Like most businesses and non-profit groups, the people at Trinity have set up an organizational structure that helps to define who is responsible for what, who focuses on what, who has what authority, and how are activities and operations accomplished at Trinity. Below is a short write up of each of the entities that make up the Trinity Lutheran Long Beach Organizational Structure.<\/p>\n
Up to nine members of the congregation are elected (three per year) to three-year terms on the Church Council by the voting members of the congregation at Part 1 of the Annual Meeting of the congregation.\u00a0 The pastor is also a Council member.\u00a0 The Council\u00a0 has general oversight of the life and activities of the congregation, including the worship life, social ministry, selection and supervision of paid staff, and the annual budget and related financial matters.\u00a0 Each Council member is expected to serve on at least one of the committees of the organization, together with other persons interested in a particular committee\u2019s responsibilities.\u00a0 The officers of the Council are elected by the Council to serve one-year terms at the first Council meeting each year.\u00a0 The current officers are:\u00a0 President Rob Ripley, co-Vice Presidents Larry Rice and Modesta Kardell, Secretary Tina Yanis, Treasurer Cooper Hundertmark, and Financial Secretary Marilyn Bohl.\u00a0 Brief descriptions of the committees follow.\u00a0 Everyone is encouraged to get involved by joining one or more of the committees of interest to them.<\/p><\/div>\n
The Discipling Committee is responsible for planning, decision making, and actions pertaining to the Worship, Education, and Music life of the congregation.\u00a0 Working together with\u00a0 Pastor Albert Starr and Music Director Arline Walter\u00a0 to plan the themes, scripture, music, and prayers of the worship services, what services to hold, what might be studied during weekly Bible Study, what study groups might be formed or needed, the general approach to music, care of the piano and organ, and the like. The group meets monthly, remote or in person.<\/p><\/div>\n
In practice, the financial officers of the Council share monthly details of income and expenses\u00a0 with other Council members at the monthly Council meetings,\u00a0 Financial-related decisions that must be made are brought to the Coumcil\u2019s attention.\u00a0 Deviations of actuals versus budget are explained.\u00a0 \u00a0 General topics such as property insurance, directors and liability insurance, salaries, major repairs and maintenance, and capital expenditures are reviewed. \u00a0 In effect, the entire Council is serving as the Finance Committee because all want or need to know of financial matters to carry out their Council responsibilities.<\/p><\/div>\n
A number of years ago, a decision was made to combine the responsibilities of these two committees into one, since many people were serving on both and many topics touched both areas.\u00a0 In practice, the weekly fellowship with light refreshments in a major responsibility of this group under the leadership of Sande Rice.\u00a0 \u00a0 Any outreach to the neighborhood often involves some planning of food to be obtained and\/or served.\u00a0 Trinity serves as a partner to Lutheran Social Services (LSS) of Southern California in helping to host some of its events.\u00a0 Under the leadership of Pastor Albert Starr, it is anticipated that additional activities will be planned and led by this group in the future.<\/p><\/div>\n
Trinity Lutheran Church has multiple properties:\u00a0 the church building, the education building, eight apartments, three garages serving as storage areas, two houses, and two parking lots used by members of Trinity and groups using the church and at which vehicle owners may park a vehicle for a fee paid monthly to the church. \u00a0 None of these buildings are new, so repairs and maintenance are often required.\u00a0 At this time, Trinity offers space rented by three other church congregations, one small business, and nine user groups.\u00a0 Volunteer Property Manager Rob Ripley heads this committee.\u00a0 He interfaces frequently with users of space in our buildings and with vendors who handle plumbing work, electrical problems, grounds-keeping, and other tasks related to property.\u00a0 The committee reports monthly to the Church Council of major\u00a0 property-related matters.<\/p><\/div>\n