Council Circle

Back row:
Karen McClelland (M&P), Fliss Klassen, George Davis, Iris Davies, Ona McDonald
Front row:  Shane Rollans, Bruce Comrie, Marg Waldon, Sue Sewell, Ron McColl (MMT)
Missing:  Rev. Teri Meyer, Sharon Rhodes

The Role of Council Circle:  Council Circle is responsive and accountable to the Congregation.  Members listen carefully to the congregation, and act on their behalf.  They are stewards of KUC’s Mission, Vision and Values.  They create policy that embodies these values, and provide guidance to achieve them.  Council Circle’s focus is on strategic leadership rather than administrative detail. Council has developed a Revised Ministry Plan for our Congregation.  Council Circle meetings are normally held on the 4^th Wednesday of the month, at 4:30 p.m.   There is no meeting in July.

Kamloops United Church uses the “Policy Governance” model as its organizational structure. Our Council Circle is comprised of Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson, Secretary and five Members-at-Large.  The Ministry and Personnel Committee Representative and our two Ministers.  The Treasurer and the Chairperson of KUC’s Ministry Management Team also attend.

Council Circle members are happy to hear ideas from congregants.  To offer suggestions for improvement, and implementation of our goals, please contact any one of us.
Council Chair – Sue Sewell, Vice-Chair – Fliss Klassen, Secretary – Sharon Rhodes, Members-at-Large – Marg Waldon, George Davis, Shane Rollans, Iris Davies, Ona McDonald.
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Ministry Management Team (MMT)

The role of the Ministry Management Team

• Responsible for implementing Council Circle policies
• Ensure that the building and property are maintained
• Provide support and direction to Group Ministries
• Develop operational policies
• Approve operational policies developed by the Group Ministries

The responsibilities of MMT range from oversight of the building and property, to ensuring the security of records, finances, and privacy, and the safety of people both staff and building users.  A monitoring schedule is followed throughout the year, with regularly scheduled reports provided to Council Circle.

The team includes Chair, Ron McColl, Rev. Bruce Comrie, Rev. Teri Meyer, Administrator Sharon Huuha, Treasurer Gail Wichmann and recorder Marnie Strong.

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As Envelope Steward, my primary role is to track everyone’s offering throughout the year, issue statements in the spring and again at the end of summer, and issue income tax receipts at the end of each year.  As part of the role, I help folk determine which method of giving is best for them, whether that be using offering envelopes on a weekly basis, consolidating their giving into 3-4 times per year, or joining our Pre-Authorized Remittance (PAR) program whereby an automatic debit can be made to a bank account, or to VISA or MasterCard.  Address & phone number changes are entered into the computer as needed and changes to the offering of those on the PAR program are sent to Church House in Toronto as required.  Towards the end of November each year, offering envelopes are prepared for the next year for those who wish to use that method of giving.
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KUC Adult Representatives to Kamloops/Okanagan Presbytery

Kathy Johnson, Michele Walker and Marie Alllen are the current representatives from Kamloops United Church to Kamloops-Okanagan Presbytery (along with K.U.C. clergy).

Kathy is honoured to be a Presbytery Rep and hopes to continue to do so for some time to come. She says:  “My role is to act as the representative for Kamloops United Church in Kamloops-Okanagan Presbytery, and further to that, as representative for Kamloops-Okanagan Presbytery at BC Conference.  BC Conference meets twice in three years (year before and year of General Council).  They select several members to represent BC Conference every three years when General Council is held.  The purpose of all these meetings – Presbytery, BC Conference and General Council, is to conduct the business of the Church, and for BC Conference to also confirm, admit, recognize new ministers.  So, although we have fun when we get together, there is work that is done as well.”  

“Given my particular interest in social justice issues, I am very aware that the topic “social justice” encapsulates many, many different issues, from Aboriginal rights, Human rights, ecological or eco-justice, refugee issues, environmental concerns, and the list goes on and on and on.  The theme of BC Conference last year was on faithful public witness.  The theme of the weekend was on faithful public witness and the difference between charity (which provides a short term solution to a problem) and service (which is responding in organized assistance on an ongoing basis) and Justice (which is a long-range policy for equalization, fairness and participation which address the root causes of injustice).”  

“To me, a significant part of faithful public witness is witnessing to the public issues of social justice.”

Kathy also tells us that one of the truly wonderful things she enjoyed in the past, when at Presbytery or Conference, was to check out the Resource Centre’s book display.   Her latest really great find was a book by Bruce Sanguin called “If Darwin Prayed”.  (The Resource Centre has since gone digital.) ____________________________________________________________________________

KUC Members on the KUC Preschool Advisory Board

The PreSchool Advisory Board provides monitoring and support for the KUC Preschool and Out-of-School Care Program.  Three of the five board members are members of KUC.  Betty Karpuk, Marcia Skaarup and Diana Porter represent the church.  The other board members represent the two preschool programs: one is a parent of a child in the 3 year old program and one is a parent of a child in the 4 year old program.

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