First Methodist Midland Church Governance

2026 Church Council & Committees

CHURCH COUNCIL

The Council shall have full and exclusive authority to transact the Church’s business, execute contracts on behalf of the Church, implement or manage the Church’s operations, direct the Church’s ministry, and acquire, sell, or encumber assets for or on behalf of the Church. The Council (through the Secretary), or its designee, shall be responsible for receiving Church members, dismissing members, and otherwise maintaining the official, recorded membership roll of the Church, which shall be regularly updated and kept current.

Meeting Dates: 2/17, 5/19, 8/18, 11/17
Elected Members: Ron Stroman (Chair), Anne Cauthen, Billie Petersen, Jeff Hughes, ValerieHale, Chris Aycock, Matt Schoolcraft, Debbie Burke, Sammie Witcher
Appointed Members: Steve Brooks, Kurt Borden, Melissa Shuler, Ken Rowland, Lynda Johnson, Ron Stroman, Erin Black, Kerry Miller, Jacob Hooper, Tom Elrod, Cressinda Hyatt

COMMITTEES

The purpose of the committees is to accomplish vitally important work between Church Council meetings and to facilitate effective governance of the Church with a division of labor. Each committee will have a Chair and a Secretary to take notes, list action items, and keep committee deliberations and decisions in order. Working through their Chair, a church committee will give reports to the full Church Council and make motions and propose resolutions whenever such action is deemed good for the advancement and success of the Church. Such actions must be approved by both the Council Chair and Lead Pastor before being proposed.

STANDING COMMITTEES

The EXECUTIVE Committee

The Executive Committee is chaired by the Lead Pastor and shall oversee the other committees, the administrative functions of the Church, and other supervisory tasks. The Executive Committee is comprised of the Lead Pastor, Council Chair, Lay Leader, Standing Committee Chairs, Associate Pastor, Director of Finance, and Director of Administration.

Meeting Dates: 1/12, 2/9, 3/16, 4/13, 5/11, 8/10, 9/14, 10/19, 11/9, 12/14
Elected Members: Steve Brooks, Kurt Borden, Ken Rowland, Lynda Johnson, Ron Stroman, Erin Black, Kerry Miller, Jacob Hooper, To Elrod, Cressinda Hyatt

The STAFF-PARISH RELATIONS Committee

The Staff-Parish Relations committee shall carry out human resources, clergy supply, and staffing needs. In conjunction with the Lead Pastor, the committee shall carry out staffing functions of the Church. Through the election of a Governance Member, the committee shall have primary responsibility for understanding the governing documents of the Church and Foundation, advising staff and lay leaders regarding compliance with the Governing Documents, and consistently working to improve the Governing Documents.

Meeting Dates: 1/14, 4/14, 7/14, 10/13
Members: Kerry Miller (Chair), Erin Black, Ron Stroman, Angela Flores, Kerry Miller, Barbara Yarbrough, Zane Walton, Marissa Kintzing, Patti Alexander, Dana Runyan, Heidi Stone, Ross Forrest

The FINANCE Committee

The Finance Committee oversees the Church’s financial activities, collects revenue or member contribution data, prepares annual or other periodic budgets to ensure that the Church remains fiscally sound, regularly assesses the Church’s financial position, and reports to the Council concerning such matters. The committee also works with an independent auditor, receives and reviews the annual audit, and recommends that the Church adopt and approve the audit.

Meeting Dates: 2/11, 5/13, 8/12, 11/18
Members: Jacob Hooper (Chair), Steve Brooks, Ken Rowland, Lynda Johnson, Betty Roy, Ron Stroman, Tom Elrod, Kerry Miller, Cressinda Hyatt, Erin Black, Michael McKeller, Leigh Ann North, Jeremy Bishop, Sandy Kneer, Malcolm Kintzing, Debbie Markley, Michael Dawson, Jay Tucker

The TRUSTEES

The Board of Trustees shall oversee the upkeep, maintenance and repair of the Church’s real property; oversee the upkeep, maintenance and repair of the Church’s equipment and other personal property; regularly assess and address the Church’s insurance requirements; regularly assess and address the Church’s safety and security requirements; handle bequests to the Church; and report to the Council concerning such matters.

Meeting Dates: 3/2, 5/4, 8/3, 10/5, 12/7
Members: Tom Elrod (Chair), Steve Brooks, Lisa Hooper, Colby Pierce, Jeana Riley, Andrew Avis, Gary McMillian, Curt Sievert, Keith Summer

The NOMINATING Committee

The Nominating Committee (aka Committee on Lay Leadership) shall meet annually in November to recommend to the Council willing candidates to replace the members of the Council and other committees and, if necessary, the lay Chairs of such committees and the Council, whose terms are expiring at the end of the current calendar year.

Meeting Dates: 11/4
Members: Steve Brooks, Erin Black, Jann Bash, Conrad Coleman, Melissa Hagins, Blue Hyatt, Tiffany Meade, Lori Miller, Burgess Wade, Monica Tucker, Connor DuBose

The FOUNDATION Committee

The Foundation Committee shall direct and oversee the activities of the First Methodist Church of Midland Foundation, Inc., a Texas nonprofit corporation. The members of the Foundation Committee will function as the board of directors of the Foundation.

Meeting Dates: 1/15, 4/16, 7/16, 10/15
Members: Cressinda Hyatt (Chair), Steve Brooks, Lynda Johnson, Ken Rowland, Brandon Black, David Stone, T.J. McClure, Alison King, Ed Runyan

2026 TASK FORCE COMMITTEES

Church Task Force Committees have limited durations and are not permanent Church committees. They are established to identify issues and provide recommendations relevant to the Church during a designated period.

The CHILDREN AND YOUTH Committee

The Children and Youth Committee will explore ways to strengthen the Church’s children and youth ministries and make recommendations to the Lead Pastor. The committee is comprised of the Director of Children’s Ministries, the Youth Director, the Children and Youth Ministry Assistant, and additional Church members as determined by the Children and Youth Committee.

Meeting Dates: 2/17, 5/19, 8/35, 11/17
Members: Monica Tucker (Chair), Kristin Hughes, Kelly Schoolcraft, Billy Priebe, Allison King, Stephanie McClure, Krysten Nall