Church Leaders

Elders

In the Presbyterian household of faith, elders are elected representatives of the congregation and with the pastors make up the church board called the Session. Together, they attend to the administration and spiritual life of the congregation.  Elders are ordained to this work and remain elders for life. Elders may serve no more than six consecutive years on Session before taking a sabbatical.  Each elder leads one of the committees and/or programs of the church. 

Deacons

Deacons are specially trained to offer compassion, attentive listening, prayer and help to people in the congregation and community. The word “deacon” comes from the Greek word for “servant,” and from the very beginning of the Christian church, certain people have been set apart by the church as deacons to minister to those who are in need, both within and beyond the church. Deacons are also elected by the congregation and ordained to their work. They may serve up to two three-year terms of office.

Committees and Ministry Teams

  • Responsible for working with the pastor and music staff to plan Sunday morning worship services.  The committee works on themes and liturgical seasons to offer a rich variety of worship services throughout the year.  Special services include Christmas Eve, Mardi Gras Jazz Service, Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, and Easter Sunday.  This committee collaborates with the Liturgical Arts Ministry Team, which designs and installs seasonal displays in the sanctuary and chapel.

  • Furthers relationships and friendships within our own church community, including hosting the after-worship coffee hour and periodic lunches, the fall Homecoming brunch, small group dinners, and Broadway sing-a-long lunches. 

  • Provides a variety of opportunities for people to grow and nurture their spiritual life. Ongoing offerings are open for all to join. They include Centering Prayer, Contemplative worship at 8:30, SoulSong services, classes, and seasonal retreats.

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  • Responsible for promoting service in the community and advocacy around issues that reflect FPCSR’s vision and core values. This includes supporting The Street Chaplaincy Tuesday night dinners and adult education classes & documentaries on important topics. The Green Team is under this committee, and they help the congregation continue to expand our commitment to care for the earth and climate change as individuals, a church, and a community.

  • Responsible for planning Sunday morning adult education classes that include guest speakers from San Francisco Theological Seminary, local leaders of organizations we support, and other speakers that help us deepen our understanding of Christianity, other faith traditions and current issues facing our community and world.  They also plan all-church book reading programs and small discussion groups in person and on Zoom.

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  • Responsible for inviting people to consider becoming members of the church and to help newer people feel connected to the life and ministry of the congregation. They organize First Presbyterian 101 classes once or twice a year for those who want to learn more or who want to become members.

  • Responsible for supporting our church staff. They conduct annual reviews and work with the pastor as head of staff to ensure a positive work environment and fair compensation.

  • Responsible for tracking our operating income and expenses, overseeing our endowments, and working with other financial entities in the church such as Stewardship and Planned Giving.

  • Responsible for the annual fundraising campaign, creating a culture of giving and keeping the congregation engaged and up to date throughout the year. 

  • Responsible for the maintenance and upkeep of the entire church site, including building and equipment repair and modifications and custodial services.

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