Boards & Councils

Become a member of a First Community Church Board or Council. Participation typically involves one meeting a month as well as carrying out responsibilities specific to the mission of the council. 

For more information, contact Kristy Glaser Director of Membership Engagement, at 614.488.0681, ext. 161.

Adult Learning Council

The Adult Learning Council provides multifaceted learning experiences and resources for the individual spiritual journey. With the guidance of the Spiritual Life and Learning Center, the Adult Learning Council creates programs and other learning opportunities for adults to engage in lifelong religious learning and spiritual formation.

Jen Bratka, admin 

Akita Council

The Akita Council meets on the second Tuesday of each month to support the ministry of Camp Akita. The Council raises money for the Akita scholarship fund, coordinates volunteers for camp check-ins and returns, hosts events at Camp Akita, reviews applications of first-year counselors, and acts as a sounding board for the Akita staff.

Bobbi Mueller, staff 

Children and youth ministry team

The Children and Youth Ministry team works actively and creatively to provide an engaging, strong church life for young children and their families.  Through events, outreach, and education for parents, childcare for children during worship, and fellowship and support amongst Council members, we strive to surround families in a community of caring. The team consists of a group of adults who care about the emotional and spiritual health of our youth. We meet monthly to hear about what is happening in our children and youth ministries and the church and to plan events that help support the many programs within our ministry. We support each other as we help our youth move through their childhood and adolescent years.

Rev. Sarah Kientz, staff

Leigh Anne Easterling, staff 

Julie Richards, staff 

Mike and Mollie Zook, Parent's Night Out Co-Chairs

Beth Ratacjak, Family Fun Chair

Membership Council

The purpose of the Membership Council is to provide a warm welcome to visitors and new members and assimilation of new members into active life at First Community Church through small groups and lay ministry.  It is divided into three segments: Outreach, Membership, and Assimilation.  Outreach is how we publicize and tell the story of First Community Church, as well as welcome our visitors each Sunday.  Membership is the process by which we bring new people into the fellowship of First Community Church through our membership classes.  Assimilation is the role we play in the first year of membership by helping new members feel welcome and become involved in the church.

Kristy Glaser, staff 

Mission Finance TEAM

The Mission Finance Team is tasked with oversight and distribution of mission contributions to support mission activities locally, nationally, and internationally.

Amy Caskie, staff 

Older Adult Council

This council supports the mission of the Older Adult Ministry, striving to provide fellowship and hospitality to the older members of our community. Council members write personal notes to congregants in need of loving, positive thoughts and host “coffee talks” with our clergy in retirement communities where many of our older members are living. Other activities are planned and implemented by the council as needed.

Jane Torbica, staff

Congregational Care MInstry

This team of Care Ministers have been trained and commissioned to offer care to the church community. In partnership with the pastoral care office, Care Ministers are sent out on behalf of the church to make home visits, hospital visits, make phone calls, and write prayer notes to members. New Care Ministers will be recruited and trained on a yearly basis in order to specialize and expand the care ministry of the church.

Jane Torbica, staff

Spiritual Searcher Committee

The Spiritual Searcher Committee plans and administrates Spiritual Searcher events, while engaging together in the spiritual search. Committee members serve a three-year term.

Jen Bratka, admin

Worship & Arts Council

The Worship & Arts Council is focused on the congregation’s central activity of worship- and all that relates to worship- including, but not limited to the music, the visual arts, drama, ushering, bulletins, special services, sanctuary decoration and to enhance the congregation’s participation in the arts.  This includes concert series, art displays and interior design of the public areas of the church.  Meetings of the Council are held in the evenings on the second or third Monday in January, March, May, September, and November and are hosted by council members.

Andy Blosser, staff 

Stewardship Council

The Stewardship Council meets monthly to support the ministry of stewardship.  Acknowledging that everything we have is from God, we strive to encourage our members to embrace Stewardship as a Way of Life.  Through outreach and education, the stewardship council supports an environment of stewardship intentionality and accountability and a willingness to respond to the call to share their gifts within and outside our faith community.

Seth Stearns, staff

Church Leadership

Serving on one of the boards you see below requires going through a church-wide nominating process that occurs annually.

Governing Board

The Governing Board is designed to provide efficient, effective management with responsibility to the congregation to develop and establish policy decisions necessary to maintain the Church as a dynamic force in the lives of the people and the communities it serves.

Molly Hagkull, chair

Board of Deacons

The Board of Deacons is a function of the Pastoral Care department of the church. First Community believes that given the nature of these responsibilities, it is appropriate to mark the office of Deacon by commissioning. Responsibilities include baptisms (public and private), Communion, Vespers at First Community Village Health Care Center, Parish Calling and delivering roses.

Rev. Mary Kate Buchanan, staff 

Jane Torbica, staff

First Community Foundation

The First Community Foundation is a tax-exempt, non-profit organization established in 1961, for the purpose of ensuring that the important missions and ministries of First Community Church are supported and enhanced well into the future.  Trustees, appointed by the church Governing Board, with guidance from professional investment managers, strive to maximize the impact and potential of all gifts.  Trustees work to advance awareness of the Foundation’s work through events, and articles in the Acorn publication and First News.

Seth Stearns, staff

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Guild

The Women's Guild

Since 1912, women inside and outside of First Community Church have come together through membership in the Women’s Guild to develop friendships, share their faith journeys and serve the needs of the church, the community and the larger world. Guild affiliation is much more than just joining a club. Rather, because of the fellowship, tradition and purpose it offers, it becomes part of a woman’s very identity.

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Community Justice

This ministry team seeks to broaden and emphasize community justice with initial attention to working toward racial equality, ending gun violence, and creating a sustainable natural environment within the Columbus metro area.

 

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