Do you know someone who would make a great officer of the church?

Each year, the Nominating Committee prepares slates for next year’s class of Deacons, Elders, and Nominating Committee Members-at-large. Serving as a church officer is a great way to SHOW UP and LEVEL UP your engagement at First Pres.

How does the Nominating process work? We need your help to identify members of the congregation who you think would be great servant leaders in our community. Take them out to coffee, tell them why you think they’d be a great candidate for leadership, and invite them to consider it. Then, fill out the Nomination form and let the Nominating Committee know by November 15! We’ll follow up from there.

In partnership with Caring Ministries, Deacons are the hands and feet of Christ as they serve individuals in our congregation and community. Deacon Ministry includes prayer, care for the sick, elderly, or bereaved, serving communion in worship, hosting memorial service receptions, and organizing service projects within the church. Deacons are key to the success of our Parish Ministry (What’s a parish?), working with each other and members of their parish to build relationships and meet practical needs in their neighborhood.

Deacons are ordained leaders of the church and are elected by the congregation to serve three-year terms. Like all ordained First Pres leaders, they affirm the tenets of the Reformed faith, are active members of First Pres, and support the church financially. The time commitment for service is generally 4–6 hours per month including meetings.

Elders serve alongside Installed Pastors on the Session, the governing body of the church. They hold the entire church—its mission and vision and ministries—and discern how we are following the Word of God in who we are and what we do. Elders determine policy and exercise leadership, governance, and discipline, all while acting as shepherds to the congregation. They strengthen and nurture the faith and life of the church and set an example for all.

Elders are ordained leaders of the church and are elected by the congregation to serve three-year terms. Like all ordained First Pres leaders, they affirm the tenets of the Reformed faith, are active members of First Pres, and support the church financially. The time commitment for service is generally 6–7 hours per month including meetings.

The Nominating Committee prepares church officer slates for the upcoming year with the essential help and support of nominations from the congregation. At the Annual Meeting, they present these slates for Deacon, Elder, and Nominating Committee members-at-large to the congregation for voting.

While they are not ordained, members-at-large on the Nominating Committee are elected by the congregation to serve one-year terms. They affirm the tenets of the Reformed faith, are active members of First Pres, and support the church financially. The time commitment for service is generally 4-6 hours per month over a three-month period, usually December–February.

Questions? Talk to any of us on Nominating Committee or email nominating@fpcberkeley.org.

2026–2027 First Pres Nominating Committee
Mindy Creson, Elder & Chair
Roland Engle, Deacon representative
Calvin James
Jamie McClave-Goodness
Summer Reid