Leadership at Central

The congregation’s Annual Meeting, held each February, is the primary mission and ministry meeting of the faith community. At the Annual Meeting leaders are elected for the year to serve on the Congregation Council, Nominating Committee, Audit Committee, and to represent the congregation at the Synod Assembly.

The Congregation Council appoints leaders to serve on the Fiscal and Property Committee and the Personnel Committee. The council may also appoint other standing committees, task forces, and work groups. Currently, there are a number of standing committees: Generosity, Global Mission, Casavant Renewal, Sanctuary Renewal, Central Cares for the Creation, Prayer Team, Align Central Team, and the Caring Crew.

The Congregation Council is comprised of ten elected leaders and the pastors. The council meets monthly to guide the ministry and mission, oversee the financial and staff life of the congregation, and to listen for God’s call for the health and wholeness of the ministry.

The Nominating Committee seeks to raise up leaders for the congregation and makes recommendations for the Annual Meeting. The Audit Committee oversees the annual financial audit of the congregation. The representatives elected to attend the Synod Assembly (the mission meeting for the 140 congregations in the Minneapolis Area Synod) represent Central and vote on synod-wide business.

The Fiscal and Property Committee meets monthly to review the financial and property life of the congregation and to make recommendations to the Congregation Council.

The Personnel Committee serves as an advisor to the lead pastors who serve as the head of staff.

Congregation Council

The Congregation Council is the leadership team that provides the monthly guidance and long-range planning vision in the life of the congregation. In addition to the ten elected members, the pastors also serve on the council. The Executive Committee is an elected team of four members: President, Vice-President, Treasurer, and Secretary. The Executive Committee meets in advance of the council to plan the meeting agenda and gather the work of other committees, teams, and task forces that will need council affirmation and support.

Strategic Plan

The council is continuously working on the strategic plan as they listen for God and tend to the values within the life of the congregation. The council created a Belonging Task Force during the Covid-19 pandemic to seek ways to facilitate connections within the congregation as we emerged from isolation.

In the fall of 2023, the council facilitated a series of one-on-one conversations to listen for God within the full community of Central for our life together. This “One Community” initiative is based in community organizing principals and will work to set mission and ministry goals from the remarkable responses from the conversations. At the present time the council is working with the core values of welcome, ministry in all the seasons of life, and inclusivity. The work is grounded in the blessings of God already present in the life of this faith community.