Our Pastorial Staff

Our Pastoral Staff

Senior Pastor

Rev. Dr. Susan K. Smith

Pastor Smith received her Doctorate in Ministry from United Theological Seminary, a Master of Divinity from Yale Divinity School and a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature from Occidental College.

Pastor Smith serves as Minister of Music at her church, producing what some have called a “professional choir” which, in addition to singing in Africa, has sung for professional productions including a promotional performance of “The Lion King,” “The Chocolate Nutcracker” and with country singer Lyle Lovett.

Pastor Smith is a Co-President of BREAD (Building Responsibility, Equity and Dignity), a multi-racial, multi-ethnic social justice organization comprised of over 50 different religious denominations in the city of Columbus. She is a member of the Board of Trustees of the Samuel DeWitt Proctor Conference, Inc., a social justice ministry which seeks to empower churches and ministers in urban settings to deal with the problems they face through training, resource development and acquisition, and changing of public policy.

She is the author of four books, “Carla and Annie,” “From Calvary to Victory,” “Forgive WHO?” and “Crazy Faith: Ordinary People; Extraordinary Lives,” and the mother of two adult children, Caroline and Charlie.

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Associate Pastor

Rev. Patricia E.H. Battle

Rev. Patricia Battle received her Bachelor’s degree and her Master’s in Business Administration from Franklin University, Columbus, Ohio, and a Master’s of Divinity degree from Ashland Theological Seminary, Ashland, Ohio.

Called by God to help people move closer in relationship with God, Rev. Patricia Battle’s passion is helping others experience the transformative love and power of Jesus the Christ in their daily lives through teaching, preaching and providing spiritual direction. She is an intercessory prayer warrior, a spiritual director, and is trained in spiritual formation and inner healing prayer.

In addition to her leadership role at Advent, Rev. Patricia Battle also serves as a leader in corporate America. She is a Senior Manager at AT&T, Inc. and has served in several leadership and managerial capacities throughout her 28 year tenure, including serving as a mentor in the Mentoring and Leadership Program.

She is the mother of three children, and one granddaughter.

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Our Executive Staff

Board of Deacons

The Board of Deacons is charged with serving the Senior Pastor and the overall physical, emotional and spiritual needs of the congregation by:

• Assisting in the preparation and administration of Communion;

• Assisting in baptisms;

• Visiting the sick and the elderly;

• Attending to the bereaved;

• Meeting the physical needs of the congregation through its benevolence fund and

• Voting, on behalf of the congregation, for candidates for mem

bership and termination of membership.

Chairperson: Janice Green-Marbley
Romona Hurt, Charles Jordan, Bridget Mitchell, James Pope, Joyce Williams
Apprentice: Dr. Cynthia Tyson

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Board of Trustees

The Board of Trustees is charged with:

• Assuring that all donations and offerings are accounted for and documented properly;

• Assuring that the church’s building and grounds are properly cared for;

• Paying all debts;

• Opening and closing the church for all services, meetings, events and functions and

• Working with the Senior Pastor to meet the fiscal goals and objectives of the

congregation.

Chairperson: Cyhthia Figgins
Co-Chairperson: Tombi Williams
Diandra Gordon, Lillie Lindsay, Jackie Spencer

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Pastoral Relations Committee

The Pastoral Relations Committee is charged with:

• Serving as a liaison between the Senior Pastor and the congregation;

• Serving as mediator or arbitrator between the Pastoral Staff and other employees, if requested by the Senior Pastor;

• Counseling members of the congregation, when requested by the Senior Pastor;

• Providing for the safety and welfare of the Pastoral Staff;

• Convening meetings with other boards, councils and committees if or when serious matters arise relating to the Senior Pastor and other members of the Pastoral Staff and

• Annually submitting to the Finance Committee r

ecommendations regarding the compensation package of the Senior Pastor.

Chairperson: Jennifer St. Clair
Charles Jordan, Dr. Cynthia Tyson, Diane Williams

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Church Financial Officer

The Church Financial Secretary/Treasurer is responsible for:

• Setting up all church financial accounts;

• Keeping an accurate record of all income, disbursements and special accounts;

• Authorizing all disbursements from all church accounts;

• Making monthly reports to the Board of Directors, Board of Trustees and Executive Council and

• Making quarterly and annual reports to the congregation.

Financial Secretary/Treasurer: Fran Dennis

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Finance Committee

The Finance Committee is charged with:

• Preparing a proposed budget for the upcoming calendar year and

• Reviewing the budget quarterly to make adjustments as necessary.

Committee Chairperson: Diane Gordon
Cynthia Figgins

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Board of Christian Education

The Board of Christian Education is charged with:

• Planning for the development of the Christian Education program for the entire church;

• Establishing long-range goals;

• Approving the Christian Education budget before it goes to the Finance Committee and

• Working to implement the educational components of various church programs.

Chairperson: Donna Williams

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Executive Council

The Executive Council is truly a council of the people because of its unique composition of the chair and vice-chair of every elected and appointed council, standing committee and ministry of Advent. Delegates to the United Church of Christ’s Central Southeast Ohio Association and Ohio Conference also sit on the Executive Council. This council is charged with:

• Reviewing and approving all activities of all church organizations, except the Board of Directors, Deacons, Trustees and Christian Education;

• Establishing program priorities;

• Approving the formation of new organizations and ministries with consultation and approval of the Senior Pastor;

• Evaluating the success of the church’s organizations and ministries in attaining their goals;

• Canceling activities and reorganizing or revitalizing any ministry not found to be in unity with the mission of the church and

• Seeking ways to expand the work of the church into the wider community.
The Council meets on the third Thursday of every month at 7pm.

Chairperson: Diane Williams

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