Woodlawn Presbyterian Church

The secret of our hope and future is simply this: Christ Alive in Us!

In addition to the pastor, Dr. John J. Spangler, Woodlawn Presbyterian Church (USA) has eight elected members in active service on the session. These leaders share in governing, discipline and ministry; and function as elders, deacons and trustees of the church.

Class of  2011Class of 2012Class of 2013
Jay Cantrell
Freida St. Germain
Susan Sellers
Solomon Harripersaud
Ron Whittingham
Leslie Watkins
 



The session provides leadership in many ways, including chairing of ministry committees. These include:

All Good Gifts Ministries Team: Affirming that all good gifts come from God, the ALL GOOD GIFTS Ministries Team will lead the whole church in "Singing New Godspell Songs" of generous stewardship by:  A)  Promoting the joyful, faithful, and generous support of the whole mission of the whole church by all members of the congregation through their tithes, offerings, and other gifts of financial and material resources, time, energy, abilities, skills, etc. B)  Preparing, monitoring, and sustaining an annual church budget and other supportive stewardship systems as special mission giving, memorial gifts, endowment funds etc. C) Providing administrative oversight, support, and review for all leadership personnel, including staff and volunteers. D)  Providing administrative oversight and maintenance for all church buildings, grounds, equipment, and material resources. E) Providing methods, media, and message for churchwide communications, especially external means such as church signage, web site, public print resources, etc.  Elder Ron Whittingham chairperson; Elder Jay Cantrell vice-chairperson; and Solomon Harrispersaud recorder.

Day By Day Ministries Team: Affirming daily needs for seeing, loving, following, and serving God more fully, the DAY BY DAY Ministries Team will lead the whole congregation in "Singing New Godspell Songs" of upward, inward, and outward-focused witness by: 
A) Upward-focused Witness...Providing for the planning and implementation of upward-focused witness through regular and special services of worship and celebration and such other particular services as ordination/installation of church officers, weddings, funerals, etc.  Securing the supportive services of teams of liturgists, musicians, ushers, etc. 
B) Inward-focused Witness...Providing for the planning and implementation of inward-focused witness through regular and special opportunities for Christian formation, including spiritual development and church education for people of all ages.  Providing for the planning and implementation of inward and upward-outward-focused witness through age and gender-specific programs and activities, such as ministries with children and youth, with women and men, with older adults, with teachers/leaders, etc. 
C) Outward-focused Witness...Preparing, encouraging, and supporting all members of the church for the outward-focused witness of personal and collective faith sharing, affirming the Presbyterian Church (USA) stance that "Evangelism is:  (a) Joyfully sharing the good news (Godspell) of the sovereign love of God; and (b) Calling people to repentance, to personal faith in Christ Jesus, to active membership in the church, and to obedient service in the world."  Providing multiple teaching/learning opportunities for all members to grow in their understandings and commit ments to evangelistic faith sharing...in the context of worship services, churchwide shared meals, church education, small group gatherings, etc.  Planning and implementing multiple opportunities for neighborhood/community programs and activities for listening to and interacting with diverse and inclusive multicultural groups of people in order to understand and respond to their expressed needs in matters of life and faith. Providing outward-focused witness through ministries of compassion and service of justice and peacemaking via extant areas of commitment (such as Meals-On-Wheels, CAMP, Habitat for Humanity, Central Presbyterian Church's Homeless Shelter, SW Mableton Neighbors Association, etc) and via new community ministry initiatives.  Providing outward and inward-focused ministries of welcome and hospitality for church members, friends, and visitors through active and supportive Care Groups, churchwide shared meals, visitation with people who are hospitalized, homebound, and in retirement and/or nursing care centers; and through creative and effective communications via a monthly church newsletter, church web site, etc.  Providing for a consistently accessible, diverse, friendly, inclusive, inviting, multicultural, open, and warm church community and environment.  Committee leaders include Elder Susan Sellers, chairperson; Elder Freida St. Germain; vice-chairperson,  recorder,
Leslie Watkins. 

Nominating Committee: Woodlawn's congregation calls and ordains its leadership and officers through the Nominating Committee which consists of two elders appointed by the session, and five persons elected by the congregation.

Pastor: Rev. John J. Spangler, D.Min.
Clerk of Session: Elder Leslie Watkins
Church Treasurer: Elder James Mauldin
Church Secretary: Andie Albert
Director of Music: Elder Carol Thomas
Liaison for Scout Program: Elder Solomon Takang



Progress