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 2024 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.
Church leadership for 2024
Leadership Team (3-year terms)
You can contact our lay leadership (moderator, past moderator, and moderator elect) at [email protected]
Past Moderator: Hal Evensen (Feb 2022 thru Jan 2025)
Moderator: Deanna Blanchard (Feb. 2023 thru Jan. 2026)
Moderator Elect: Dale Rebhorn (Feb 2024thru Jan. 2027)
Treasurer: John Day (renewed Feb 2018 thru Jan 2025*)
Clerk: Jim McNamara (renewed Feb 2023 thru Jan 2025)
At large members
At Large members:
Susan Dovell (Feb 2024 thru Jan 2027)
Ann Rifenberg (Feb 2024 thru Jan 2027)
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
TBD (Feb 2024 thru Jan 2027) – CWS Liaison
TBD (Feb 2024 thru Jan 2027) – YFF liaison
Ministries
Members of ministries serve two year terms which can be extended. * indicates an extended term.
Resources
Chair: Jon Blanchard (Feb 2019 thru Jan 2026*)
Rick Daluge (Feb 2019 thru Jan 2025*)
Matt Dixon (Feb 2019 thru Jan 2026*)
Paul Eggerling-Boeck (Feb 2019 thru Jan 2025*)
Joyce Pohl (March 2021 thru Jan 2026*)
Darren Schoer (March 2021 thru Jan 2025*)
Cindy Fillingame (Feb 2023 thru Jan 2025)
Kurt Jaehnig (Feb 2024 thru Jan 2026)
Christian Witness and Service
Chair: LuAnn Greiner (Feb 2023 thru Jan 2025)
Julie Horst (Feb 2022 thru Jan 2026*)
Dan Miller (jointly) (Feb 2020-Jan 2026*)
Bruce Olsen (Feb 2020-Jan 2024)
Diane Dulin (Feb 2023 thru Jan 2025)
Giulia Lawrence (Feb 2023 thru Jan 2025)
David Allen (Feb 2024 thru Jan 2026)
Mary Neuhaus (Feb 2024 thru Jan2025)
Adult Faith Formation
Chair: Leslie Linser (Feb 2023 thru Jan 2025)
Steve Pearson (Feb 2023 thru Jan 2025)
Susi Petta (Feb 2024 thru Jan 2026)
Bob Millholland (Feb 2024 thru Jan 2026)
Susan Soric (Feb 2024 thru Jan 2026)
Bev Davis (Feb 2024 thru Jan 2026)
Youth Faith Formation
Chair: Paul Vash (Mar 2021 thru Jan 2026*)
Marcia Beckett (Feb 2023 thru Jan 2025)
Joanna Beilman-Dulin (Feb 2023 thru Jan 2025)
Al Blanchard (Feb 2024 thru Jan 2026)
Claire Purkis (Feb 2024 thru Jan 2026)
Jenny Whitacre (Feb 2024 thru Jan 2026)
Congregational Life
Chair: Karin Drury (Feb 2020 thru Jan 2026*)
Jane Geier (Feb 2023 thru Jan 2025)
Barb Wells (Feb 2023 thru Jan 2025)
Laura Conners (Feb 2024 thru Jan 2026)
Cheryl Donkle (Feb 2024 thru Jan 2026)
Stewardship Mission Team
Chair: Jim McNamara (Feb 2024 thru Jan 2026)
Ben Lancour-Youth Representative (Feb 2024 thru Jan 2026)
Jarrett Gersten (Feb 2024 thru Jan 2026)
Roger Avery (Feb 2024 thru Jan 2026)
Rick Daluge (Feb 2024 thru Jan 2026)
Nominating Committee
Chair: Dale Rebhorn, Moderator Elect
Deanna Blanchard
Susan Wagoner
Others to be named later.
Financial Secretaries
Nancy Wetterstem
Mary Bucknell
Joyce Dingman
Bryce Amburn
Gene Dyar
Peter Hoff
Jennifer Eggerling-Boeck
Meg Stevens
Nancy Wettersten
Historian
Mary Connor
Note: Leadership team will be evaluating this role and defining its duties. Anyone interested in contributing to this discussion should contact Deanna Blanchard or other members of the Leadership Team.