Welcome 
Minister's Message
Services
What to Expect
Attending With Children
Parking
Accessibility

Programs
Activities&Events[PDF]
Religious Education
Small Group Ministry
Interweave
Caring Ministry
Forum

Our Congregation
Staff
History
Governance
Group Contacts[PDF]
Newsletter
Order of Service
Building & Grounds 
Past Events

Membership Process
Events
To Join

Unitarian Universalism
7 Principles
Are You a UU Too?
Famous UUs
Questions
Links
Quotes
In a Nutshell

HOME

Governance

Our church is a self-governing community. Our bylaws are ratified by the congregation as are our policies

Our Board of Trustees coordinates five clusters or Councils of committees that keep the organization running and focused on our mission.

Operating Structure: Board and Councils

Outreach Council Program Council Board of Trustees Facility Council Stewardship Council Administrative Committees

Administration

COMMITTEE

CURRENT CHAIR

FUNCTIONS

Dan Aten (515)
457-8053
atendan@mchsi.com
Nine members elected for terms of three years, three of whom are elected at each Annual Meeting.  The BOT is the legal representative of the Church, and has general charge of its business and administrative affairs subject to the will of the active membership.
Executive 
Dan Aten (515)
457-8053
atendan@mchsi.com
Three or more members of the BOT appointed to act in the event of emergencies or to expedite matters between regular meetings of the Board.
Building Project

Al Powers, 989-4295

Nicky Keller,
ekeller@dwx.com

Assess long-term facility needs.  See the Power Point Presentation of needs and alternatives presented to the Congregation. Or look at alternatives side-by-side.

Develop Capital Campaign.

Leadership Council Sally Boeckholt,
salgal23@yahoo.com
Chaired by Board Vice President.  Meetings called at discretion of the Chair.  To be attended by Chair and/or at least one representative of every currently active Council.  Facilitate communication and coordination of activities by all committees. 
Long Range Planning

Caesar Smith, 270-8508
Caesar@dwx.com

Phyllis Swink, 270-8508

Develop and annually update a 5-year plan for the church.
Nominating Julie Goldman
(515) 299-2396
jmgoldma@dwx.com
Consists of five members:  three are elected by the congregation for staggered terms of three years each; two are appointed by the Board and are Board members whose terms expire at the next annual meeting.  Propose slate of nominees for the Board of Trustees, and for its own membership.  May help RE Committee in preparing nominees for that committee.  Assist Board and Committee chairs in staffing other committees.
Personnel

Walter Pearson
pearsonw@storm.simpson.edu

Tom Bierley
tbierley@mchsi.com

          
Chaired by the Vice President of the Board.  Develop job descriptions for all church employees except the minister.  Conduct annual employee reviews in consultation with the minister and the appropriate standing committees.  Oversee personnel matters and recommend, with input from the appropriate standing committees, candidates for any staff vacancies, excluding the minister, to the Board.

Facilities Council

Facilitates communication and coordination of activities by committees responsible for the care and security of the building and grounds including office facilities. 

COMMITTEE

CURRENT CHAIR

FUNCTIONS

Building Maintenance 

Alan Billyard, 
abillyard@crosspath.net

Bill Leonard
lbleona@aol.com,
282-0143 

Promote the maintenance, enhancement and preservation of the building.
Green Team

Kent Newman   
(515) 246-1559
fullspectrum@mchsi.com

 
Grounds co-chairs:

Pat Headley,
patnrah@earthlink.net

Theresa Miller, millerta@wellmark.com

Promote the maintenance, enhancement and preservation of the grounds.
Memorial Garden Pat Farland,
farlandbr@mchsi.com    
Raise funds, oversee planning and installation of the memorial garden.  Recommend related policies.
Technology/Security Terry Swanson,
277-5080
tswanson@website-center.com
Evaluate and make recommendations for lease, purchase or disposal of equipment such as computers, security devices, telephones and answering devices, copiers, printers, and for related services.

 

     
Back to Top

Outreach Council

COMMITTEE

CURRENT CHAIR

FUNCTIONS

AMOS (A Metropolitan Organizing Strategy) Sally Boeckholt,
salgal23@yahoo.com
Dan Aten,
atendan@mchsi.com
An interfaith organization with a strategy for metropolitan organizing for civic life. Learn and participate first-hand in the important work of agitating for social change, building a broad-based organization and exercising power for the common good.
INTERWEAVE/Welcoming Congregation Mark Metz
scorpiored48@yahoo.com
Address issues of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered people in the congregation and the wider community through educational and social action programs.  This church earned its designation as a Welcoming Congregation from the UUA in 1992.
Intercom and A&E Mary Reinsmoen
(515) 244-8603 x101
communications@ucdsm.org
Oversee publication of newsletters, press releases and advertising.  Assist Board and committees with publicizing church events
Partner Church Group Jane Swanson,
partner@ucdsm.org
We are partners with the Unitarian Church of Janosfalva, Romania. [That is, we join with Iowa City and Davenport as partners with Janosfalva].
Public Relations/Communications Communications@ucdsm.org Coordinates the outreach publicity and communications of the church.  This committee includes communications strategy for the newsletter and web site.
Unitarian Universalist Service Committee (UUSC)

Suzanne Popson

Diane Shelby Churchill              (515)205-0333
Dshelby365@aol.com

Coordinate projects with the UUSC in Boston, including sales of merchandise and the annual Guest at Your Table collection.
UUs in Action


socialaction@ucdsm.org

Bob Henderson,
254-1004

Judy Lonning,
255-6587

Put our UU principles into practice:
Social Action Opportunities
Wayside Pulpit Dan Troxell
dan_troxell@yahoo.com
Create and post the messages for the sign in front of the church.
Website Terry Swanson, 
tswanson@website-center.com
 
Provide an Internet presence for the church that reflects our common experience.

 

Back to Top

Program Council

COMMITTEE

CURRENT CHAIR

FUNCTIONS

Forum

Dan Aten,
atendan@mchsi.com
457-8053

Nicky Keller,
ekeller@dwx.com

Plans programs for the 10:30 a.m. Sunday adult discussion.
Music Barbara Martin, 
barbmartin_dm@yahoo.com
 
Arranges for special music at services and directs the choir.
Religious Education Council

Harvey Harrision,
277-9715

Caroline Pelley,
255-5696

Deb Elliott,
278-0058

The YREC along with the Director of Religious Education designs and implements the religious education programming of the church for youth. It consists of nine active members of the congregation chosen for three-year staggered terms.  The YREC nominates new members to the Board for confirmation at the Annual Meeting. 

The AREC provides educational and enrichment opportunities for adults. It consists of six active members of the congregation chosen for three-year staggered terms.  The committee nominates new members to the Board for confirmation at the Annual Meeting.  

Religious Services

Greg Pelley,
gspelley@msn.com
255-5696

Facilitates quality Sunday services via collaborating with the minister, as well as recruiting outside speakers, church members and friends to deliver lay-led services.
Unity Circle Alliance

Jerry & Janet Carspecken
(515)-978-7523
r.carspecken@mchsi.com  

 
 

Back to Top

Stewardship Council

COMMITTEE

CURRENT CHAIR

FUNCTIONS

Archives

Janet Thurtell,
T.Thurtell@mchsi.com
225-3794

Ruth Keairns,
rkeairns@mchsi.com
255-5226

Preserve documents and materials of the church.  Archive materials are stored at the State Historical Building.
Canvass

Tom Thurtell
(515) 225-3794
T.Thurtell@mchsi.com

Conducts the annual canvass of members and friends for pledges to support the church.
Caring Ministry

Jo Fitz
jfitz1972@aol.com 

Pat Winters, 
wintersia@aol.com

Nurture and communicate with members and friends during times of sickness, grief, births, and other life passages, and provide assistance to those in need. Click here for the list of opportunities[PDF].
Endowment Disbursement Committee 

Margaret Karbeling
Linda Appelgate
Dave Whitaker
Paul Kluding
Steve Herwig

Publicize the endowment fund and solicit contributions.  Approve annual disbursement of funds from the endowment.  Five members, each serving a 5-year staggered term, elected by the congregation at the annual meeting.
Endowment Investment Management Carol Evans,
shopkeeper@dwx.com  
Oversee investment of money in the endowment fund.  Three members, appointed by the Board of Trustees to serve indefinite terms at the discretion of the Board.
Finance

Rolland Riley,
rileyhibbs@mchsi.com
226-0875

Develop the annual budget, raise funds, and perform an annual audit of the Church financial records.  
Hospitality Ministry

Jennifer Galluzzo
Jeff Chungath
(515) 262-8562
chungath@yahoo.com

        
 
Membership Ellen Taylor
eltaylor@dwx.com
Promote and encourage the concept of church membership.
SGM [PDF]

Small Group Ministries

Mary Reinsmoen,
administrator@ucdsm.org
Small relational groups made up of five to ten people who meet twice a month to establish and nurture themselves in this community. Some service projects reported in Past Events
Ushers Sue Repplinger Recruit, train and schedule ushers for Sunday morning services. The Usher Queen welcomes those who want to assist at services by providing an Order of Service and a friendly smile. Instructions are simple and well written!  NO MEETINGS!

 

     

Selected Policies

 

Back to Top