regular worship of God, through both Sunday services and special services of the church. In consultation with the ministers, the Director of Music Ministries and staff, this committee is responsible for the:
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Choirs (Chancel, Chapel, Trinity, Westminster, and Cherub), instrumentalists and other musical groups
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Order of Worship
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Seasonal decorations (Advent, including poinsettias, and Easter, including Easter lilies)
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Lighting of the Advent wreath during worship services
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Lights and sound system for worship
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Communion Service, sub-committee
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Ushers, sub-committee
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Pulpit supply
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Building use requests for the Sanctuary or Chapel for worship activities by outside groups (in consultation with Local Missions)
Chair: Laura Bishop
Youth & Young Adult
Responsible for the oversight of:
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Youth fellowship (Sunday evening)
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Youth trips (conferences and social)
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Youth Wednesday Bible Study
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Graduate recognition Sunday
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Young adults ministries (sub-committee)
The membership shall include at least one adult Session member, the Youth Elder, the Director of Youth and Young Adult Ministries, the Director of Music Ministries, and one parent from each grade group. The Senior Pastor shall serve as an ex officio member.
Chair: Laura Khan
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