Chair: Ted Flory 2-07
Vice-Chairs: Jan Matteson 1-09

Communion Committee

Jim & Sylvia Bowman 2-08
Ted Flory 2-07
John Harsh 2-08
Murray & Charlotte Harvey 2-08
Corey & Stephanie Hutchinson 1-08
Jim & Lucretia Lane 1-09
David & Lori Lineweaver 2-08, chairs
Bea Miller 1-07
Ralph & Catherine Shively 1-08
Dick Stutzman 1-07, co-chair

Membership Cultivation

Jim & Joyce Benedict 1-09
George Mason 2-07, chr
Jan Matteson 1-09
Bob McFadden 2-09
Jeanne Neff 2-08, co-chr
Gerri Rigney 1-08
LeVerle Sappington 1-07, chr
Dale & Claire Ulrich 1-07

New Member Orientation

Quintin & Donna Garber 1-07
Leroy & Doris Harsh 2-07
Jesse & Alice Lee Hopkins 1-08
Steve & Peggy McIntyre 2-09, co-chr
Bill & Andrea Miracle 1-09
Ellsworth Neff 2-08
Dean Neher 1-07, chr
Curtis & Andrea Nolley 1-08, co-ch

Welfare Service

Wayne & Mary Ann Angleberger 1-07, van ministry
David Brightbill 1-09
Jim & Teresa Crawford 1-07, financial assistance
Philip & Sue Hutchinson 2-09, chr, parking assistance
Phyllis Miller 1-09
John & Ann Monger 1-07
Sarah Rees 1-08
Fred & Doris Showalter 1-09
Martin & Mary Lee Spangler 1-09
Kathy Williar 1-09
Fred & Kathy Zimmerman 1-08, co-chr

I. MEMBERSHIP CULTIVATION

Members of this committee will assume responsibility for cultivating the membership of the congregation by:

A. Outlining the congregation into geographical units and arranging for a deacon team to be assigned to each unit on an annual basis.

B. Outlining responsibilities of deacon teams assigned to geographical units and reviewing those responsibilities annually.

C. Maintaining the Friendship Pads for worship.

D. Maintaining a record of attendance for the membership using the Friendship Pads.

E. Organizing the Committee members, other Deacons, and other church members into teams to contact/visit new residents, worship visitors, and prospective members.

F. Planning an annual training event for visitation teams, in cooperation with the Deacons' New Member Orientation Committee and with Witness Renewal Commission.

G. Reviewing annually the active-separated status of church membership.

H. Identifying concerns of members and coordinating a reconciling influence as needed.

II. WELFARE AND SERVICE

This committee will organize to respond to needs through the following subcommittees:

A. Transportation Committee:  Assist handicapped and older members including those from Bridgewater Home, to attend worship, Sunday School, and other church events.

B. Welfare Committee:  Aid those in need, in cooperation with the Food Pantry and other organizations.
 

1. Take major responsibility for the Deacons’ Fund, responding to requests for social assistance that are channeled through the church office by bona fide agencies as well as those that arise on an emergency basis.

2. Check the validity of all requests for assistance, including emergency ones, by contacting area pastors, school officials, Food Pantry personnel, and other groups to certify where help is genuinely needed.

C. Service Committee:  Organize Deacons and other groups of the church membership to provide service as needed to meet local needs for labor, etc.; and in cooperation with the Disaster network, to alert the membership to opportunities of service beyond Bridgewater.
 

1. Assist members of the congregation and others, especially those of the Bridgewater Home, who have need for services not readily available to them.

2. Check with our Pastors, Volunteer Visitors, and Deacons’ Membership Cultivation Committee to learn what are the needs of our members and to respond in an appropriate manner.

3. Share information and coordinate the efforts of this committee with those of Mission & Service Commission, Circles, Sunday School classes, and Youth organizations of our congregation to ensure that basic needs are being met and to eliminate duplication of response effort.

4. Enlist the assistance of church agencies listed in #3 to ensure that a larger resource than Deacons are ready and willing to respond to situations of need that arise.

III. NEW MEMBERS ORIENTATION

This committee handles the physical arrangements for baptism; provides instruction to baptismal candidates regarding the process of baptism; and works to assimilate new members into the congregation.  Specific tasks include:

A. Make physical arrangements for baptism, in cooperation with the church custodian (fill baptistery; store & maintain baptismal robes and other equipment).

B. Assist the Pastor, as requested, with membership classes for those to be baptized and for those transferring membership letters.

C. Assist the Pastor in presenting new members by letter and by baptism to the congregation in worship.

D. Arrange for the annual welcoming event for new members, utilizing the assistance of the Fellowship & Recreation Commission as needed.

E. Schedule sponsors for new members in cooperation with deacons serving in membership cultivation.  Outline responsibilities for sponsors and review them annually.

F. Arrange for a continuing picture gallery of new members to facilitate them becoming known by members of the congregation.
 
 

IV. COMMUNION

This committee fulfills the following responsibilities:

A. Organize the Deacon Board to make the physical arrangements for The Lord’s Supper as Love Feast & Communion and as Eucharist Communion.

B. Purchase and maintain supplies for The Lord's Supper.

C. Plan for significant inclusion of newly baptized members and new members by letter in the observances of Love Feast & Communion and Eucharist Communion.