Meet Your WGCC Transitional Oversight Team

Each T.O.T. Team Member: … volunteered to be considered for this team … was supported in their nomination by another member of the congregation … successfully completed training to prepare them for their roles … is committed to a positive transition to an Accountable Leadership model for WGCC …

What This Team Will Do … Serve as the governance board for WGCC during the transitional period … Draft the Guiding Principles, which will determine the broad limits within which our congregation will operate going into the future … Oversee the general performance of the Senior Minister … Draft and present a new constitution to the congregation for approval within the next two years (No later than May 2016) …

The Guiding Principles will include three distinct, but interconnected sets of statements … MISSION PRINCIPLES … … prescribe the essential outcomes the congregation exists to achieve. BOUNDARY PRINCIPLES … … prohibit tactics and conditions that are unacceptable en route to fulfilling the Mission Principles’ ACCOUNTABILITY PRINCIPLES … … define the process of governance agreed upon by the board and the pastor.

MISSION PRINCIPLES … prescribe the essential outcomes the congregation exists to achieve. BOUNDARY PRINCIPLES … prohibit tactics and conditions that are unacceptable en route to fulfilling the Mission Principles’ ACCOUNTABILITY PRINCIPLES … define the process of governance agreed upon by the board and the pastor. Three types of accountabilities are included here: 1.Board to Christ and the Congregation 2.Board to Itself 3.Pastor to the Board

The congregation unanimously approved 8 lay members and the senior minister to serve on the Transitional Oversight Team during the annual Congregational Meeting on May 18, 2014 MAT DEKINDER TRACY DOWNING (resigned June 20, 2014) LEA GERDES DIANE MARK (Chair) JOHN PAHL JOHN SMITH LAURA STUETZER ROBIN WOODROME JEFF MOORE (ex-officio as Senior Minister)

To introduce this team to the Congregation … They were asked to respond to three questions: “ How long have you been a Disciple and a member of WGCC?” “What are you passionate about and give energy and time to for WGCC?” “What motivates you to be part of this team?”

Mat DeKinder I am a third-generation Disciple and have worshiped at a Disciples of Christ church all my life. I officially joined WGCC in 2009 with my wife Julie and daughter Athena (our son Wayne was on the way). I am inspired and encouraged by our amazing and talented community of believers at WGCC. As a father of young children, youth programs hold a place of importance with me; but I am mainly drawn to our outreach programs as traveling to Haiti and working with food pantry delivery have deepened my faith and helped me to see the love of Christ at work in the world. This is an exciting time in the life of our congregation and the opportunity to be a part of this transition team as it looks towards the future and reaches out into the community is too great to pass up. I believe in the mission of this church and I want to be a part of this mission going forward.

Lea Gerdes I have been a Disciple since November 2001 and have worshiped at WGCC since July My main passions at WGCC include music, worship team, fundraising and volunteering for Heifer International, Webster-Rock Hill Ministries This model made me feel empowered to do great things for our congregation and our mission partners, both current and future.

Diane Mark I began attending WGCC in 1983 after moving to St. Louis from Maryland. I became a disciple when I joined WGCC in My main passion is music. In addition to singing in the Chancel Choir, I have also directed the Children's Choir. I understand that the music during worship is extremely important to everyone and that different styles of music speak to each of us differently. I am passionate about making sure that there is music at each service that inspires and equips each person in attendance. I am also passionate about service and outreach. I am an active participant in CWF, Koinonia and the representative to the board of Webster Rock Hill Ministries.

John Pahl I have been a Disciple for 12 years and have worshipped at WGCC for those same 12 years. My main passion at WGCC is our active outreach program. I volunteered for the Transitional Oversight Team to try to help.

John Smith I joined the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in 1980 while serving at Culver-Stockton College and have since actively worshipped with Disciple congregations in Missouri and Texas, and since 1992 at WGCC. While working at the National Benevolent Association, I collaborated with and participated in worship at various Disciples congregations and organizations around the country. My time and energy at WGCC is spent promoting learning, communication, and community involvement. I have served on the board and various committees, as an adult Christian Formation leader, and while offering hospitality, welcome, and connection to local and larger communities. My theology is inclusive, participatory, and progressive. The challenge of helping to create an inclusive worship and mission experience that equips us to be more engaged and active Christians excites me.

Laura Stuetzer I first came to worship at WGCC before Easter 2009 and I joined the church in June I enjoy participating in many aspects of our church life and am most active with Sunday imagery and almost anything related to our various mission work, CWF activities, greeting and welcoming others. I am passionate about intergenerational involvement in our church and believe we all learn so much from each other about God's love and life. I believe in what the Disciple church states in terms of God's love for all. I think that WGCC embodies that well with our vision statement, identity statement and most importantly the values and caring I see displayed every day throughout the church family. In the few years in which I have been involved in the church I have grown in my faith and believe I can use some of my general life experience and my work experience in leadership positions, education, organization and communication to help us flourish during our transition to the future.

Robin Woodrome I came to WGCC to direct the RevelationAires youth choir in September 1994, but found a new church home, too. My husband, Bill, and I officially placed our membership here in My daughter, Sydney, was dedicated here in the summer of I have always been especially interested and involved in the act of praising God through music, and love both the variety and the quality of music in this congregation. I also appreciate the many programs and missions found here. There is so much going on, that everyone can find (or create!) something to do that reflects their interests and convictions. In addition to directing the RevelationAires from , I have also directed the Children's Choir and, when needed, the Chancel Choir. I had the thrill of conducting at one of the Triptych services, and have assisted with several of the Children's Christmas Pageants. I currently sing in the Chancel Choir and play handbells.

Jeff Moore, Senior Minister Serves as an ex-officio ninth member of the Transitional Oversight Team. Provides the primary leadership for this transition. Works with the Transitional Oversight Team to create and refine the Guiding Principles.

Team Organization and Leadership Diane Mark will create meeting agendas and convene team meetings as needed, at least quarterly Secretarial duties for meetings will be rotated among the team members on a quarterly basis. An Executive Committee of Diane Mark, the current quarter secretary, and Jeff Moore, Senior Minister, will meet monthly to assure continuity and momentum.

Serving WGCC into our Shared Future … and we ask for your prayers and your active help as we do so.