Leadership

Our church is led and operated mainly by our congregation, as is the tradition and foundation of congregational churches. There are many opportunities to serve and lead, allowing us to take advantage of the many talents of our members. The direction and business of the church are determined by our members as guided by the following groups.

Church Council—The prime governing body of the church, whose purpose is to conduct the business of the church between annual meetings.

Who runs the church?

Ultimately, the congregation decides all matters in public meetings by voting. The biggest such meeting is the annual meeting, which occurs each February. In practice, it is very much like an old-fashioned town meeting. For the rest of the year, regular business is delegated to various boards and committees, whose members are elected by the congregation at the annual meeting.

The Church Covenant from our Bylaws

We are united in striving to know the will of God as taught in the Holy Scriptures, and in our purpose to walk in the ways of the Lord, made known or to be made known to us. We hold it to be the mission of The Little Brown Church in the Vale to proclaim the gospel to all humankind, exalting the worship of the one true God and laboring for the progress of knowledge, the promotion of justice, the reign of peace, and the realization of equality for all of God’s people. Depending, as did our ancestors, upon the guidance of the Holy Spirit to lead us into all truth, we work and pray for the transformation of the world into the Kingdom of God; and we look with faith for the triumph of righteousness and the life everlasting.