Our Committees

Transition Committee

The transition committee is a
temporary group that has been formed to assist the parish in Father James’ last months at the church and in the months that follow as we search for an interim rector. The committee will do it’s best to keep parish life running as smoothly as possible during this time.

Members

Budd Mazurek – cp
Bethany Schuldt
Allison de Kanel
Paul de Kanel
Denise Crates
Erin Cohen
Carole Merrill-Mazurek
Daniel Schuldt

Service Committee

In keeping with the mission of St. Stephen’s Congregation, the Service Committee seeks to help individuals in need locally and globally, through the SICM program, local schools and Episcopal Relief & Development.  Our objective is to put our Christian intentions into action in our community by enlisting the personal effort of our members. 

Members

Richey Woodzell
Kathy Condon
Linda Emaelaf
Carole Merrill-Mazurek
Marti Spang
Priscilla Sprague

Worship Committee

The worship committee assists the rector in planning and evaluating the liturgies of the parish
in order to enrich the experience of all worshipers and to encourage greater participation.

Members

Allison de Kanel – cp
Bethany Schuldt
Susan Lohnas
Doreen May
Doug Lohnas
Vicki Hoshko

Education Committee

This committee seeks to provide all ages with opportunities to learn about the Christian
tradition and to provide all ages with opportunities to learn how to live the Christian life. This
committee is concerned with recruiting teachers, learners, and teaching materials and
developing topics of study for members at all age levels in the parish.

Members

Bethany Schuldt – staff – cp
Tammy Ruscitto

Pastoral Care Committee – LEM*

Seeks to strive for justice and peace among all people, and to respect the dignity of every
human being. Although ‘pastoral care’ may sound like something that only parish clergy do, it
is considerably more than just that. At St. Stephen’s pastoral care includes the care and concern
of all members of the community for one another.

Members

Carole Merrill-Mazurek – cp
Doreen May

Fellowship Committee

Seeks to help build and strengthen the Parish Family through community activities, especially
with food.

Members

Health and Safety Committee

Will continue to monitor the ongoing COVID health and safety protocol and make changes as needed. Will establish rules and regulations to keep parish members and visitors safe.

Members

Doreen May

Rector Search Committee*

The temporary committee will conduct the search for our next Rector. We will create a parish profile, conduct interviews and present a candidate to the Vestry.

Members

Dan Schuldt – cp
Budd Mazurek
Jean Stefanski
Keith Nelson
Marti Spang
Sal Belardo
Priscilla Sprague
Susie Olsen

Finance/ Endowment Committee

The Finance Committee shall
(a) manage the financial activities of the Church other than the raising of funds and the
Endowments;
(b) supervise the collection, disbursements and records of accounts of the Parish;
(c) prepare the annual budget, and
(d) recommend the appointment of auditors.

The Finance Committee shall
(a) ensure that St. Stephen’s Church buildings and contents are insured against fire and other
customary hazards;
(b) purchase general liability insurance on St. Stephen’s Church premises and on its motor
vehicles, if any;
(c) secure and maintain other kinds of insurance as may be reasonably required, all pursuant
to the direction of, and in amounts fixed by, the Vestry, and
(d) provide an annual report to the Vestry of each of the insurance policies, the current
coverage amounts, and the premiums.

The Treasurer shall be a member of the Finance Committee.

The Endowment Committee shall deposit and invest and reinvest all gifts and bequests of
money, including any proceeds received from the sale of real or personal property and securities
made and received as an Endowment. Monies from such an Endowment shall be used to support
the purpose identified by the gift or bequest, or for a specific purpose as the Vestry may direct.

Members

? cp
Denise Crates tres.
Marti Spang – endwm tres.
Austin Spang
Sal Belardo
Jean Stefanski

Personnel Committee

The Personnel Committee shall
(a) assist the Rector in maintaining staff position descriptions,
(b) recommend and oversee compliance of personnel policies,
(c conduct performance reviews of the Rector,
(d) ensure there are provisions for performance reviews of all employees, and
(e) make salary recommendations to the Finance Committee.

Members

Linda Emalaef cp
Dan Schuldt
Carole Merrill-Mazurek
Erin Cohen

Nominating Committee

a) The Nominations Committee shall consist of the Junior Warden and the Vestry members
whose terms expire in the following year (not at the upcoming Annual Meeting, but at the
subsequent Annual Meeting).
b) It shall be the duty of the Nominations Committee to supply names of eligible candidates for
the position of Warden, Vestry members, and Diocesan Convention Delegates and Alternates
for the Annual Meeting and also for such Vestry vacancies as may occur at times other than
the Annual Meeting.
c) Vestry Members who will be completing their term of office, and are eligible to serve again
(see Article V, Section 3), and wish to be considered for nomination, must declare their
interest to the Nominations Committee by the adjournment of the October Regular Vestry
Meeting.
d) The Nominations Committee will present the slate to the Vestry at the regular November
meeting. The final slate will then be presented for elections at the upcoming January Annual
Meeting

Members

Dan Schuldt cp
Tammy Ruscitto
Denise Crates
Erin Cohen

Buildings & Grounds Committee

The duties of the Buildings and Grounds Committee shall be:
(a) to supervise the care and maintenance of the buildings, grounds & equipment of the
Parish.
(b) to prepare recommendations for repair, renewals and replacements of buildings and
equipment.
(c) to monitor contracts for maintenance, repair and replacements of buildings and grounds
equipment and machines.
(d) to carry out projects approved by the Vestry

Members

George Woodzell – temporary cp*
Sal Belardo
Keith Nelson
Austin Spang
Doug Lohnas
Ronald Stefanski

Communications Committee

The duties of the Communications Committee shall be:
(a) to oversee communication between the church and its members through print and
electronic mediums.
(b) to promote the church and church-sponsored events to the surrounding community.
(c) to develop o a public relations or communications plan for both church members and for
the surrounding community.
(d) to coordinate contacts between the church and the media in the Capital Region
(e) to provide counsel and direction to ministries within the church about how to promote the
events and services these ministries provide for the congregation.

Members

Dan Schuldt – cp
Bethany Schuldt

First Friends Committee

The duties of the First Friends Nursery Committee shall be:
(a) to support the School Administrator School Teachers.
(b) to prepare recommendations for repair and replacements of nursery building and
equipment.
(c) supervise the collection, disbursements and records of tuition payments
(d) to facilitate the relationship between Saint Stephen’s congregation and First Friends
Nursery School
(e) to establish policies and procedures for the First Friends Nursery School

Members

Laura Bynon, staff
Chris Quinn, staff
Doreen May
Denise Crates
Mary Alexander