Ministry Team

 

Reaching Out and Community Connections Ministry Team 

Position Description

  • Responsible for community service, mission outreach through financial and volunteer participation in work  beyond the congregation. The Reaching Out and Community Connections Ministry Team shall promote the Mission and Service Fund of the United Church of Canada, local initiatives, and be responsible for communication from and to the wider community to promote partnerships and networks of complementary missions. 

Members of the Reaching Out and Community Connections Ministry Team

  • A Chairperson, and one to three coordinators for specific task groups. ( the Minister is a corresponding member of the Reaching Out and Community Connections Ministry Team. )

Duties

  • To create a vision and a plan to accomplish the purpose of the Reaching Out and Community Connections Ministry Team, seek Council approval for the plan, and implement the plan by allocating specific tasks to individuals or task groups; manage the Reaching Out and Community Connections Ministry Team’s approved budget and propose a budget for the next church year; provide support for the task groups; and co-ordinate the volunteer and paid staff of this area of ministry.

Specific tasks

  • To educate the congregation about the work of the Mission & Service Fund; to educate the congregation about local & global needs (such as Minutes for Mission, bulletin board displays, Speakers); to educate the congregation about local & global needs (such as Minutes for Mission, bulletin board displays, Speakers); to organize opportunities for the congregation to do "hands on" outreach (such as volunteering at the food bank, sandwich making ); to make the congregation aware of local church needs (such as Campus Ministry, Camp Kasota, ministry students); to develop appropriate strategies to raise funds and promote programs that will address social concerns (such as Neighbourlink baby shower, Acadia Place, garage sale); to provide the congregation with regular feedback and information (keep people aware of what their gifts are accomplishing); to set guidelines as to the number and type of appeals entertained at any given time; to allocate congregational donations following guidelines established by Council and the Reaching Out and Community Connections Ministry Team; to consult with the Treasurer about funds available for allocation; to communicate LUC ministries to the wider community in collaboration with the Communications Coordinator and following LUC communications procedures for posting to the website, social media, print media, and signage.

Current Members of the Reaching Out and Community Connections Ministry Team:  Chair             Interim - Janet Layton

Local Initiatives          VACANT

Ministry & Service      Raj Retnanandan

Members at Large Cecilia Pavao, Craig Cheffins, Jocelyn Barton, Janet Layton

Social Media Coordinator Kelly Wilderman

Marquee Sign Coordinator(s) Paige Martin

 

It has been established that The Reaching Out and Community Connections Ministry at Lakeview United Church will support organizations which:

1. Provide a basic need in our city or community such as food, shelter and/or safety

2. Will be empowered by the funds and the funds will “make a difference” or “help give a start” 3. Do not receive significant mainstream funding.

4. Which provide regular feedback and information.

5. Are in agreement with our Christian ethics.

Using the criteria outlined, the Reaching Out and Community Connections Ministry Team has chosen to lend financial, and other, support to the following agencies in 2023 - 2024: Housing – the Calgary Homeless Foundation, Women’s Emergency Shelter, Drop In Centre, and Habitat for Humanity

Education – the Mustard Seed’s retraining program

Food – Inn From the Cold, Calgary Interfaith Food Bank, Brown Bagging for Kids

Ministry –  Foster Parents Plan, Camp Kasota, Camp Firefly, U of C Campus Ministry

World Emergencies and Disasters –Stephen Lewis Foundation, and others

Miscellaneous Local Initiatives – Glamorgan Nursing Home, Children’s Cottage, Royal Canadian Legion Poppy Fund, Bishop Pinkham Junior High School-Christmas Hampers