Lay Leadership

March 18, 2021 Update:

In accordance with the Bylaws, Article X, Paragraph 4, the Senior Minister Committee recommends the election of the following members of The Riverside Church to constitute the Search Committee to identify candidates for Senior Minister.

Download the Candidate Slate (PDF) to learn more about the individual candidates for the Senior Minister Search Committee.

These candidates were elected during an election at a Special Meeting of the Church on Sunday, March 14, 2021.

Thank you to everyone who expressed interest in elected lay leadership. The Nominating Committee is pleased to share the 2021 Lay Leader Election Nominees slate for consideration at the Annual Meeting on Sunday, May 16, 2021. There were no nominations by petition. Stay tuned for information on the upcoming Meet the Candidates Forum.

Budget & Planning (2 positions to be filled)

Michael Elllis

Church Council (4 positions to be filled)

Angela Aidala
David Orcutt
Challon Perry

Education Commission (4 positions to be filled)

Jonathan Favors-Grimes
Robin Veenstra-VanderWeele

Membership Care and Parish Life Commission (6 positions to be filled)

Marion Conteh
Pat Pell

Mission and Social Justice Commission (3 positions to be filled)

Sumati Devadutt
Lissa Dodington
Rainer Engelken

Nominating Committee (5 positions to be filled)

–

Worship Commission  (4 positions to be filled)

Jaclyn Durant
Meghann Vaughn

Appointments to the Church Council

Jennifer James Soto (Education)

Church Council
Term Ending 2023:
Clarence Anderson
Patrice Harrington
Eugene Melino
Phil Salmon
Howard Sanders
Term Ending 2022:
Christen Walker-James

Budget & Planning Committee
Term Ending 2023:
Andre Nakashian
Term Ending 2022:
German Soto

Education Commission
Term Ending 2023:
Hylda Clarke
David Jensen
John Slorance
Martha L. Wiggins

Membership Care & Parish Life Commission
Term Ending 2023:
Carolyn Bland
Millicent James
Hillary Puckett
Rosalyn Witter
Term Ending 2022:
Elizabeth Figueroa

Mission & Social Justice Commission
Term Ending 2023:
Michael Barnes
Derrick Biney-Amissah
Frances Connell
Pam Davis
Term Ending 2022:
Linda Fentiman
Karen Sawyer-Barro

Nominating Committee
Term Ending 2023:
Glenessa Gordon
Beth Wynne-St. Louis

Worship Commission
Term Ending 2023:
Desiree Baxter
Alexa Donaphin
Arelis Figueroa
David Vaughn
Term Ending 2022:
Robbie Patterson
Michael Winger
Term Ending 2021:
Meghann Vaughn

Commission Representatives to the Church Council
Term Ending 2023:
(MCPL) Hillary Puckett
(MSJ) Victoria Anderson
(Worship) Jesse Wilkins

Areas of Elected Lay Leadership at Riverside

Church Council

Description: The Church Council has oversight responsibility for all affairs of the Church – temporal and spiritual. The Council has fiduciary responsibility and sets policies. Each Council member is also appointed to at least one of the following standing committees: Audit, Budget and Planning, Building, Finance, Communications, Institutional Relations, Ministerial Relations, Ordination, Personnel and Salary, and Stewardship.

List of Desired Skills/Backgrounds: List of Desired Skills/Backgrounds: accounting, finance/investment, legal, human resources/organizational behavior, educational background, conflict resolution / governance / leadership, non-profit experience, managerial/secretarial, and audit.

Nominating Committee

Description: Administers the overall process for the election of lay leaders, and is responsible for the integrity of Riverside annual election process. The Committee works to ensure that each member included on the slate of candidates:
– Meets stated requirements of elected office.
– Meets qualifications as specified by and for each Commission or Committee.
– Reflects the diversity of Riverside’s membership.
– As necessary, the committee also recommends changes to the Riverside By-Laws.

List of Desired Skills/Duties:
– Openness to speaking with Riversiders about the elected offices available to members.
– Have a welcoming and friendly manner with congregation members, particularly those new to the Riverside community.
– Discerning through listening and open discussions those who would be assets as Lay Leaders.
– Working with Commission leaders as well as Riversiders at large to encourage qualified folk to run for elected office.
– Hold positive attitude towards Riverside Church leadership and speak of the integrity of Nominating Committee and elections.
– Agree to faithfully attend all meetings and volunteer with Sunday morning tabling.
– Willingness to help during the election process including Meet the Candidates and voting counting at the conclusion of the Annual Meeting.
– Organizational and/or secretarial skills.

Membership Care and Parish Life Commission

Description: The Commission accompanies church members on every step of their spiritual journeys. Programs include: Pastoral Care, New Members Class, Barber Training Program, Clothing Service, Faith Development and Spiritual Growth, Food Pantry, Laity Empowerment Series, Shower Project, Spiritual Life Retreat, and Wellness Programs.

List of Desired Skills/Duties: Should have a history of volunteering at Riverside or other organizations, or demonstrate willingness and devotion to carry out the task required for the success of the commission. MCPL Lay Leaders should be able to engage with the purview of ministries our commission supports (Membership, Parish Care, and Parish Life). We welcome members in the profession of trades, law, social services, and the arts.

Education Commission

Description: Oversees the development and implementation of the comprehensive Christian Education Ministry at the Church. Programs include: Sunday Morning Bible Study, Youth and Young Adult programs, English Language Training, Infant and Toddler Nursery programs, and the Scholarship Fund.

List of Desired Skills/Duties:
– Attended or led Adult Bible study at TRC, whether small group or Open Bible study.
– Sat for 1 year on Riverside Committee such as ACEC, Budget & Planning, Ordination, Global Justice & Peace, etc.
– Ability to cast vision as it relates to the direction of the overall congregation’s faith formation and learning experiences.
– A desire to invest in the lives of people of all ages with special attention to children, youth and young adults.
– A willingness to lead the congregation in exploring practices related to spiritual formation and Christian education.
– An appreciation of the various ways in which people who are differently abled might learn or receive information.
– Sensitivity to cultural and racial diversity as it pertains to Christian education and formation.
– A desire to practice servant leadership and humility; a willingness to learn from others even as you lead them.
– Organizational and/or secretarial skills.

Mission and Social Justice Commission

Description: As agents of God’s justice, healing and love, the Mission and Social Justice (MSJ) Commission seeks to transform individuals, communities and systems of racial, social, economic and environmental oppression. MSJ ministries include: African Fellowship, Beloved Earth Community, Black Lives Matter, Coming Home, Ecclesia Ministry, Knitters and Crocheters at Riverside, Latinos/as at Riverside, Maranatha – Riverside’s LGBTQ Ministry, Men’s Class, Movies@Riverside, Prison Ministry, Sojourners, Sharing & Densford Funds, South Africa Support Group, and Theatre of the Oppressed.

List of Desired Skills/Duties:
– Demonstrated passion for justice, evidenced by their life work – either paid or volunteer.
– Ability to communicate how faith in God moves us to act for justice.
– Experience in team building and effective communication in Riverside and/or Harlem and NYC.
– Practiced in creative thinking to achieve positive change.

Worship Commission

Description: Responsible for the worship programs of the Church. It advises on the overall planning of the Sunday services, other worship services, and special services. It consults with the Director of Music on the music program of the Church for Sunday services and for special occasions. Primary among the duties of Worship Commission members is to remember that the Church is a living body, kept alive by responsive and meaningful worship in many forms.

List of Desired Skills/Duties:
– Regularly attend worship services and see it as the core of your involvement at Riverside.
– Be open to all forms of worship – traditional as well as innovative.
– Have imagination in envisioning the depth and richness of worship.
– Be willing to participate in the service as communion servers/preparers, greeters, and liturgical participants on a regular basis.
– Have organizational/secretarial skills.
– Have a positive and supportive attitude toward the leadership of Riverside Church.
– Respect the liturgies and rituals of the church as a primary means of meeting the spiritual needs of all the people.
– Appreciate the power of Word and Sacrament as understood by our affiliated denominations, i.e. ABC and UCC.
– Strive to envision new worship services (grounded in traditional forms of worship) that are responsive to the needs of changing times and diverse worshipers.

Budget & Planning Committee

Description: Reviews and revises the proposed annual operating and capital budgets prepared by Church staff for presentation to the Church Council and the Congregation for approval. The Committee is also responsible for monitoring spending through the year.

List of Desired Skills/Duties:
– Financial background.
– Ability to read and comprehend budget spreadsheets.
– Experience using excel or similar financial programs.
– Managerial/secretarial skills.
– Open to innovative ideas relating to budget planning.
– Committed to the financial health of The Riverside Church.