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: Jim Jones, Class of 2011
Vice Chair: Mike Bauldree, Class of 2011
Recording Secretary: Cathey Terry, Class of 2012
Membership Secretary: Amy Perry, Staff member
Lay Leader: Denise Jones, Class of 2012
Preschool Advisory Board Chair: Graem Gardner
Treasurer: Ted Prather
Two Lay Members to the Annual Conference: Sandra Wilson (Roy Holley, 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 2010: Audrey Darden, Olivia Jones, Pete Myers
Class of 2011: Pam Schrader, Beth Duncan, Hugh Kraft
Class of 2012: Mary Haskett, Jill Wiencek, Mark Faulkner
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: Margaret Pattison
Staff Representative: Denise Duncan
Treasurer: Ted Prather
Chair of the Stewardship Team: Tommy Jenkins
Lay Leader: Denise Jones
Class of 2010: Tommy Jenkins, Margaret Pattison, Derek Sox, Oscar Fletcher
Class of 2011: Scot Finch, John Haney, Jakub Kreuter
Class of 2012: Bill Sherk, Elizabeth Berry, Roy Holley
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: Scott Cabaniss
Pastors: Ben Williams and Lib Campbell
Lay Leader: Denise Jones
Class of 2010: Scott Cabaniss, Ted Pattison, Carol Jones
Class of 2011: Rosa Sherk, Sandra Wilson, Jeff Bradley
Class of 2012: Clyde Mitchell, Christie Fell, Rodney Bizzell
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: Pete Almasy
Staff Representative: Denise Duncan
Class of 2010: Jack Carpenter, Dora Beal, Pete Almasy
Class of 2011: John Schrader, Ken Long, Rich Harrison
Class of 2012: David Robbins, Gary Arnold
Trustees Subcommittee on Memorials
Pastor: Ben Williams
Finance Committee Representative:
Worship Committee Representative:
Trustees Representative: Dora Beal
At-Large Member: Roy Holley
Trustee Subcommittee – Computer Task Force: Software and Server Maintenance
Stan Stager
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 Education Team: Children’s Education 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: Marilyn Haney
Staff Representatives: Julie Poyer and Jen Bauldree
Class of 2010: Richard Weller, Tracy Zeiss, Meredith Gibson
Class of 2011: Cristal Harrison, Winnie Namatovu, Marilyn Haney
Class of 2012: Kristi Finch, Kelly Calabria
Youth Leadership / Education Team:
Staff Representative: Eric Hagman
Adult Youth Mentors: Colleen Zavatson, Julia Salas, Laura Kalbaugh, Eleanor Harrington, Peg Ramsdell, Amy Perry, Scott Cabaniss
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: Lib Campbell
Team: Fred Watkins, Dot Davis, Cathey Terry, Roy Holley, Jeff Wuchich, 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: Dot Honeycutt, Betty Lehardy, Harry McKee, Doris Stager, Tate Wall
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.
Co-Chairs: Dot Davis and Beth Duncan
Team: Shirley Hammond, Doris Stager, Jane Stewart, Dick Sawyer, Rita Selmont, Jack Carpenter, Eliza Kiser, BJ Johnson, Nora Robbins, Libby Kelly, Rodney Bizzell, Dotty Roberts, Amy Perry, Elizabeth Owens, Kathleen Pannone
Discipleship Subcommittee – Exploring the Way: New Member Class
Chair: Jeff Wuchich
Discipleship Subcommittee – Evangels Ministry: Serves communion to homebound members
Chair: Dotty 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
Class of 2010: Diane Cherry, Beth Duncan, Jack Terry
Class of 2011: Mary Fletcher, Gary Odom
Class of 2012: Wes Hare, Liza Lucas, Stuart Rapp
North Raleigh Ministry Representatives: Kay and Harold Lusk
Leadership for Race of Grace:
Leadership for WIHN: Diane Cherry
Leadership for SHN:
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 BrileyTeacher Representative: Kristine Mears
Treasurer: Ted Prather
Staff Representative/Parent: Jen Bauldree
Congregation Members: Zoey Kreuter, Kelly Calabria, Tina Weller, Christoph Gibson
Worship Committee: 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: Joyce Waters & Julia Abate
Pastors: Ben Williams and Lib Campbell
Staff Representative: Julie Gibson
Wedding Coordinator: Joyce Waters
Altar Guild Representative: Joyce Waters
Acolyte Coordinator: Liz Joyner
Funeral Coordinator: Sharron Sheets
Head Usher: Jeff Wuchich
Class of 2010: Joyce Waters,
Class of 2011: Pete Myers, Charlotte Tew, Stan Stager
Class of 2012: Julia Abate, Jeff Wuchich, Mark Haupt
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
Trustee Representative: David Robbins
Ministry Servants: the congregation
Class of 2010: Elizabeth Berry
Class of 2011: Libby Kelly, Sharon Sheets
Class of 2012: Chip Miller, Kelly Brannock, Jo Ann Cabaniss
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: Emily Almasy & Sarah Walston
Staff Representative: Amy Perry
Class of 2010: Ernie Bier, Ginny Watson,
Class of 2011: Emily Almasy, Bill Zeiss, Tim Jones
Class of 2012: Sarah Walston, Tom Campbell, Travis Goode
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.
John Dew and Clyde Mitchell
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.
(Presently inactive)
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: Joy Ayers
APPOINTED TASK FORCES (Under but not part of Church Council)
Vision Strategy Team: Giving Leadership to Five Vision Teams
Team Leader: Mike Bauldree
Pastor: Ben Williams
Jack Carpenter and Olivia Jones
Discipleship Vision Team
Team Leader:
Pastor: Lib Campbell
Dot Davis and Fred Watkins
Children/Youth Vision Team
Co-leaders: Rodney Bizzell and Liz Joyner
Staff Representatives: Jen Bauldree and Julie Poyer
Chair of Children’s Education Team: Marilyn Haney
Mission Statement/Communications Vision Team
Leaders: Emily Almasy
Staff Representatives: Denise Duncan and Amy Perry
Pastor: Ben Williams
Facility Renovation Team
Co-Leader: John Schrader & Mike Bauldree
Pastor: Ben Williams
Staff Representative: Denise Duncan
Anthony Wiencek, Bonnie Brock, Jack Carpenter, Pete Almasy, Pete Myers, Ken Long, Stan Stager, & Gary Arnold
Alternative Worship Vision Team
Staff Representative: Julie Gibson
SOOHI Stretching Out Our Hands Initiative Team: Giving Leadership to Five Serving Teams
Coordinators: Denise Jones, Jim Jones, Ben Williams
Research Team: researching the needs in our community and the resources already available
Leaders: Tommy Jenkins and Tom Campbell
Staff Representatives: Jen Bauldree and Julie Gibson
Meet the Need Discernment Team: following a protocol and process for matching folks in need with resources available
Leaders: Harold Lusk, Dot Davis, Joe Tew, Dotty Roberts, Libby Kelly, Jeff Wuchich
Staff Representative: Amy Perry
Food Team: providing small care packages for those who come to our doors (Sophie’s Breadbox)… may lead to a monthly meal experience (Soup on Sundays)
Leaders: Beth Dabagian, Wes Hare, Gary Odom, Bill Zeiss, Bonnie Brock, and Wes Munns
Staff Representative: Eric Hagman
Communications Team: getting the word out to the community and keeping our folk in the know
Leaders: Kelly Calabria
Staff Representatives: Amy Perry
North Hills Job Seekers: financial workshops for those struggling in hard economic times, workshops for job seekers, and spiritual counseling
Leaders: Traci Cook and Ginny Watson
Staff Representatives: Denise Duncan and Lib Campbell
