The Riverside Church - Lay Leaders and Church Council

Our Mission

Senior Minister

Sr. Min. Emeritus

Clergy & Senior Staff

Leaders

History of Riverside

Event Calendar

Library

Weddings

Rentals

Jobs

Volunteering

Riverside Links

Visiting Riverside:

Directions & Hours

Tours

Art & Architecture

Riverside Cafe

Gift Shop

Printable Version

Send This Page



Opportunities for Leadership If you are interested in serving on one of our 7 commissions or committees and meet the eligibility requirements as stated in the church's by-lays, you can learn more on our Information and Procedures page and also download the brochures and forms. The Church Council MEETINGS: 4th Monday of every month @ 6:45 PM. Membership: Consists of 18 members, 14 elected at-large for staggered three-year terms, and 4 representatives from the Program Commissions. Council selects Chair, Vice-Chair, Secretary and Treasurer from the Members-at-Large. Chair serves as Ex-officio or member of all Commissions/Committees; Vice-Chair serves on the Senior Minister Committee; the Treasurer serves on the Budget & Planning Committee. Members (Officers): Len Leach - Chair Alexa Donaphin � Vice Chair Bradford W. Jones - Secretary Clarence C. Anderson - Treasurer Members at Large: Church Council Derrick Biney-Amissah John Delfs Joel Horton Howard Geiger, Jr. Lisa Hinds-Salmon Geoffrey Martin Karen McVoy-Stone Ronald Moore Richard P. Stone Barrington N. Wright Commission Representatives: Emily Anderson - Education Kenneth Walker - Membership & Parish Life James E. Allen - Mission & Social Justice Frank A. Nelson MD - Worship Commission Staff Liaisons: Rev. Stephen H. Phelps, Interim Senior Minister Rev. Robert B. Coleman - Chief Program Minister Howard L. Haughton, Chief Financial Officer Worship Commission MEETINGS: Second Monday of every month at 6:45 PM. The Worship Commission is responsible for the worship programs of the Church. It advises on the overall planning of 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. It provides for Communion serving, ushering, and floral decorations or visual themes at worship services and special occasions. The Worship Commission shall consist of 12 members elected to overlapping three-year terms. (Commission elects Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson and ((one) 1 representative to the Church Council.) Commission Chairperson appoints one commission representative to each Committee: Nominating, Budget and Planning, and Stewardship. This Commission also includes a youth member elected by the Congregation to a one year term. Each commission may also select up to five (5) non-voting members to serve one-year terms. Members: Donald Bickford - Chair Patrice Harrington - Vice Chair Jesse Wilkins - Secretary Staff Liaisons: Rev. Stephen H. Phelps, Interim Senior Minister Rev. Kimberliegh Jordan, Director of Worship Christopher Johnson, Music Director Members at Large: Brenda M. Clarke Glenessa Gordon�� Susan Guma�� Patrice Harrington�� Celia King Hazzard�� Lois Gehr Livezey�� Frank Nelson MD�� James Reed�� Elza Sharpe�� Vera Holzman Smith Commission Representatives To: Budget and Planning Committee - Susan Guma Building Committee - Brenda Clarke Church Council - Frank A. Nelson, MD Institutional Relations - James Reed Nominating Committee - Vera Smith Ordination Committee - Lois Gehr Livezey Stewardship Committee - Elza Sharpe Special Responsibilities: Communion Steward - Donald Bickford, Glenessa Gordon, Frank Nelson MD Communion Prep - Alana Salter, Lorraine Burchall Communion Clean Up - Yvonne Blackwell Floral Committee - Vera Smith Music Committee - Barbara L. Hampton, Brenda Clarke, Donald Bickford Ushers - Elza Sharpe, Glenessa Gordon Education Commission MEETINGS: Second Monday of every month at 7 PM. The Education Commission is responsible for a comprehensive Christian education ministry for the Church, including educational programs for children, youth, and adult members of the Church and other interested persons, with special emphasis on the Church School and Youth and Young Adults Ministry. The Education Commission shall consist of 12 members (Commission elects Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson and 1 representative to the Church Council), elected by the Congregation to overlapping three year terms. This Commission also includes a youth member elected by the Congregation to a one year term. Each Commission may invite up to five (5) non-voting members to serve one-year terms. Members: Dr. Emily Anderson - Chair Dr. Mary Biggs - Secretary Staff: Rev. Jule Johnson Staples- Interm Minister for Education Youth Representative - Timothy Blyn-Jacobs Elected Members: Yvonne Allen Mary Biggs Sara Conly Martha Ford Monique Fortun� Stefany Blyn Jacobs Ronald Lonesome, M.D. Barbara Mellor Fredrick Newsome, M.D. Brian O'Dell Dr. Karen Taylor Commission Representatives To: Budget and Planning -- Ronald Lonesome Building Committee -- Stefany Blyn Jacobs Church Council -- Dr. Emily Anderson Institutional Relations Committee -- Mary Biggs Nominating Committee -- Yvonne Allen Stewardship Committee -- Karen Taylor Education Committees: Adult Education -- Fred Newsome, M. D. English Conversation -- Sarah Conly Library Committee -- Barbara Mellor Program Evaluation -- Brian O'Dell, Mary Biggs Scholarship Committee -- Dr. Emily Anderson, Chair Weekday School Advisory -- Dr. Emily Anderson		Mission and Social Justice Commission MEETINGS: Second Monday of every month at 7 PM. The Mission and Social Justice Commission is responsible for the benevolence, social service and social justice programs of the Church. Its programs build diversity, inclusiveness and equity through activities available to every member of the Church and the community through worship, reflection, education, service, advocacy and action. The Mission and Social Justice Commission shall consist of 12 members elected to overlapping three-year terms. (Commission elects two Co-Chairpersons and one representative to the Church Council). One Commission representative appointed to each Committee: Nominating, Budget and Planning, Stewardship and Institutional Relations. Other appointments of liaison to Sharing Fund, Social Justice and a Membership Coordinator. This Commission also includes a youth member elected by the Congregation to a one year term. Each Commission may invite up to five (5)) non-voting members to serve for one year with voice but no vote. Members: Chair: Ruby Sprott Staff Liaisons: Rev. Robert B. Coleman, CPM; Carol Nixon Elected Members: Angela Aidala James E. Allen S. Madison Bedard Alan Bentz-Letts Deborah Branch Robert Kabyla Mpoyo Susan Rogers Susan Wersan Frances Wilson Marie Wilson Commission Representatives To: Budget and Planning Committee -- Ruby Sprott Building Committee -- Church Council -- James E. Allen Institutional Relations Committee -- S. Madison Bedard Nominating Committee -- Program Evaluation -- Angela Aidala Stewardship Committee -- Others: Adult Education -- Open African Fellowship -- Open Domestic Issues - Common Table -- Open Finance -- Open Food Justice Initiative --Deborah Branch Global Justice & Peace -- HIV/AIDS -- Open Housing Justice Task Force CT -- Angela Aidala Latino(s) (s) @ Riverside -- Maranatha -- Prison Ministry -- Frances Wilson (Formerly Benevolence Fund) • Sharing Fund -- Ken Eisner • Densford Fund -- Samuel Coleman Social Services -- Open Membership & Parish Life Commission MEETINGS: Second Monday of every month at 7 PM. Membership and Parish Life Commission is responsible for caring for and discerning the needs of the Congregation through pastoral care, fellowship, health and wellness programs, membership and social services. The Membership and Parish Life Commission shall consist of 12 members elected to overlapping three- year terms. (Commission elects Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson and 1 representative to the Church Council). This Commission also includes a youth member elected by the Congregation to a one year term. Each Commission may invite up to five (5) additional non-voting members for a one-year term. Members: Kenneth Walker - Chair Celia Lloyd - Vice Chair Staff Liaison: Rev. Robert B. Coleman, Rev. Linda Tarry-Chard At-Large Members: Celia Pat Lloyd Henry Manley Monica Harris John Slorance Sylvia Williams Open--Youth Representative Commission Representatives: Budget and Planning Committee - Building Committee - Henry Manley Church Council - Kenneth Walker Institutional Relations - John Slorance Nominating Committee - Celia Lloyd Stewardship Committee - New Member Planning Committee - Celia Lloyd (Interim) Executive Committee The Executive Committee meets before the Church Council meeting to set the agenda for that meeting. The Committee may also deal with specific matters referred to it by the Church Council and, when requested by a formal vote of the Church Council, may take action on behalf of the Church Council. The Executive Committee consists of the Chair, Vice-Chair, Secretary and Treasurer of the Religious Corporation and one Program Commission representative serving on the Church Council selected annually by the four Program Commissions representatives. MEMBERS: Chair, Len Leach Secretary, Bradford W. Jones Treasurer, Clarence Anderson Program Commission Rep., Frank A. Nelson, M.D. Staff Liaison: Rev. Stephen H. Phelps, Interim Senior Minister Staff Liaison: Rev. Robert B Coleman, Chief Program Minister / Minister for Mission and Social Justice Staff Liaison: Howard L. Haughton, Chief Financial Officer