Leadership

We are a congregational church

There are no bishops or other outside authorities who direct our activities or make decisions for us.

We are a covenantal church

“Believing in the Creator, in the Christ, and in the Holy Spirit: we covenant together in this church to walk in the ways of God known or to be made known to us. As a community of concern, we pledge to worship together, learn together and work together to build loving relationships with all people and to live in healthy balance with all of God’s creation.”

We choose our own pastors

We form a search committee of members. They are assisted by the Wisconsin Council United Church of Christ, but themselves develop a profile of the church and a job description. The committee responds to candidates, interviewing some, and ultimately inviting one to lead worship at ORUCC on a “candidating Sunday”. The congregation then votes on whether to call the candidate.

We meet annually to vote on our officers and budget

We select a Leadership Team consisting of a Moderator, a Moderator-Elect, a Treasurer, a Clerk, and five at-large members. The past Moderator also serves on the Leadership Team, and the pastors are ex officio members. Read the annual report for 2023 which provides summaries of church leadership, activities, and finances.

Five Ministries do much of the church’s work

Ministry of Resources

Ministry of Adult Faith Formation

Ministry of Youth Faith Formation

Ministry of Christian Witness and Service

Ministry of Congregational Life

Pastors and Leadership Team members support the work of each Ministry

Each Ministry is “staffed” by a pastor, and an at-large Leadership Team member is designated a liaison to one of the Ministries.

Mission Teams are formed as needed

These teams focus on particular needs or ongoing programs and report to one of the Ministries. They may consist of just two or three members, or many more. They may have a short duration, or they may persist indefinitely.

Annual Report

The 2022 annual report provides a summary of church leadership, activities, and finances in 2022. Paper copies are available at the church. Past annual reports for 2021 and 2020 are also available.

Church leadership for 2023

Leadership Team (3-year terms) 

You can contact our lay leadership (moderator, past moderator, and moderator elect) at [email protected]

Past Moderator: Barbara Stretchberry (Feb 2022 thru Jan 2024) 

Moderator: Hal Evensen (Feb 2022 thru Jan 2025) 

Moderator Elect: Deanna Blanchard (Feb. 2023 thru Jan. 2026) 

Treasurer: John Day (renewed Feb 2023 thru Jan 2024) 

Clerk: Jim McNamara (renewed Feb 2023 thru Jan 2024) 

At large members

Sue Dixon (March 2021 thru Jan 2024) – CWS Liaison 

Sally Allen (March 2021 thru Jan 2024) – YFF liaison 

Jarrett Gersten (Feb 2023 thru Jan 2026) – Resources Liaison 

Mary Connor (Feb 2022 thru Jan 2025) – AFF Liaison 

Sara Hagen (Feb 2023 thru Jan 2026) – Congregational Life Liaison

Ministry Chairs

Resources Ministry Chair: Jon Blanchard

Christian Witness and Service Chair: LuAnn Greiner

Adult Faith Formation Chair: TBD (contact Ken Pennings)

Youth Faith Formation Chair: Karen Jaehnig

Congregational Life Chair: Rachel Lancor

Nominating Committee Chair: Deanna Blanchard

Ministries

Resources

Chair: Jon Blanchard (Feb 2019 thru Jan 2024)
Rick Daluge (Feb 2019 thru Jan 2023)
Matt Dixon (Feb 2019 thru Jan 2023)
Paul Eggerling-Boeck (Feb 2019 thru Jan 2024)
Pete Haskins (March 2021 thru Jan 2023)
Joyce Pohl (March 2021 thru Jan 2024)
Darren Schoer (March 2021 thru Jan 2023)
Cindy Fillingame (Feb 2023 thru Jan 2025)

Christian Witness and Service

Chair: LuAnn Greiner (Feb 2023 thru Jan 2025)
Jane Glaze (Feb 2020 thru Jan 2024)
Julie Horst (Feb 2022 thru Jan 2024)
Dan/Kellie Miller (jointly) (Feb 2020-Jan 2024)
Bruce Olsen (Feb 2020-Jan 2024)
Diane Dulin (Feb 2023 thru Jan 2025)
Giulia Lawrence (Feb 2023 thru Jan 2025)

Adult Faith Formation

Chair: to be determined
Alice Anderman (Feb 2022 thru Jan 2024)
Ted Drewson (Feb 2022 thru Jan 2024)
Jeanne Moberly (Feb 2020 thru Jan 2024)
Pamela Oliver (Feb 2020 thru Jan 2024)
Chris Thomas (Feb 2022 thru Jan 2024
Leslie Linser (Feb 2023 thru Jan 2025)

Youth Faith Formation

Chair: Karen Jaehnig (Feb 2019 thru Jan 2024)
Paul Vash (Mar 2021 thru Jan 2025)
Marc Walker (Feb 2019 thru Jan 2024)
Marcia Beckett (Feb 2023 thru Jan 2025)
Joanna Beilman-Dulin (Feb 2023 thru Jan 2025)

Congregational Life

Chair: Rachel Lancor (Feb 2020 – Jan 2024)
Karin Drury (Feb 2020 thru Jan 2024)
Deb Drewson (Feb 2022 – Jan 2024)
Jane Geier (Feb 2023 thru Jan 2025)
Barb Wells (Feb 2023 thru Jan 2025)
(one additional tbd)

Nominating Committee

Chair: Deanna Blanchard, Moderator Elect
Others pending: To be approved by the Leadership Team

Stewardship Committee

Chair and members pending

Financial Secretaries

Mary Bucknell
Joyce Dingman
Bryce Amburn
Gene Dyar
Roger Avery
Peter Hoff
Jennifer Eggerling-Boeck
Meg Stevens
Nancy Wettersten

Historian

Mary Connor