The Work Areas

Adult Education

This work area carries the overall responsibility for the Christian Education programs for adult members of the church, organizing small groups, Bible courses, and special events.

Board of Gifts and Bequests

The purpose of the Board of Gifts and Bequests is to support the life and mission of the First United Methodist Church of Downers Grove. The Board promotes the growth of the church's endowed funds, in support of its ministry within the community. Through prudent administrative and investment policy, the Board strives to ensure the church's endowed funds remain a vital force for the church and its congregation for generations to come.

Children and Family Ministries

This work area carries the overall responsibility for the children’s ministries, birth through grade 6 and family ministries within the church.

Church and Society

This work area encourages study and action in the areas of world peace and order, human welfare, political and human rights, social and economic justice, environmental justice and survival.

Environmental Stewardship

Our mission is to look at all aspects of environmental stewardship, with the goal of continuously improving our church's environmental stewardship. This includes working with the Trustees to identify and implement methods to be more energy efficient, to reduce our hazardous emissions, and to decrease our non-biodegradable waste through increased recycling and the use of biodegradable products. We also identify and develop programs to education the congregation, local community and Northern Illinois Conference on environmental issues and potential solutions to these issues. We are striving to help ensure that, as Christians, our church is always trying to reduce, reuse and recycle to lessen our negative impact on the environment.

Health and Wellness

This work area works to keep the congregation informed on health and safety issues.

Membership Development

This work area’s goal is to maintain and increase membership by serving and moving our congregation’s ministry forward.

Mental Health Ministries

This work area works with the staff counselor to provide support. They provide educational opportunities with regards to mental illness as well as mental health.

Missions

This work area shares in a mission that extends around the globe, supports ministries for children, youth and older persons, advocates peace and justice for the whole human family, brings food to the hungry and supports missionaries.

Stewardship and Finance

This work area interprets the Biblical basis for stewardship consistent with the doctrine of the UMC and informs the Church through educational channels and study materials. They are responsible for providing other work areas with annual budget planning and guidelines. The work area develops the Stewardship campaign budget. They develop and implement plans with will raise sufficient income to meet the budget adopted by the Administrative Council.

Worship

This work area provides and coordinates support for all worship related activities, through the work of coordinators, staff members, and volunteers. Responsibilities include organizing: acolytes, altar flowers, communion stewards, lay readers, liturgical dancers, organists, parking lot attendants, sound booth attendants, as well as both regular and special music programs (three children’s choirs, The Connection, Chapel Choir, Chancel Choir, and two Bell Choirs).

Worship Arts Sub-committee

Our mission is to assist the Pastors in providing a meaningful worship experience. Our vision is to create an atmosphere in the worship experience that touches the hearts of everyone. Our duties include: decorating for all seasons for the Christian year, arranging lilies and poinsettias in Chapel, sanctuary, and adjacent areas, and other visual-arts related duties as requested.

Youth Ministries

This work area is comprised of leaders from all youth programs from 7th grade to post high school.