St. Mark’s Church Council provides for planning and implementing a program of nurture, outreach, witness, and resources in the local church. It also provides for the administration of its organization and temporal life. It envisions, plans, implements, and annually evaluates the mission and ministry of the church.
Chair: Scott Cabaniss, Class of 2014
Vice Chair: Tommy Jenkins, Class of 2014
Recording Secretary: Mike Bauldree, Class of 2012
Membership Secretary: Kathleen Pannone
Lay Leader: Denise Jones, Class of 2012
Preschool Advisory Board Chair: Graem Gardner, Class of 2012
Treasurer: Elizabeth Berry
Two Lay Members to the Annual Conference: Sandra Wilson (Paul Chitnis, alternate) and Suvas Chitnis (Ed Wilson, alternate)
Administrative Committees
We have four administrative committees: the Committee on Lay Leadership, Finance Committee, Staff Parish Relations Committee, and the Board of Trustees.
Committee on Lay Leadership (Nominations): This committee identifies, develops, deploys, evaluates, and monitors Christian spiritual leadership for the local congregation. Members of the committee engage in and are attentive to developing and enhancing their own Christian spiritual life.
Chair: Ben Williams, Pastor
Lay Leader: Denise Jones, Class of 2012
Class of 2012: Mary Haskett, Jill Wiencek, Mark Faulkner
Class of 2013: Dot Davis, Eleanor Harrington, Jack Carpenter
Class of 2014: Dora Beal, Ted Prather, Travis Goode
Finance Committee (Committee on Finance) All financial askings to be included in the annual budget of the local church are to be submitted to the committee on finance. The committee on finance compiles annually a complete budget for the local church and submits it to the church council for review and adoption. The Committee on Finance is charged with responsibility for developing and implementing plans that will raise sufficient income to meet the budget adopted by the church council; however, our church budget is based on pledges of the congregation. It administers the funds received according to instructions from the church council.
Chair: Oscar Fletcher, Class of 2013
Staff Representative: Denise Duncan
Treasurer: Elizabeth Berry
Chair of the Stewardship Team: John Haney
Lay Leader: Denise Jones, Class of 2012
Class of 2012: Bill Sherk, Scott Cabaniss, Roy Holley
Class of 2013: Mitch Poteat, Oscar Fletcher, Matt Cunningham
Class of 2014: Norris Edge, Anne Hare, Tim Jones
Staff Parish Relations Committee (Committee on Pastor-Parish Relations): In conducting its work, this committee shall identify and clarify its values for ministry. It shall engage in biblical and theological reflections on the mission of the church, the primary task, and ministries of the local church. The committee shall reflect biblically and theologically on the role and work of the pastors and staff as they carry out their leadership responsibilities. The committee shall assist the pastors and staff in assessing their gifts and setting priorities for leadership and service. It is the responsibility of the committee to communicate with the committee on lay leadership and/or the church council when there is a need for other leaders or for employed staff to perform in areas where utilization of the gifts of the pastors and staff proves an inappropriate stewardship of time.
Chair: Rodney Bizzell, Class of 2012
Pastors: Ben Williams and Tawny Bernhardt
Lay Leader: Denise Jones, Class of 2012
Class of 2012: Clyde Mitchell, Christie Fell, Rodney Bizzell
Class of 2013: Don Baumeister, Karen Miller, Sheryl Roberts
Class of 2014: Lori Robbins, Olivia Jones, James Kiwanka
Board of Trustees: Subject to the direction of the charge conference, the Board of Trustees shall have the supervision, oversight, and care of all real property owned by the local church or by any society, board, class, commission, or similar organization connected therewith. The board will review annually the adequacy of the property, liability, and crime insurance coverage on church owned property, buildings, and equipment. The board will also review annually the adequacy of personnel insurance. The board shall include in its report to the charge conference the results of its review and any recommendations it deems necessary.
Chair: Julia Salas, Class of 2013
Staff Representative: Denise Duncan
Class of 2012: David Robbins, Gary Arnold, Harold Lusk
Class of 2013: Peg Ramsdell, Andrew Plunkett, Julia Salas
Class of 2014: Eric Wilkinson, Claudius Wilson, Pete Myers
Trustees Subcommittee on Memorials
Pastor: Ben Williams
Finance Committee Representative:
Worship Committee Representative:
Trustees Representative: Peg Ramsdell
At-Large Member:
Trustee Subcommittee – Computer Task Force: Software and Server Maintenance
Stan Stager
Trustee Subcommittee – Decorative Arts Team
Chair: Anna Williams
Trustees Rep: Pete Myers
Jo Ann Cabaniss, Lib Campbell, Patty Mercer, Joyce Waters
Mission and Ministry Teams
“Christian discipleship is patterned after the servanthood of Jesus, who cared for the sick, fed the hungry, and befriended the outcast.”
Children’s Ministry Team: Children’s Ministry Team is responsible for planning, visioning, and advocating for children within the congregation, the community, and the world. The council will set policies and procedures related to children, oversee the planning of short-term experiences, consider children’s ministry needs within the whole of the congregation’s ministries, and communicate with parents and the congregation. The children’s team will work closely with the coordinator of children’s ministries and church staff responsible for ministry with children, including children’s choirs and weekday ministries. The children’s team is accountable to the group responsible for the local church’s educational ministry.
Chair: Kelly Calabria, Class of 2014
Staff Representatives: Julie Poyer and Jen Bauldree
Grow Zone Coordinators: Megan and Graem Gardner
Fall Festival Chairs: Tracy Zeiss and Cassidy Plunkett
Class of 2012: Kristi Finch, Kelly Calabria, Jamye Donovan
Class of 2013: Cassidy Plunkett, Becky Cunningham, Kate Parke
Class of 2014: Kelly Calabria, Tracy Zeiss, Charlotte Tes, Jill Wiencek
Youth Leadership / Education Team:
Staff Representative: Eric Hagman
Adult Youth Mentors: Colleen Zavatson, Julia Salas, Laura Kalbaugh, Peg Ramsdell, Amy Perry, Scott Cabaniss, Cristal Harrison, Shannon Medina, John Haney
Discipleship Team: Coordinates spiritual growth and formation through small group ministries. Evangelism and new member hosts are now serving as members of the discipleship team.
Chair: Joe Tew
Staff Representative: Tawny Bernhardt
Team: Fred Watkins, Dot Davis, Cathey Terry, Roy Holley, Cindy Dameron, Dotty Roberts, Libby Kelly
Discipleship Subcommittee – Congregational Care Team:Identifies members of the congregation who are ill or shut-in. This information is passed on to staff or other church members as appropriate, and the ill or shut-in people are visited or sent cards.
Chair: Roy Holley
Team: Frances Peacock, Betty Lehardy, Tate Wall, Barbara McCoy
Discipleship Subcommittee – Stephen Ministers: A program of our congregation that equips lay persons to provide distinctively Christian one-on-one care to those who are experiencing all kinds of life needs and experiences, both in our congregations and local community.
Chair: Beth Duncan
Team: Shirley Hammond, Jane Stewart, Jack Carpenter, BJ Johnson, Wayne Brown, Nora Robbins, Libby Kelly, Rodney Bizzell, Dotty Roberts, Kathleen Pannone, Amy Perry, Elizabeth Owens
Discipleship Subcommittee – Evangels Ministry: Serves communion to homebound members
Chair: Dotty Roberts
Team: Dot Davis, Laura Lee Black, Beth Duncan, Betty LeHardy, Libby Kelly, Mary Richardson, Dora Beal, Tate Wall, Shirley Hammond, Eleanor Carpenter, Sandra Wilson
Discipleship Subcommittee – Sunday School Superintendent
Chair: Sheryl Roberts
Discipleship Subcommittee – St. Mark’s Care Connection: Hands-on ministry meeting congregational needs.
Co-Chairs: Libby Kelly and Stephanie Haglund
Missions Team: Works with the NCCUMC in assimilating St. Mark’s into this area of exchanged relational missions. Also works with outreach ministries to the local community.
Chair: Wes Hare
Staff Representative: Ben Williams
North Raleigh Ministry Representative: Wes Hare & Denise Jones
Leadership for Race of Grace: Emily Almasy
Leadership for WIHN: Cristal Harrison
Leadership for SHN: Wes Hare
Leadership for Shoebox Ministry: Mary Fletcher
Class of 2012: Wes Hare, Stuart Rapp, Ian Jenrette
Class of 2013: Wes Munns, Amber Myers, Danielle Galloway, Delaney Dabagian
Class of 2014: Rachel Zelibor, Sally Kohls, Jim Jones
Preschool Advisory Board: Counsels and supports the preschool director and sets policies and procedures under which the director operates the preschool. The chair of the Preschool Advisory Board and the Director’s SPRC liaison conduct an annual performance review of the Preschool Director.
Chair: Graem Gardner
Preschool Director: Wendy Briley
Teacher Representative: Angie Blake
Treasurer: Elizabeth Berry
Staff Representative/Parent: Jen Bauldree
Congregation Members: Joe Parke, Jill Wiencek, Greg Stanley, Kelly Calabria
Worship Team: Coordinates preparations for Sunday worship services; supports the Lay Leader in the development of Laity Sundays; resolves issues and questions about various special worship services; resolves issues concerning church decorations.
Co-Chairs: Domini Boling, Class of 2014
Pastors: Ben Williams and Tawny Bernhardt
Staff Representative: Julie Gibson
Greeters/Fling Team: Dora Beal
Ushers: Tim Duncan
Communion Assistant Coordinator: Sandra Wilson
Music: John Boling
Decorative Arts: Anna Williams
Media: Bill Zeiss
Wedding Coordinator: Joyce Waters
Altar Guild Representative: Joyce Waters
Acolyte Coordinator: Liz Joyner Wallace
Funeral Coordinator: Sharron Sheets
Hospitality Team: Plans church-wide fellowship events, such as church picnics and ice-cream socials. Also coordinates church league sports, including volleyball, basketball, and softball.
Coordinator: Jo Ann Cabaniss, Class of 2012
Trustee Representative:
Ministry Servants: the congregation
Class of 2012: Chip Miller, Jo Ann Cabaniss, Marge Bye
Class of 2013: Sandy O’Quinn, Tina Whitmore
Class of 2014: Jenni Wilkinson, Karen Prather, Christi Fell, Anthony Wiencek, Charlotte Tew
At Large: Anna Williams, Sharon Williams, Diane Cherry
Communications Team: Assists the staff responsible for communications with both internal (e.g., the newsletter) and external communications (press releases, TV ads) the purpose of which is to promote St. Mark’s to the Raleigh community.
Co-Chairs: Sarah Walston, class of 2012 and Bernie Pannone, class of 2013
Staff Representative: Marilyn Haney
Class of 2012: Sarah Walston, Louise O’Quinn, Bill Zeiss
Class of 2013: Don Roberts, Bernie Pannone, Ellen Mathis
Class of 2014: Brandon Mathis, Nathan Pickett, Melissa Drenzek
Church History Team: Documents in text and pictures notable events in the life of St. Mark’s. Such events include major staff changes, dedications of new facilities, etc.
Chair: Clyde Mitchell, John Dew
United Methodist Men: The UMM exists to declare the centrality of Christ in every man’s life. It is a men’s ministry that deepens the Christian spiritual growth of men towards effective discipleship. This purpose is lived out as men model the servant leadership of Jesus Christ.
Golden Boys - A group of men, retired or not, who meet for breakfast once a month, work on mission projects, and create a supportive fellowhip for one another and the church.
Chair of “Golden Boys”: Sandy O’Quinn
United Methodist Women: The UMW is a community of women whose purpose is to know God and to experience freedom as whole persons through Jesus Christ; to develop a creative supportive fellowship; and to expand concepts of missions through participation in the global ministries of the church.
President: Karen Prather
