The purpose of the FCC Counseling Team is
to support the work of the counseling and community life
ministry which is staffed by Sylvia Richards, our Commissioned
Minister of Counseling and Community Life and a licensed
psychotherapist.
The FCC Counseling Center is the major component of this
ministry. The Counseling Center provides sliding scale
psychotherapy counseling to members of our church and people
from the larger community who have been referred by pastors,
other therapists, and agencies. Many, from within our church
family and elsewhere, would not have been able to receive the
assistance that they needed if it were not for this valuable
ministry.
Other important activities of counseling and community life
ministry include pastoral care, workshops, classes and other
activities designed to strengthen our community and spiritual
life.
The Mission of the Counseling Team.
The FCC Counseling Team supports the
work of the Minister of Counseling and Community Life in three
ways:
We promote a healthy and vibrant ministry
by providing compassionate feedback to the Minister of
Counseling and Community life on the activities of the
ministry.
We promote the mission of the Counseling
Center by informing the FCC Community about the purpose of
the Center while respecting the confidential nature of the
work.
We promote strengthening the FCC community by designing and
delivering workshops, classes and other activities open to
all church members which encourage a spiritual and
supportive community.
The Functioning of the Counseling Team.
Membership:
The Counseling Team is composed of the Minister of Counseling
and Community Life and no less than four other FCC members with
experience or interest in social work, organizational
development or counseling. At
the start of each year, members will be asked if they wish to
continue their membership commitment for the coming year. New
members may be proposed at any scheduled counseling team
meeting. Candidates must receive the vote of at least 2/3 of the
current Counseling Team members to be included on the team.
Current members include Suzanne Byerly, Phil Hardy, Paul Menzel,
Sylvia Richards, Kim Richter, Dwayne Simpson, and Bill Taube.
Leadership:
The Minister of Counseling and Community Life calls meetings,
prepares the agenda and facilitates meetings.A chair is selected from the lay members each year by a
majority vote.The
chair functions as the voice of the counseling team whenever
such a voice is needed.
Decisions:
It is the intent of the counseling team to reach decisions by
consensus.
Yearly Planning:We start each year
with an evaluation of the previous year, anticipation of
upcoming member challenges and a plan for counseling team
activities for the coming year.
Meetings:
There will be no fewer than four meetings of the Counseling Team
each year.
Connection to the Board of Deacons:
The Minister of Counseling and Community Life reports to the
Board of Deacons on Ministry and Counseling Team activities.As the sponsoring body, the Board of Deacons also
approves the membership of the Counseling Team.
Confidentiality:
The Counseling Team understands and practices confidentiality in
their deliberations. At the same time, it strives to be
transparent regarding its decisions and activities.
Mediation:
Members of the Counseling Team are available to mediate disputes
involving members of FCC.
Funding:
The Counseling Team does not have an annual budget for
activities.
Workshops and classes are intended to be free or at cost to
participants. However, there is a Counseling Special Fund that
comes from a yearly special offering by the membership.This fund supports the Counseling Minister in providing a
sliding fee scale for clients of the Center and additional
responsibilities of the ministry requested by the Senior
Minister.
Activities:
Our goal is to sponsor activities that may:
Explore human life topics such as
relationships or parenting;
Promote the spiritual growth of FCC;
Create a dialogue on divisive issues;
Give voice to member concerns;
Celebrate our rich denominational and
church history;
Strengthen our community; and
Help visualize a hopeful and productive
future.
If You Would Like Additional Information:
Please contact the church office at
713.468.9543.
