The Committee on Ministry

The Committee on Ministry is a group of All Souls members appointed by the Board of Trustees to work with the professional ministry and members of the congregation to care for and strengthen the overall ministry of the church. The Committee meets with the ministers monthly.

One of the primary goals of the Committee on Ministry is to encourage direct and constructive communication among members of the congregation and between members of the congregation and the ministers and staff. Anyone with concerns about the health of our ministry and community is encouraged to contact any member of the Committee on Ministry.

If you have a concern with a particular member of the staff or congregation, we will encourage you to speak with that person directly, with a member of the COM present if you prefer. If there is a broader concern over an issue that seems to require congregational attention, the COM may seek to foster a constructive community discussion. The COM has hosted or co-hosted town hall meetings on topics such as the respect accorded to minority views on public issues such as the war, and the meaning of the Thomas Jefferson portrait and broader questions around decision-making regarding art in the church. Unlike formal congregational meetings, the COM’s town halls are not policy-making sessions, but an opportunity for the church leadership and members of the congregation to hear each other in an atmosphere of mutual respect.

On most issues, final decisions will be the responsibility of the Executive Team, which is led by Senior Minister Rob Hardies. Neither the Committee on Ministry nor the Board of Trustees functions as an “appeals court” to second-guess management decisions made by those church leaders, although the Board continually evaluates the progress of the leadership team in implementing church policy and moving toward the goals we have agreed upon as a congregation.

One of the Committee on Ministry’s goals is to work toward the creation of a congregational covenant, a set of principles for how we work together, communicate with each other, and resolve differences constructively. If you are interested in taking part in this project, please let one of us know.

Members of the Committee on Ministry:

Elizabeth Fox (esfoxydc@aol.com)
Carolyn Fowler-Smith (clfowlersmith@aol.com)
Paula Cole Jones (pcolejones@aol.com)
Michael Milano (mikeym1125@mac.com)
Chuck Wooldridge (c.wool@verizon.net)
Lloyd Wright (chair) (lew52841@aol.com)