Church Council met May 19th. Church Council is the governing board for Signal Crest business and is made up of representatives from all ministry areas of the church, lay leaders, committee chairs, and at-large members. Your 2019 Church Council representatives can be found by  clicking here .

To better understand the governance of both the United Methodist Church and Signal Crest UMC, please  click here  to download an overview provided by our own Trusted Leadership team.


To help keep you in the loop, here is a summary of what was discussed during the May 19th meeting:

Mark Smith, Chair of Church Council, on behalf of Lynn Lancaster , Chair of the Staff Parish Relations Committee , reported:
  • A new Children's Ministry Director has been selected, pending completion of paperwork and background check. The Committee was pleased to meet with three strong candidates, and are delighted with their success in identifying an individual they believe will provide outstanding leadership at Signal Crest. They hope to make a formal announcement in early June.
  • Heartfelt thanks go to our own Taylor Moore who has served very effectively as Interim Children's Ministry Director. 
  • June 16 will be Doug and Carolyn Fairbanks' final Sunday with us. At the farewell reception at 10 a.m., we will present a love offering to them. If you would like to contribute, please make your check out to SCUMC and put love offering on the memo line. You may place your check in the offering plate or bring by the church office by June 10th. You may also bring notes of thanks to Doug and Carolyn to the reception or bring by the church office by June 13th.
  • Our new Senior Minister is Josh Kilbourne, whose first Sunday at Signal Crest will be July 7. The committee is very pleased to welcome Josh and Caliie along with their children, Ana and Isaiah.

Mark Smith also reported on behalf of Tina Close, Chair of Finance:
  • The Finance Committee is searching all avenues for new accounting services. Interested individuals should contact Chairman Tina Close (ttclose@gmail.com).
  • Many thanks to our own Tracey Thornton for her excellent payroll and accounts payable work that keeps things running smoothly.
  • Work toward our 2020 budget will begin in August.
  • Quotes are currently being sourced for our 2018 outside audit.
  • Plans are to provide both audit results and Finance Committee approved 2020 budget at this fall's Charge Conference.

As part of the Finance Committee initiative to create and/or update policy and procedures at Signal Crest, the Trusted Leadership team developed policy for one of our approved Designated Funds, the  Memorial Fund . Trusted Leadership Chairman Paul Jensen presented the policy draft already approved by the Finance Committee.

Church Council approved the proposed Memorial Fund policy by unanimous vote. A summary of key points of the policy follows:
  • Defines memorial and honorary gifts 
  • Defines the makeup and primary responsibilities of the Memorial Committee 
  • Explains the difference between the Memorial Fund and other designated funds 
  • Must honor the intent of the donor 
  • Procedure for documenting memorial gifts 
  • Outlines the process for disposition of funds 
  • Trustee’s responsibility 
  •  Approval process 
  •  Form to request memorial funds
  •  Memorial Committee will ensure funds are utilized as approved 
  • Memorial committee will ensure there is a church wide communication explaining the disposition of memorial funds 
  • Current Designated Funds: Building Fund, Music Fund, Outreach Fund, Memorial Fund, Columbarium fund, and The Cupboard 

Bill Thornton, Associate Pastor, presented the Minister's Report:
We have much for which to be grateful:
  • Doug and Carolyn Fairbanks, who stepped out of retirement to serve Signal Crest this year. God has used them in a powerful way.
  • Rebekah Ducote, who served mightily as our Youth Ministry Director for 6 and a half years and now has stepped into a critical new role as Director of Discipleship. She has made an immediate, positive impact.  
  • Drew Barton, who served as the Assistant Youth Director and Youth Director and now has taken the reins as Director of Youth Ministry in a seamless transition.
  • Kathy Robertson, who directs the spiritual formation of our Confirmation Classes. 
  • Marti Wayland, who has served tirelessly for over 30 years, providing inspired teaching for our children in the 11 a.m. worship service.
  • Innumerable lay leaders who are effectively moving our vision initiative forward in the early phase of a multi-year plan.


In partnership,
Mark Smith
Chair, Church Council

P.S. The next Church Council meeting will be July 21 at 6:30 pm in the Interpreter’s Room. All are welcome to attend.

The approved minutes from the April 7 meeting may be found by clicking here .