Community
We are Tabernacle United Church, people of many ages, colors, nationalities, sexual orientations, gender identities, family structures, vocations, avocations and faith journeys sharing our joys and concerns, praying for each other, caring for each other, studying, working, playing, and worshiping together.
We are a community run church, led in the Presbyterian and United Church of Christ traditions by the Pastor and a Council of elders elected from the congregation. We share the duties of planning the worship services, writing the prayers, picking quotes for the bulletin cover, greeting visitors, hosting coffee hour, singing in the choir, teaching Sunday school, leading the education forums, visiting and cooking meals for the sick, injured, and bereaved, and preaching one fifth of the sermons.
In addition to our time together on Sunday for worship, coffee hour, and education, we come together as a community for social events planned by The Fun Group, work and walk together in mission projects and protests and gather regularly in smaller affinity groups.
Lectionary Bible Study Affinity Group
The Lectionary Bible Study Affinity Group meets one night a week to read and discuss the Bible passages from the lectionary which shape the service for the coming Sunday, educating each other and enriching the worship experience with preparation.
Sustainable Living Affinity Group
The Sustainable Living Affinity Group members read and discuss books on humanity's role in the environment, support each other in reducing ecological impact, maintain our Philadelphia Sustainability Resources web page, and make recommendations on policy to the Church Council, such as reducing our weekly paper usage through a smaller bulletin and our once-a-month paperless Sunday, and supporting the Gaviotas Carbon Offset Initiative in order to be carbon negative.
Las Anonas Affinity Group
The Las Anonas Affinity Group plans delegations to El Salvador, stays in contact with our sister community of Las Anonas, works with the Romero Interfaith Center, and keeps the congregation informed.
Governance
Members of the congregation meet once a year to vote on the church's budget, the terms and call of the Pastor, and the election of Council members. Council is composed of eight ordained Elders. Four council members are elected by the congregation at each Annual Meeting to serve two year terms, and each Elder may serve up to six years consecutively. Council is responsible for interviewing and approving prospective members and Elders, approving a budget to be recommended to the congregation at the Annual Meeting, authorizing expenditures for projects and mission activities during the year, receiving regular reports from the Pastor, clerk, and treasurer, setting policy, approving building usage by other groups, and discussing and working to improve the operation of the church and our life together as a community. Council has ten regular business meetings a year (monthly except for August and December) moderated alternately by the Pastor and an elder Vice Moderator elected by Council, plus a one day retreat, and irregular meetings as necessary. While Council is responsible for policy, Council traditionally votes to defer identity-shaping policy decisions such as our declarations of Sanctuary and More Light/Open and Affirming status to a vote of the congregation.
