Hope Church NYC Process for Establishing a Governance Structure with an Elder Board and Finance Team
In November 2022, Hope East Village, and Hope West Side committed to merge into Hope Church NYC (Hope Midtown) and become one church with three campus locations. The official merger of finances and staff was scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2023.
Prior to the merger each congregation was led by their respective Transitional Leadership Teams (TLT), consisting of leaders from each local congregation. Between January and April 2023 each TLT was given regular updates from pastor Drew and Dave related to staffing, church planning, finances and unique issues each church was facing as they transitioned.
In May 2023, a process began to put in place an elder board and finance team (consisting of leaders from each across the three church locations) that would provide oversight and lead our church into the future. The current TLT members affirmed the process of transitioning to one elder board and finance team.
Over the summer pastor Drew proposed potential candidates and in September 2023 the TLT affirmed new candidates and proposed several other leaders from their church locations. The current TLT members were invited to prayerfully consider staying on as part of the elder board or finance team. New candidates were processed with our staff Executive Team (Drew Hyun, Dave Jennings, Eliana Lassig, Emily Yung, Jordan Varghese, Jeff Truong) and the final candidates affirmed.
The role descriptions for 1) Elder Team Members and 2) Finance Team Members were outlined for candidates, and an Elder Rule of Life was presented to each candidate for them to prayerfully consider as they were making their decision to commit to serving in these leadership roles. Candidates were asked to confirm their commitment (and sign the Rule of Life) by Wednesday, November 1st, and the candidates were presented at the Leadership Community Dinner on Friday, November 3, 2023 and are listed below.
The Elder Board candidates:
Ed Huang
Alex Duncanson
Carol Liu
Alex Lee
Lauren May
Brett Stine
Drew Hyun (ex officio)
The Finance Team candidates:
Barnaby Lo
Chin Hur
Dave Jennings (ex officio)
Bio’s for the Elder and Finance Team candidates can be viewed HERE.
The Elder Board roles include the following:
Committed to the Elder Rule of Life
Committed to the Theological Disposition of Hope Church NYC
Instill Integrity throughout our Church in terms of Orthodoxy and Orthopraxis
Keep the Lead Pastor accountable in Orthodoxy and Orthopraxis
Seek the Lord together and make larger decisions on behalf of the church as we steward our mission and charism well (this will be more of a “governing” board, not a “working” one). These decisions include overall budget approval, mergers, etc.
The Finance Team roles include the following:
Committed to the Elder Rule of Life
Committed to the Theological Disposition of Hope Church NYC
Desire to see Hope Church NYC steward our financial resources, facilities, and human resources - talents and gifts of members
Heart to make sure our staff are compensated and cared for appropriately
Provide feedback, wisdom and discernment about facility decisions and other opportunities/new initiatives as presented by staff team led by the Lead Pastor
The Rule of Life signed by members of the Elder Candidates and Finance Team Candidates can be viewed HERE.
Between November 3, 2023 and Sunday, December 17, 2023, we are inviting Hope Church NYC volunteers, and those who attend services from our three locations (Midtown, East Village, West Side), to share any feedback, concerns, or questions regarding the elder or finance team candidates.
We encourage you to speak with candidates directly about any concerns or questions you may have for them. You can also send general feedback, concerns and questions, or confidential questions, to the following email elderboard@hopechurchnyc.org and pastor Drew or Dave will contact you with a response.
The Elder Board and Finance Team will have an initial meeting before installation on Monday, December 18, 2023 to review the 2024 budget and be briefed on plans for 2024. On Tuesday, January 16, 2024, the Elder Board will convene for the first official meeting of 2024.
At our Leadership Community Dinner on Friday, January 19, 2024, the Elder Board and Finance Team will be presented and prayed for by our broader leadership community.
Beginning with Sunday, January 28, 2024 (and the subsequent Sundays at each of our locations), the Elder Board and Finance Teams will be presented and prayed for during our Sunday Services.