Annual Report 2024-2025 - Flipbook - Page 29
BOARD OF MEMBERSHIP
Chair: Elaine Van Dyck
Vice Chair: Lori Brinkley
Secretary: Taylor Crawley
Discover Plymouth Chair: Darin Johnson
Discover Plymouth Vice Chair: Dave Kidder
Staff Liaison: Jared Wortman
Mission from Bylaws:
The bylaws provide that the Board of Membership will promote
the welcoming nature of Plymouth Church in the community;
encourage, recruit, integrate, and instruct prospective and new
members on the life and opportunities provided by membership
to encourage participation in church activities; assit is the
growth of Plymouth membership by facilitating, initiating,
and supporting opportunities for all persons who wish to join
Plymouth; to provide opportunities for care and support of
members and the community.
Major Events/Achievements in 2024-2025:
The Plymouth Board of Membership (BoM) celebrated a
strong year of welcoming new members and supporting current
members through efforts such as the Discover Plymouth classes,
staffing the Welcome Desk year-round and arranging and hosting
a Maundy Thursday meal.
Members also again represented Plymouth at key community
events, which continue to be good opportunities to both connect
with potential new members and show the greater Des Moines
area that Plymouth’s stewardship reaches beyond its building walls.
From the start of the program year on June 1, 2024, the Board of
Membership began staffing the Welcome Center at all Plymouth
services. Volunteers on the BoM serve at the Welcome Center
from June through August for the 5 p.m. Saturday service and
the 10 a.m. Sunday service, except the Sunday of PrideFest.
From September through May, volunteers can be found at the
Welcome Center at all three weekend services. On Christmas
Eve, BoM members also staffed the Welcome Center to greet all
who attended the many services.
The BoM and others also set up and staffed Plymouth’s booth at
“PrideFest” on the weekend of June 7-9, as well as walked with
our Plymouth group in the Pride Parade.
In August, BoM volunteers again staffed a booth at “Ingersoll
LIVE!”. The booth offered the opportunity to visit with
Plymouth’s neighbors, and information was shared about
Plymouth’s events and programs.
In September, the BoM also hosted the Ministry Fair, giving
members an opportunity to find new ways to get more deeply
involved in the life of Plymouth.
The Board of Membership hosts three or more sessions of Discover
Plymouth each program year. These classes are designed for people
interested in learning more about our church before deciding
whether to join. Typically, classes are offered in the fall, winter,
and spring. Together, the fall and winter classes led to 31 adults
and 24 children deciding to join the church. A spring class is set
for May 4, with joining weekend planned for May 17 and 18.
The Board of Membership also collaborated with Plymouth’s
Creation Care & Justice Committee concerning Discover
Plymouth lunches and the Maundy Thursday supper. We secured
locally sourced food, used cloth napkins, used Plymouth’s
silverware, and sought out food with less packaging.
The leadership of the BOM worked with others to move forward
Plymouth’s online directory. Please continue to wear your name
tag and connect with people face to face.
On Maundy Thursday this year, the BOM hosted a simple meal
before the 7:30 p.m. church service. Let us break bread together
again in 2026!
Certificates of church membership, modeled after those given
about 27 years ago, now are being presented to all new members.
Important plans are already taking shape for the BOM’s next
program year. On Sunday, June 22, 2025, both during and after
the 10 a.m. service, our board will help celebrate 93 Plymouth
members who have been a part of the life of our church for 50
years or more. Everyone is welcome to join in!
Board Members:
2024-2025
2024-2026
2024-2027
Taylor Crawley
Heidi Janecke
Luke Bowers
Darin Johnson
Dave Kidder
Lori Brinkley
Kathleen Murrin
Lorraine May
Diane Graham
Elaine Van Dyck
Kathleen Murrin
Ann Hoeppner
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