Committees, Teams, Tables, and Organizations

How many groups can we subdivide into?

Committees

Some committees are standing and other are special.

Standing: Permanent, always existing
Special: Formed when the need arises

Note: Sometimes special committees are called "task forces".

Example: The Call Committee is a special committee. So is a capital campaign committee.

Ministry Teams

In "Governance and Ministry: Rethinking Board Leadership" by Dan Hotchkiss, Rev. Hotchkiss recommends the distinct categories of committees and ministry teams, both serving unique and valuable purposes.

Committees	Ministry Teams
Has specific responsibilities delegated from the congregation or the Congregation Council	Free to do ministry as it sees fit
Formal, has meetings, creates reports, votes	Informal, gathers when needed, does physical work, no need for voting
Composed of elected or appointed positions, has a chair	Composed of volunteers, usually has a leader
Responsible to the congregation or the Congregation Council	Responsible to a pastor, deacon, or another employee, or possibly the Congregation Council
Intentionally representative of the congregation	Unrepresentative; composed of those interested in the particular ministry

Note: A great way to determine if the group should be a committee is to look at the powers of the congregation in chapter 5 and the powers of Congregation Council in Chapter 12. Committees are delegated powers from these two groups, and report back to them.

Example: Finance or property committees serve the Congregation Council, whereas an altar guild is a ministry team. Stewardship could go either way, depending on its purpose.

Note: All committees belong in Chapter 13. If the above distinction is used, it would be worthwhile to include provisions about ministry teams as well, possibly under their own section heading, but that is up to the congregation.

Tables

"Tables" is a new term in some areas of the ELCA. These seem to be groups focused on topical conversations. Tables are likely limited to a few permanent members who, over time, invite into the conversation various others, members and potentially nonmembers connected to the ministry.

The goals of tables appear not to be doing any physical ministry, but rather discernment concerning a topic of interest, such as visioning, or the sharing of specific information, such as a stewardship campaign.

Organizations

Committees & Ministry Teams	Organizations
Generally open to anyone in the congregation	Potentially limited to certain people or special interests, or open to people beyond the congregation e.g. Primetimers, Stitches of Love
Fully governed by the congregation	May fall under separate governing documents e.g. WELCA, Men in Mission
Fully governed by the congregation	May have its own incorporation status, with its own governing documents and board e.g. Separately Incorporated Organizations
Finances usually part of the budget in the general fund	May have own fund or manage finances separately from the congregation's accounts e.g. Youth Group, Food Bank
Fits completely within the state laws governing congregations	May fall under other legal codes e.g. Cemeteries, Preschools
Generally composed of congregation members	May have its own employees e.g. Bookstore, Homeless Shelter

Note: Organizations that merely use the congregation's facilities but are not part of the congregation, such as 4H, Scouts, or AA, do not need to be listed in the constitution.

Organizations of the congregation belong in Chapter 14.

Organizations within the Congregation	Organizations renting the Congregation
Are sponsored by or organized by the congregation	Have a signed facility usage agreement

Be clear on this distinction: Organizations that have signed a facility use agreement are renting the space. If a congregation sponsors a scouts troop, that is different; because the congregation now as legal liability for the actions of the scouts, that is now an organization within the congregation.

Example Committees and Ministry Teams

Every congregation is different. Smaller congregations are likely to have a only a few committees and ministry teams, while larger congregations are likely to have a many. Below is a short list of potential options.

Committees

Capital Campaign
Executive
Endowment
Finance
Fundraising
Governance
Personnel
Planned and Special Giving (Memorials and Honorariums)
Property
Worship
Visioning and Long Range Planning

Note: As this site makes clear, there is a whole lot more to governance than most congregations realize or appreciate. It may be worthwhile to have a standing governance committee. This committee would help create and manage policies as well.

Ministry Teams

For small congregations:

Note: These might also work well as oversight committees for larger congregations.

Membership or Faith Formation (all activities that build up the body of Christ or form faith: worship, education, stewardship, fellowship, etc.)
Discipleship or Faith Activation (all activities that share Christ with others, that share faith: outreach, service, evangelism, missions, etc.)

Up-Reach (all activities focused on learning about and worshipping God)
In-Reach (all activities focused on building up the body of Christ)
Out-Reach (all activities focused on reaching and forming new disciples)

For larger congregations (each category could be broken down into more specific teams):

Altar Guild
Faith Formation
Children, Youth, and Families
Fellowship
Hospitality
Stewardship
Outreach
Service
Liturgy
Media
Evangelism
Maintenance
Gardening
Visitor Follow-up
Correspondence
Worship Assistants or Ushers
Lay Eucharistic Visitors
Discipleship
Special Events
Wedding & Funerals
etc.
etc.
etc.

Note: Remember that not all groups belong in this chapter. If the group is an organization of the congregation, it belongs in Chapter 14.

Additional Resources

This site proposes some alternatives to committees.
The Alban Institute describes the purpose of the Personnel Committee
The Alban Institute describes the purpose of the Executive Committee