Serve through One of our Ministries
As the Westminster Committees get ready to kick off the 2023-24 season, please consider getting involved on one of our committees. Serving on a committee is a great way to serve God, engage in meaningful service, and enjoy fellowship. There are lots of opportunities to find one that speaks to something you are passionate about. Committees thrive when members get involved by sharing their experience, expertise, and insights. Working together on issues and shared decision-making helps foster genuine partnership and fellowship among the members. Please prayerfully consider offering your time and talents by serving on one of WPC committees. For more information, please contact Susan Denton at the church office or sdenton@westpres.org.
Description: The Connection Committee exists to help Westminster connect as a church family that we may grow together as a supportive, loving community. The outreach of this committee consists of reaching out to visitors, overseeing New Member classes, and helping those new members assimilate, finding volunteer opportunities, reaching out to inactive members, encouraging them to reconnect with their Westminster church family. The committee also oversees Connection Groups which serve to strengthen member ties. The committee has hosted or co-hosted events such as the Hymn Sing and Ice Cream Social, International Night Out, Fall Kickoff Celebration on the lawn, Easter and Christmas receptions between services.
Church and Community, Meets 2nd Wednesday of the month at 6 PM Multi-purpose Room
Description: Its purpose is to lead the congregation in engaging in mission to the Greater Des Moines community. Missions center around hunger and homelessness. Main missions include Family Promise, Meals for Central Iowa Shelter & Services, Adopt a Family, Little Free Pantry. The committee provides financial support to DMARC, Cross Outreach and/or other social service agencies in the community.
Church & World Committee, Meets 3rd Tuesday of the month at 7 PM via Zoom
The Church & World Committee’s purpose is to lead the congregation in engaging in mission beyond the Des Moines metropolitan area. To this end they:
Support the El Salvador ministry with Our Sister Parish financially and with a mission team.
Support the Hungary ministry with our sister church in Szeged, Hungary financially and with a ministry presence.
Fundraisers have allowed the team to provide needed funds to these parishes, e.g., fertilizer for farming families, food baskets. Also, scholarships have been provided to high school students, enabling them to complete their education.
Social Justice Committee, Meets 3rd Wednesday of the month at 4:45 PM via Zoom
Description: The Social Justice Committee educates and advocates regarding issues of social justice to the congregation and community so that we can act to create positive changes in our world. Current missions include:
Trivia Night and Silent Auction. This event raises funds for Cross Outreach, which works to prevent homelessness and provide food and other basic survival needs to people in crisis.
Support the refugee garden which provides garden plots for refugee families.
Sponsors scholarships for Westminster Summit interns who provide community service and support in the summer.
Partners with neighborhood school, Monroe Elementary, and supports their food pantry.
Other partnerships include the Shalom Community Impact Center and DM Refugee Support that focus on helping immigrants integrate into our community.
This ministry is enhanced by the:
LGBTQ+ Support Group
Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Team
Worship & Music, Meets 4th Tuesday of the Month at 6:30 PM via Zoom
Description: Worship, Music & Arts Committee works with the pastors and Director of Music and Arts to enrich worship services through the arts by offering a range of musical and visual artistic opportunities for the community to engage with their faith through the music program, Fine Arts Series, Visual Arts team, and Chancel Guild. This committee also oversees logistics of worship such as Communion and the audio/visual team.
Children’s Education Committee, Meets 2nd Sunday of the month at 10:30 AM
Description: Children’s Christian Education at Westminster seeks to cultivate a joyful community for the children of God through education, connection, leadership, and service. We partner with families to support children as they grow in faith. From birth through 5th grade, we have developed relational milestones to support and celebrate each child within our ministry. Nursery care to our youngest children is provided through staff and volunteers.
Youth Education Committee, Meets 2nd Sunday of the month at 1 PM
Description: The Youth Education Committee is charged with the mission of “building 21st Century Disciples.” We take this charge as direction to prepare our youth to have a faith that, as the center of their lives, is a foundation for how they address, understand, and exist in the world they will be trust into in college and beyond. We offer many opportunities for 6th-12th graders to become involved, including Wednesdays and Sundays, mission trip fundraisers, group outings, lock-ins, retreats, and service projects.
Adult Education Committee, Meets 1st Monday of the month at 5:30 PM
Description: The Adult Education Committee is charged with providing opportunities to help adults grow as disciples. The committee coordinates the presentation of Christian educational programming for adults at Westminster. The mission of the committee is to structure, design, guide, direct and implement education programs that: build and advance Christian literacy through sharing the Christian story, inspire spiritual growth and integrate our faith in our daily lives, provide opportunities to put faith into action as it relates to our families, our world and the issues in our society.
Building & Grounds Committee, Meets 2nd Wednesday of the month at 5:30 PM in Seminary Center
Description: The Building & Grounds Committee is charged with the stewardship of our building and campus, providing a building which is safe and well maintained, to support and enhance worship, mission, community, and Christian learning. The committee addresses repair and maintenance of the church with significant effort from both the staff and the committee.
Finance and Administration, Meets 2nd Monday of the Month at 6:30 PM, Seminary Center
Description: The role of the finance and administration committee is to ensure that the fiduciary responsibilities of the Church are being maintained and that those policies and procedures are in place to safeguard Church assets. The committee accomplishes its’ role through oversight of the Church’s fiscal controls and financial policies.
Responsibilities: Budget, accounting policies, operating reserves, compliance, Session reports, personnel.
Human Resources Committee, Meets 2nd Monday of the month at 5:30 PM via Zoom
Description: The goal and role of Human Resources is to serve at a policy level to:
provide a safe and productive workplace for staff and volunteers,
confer with the pastor on important policy level decisions and act as a support group for the pastors and other supervisors,
encourage professional growth and development for all staff and volunteers,
chair Senior Pastor and Associate Pastor Nominating Committees
ensure position descriptions for all staff,
review and recommend compensation packages,
manage risk exposures,
act in support of pastors and supervisors to manage human resources to include efficient use of staff, hiring and separating with staff, and inform Session in a timely manner.