TRINITY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
An Welcoming Congregation Supporting the Reconciling Ministries Network Since 1992
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TRINITY UNITED METHODIST CHURCHAn Welcoming Congregation Supporting the Reconciling Ministries Network Since 1992 |
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Current News and Events
Trinity Update
The Trinity Voice Calendar Stewardship Volunteer Interest Survey Home Staff and Office Hours Being a Reconciling Congregation Creation Spirituality Sunday Worship Celebrations Map Locating Sanctuary Children's Programs Youth Program (UMYF) Choir Programs Leadership Teams Fellowship Groups Trinity's Photo Albums Hope Food Pantry SafeParents Child Care Links 
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Leadership Teams
Adult Nurture Team
Care and Nurture Team The Care and Nurture Team provides support to members and friends on a short-term and on-going basis. Some of our volunteers provide communion to homebound members and friends, others participate in the prayer chain, and some prepare meals for people in crisis. Communion is given to homebound or hospitalized members on the afternoon of each Communion Sunday. The prayer chain is a telephone and email network through which volunteers are notified of prayer requests and prayer needs. Meals for funerals and other crisis situations are organized by members of the team who, in some cases, will call upon members of the church. We plan to expand the activities of the team to include providing transportation to church activities, visiting homebound members on a regular basis, and checking in on folks who are in the hospital. We would also like to identify and meet other needs of our members and friends, so we welcome information or participation from anyone in the church. Celebrations Teams Trinity has two Celebration Teams, one for each of our worship celebrations. These teams function to develop dynamic worship and ritual. We have a system that encourages broad participation not only in the worship service, but also in its development. The teams meet once a month for a three-hour session to discuss the lessons and themes for worship three months ahead of time. With the themes already provided by our pastoral staff and worship resources, the teams concentrate their energies on the music, drama, art, dance, altar layout, room layout, flower arrangements, etc. for each Sunday. This system provides a way for liturgy to truly be "the work of the people" (the definition of "liturgy") rather than "the work of the pastor" only. Though a core team has been recruited, everyone is invited to share their ideas. Like most Trinity meetings, the Celebration Team meetings are open to any person who wants to attend and participate. Children's Nurture Team The Children's Nurture Team supports the Children's Director and the teachers in providing a nurturing and educational environment for our children whenever they come to Trinity events. We provide Sunday School, Wednesday night Kid's Club, Parents' Night Out, family events, and childcare. Our door is always open to those responsible for the nurturing and care of our children. Our team consists of parents, grandparents, and non-parents, a youth representative, and a child representative. Communications Team One purpose of the Communications Team is to inform the public of the unique, inclusive ministry, services, and opportunities offered by Trinity United Methodist Church. This "marketing" function includes newspaper ads and articles, theater program ads, brochures, T-shirts, bumper stickers, and ads and articles in gay/lesbian/bisexual/transgendered directories and events programs. A second purpose of the Communications Team is to inform those already involved in TUMC of its current activities. Much of this function is performed by the TUMC office staff through the Update and the Newsletter. The Communications Team is primarily responsible for maintaining the website and promoting use of email lists and other Internet capabilities. Finance Team The Finance Team is, in a nutshell, responsible for paying the bills and raising extra money or making recommendations to change the budget if the needs or income of the church changes. Its members are made up of the team leaders of the Trustees, Staff-Parish Relations, Stewardship, and Budget Team. Additionally members are the church's treasurer, Program Council Leader, Lead Steward of the Team of Stewards, Lay Leader, and the team leader of Finance. Staff members include the Financial Secretary, Church Administrator, Associate Pastor, and Senior Pastor. Hospitality Team The Hospitality Team works to provide a welcoming environment for visitors and performs outreach functions in the surrounding community. Because the Communications Team is currently inactive, the Hospitality Team has assumed some of its functions, including making business cards and brochures and holding outreach events for the community, such as the Arts and Music Festival. The team also oversees the name badges for worship, makes tea and coffee before the services, recruits greeters, and makes phone calls to first-time visitors. In the fall, they plan to conduct focus groups of members and visitors and investigate new ways of bringing in new attendees and members, while also making sure that the needs of existing members are met. Nominations Team This team is responsible for the selection of team leaders for all of Trinity's teams related to the Team of Stewards and the Program Council. Their primary work is in the late Spring of each year through June since new terms of leadership begin on July 1st. This is the only team not selected by the Nominations Team (they cannot select themselves). Each of its nine members are elected to three year terms. They are elected on the floor of our annual Church or Charge Conference led by the Austin District Superintendent. (A Charge Conference is made up only of the members of the Team of Stewards; a Church Conference is made up of any person who has formally joined the church. Trinity usually holds our annual meeting as a Church Conference.) The team leader of the Nominations Team is the pastor. This team is also the only team in the church chaired by the pastor or a staff member. Operations Team The Operations Team works on the ongoing upkeep of the Trinity facilities. They coordinate workdays and other times when projects need to be completed around the church. This team has been very active over the last few years. Projects have primarily dealt with the interior of the building, including the repairing of cracks and painting of the walls. The group meets every other month and welcomes input. Program Council This team is comprised of the Program Council chair and the leaders of the 9:00 a.m. Celebration Team, the 11:00 a.m. Celebration Team, the Children's Nurture Team, the Communications Team, the Care Nurture Team, the Youth Nurture Team, the Adult Nurture Team, Justice and Social Action Team, the Reconciling Action Team, and the Hospitality Team, in addition to the Lay Leader, the Lay Representatives to Annual Conference, and the United Methodist Women president. Staff and Office Hours Click on highlighted name to send email. People of the Congregation - Community Ministers Rev. Elizabeth Airhart - Austin Seminary Intern Rev. Larry Greenawalt - Children's Choir Director/Accompanist Rev. Dr. Sid Hall, III - Minister of Celebration Ms. Danielle Hayes - Children's Director Mr. David Marks - Music and Arts Director Ms. Karen Rayne - Youth Director Mr. Larry Roberts - Sexton Rev. Susan Sprague - Minister of Community Life Ms. Carrie Stavenhagen - Lead Nursery Teacher More about the TUMC Staff Any staff member can be reached through the church office, which is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. Staff-Parish Relations Team This team meets three to four times a year to discuss the staffing needs of the church, to evaluate the performance of the pastor and associate pastor, to hear evaluations by the pastors of other staff, and to determine the salaries and compensation of the staff. It has nine members, each of whom are elected on a three year rotation based on recommendations by the Nominations Team. These terms go from July 1 through June 30. This team's meetings are closed and strictly confidential. Stewardship Team This team's goal is to help all of us as members of the Trinity community learn what it means to be a steward of this church -- to support by our prayers, presence, gifts and service. From a financial standpoint, each year the Stewardship Team works at developing and implementing a pledge drive. Another integral part of the Stewardship Team is the Fundraising Task Force. This task force plans two or more major fundraising events throughout the year, the proceeds of which are designated for budget purposes. Even though the financial campaign happens once a year, the Stewardship Team emphasizes on an ongoing basis how necessary it is that all of us feel the responsibility of stewardship of the Trinity community. Not only does Trinity need to be sustained by our financial gifts, this community also needs support in the areas of presence, service, and prayer. Without stewardship by our members in all of these areas, Trinity would not be able to continue its ministry. Team of Stewards The Team of Stewards is Trinity's principal administrative body. This group is made up of the Administrative Team Leaders in the church along with the staff. As Trinity's lay directors, the group's primary functions are to evaluate and report on the financial and physical plant needs and support the Program Council by backing up their programmatic concerns with a responsible budget. Its meeting is open to all members of the Trinity community. Team of Trustees The Trustees are the elected officials concerned with Trinity's fiscal holdings and needs. As such, it manages savings accounts, trusts, bequests, and wills. This group also is responsible for insurance needs and policies. Like the Staff-Parish Relations Team, the Trustees is made up of nine elected members who serve on a three-year rotation. The Team of Trustees meet at least twice a year, or as needed. This team's meetings are closed to voting by those not on the team, but may have others present. Trinity Social Justice Institute The institute is a non-profit arm of Trinity UMC with two primary emphases: to encourage advocacy of human rights, environmental consciousness, and diversity; and to develop and implement action in those causes that are consistent with Trinity's mission and vision. Some of the on-going areas of service and advocacy at Trinity are the AIDS Walk, Pride Walk, Martin Luther King, Jr. March, and the Walk for Women's Rights and Choice; promoting the Reconciling Congregation Program and other involvement in gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered movements of inclusion; Gray Panthers, the rights of the aging, and health care; supporting Reading Is Fundamental through the adoption of Ridgetop Elementary School; providing food and gift baskets to 10 families at Thanksgiving and Christmas each year; involvement in Austin Interfaith and Austin Are Interrreligious Ministries; Hands on Housing and Habitat for Humanity; weekly ministry with the homeless along with providing space and volunteers for an emergency winter shelter; support for the Hope Food Pantry and the Capital Area Food Bank; and many other causes and advocacy agencies. In addition, Trinity works hard to support our justice-making and outreach ministries through the district, regional, national, and international United Methodist Church (Apportionments). Youth Nurture Team The Youth Nurture Team (or Youth-Adult Council [YAC]) works to provide support and direction for the Youth Ministry Program of our church. The group meets on an as-needed basis and is made up of volunteers who work with Trinity's youth, representatives from each grade level that are active within Trinity, and a couple of parent representatives. Volunteers to work with Trinity's teenagers are always welcome! |