We are just a bunch of disciples...

Leadership at First Church is really about service to God and God's people. The word we like to use to describe it is "discipleship" and since we are all called to be disciples, we are all called to give ministry leadership in some way.

The penguin  "org chart" to the left hangs in the senior pastor's office as a reminder that all of the church's leaders and members take turns supporting the one among us who needs to be lifted up to God.  Most of the time we are somewhere in the middle, standing on the shoulders of others, past and present, so that we can support the rest of the church family in their walk with God.

Leadership of the church rests in the church's membership which meets annually and as needed in an All-Church Conference to elect lay leadership, establish annual priorities and goals, and celebrate the ministries we share. In between annual meetings, an Administrative Council coordinates the work of the many administrative and program committees and work areas that are required to run a big church like First Church. Personnel, Finance, Trustees, and Nominations, handle the nuts and bolts of the church's business while Church Growth, Worship, Church and World Missions, Education, and several more committees, task forces, work areas, and fellowship groups, together with church staff, develop the programs that fill the church's weekly calendar.

As a United Methodist congregation, we are a part of a ministry much larger than the local church. We are a part of a world-wide ministry. We provide denominational support to both local and world wide ministries of hope and healing, helping and teaching. Our pastors are appointed by our resident bishop, assisted by the district superintendent and guided by the Holy Spirit. One of our proudest claims here at First Church is the number of persons from within the congregation who have recognized a call to ministry from God, gone on to seminary, and become pastors. They serve throughout the region with great distinction.