Our Lay Leaders
The WUMC lay leaders oversee key ministries in our church. In addition to holding regular meetings with their ministry teams, lay leaders have a monthly meeting with the pastors to discuss matters that further WUMC's vision to encourage people of all ages to grow in a spiritual journey with Christ. The lay leaders strive to create an atmosphere in which all WUMC members and friends feel free to express their feelings, thoughts, and concerns to the lay leaders and pastors.
We all know that it takes a committed church community to ensure that the various programs and ministries run smoothly. Therefore, the lay leaders believe one way to measure their success is by increasing membership involvement. If your interest is peaked by one of the ministry areas mentioned below, feel free to contact the appropriate lay leader to discuss how your talents, gifts, interests, and passions can be used on different teams and projects.
We pray that as we minister together, each person will find a purpose, a welcoming church home, and a supportive Christian community.
TRUSTEES
Chair: Tom Wishman
(E-mail: TrusteesChair@williamsvilleumc.org)
The Trustees are responsible for managing and maintaining the real property of the church, as well as administering and investing trusts and bequests. They also oversee investment of various other funds such as the Endowment Fund, Parsonage Maintenance Fund, Music Fund, and the Douglas Zimmerman Scholarship Fund. When needed the Trustees solicit the help of church members by sponsoring Church Work Days.
STAFF AND PARISH RELATIONS
Chair: Gary Brost
(E-mail: SPRC@williamsvilleumc.org)
This team is the personnel ministry team of the church. As such, they are the major avenue of communication between staff and congregation. This team is responsible for developing job descriptions, evaluating performance, making salary and benefit recommendations to the Charge Conference, filling vacancies in lay staff, and advising the district superintendent about pastoral appointments.
TREASURER
Rosemary Elliott
COORDINATING LAY LEADER
Dave Reichard
(E-mail: LayLeader@williamsvilleumc.org)
The Coordinating Lay Leader provides support to the lay leaders of the following ministry teams:
Communication
Family Life
Member Care
Memorials
Open Door Nursery School
Outreach and Missions
Stewardship and Finance
Worship
Each lay leader has the freedom to accomplish important ministries related to WUMC’s financial, spiritual, relational, and educational needs. In the coming years, the Coordinating Lay Leader plans to develop a closer working relationship with each lay leader and become better at serving and attending to the needs of our church family.
COMMUNICATION MINISTRIES
Lay Leader: Karen Gerken and Sondra Scott
(E-mail: Communications@williamsvilleumc.org)
The function of the Communications Ministries is to communicate information about services and events to the church community and also to the wider community. The Communications Ministries Team oversees The Messenger newsletter, public relations, WUMC’s Web site, literature racks, photographs and video, and graphic art.
FAMILY LIFE MINISTRIES
Lay Leader: Kim Weingartner
(E-mail: FamilyLife@williamsvilleumc.org)
The Family Life Ministry Team works with the Coordinator of Christian Education to assess, plan, implement, and evaluate ongoing and special educational programs for all ages. In addition, this team is responsible for overseeing the church library and Open Door Nursery School. This team works hard to ensure WUMC is not missing educational opportunities for the congregation whether through Bible study, discussion, or on-going training. The Family Life Ministries also helps people reach out to others and develops people to serve in various capacities.
MEMBER CARE MINISTRIES
Lay Leader: Sara Wishman
(E-mail: @williamsvilleumc.org)
The Member Care Team develops ways to welcome newcomers, provides hospitality to new members, and nurtures the membership of the church including contact with persons who have moved or are inactive. The Member Care Team also oversees the coffee hour and the annual reunion of the Forty Fellowship.
MEMORIALS MINISTRIES
Lay Leader: Sally Jost
The Memorial portion of this team determines the appropriate use of gifts and donations to WUMC’s memorial fund. The team carefully considers the donors’ wishes and the best interest of the church and congregation when planning and overseeing purchases made with the memorial fund. The Columbarium portion of this team oversees the construction of niches and provisions for sale of niches.
OPEN DOOR NURSERY SCHOOL
Lay Leader: Kathleen Zarbo
(E-mail: OpenDoor@williamsvilleumc.org)
This lay leader serves as the liaison between Open Door Nursery School (ODNS) and Williamsville United Methodist Church, which owns ODNS. WUMC and the Board of Directors have operated ODNS on a nonprofit basis since its founding in 1970. Tuition covers the cost of salaries, supplies, equipment, and insurance. New York State certified teachers provide social, physical, and intellectual experiences for children of all races and religions.
OUTREACH AND MISSIONS MINISTRIES
Leader: Kevin Lyttle
(E-mail: Outreach@williamsvilleumc.org)
The Outreach and Missions Team is responsible for providing opportunities for involvement in and support for mission and service within the congregation, our community, and beyond. Our local mission efforts focus primarily on supporting Seneca Street United Methodist Church, Asbury Shalom Zone, Gateway-Longview, and Habitat for Humanity. This team also oversees special holiday giving opportunities such as the Angel Tree and holiday food bags. We also provide a team of volunteers to the Central City Café soup kitchen on a monthly basis.
STEWARDSHIP AND FINANCE
Chair: Bud Jost
(E-mail: Stewardship@williamsvilleumc.org)
The Stewardship and Finance Team is responsible for leading members and friends to become faithful stewards in all aspects of their lives. This team develops and leads the annual stewardship program, and seeks to address planned giving as part of our Christian stewardship.
WORSHIP MINISTRIES
Lay Leader: Otto Scharf IV
(E-mail: Worship@williamsvilleumc.org)
The teams that form the Worship Ministries coordinate various aspects of congregational worship and special seasonal celebrations including the choirs, ushers, communion stewards and servers, altar guild, lay readers, and acolytes. The team helps foster individual and congregational development and growth through retreats, special services, programs, devotional suggestions, and occasional classes and small groups.