Staff and Church Boards

La Mesa Presbyterian Church

Church staff and Boards

Church Staff

	Dave Pierson Pastor Phone (619) 463-4491 or click to EMail
	Darlene Killinger Organist


Fax Us At This Number	(619) 461-3191

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La Mesa Presbyterian Church Session

	Presbyterian Elders

	As there were in Old Testament times elders for the government of the people, so the New Testament Church provided persons with particular gifts to share in governing and ministry. In the Presbyterian Church, the people choose elders for a term of three years in an annual election. All active members of the congregation are eligible to be elected and ordained to office. Together with ministers of the Word and Sacrament, the elders exercise leadership, government and discipline and have responsibilities for the life of a particular church as well as the church at large.

	Their manner of life should be a demonstration of the Christian gospel, both within the church and in the world. It is the duty of elders, individually and jointly, to strengthen and nurture the faith and life of the congregation committed to their charge. Together with the pastor, they should: encourage the people in the worship and service of God; equip and renew them for their tasks within the church and for their mission in the world; visit, comfort and care for the people, with special attention to the poor, the sick, the lonely and those who are oppressed. Those duties, which all Christians are bound to perform by the law of love, are especially incumbent upon elders because of their calling to office and are to be fulfilled by them as official responsibilities.

	The Session

	The session of a Presbyterian church consists of the pastor, and the elders in active service. All members of the session are entitled to vote. The Presbyterian Church is governed as a representative democracy from the session of individual congregations, through presbyteries, synods and up to the General Assembly, which governs the national church. Presbyters are not simply to reflect the will of the people, but rather to seek together to find and represent the will of Christ.

	Our session is responsible for the mission and government of the church. It therefore has the responsibility and power:

	1. To provide opportunities for evangelism to be learned and practiced in and by the church, that members may be better equipped to articulate their faith, to witness in word and deed to the saving grace of Jesus Christ, and to invite persons into a new life in Christ;

	2. To receive members into the church upon profession of faith, upon reaffirmation of faith in Jesus Christ, or upon satisfactory certification of transfer of church membership, provided that membership shall not be denied any person because of race, economic or social circumstances, or any other reason not related to profession of faith;

	3. To lead the congregation in participation in the mission of the whole church in the world;

	4. To provide for the worship of the people of God, including the preaching of the Word, the sharing of the Sacraments, and for the music program;

	5. To provide for the growth of its members and for their equipment for ministry through personal and pastoral care, educational programs including the church school, sharing in fellowship and mutual support, and opportunities for witness and service to the world;

	6. To develop and supervise the church school and the educational program of the church;

	7. To lead the congregation in ministries of personal and social healing and reconciliation in the communities in which the church lives and bears witness;

	8. To challenge the people of God with the privilege of responsible Christian stewardship of money and time and talents, developing effective ways for encouraging and gathering the offerings of the people and assuring that all offerings are distributed to the objects toward which they were contributed;

	9. To establish the annual budget; determine the distribution of the church's benevolences, and order offerings for Christian purposes, providing full information to the congregation of its decisions in such matters;

	10. To lead the congregation continually to discover what God is doing in the world and to plan for change, renewal and reformation under the Word of God;

	11. To engage in a process for education and mutual growth of the members of the session;

	12. To instruct, examine, ordain, install and welcome into common ministry elders and deacons on their election by the congregation and to inquire into their faithfulness in fulfilling their responsibilities;

	13. To delegate and to supervise the work of the board of deacons and the board of trustees and all other organizations and task forces within the congregation, providing for support, report, review and control;

	14. To provide for the administration of the program of the church, including employment of non-ordained staff, with concern for equal employment opportunity, fair employment practices, personnel policies and the annual review of the adequacy of compensation for all staff, including all employees;

	15. To provide for the management of the property of the church, including determination of the appropriate use of church buildings and facilities, and to obtain property and liability insurance coverage to protect the facilities, programs, and officers of the church;

	16. To maintain regular and continuing relationship to the higher governing bodies of the church;

	17. To establish and maintain those ecumenical relationships necessary for the life and mission of the church in its locality;

	18. To serve in judicial matters in accordance with the Rules of Discipline;

	19. To keep an accurate roll of the membership of the church, and to grant certificates of transfer to other churches.

	Adapted from the Book of Order* of the Presbyterian Church U.S.A. chapters G-6.0300 and G-10.0100.*

Members of the Session

		Moderator	Rev. Dave Pierson
		Clerk of Session	Jerry Moody

Class of 2007	Class of 2008	Class of 2009
Lois Adams	Jerry Moody	Darline Culp
		Brian Stoddard Liz Werner
		Karen Weismann

Standing Committees of the Session

Administration

Goal:	To oversee the financial health of the Church To oversee, maintain and support the staff of the church To oversee and maintain the physical property of the church

Christian Education

Goal:	To coordinate, the Christian Education of Children and Adults at La Mesa Presbyterian Church.

Membership

Goal:	To develop and support existing and potential membership of the congregation

Outreach

Goal:	To develop people programs that extends outward into the community.

Nominating

Goal:	To identify and invite qualified members to serve as church officers

Presbytery Representatives

Goal:	To provide a representative from the Church to our Presbytery

Stewardship

Goal:	To guide and assist the members of the church in the stewardship of their resources, including time & talents, spiritual gifts and financial resources

Worship and Music

Goal:	To coordinate and plan for all worship experiences in the church

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La Mesa Presbyterian Deacons:

	Presbyterian Deacons

	The office of deacon as set forth in Scripture is one of sympathy, witness, and service after the example of Jesus Christ.

	The board shall meet regularly, or upon the call of its moderator, or when directed to meet by the session, but it shall meet at least quarterly. The board shall determine its own quorum. A joint meeting of the session and board of deacons shall be held at least annually to confer on matters of common interest, with the moderator of the session presiding. No binding decision may be reached in such joint meeting, but the session and the board may act separately on matters committed to their care.

	Deacons may be appointed by governing bodies to serve on committees or as trustees. The session may select and appoint other members of the congregation to assist the deacons in their ministry of compassion.

	Adapted from the Book of Order* of the Presbyterian Church U.S.A. chapters G-6.0400.*

Members of the La Mesa Deacons

Class of 2007	Class of 2008	Class of 2009
Dennis Aberth	Billie Derrick	Richard Booke
Muriel Johnson	Barbara Kelly	Terry Powers
Dorothy Macpherson	Jean Rozendal	Anita Shingle
	Jackie Williams

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Last modified: Tuesday, December 11, 2007