Harvard Avenue is tremendously blessed by a community diverse in age, experience, understanding, identity, background, and circumstance. We are grateful for those who answer the call of Christ, with the support and discernment of the community, by saying ‘yes!’ to the invitation to serve in various leadership capacities.

Our annual congregational meeting each November includes the election/approval of these congregational leaders.

Elders

The Board of Elders is a team called out as spiritual leaders within the congregation’s life. ‘Elder’ is not a determinant of age, or even longevity within the church, but is a reflection of discernable spiritual gifts of care, prayer, teaching, and leading. Elders meet monthly, receive weekly news and prayer updates, and serve the congregation by sharing in worship leadership, pastoral care, visitation to home-centered members, and the prayerful support and nurture of our ministeral team and staff.
Elders serve three-year terms, in class rotations of six per year. 

Class of 2021 – Susan Gross (chair); Connie McFarland; Bill Mildren; Dan Pease; Bill Queen; Lisa Rhynes
Class of 2022 – Debbie Barnes; Janet Briggs; Neil Gilpin; Hank Leonard; Steve Ray; Larry Smith
Class of 2023 – Charlie Bennett; Justin Lollman; Amy McKenzie; Rebecca Morris; Bill Richert; Becky Young

Ministry Leadership Team

The ‘MLT’ is a revision of the traditional ‘church general board’ model. As Harvard Avenue has grown and our ministries have evolved, it has also been important to structure and name our leaderhship in ways that reflect the collaborative spirit, compassionate witness, and shared ministry we embrace.

MLT meeting agendas are built around our core values (Be Loved, Believe, Become), include time for doing the ‘business’ of the church, and give the bulk of the time to reflecting on each ministry area through narrative reporting. A reflection question is created for each meeting, and everyone at the table (exec team, ministry team leads, elders, and staff) responds, creating a swell of storytelling that gives more depth than a simple report on calendar activities can. Ideas evolve in this synergistic atmosphere, and leaders emerge equipped with stories to share, of our church’s ministry and its impact.

Exec and MLT generally serve in two-year terms; exceptions are Elders Representatives, who serve one year (but may repeat), and Vice-Moderator, who serves two years in that role, with the intentional design of serving another two years in the Moderator position.

Exec Team – Jason Dent (moderator); Diana Booren (vice-moderator); Leslie Moore (secretary); Mark Southard (treasurer)
Ministry Team Leads – Andrea Glen (outreach); Jim Boswell (personnel); Terrance Revis (church growth); Jamie Jones (worship); Mary Magee (stewardship); Heath Pennington (property); Andrew Rhynes (congregational care)
Elders Representatives – Susan Gross (chair of elders); Bill Queen; Debbie Barnes

In addition to these primary leadership teams, countless volunteers serve God together, engaging and enlivening the congregation in ministries of hospitality and welcome, property oversight, congregational care, worship, and administration.