Hurricane InformationText Box: First United Methodist Church of
Long Beach, Mississippi

LONG BEACH FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

LAY LEADERSHIP—2010

 

Administrative Board Chair:  Richard Gingles

Lay Leader:  Kevin Bishop

Lay Member to Annual Conference:  Dick Lyon

Lay Member to Annual Conference:  Tommy Carroll

Alternate Delegate to Annual Conference:  Rhett Hamiter

Recording Secretary:  Muzette Chatham

 

Council of Ministries Chair:  Tommy Moulton

Staff Parish Relations Committee Chair:  Dabbs Woodruff

Trustees Chair:  Rob Myers

Finance Committee Chair:  Rex Dean

Permanent Endowment Chair:  John Crouch

Treasurer:  Larry Davis

Financial Secretary:  Wayne Roberts

 

Older Adults (O.A.K.S.):  Penny Denmark

United Methodist Women:  Joyce St. John

United Methodist Men:  TBD

Cluster Representative:  Rhett Hamiter & Joan Holyfield

 

At-Large Members of Administrative Board:

Class of 2010:

Allen Baker

Lynn Bourdin

Betsy Bullard

Class of 2011:

Fred Renfrey

Jay Ramsey

Robert Wood

Class of 2012:

Scott Rishel

Hank Viehmann

Linda Sample

 

EX OFFICO:

Pastor:  Rev. Rod Dickson-Rishel

Pastor:  Rev. Anna Fleming

Legal Advisor:  John Crouch

 

MINISTRY COMMITTEES

 

Council on Ministries Chair:  Tommy Moulton

Evangelism Ministries:  Dale Foy

Missions Committee Chair:  Rhett Hamiter

Nurture Ministries:   Susan Taylor

Senior Ministries:  TBD

Worship Committee:  Mary Woodruff

Fellowship Ministries:  Parma Rishel

Stewardship:  Elaine Davis

Music Ministry Coordinator:  Amanda Long

Christian Education Coordinator:  Dorothy Dickson-Rishel

 

Sunday School Superintendent:  John Blake

Children’s Ministry Coordinator:  Lori Cripple

Methodist-In-Betweens (MiB’s) Coordinator:  Karen Dykes/Susan Taylor

Youth Ministry Coordinator:  Amanda Wood

MYF President:  TBD

Puppet Ministry Coordinator:  Millie Treadaway

College Ministry Coordinator/Wesley Foundation Coordinator:  Janis Slade

 

Hosting Committee:  Grace Gingles/Donna Joplin

Library:  Betty D’Aquilla

Historian:  Polly Mincher

Webservant:  Carolyn Owen

Prayer Ministry:  Allen Baker

 

Staff Parish Relations Committee: Dabbs Woodruff, Chair

Class of 2010:

Jan Hansen

Marilyn Scholz

George Taquino

Class of 2011:

Tommy Carroll

Karen Merkle

Dabbs Woodruff

Class of 2012:

Brian Chancey

Claudia Cuevas

Marcia French

 

Board of Trustees: Rob Myers, Chair

Class of 2010:

Lil Jobe

Ron Pohl

J.D. Tripp

Class of 2011:

Larry Lewis

Rob Myers

Sarah Schroeder

Class of 2012:

Bob Rhoades

Amanda Wood

Andy Long

 

Finance Committee: Rex Dean, Chair

Class of 2010:

Rex Dean

David Dykes

Buddy Ray

Class of 2011:

Lena Beth Chancey

Robert Simpson

Jane Waugh

Class of 2012:

Carolyn Rhoades

Adam Wood

Jeff Bassett

 

Permanent Endowment Committee: John Crouch, Chair

Class of 2010:

Iantha Hines

Laura Pybass

 

Class of 2011:

Barbara Barlow

John Crouch

 

Class of 2012:

Sam McCauley

Lewis Alexander

 

 

Lay Leadership Nominations Committee: Pastor, Chair

Class of 2010:

Sherri Anderson

Tommy Moulton

Mary Woodruff

Class of 2011:

Beth Lewis

Gladys McCardle

Ruth Swofford

Class of 2012:

Beth Dean

Amy Haulsee

Jim Merkle

 

Complete List of Administrative Board Members:

Rod Dickson-Rishel

Anna Fleming

Richard Gingles

Wayne Roberts

Kevin Bishop

Tommy Carroll

Dick Lyon

Muzette Chatham

Rob Myers

Rex Dean

Larry Davis

Dabbs Woodruff

 

Tommy Moulton

Penny Denmark

UMM—TBD

Joyce St. John

Rhett Hamiter

Joan Holyfield

John Crouch

Allen Baker

Lynn Bourdin

Betsy Bullard

Fred Renfrey

Jay Ramsay

Robert Wood

Scott Rishel

Hank Viehmann

Linda Sample

Dale Foy

Susan Taylor

Mary Woodruff

Parma Rishel

Elaine Davis

Dorothy Dickson-Rishel

John Blake

Lori Cripple

 

Karen Dykes

Amanda Wood

Millie Treadaway

Janis Slade

Grace Gingles

Donna Joplin

Betty D’Aquilla

Polly Mincher

Carolyn Owen

MYF President—TBD

Senior Ministries—TBD

Amanda Long

 

COMMITTEE DESCRIPTIONS

Board of Trustees:   This committee is responsible for the care and maintenance of all church buildings, grounds, parsonages, as well as the real and personal property of the church.  This committee may schedule church-wide work days during the year.

 

Finance Committee:   This committee proposes the budget and advises its members about spending throughout the year.  It also works with the Stewardship chairman and pastor to plan and execute an annual pledge campaign.

 

Lay Leadership/Nominations Committee:  This committee is given the responsibility for securing the best candidates for the elected leadership of the church.  Those elected to serve on this committee can only be nominated from the floor at our annual Charge Conference.

 

Permanent Endowment Committee:   This committee is given the responsibility to receive, administer, and invest large gifts, bequests, and endowment funds for the church.  Members of the committee are financial trustees and are governed by the guidelines adopted by the Charge Conference and the Book of Discipline.

 

Staff-Parish Relations Committee:   This committee is the personnel work area of the church.  The members of this committee evaluate and advise the pastors and all other staff and take under advisement input from the entire congregation.  When a pastor and his or her family leave and a new one arrives, this committee makes everything run smoothly.

 

Children’s Ministry:   There is a strong emphasis on Children’s Ministry in our church.   The Coordinator offers leadership in selecting the curriculum for the children’s Sunday School, organizing events for the children throughout the year and teaching the children how to serve God through missions.

 

Church Historian: The church historian maintains the historical record of the church and represents the church to the Historical Society.

 

Cluster Representatives:   The Gulfport/Long Beach Cluster is a consortium of representatives of United Methodist churches that meet every other month at alternating churches.  It offers an opportunity to share strengths and lend support to various events and programs.  Some proposed activities are a Fifth Sunday February Lenten Service, a Cluster talent show, and a Mission Fair.  The Cluster also supports the Jefferson Davis Wesley Foundation. 

 

College Ministry/Wesley Foundation:   We encourage our graduating High School Seniors to become involved in the Wesley Foundation when they attend collegeOur church supports the Methodist ministry at the local campuses such as the one at the Jefferson Davis campus of Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College in Gulfport and the USM Gulf Coast campus in Long Beach.

 

Council on Ministries:  This is a body of all the committee leaders of the various ministries of the church.

 

Evangelism Ministries:   Goals for this ministry include: Emphasis on pew pad member and guest registration, direct contact of first time visitors, design and provide brochures which can be used to invite others to our church, design and provide brochures about church activities to motels, help set realistic goals for church growth and projections, support Cursillo for adults and The Happening for youth, develop special ministry ideas for coastal events, support Boy and Girl Scout programs, plan for Evangelism and Outreach Sunday.

 

Fellowship Ministries:   Our desire is to provide opportunities for the people of our church to gather for various activities and enjoy Christian Fellowship.   Fellowship Suppers are held on the first Sunday evening of each month. 

 

Hosting Committee:   This committee assists the church when a meal or refreshments are needed.  It manages kitchen activities, including meal preparations and set-up for covered dish suppers.   It organizes church-wide affairs, such as receptions.  It also takes care of the general upkeep of the kitchen and supplies.  Events managed include Fellowship Suppers, Souper Bowl Sunday, Breakfast after the Easter Sunrise Service, Baccalaureate Sunday Dinner to honor High School Seniors and their families,  and an Ice Cream Social.

 

Legal Advisor:   Provides legal advice to the Lay Leadership.

 

Library Committee:   The church library is located in the conference room across from the church office.  It is open when the church is open to check out books from a large selection of Christian novels and religious publications. 

 

Methodist In-Betweens (MIBs):   These are the 5th and 6th graders in the body of the church.  These pre-confirmation in-between children and youth are very active.  The MiB Coordinator helps to plan outings and missions for this very inquisitive, eager and service ready group.

 

Missions Committee:   We strive to be a mission-minded church and reach out to help those in need, not only in our community, but all over the globe.  In order to do this we have several fund-raisers during the year.  We support these missions financially and with our time and talent.

 

Mountain T.O.P. Youth Ministry:   The Tennessee Outreach Project is a mission to the Cumberland Mountains where youth who are entering 9th grade or are 14 years old spend a week doing hands on projects that will fill their hearts with the spirit of the Lord.  Our youth come back with the joy that can only come from helping others.  The church pays half the cost for church members and regular MYF participants to attend. 

 

Nursery Committee:   The nursery is located in the Christian Life Center.  We strive to provide a safe environment for children under 5 years of age while their parents attend worship services, Sunday School, fellowship supper, bible studies, UMW meetings, choir practice, and other church-wide functions.  The Cry Room is located just off the sanctuary if you prefer to stay with your child there.

 

Nurture Ministries:   The Nurture Ministry strives to keep in contact with all of our members and encourages them to become involved in the many opportunities that are available.  This is done by visiting new members, keeping a weekly attendance using pew pads, sending postcards to members who are absent for several weeks, helping keep an up-to-date directory and pictorial directory once every three years, keeping in contact with our college students, sending birthday cards to members who are 80 and older and sympathy cards to our bereaved church members, sending care packages to our church's deployed military, serving communion to shut-ins, recording worship services and sending the CD to shut-ins, coordinating visitations with the church care team. The Nurture Ministry also supports Bible studies, intercessory prayer meetings, and the Circle of Eight dinner and lunch groups.

 

Older Adult Kindred Spirits (OAKS):   This is an organization that is open to anyone 55 years or older though youngsters are welcome at any time.  These fun and informative meetings are held monthly on the fourth Wednesday at 11:45am.  A potluck luncheon is followed by a program of music, important information, or a topic of interest.

 

Prayer Ministry:   The Prayer Ministry offers leadership in Intercessory Prayer and for Prayer Meetings.

 

Puppet Ministry:   The puppet ministry is comprised of middle and high school youth and is open to anyone who is interested in being a puppeteer, building props, sharing experiences, and worshipping God in this meaningful way.  Performances include Fellowship Suppers, Children’s Ministry activities, Children’s Sermon time, and special functions for other churches and groups.

 

Stewardship Committee:   This committee plans and executes an annual campaign to advise the congregation of our budget plans and the need for pledges to make a commitment of your giving for the coming year.

 

Sunday School Superintendent:   Collects offerings and attendance from Sunday School classes.

 

United Methodist Men:  The United Methodist Men is a creative, supportive fellowship of men who seek to know Jesus Christ, to grow spiritually , and to seek His will.  Its primary purpose is to declare the centrality of Christ in the lives of men and in all their relationships.  Some of their activities include: Meeting monthly for breakfast and a devotional, going on fun excursions for fellowship, participating in Habitat for Humanity projects, encouraging participation in Mountain Top (A.I.M), supporting UMW with setup and cleanup for the spring and fall rummage sales, encouraging participation in Promise Keepers, and preparing and serving Seashore Mission meals as needed.

 

United Methodist Women:   The United Methodist Women of our church are a part of over one million women across the nation whose purpose is to know God and to experience freedom as a whole person through Jesus Christ, to develop a creative, supportive fellowship, and to expand concepts of mission through participation in the global ministries of the church.  The UMW participate in an in-depth mission study and follow-up project each year.   Monthly meetings are held in circles (small sub-groups).  General meetings are held four times during the year.   Circles keep in touch with shut-ins and STARS (retired).  Two rummage bake sales are held each year, proceeds of which are donated to a designated mission.

 

Webservant: Maintains the church web site.

 

Worship Committee:   The Worship Committee works with the pastors to plan and prepare worship services for the year.  Volunteers needed during morning worship services include Greeters (to welcome you as you enter the sanctuary and answer questions of visitors), Ushers (to give you a bulletin, show you to a seat, light the acolyte lighter, take count of church attendance, and receive morning offering),  Communion Stewards (to prepare sacraments for our Lord’s Supper), and Acolytes, children 3rd grade and older, (to light candles and give/receive the offering plates).

 

Youth Ministry:  Our youth program is for those in Middle School and High School and friends.  Youth Ministry includes Sunday School, UMYF (United Methodist Youth Fellowship), Senior High Prayer Breakfast, youth retreats, M.O.S.A.I.C. (youth mission camp hosted at our church), and many other events as scheduled.