The governing body of Grace church is the membership assembled in a congregational meeting.  The consistory shall be the policy making and executive body of the church and shall transact the business of the church, oversee its total program and that of its various organizations.  The consistory consists of the Pastor, eight Elders and eight Deacons. Elders and Deacons shall serve for a term of four (4) years or until their successors are elected and said terms shall be staggered so that those of two (2) Elders and two (2) Deacons shall expire each year.  No Elder or Deacon having served a full term may succeed him/her self or be eligible for re-election to the Consistory until one (1) year has elapsed.

 

2008 Consistory Members

 

Pastor James Hughes

 

Elder  (year term ends)                                          Deacons  (year term ends)

 

Carolyn Shoemaker (2008)                                   Mike Cooper (2008)       

Joann Snider (2008)                                              Lois Pittman (2008)

Carolle Patrick (2009)                                            Lisa Copenhaver (2009)

Margaret Stouffer (2009) President                      Phyllis Eshleman (2009)

Janice Showalter (2010) Vice President              Linda Maun (2010)

Nellie Stahl (2010)                                                  Will Whitehead (2010)

Larry Burger (2011)                                                Erma Foley (2011)

Don Patrick (2011)                                                 Greg Garland (2011) Secretary

 

Office Manager - Lorretta (Dolly) Koons

Treasurer - Floyd Baker

Sound Technician - Tom Stine

 

 

Elders are appointed to assist and support the Minister of the Word in the general government of the Church.  They form, with the Minister, in each particular charge, a council in common for the spiritual supervision of the flock which is committed to their care.  They are to be the advisers and counselors of the Minister in the discharge of his holy office; they are to be to him as hands and eyes, acting with him and for him, and representing his presence throughout the Congregation.  It is their province to go before the flock in the way of Christian example, to watch over it in the Lord, to take an active interest in its spiritual welfare, to feel a responsibility for its condition, to be at hand in all circumstances with spiritual aid for its necessities and wants.  To them, moreover, in conjunction with the Pastor, belongs the whole discipline of the Church.

 

Deacons are appointed to assist and support the Pastor in those ministrations which pertain to the more outward needs of the general household of faith.  They are to aid in securing the funds necessary for the support of the Church in its various activities. They are to labor among the people in making known to them the needs of the Church, fostering the principle of stewardship, and thereby cultivating the spirit of liberal and cheerful giving.  In discharging these duties, however, they must not lose sight of the true spiritual character of their office, which, although it may be thus occupied with outward and temporal things, yet remains always a proper branch of the Christian ministry, requiring virtues and merits of like sort with those which are needful for the office of the ministry in its more exalted character.