people
Reverend Linda Kessie was born in the state of New Hampshire, raised in Connecticut, and came to Texas in 1979. In her first career, she was a Medical Assistant in an ophthalmology practice. In Texas, her career was staying home with the children and volunteering at the church – Wimberly United Methodist Church. Soon, she was part-time church secretary, which later evolved into secretary at Dripping Springs UMC, then at First UMC, Austin. Then, God finally got her attention; she finished up her undergraduate degree at St. Edward’s University and began attending Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary in 1996.
The Kessie family has two ministers in the household. Linda’s husband is The Reverend John Paul Kessie, a clergyperson of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, who serves Oak Grove Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Andice. They live in Georgetown and have four daughters and five grandchildren. Linda enjoys horseback riding and has a horse named Spit. (She says there is a great story behind the name.) She has many other hobbies, including reading and gardening, but expects to focus on playing with the grandchildren!
Teams
The Administrative Council of Grace United Methodist Church endeavors to administer a program of nurture, outreach, witness, and resources in the church. This council also administers the organization and temporal life of the church through several teams including Memorials, Pastor-Parish Relations (PPR), Lay Leadership, Board of Trustees, and Permanent Endowment Fund. The council serves to envision, plan, implement and annually evaluate the mission and ministry of the church.
The Administrative Council consists of Chair Elaine Chaney, Treasurer and Lay Member of Annual Conference Adam Fambrough, Lay Leader David Mitschelen, and Secretary Nancy Lindsay, the chairperson of each of the above mentioned teams, representatives to Men’s Ministry Tom Calnan, District Board of Missions Adam Fambrough, and South Austin Assistance Ministry John Jordan, the coordinator of the seasonal teams Chester Eitze, and the at-large members listed below.
At-large members of the Administrative Council include Communications and Pulpit & Pew editor Michael Rowley, Finance Liason Adam Fambrough, Outreach coordinator David Mitschelen, and church members Chester Eitze, Ann Everitt, Laura Flatt, Jan Hedrick, Sharon Howell, Mitch Mooney, and Carolyn Moore.
The Lay Leadership Team is responsible for identifying, developing, deploying, evaluating, and monitoring Christian spiritual leadership for Grace UMC. Members of this team engage in and are attentive to the development and enhancement of their own Christian spiritual life in light of the mission of Grace UMC. This team engages in biblical and theological reflections on the mission of Grace UMC, the primary task, and ministries of Grace UMC. It provides a means of identifying the spiritual gifts and abilities of the membership and works with the administrative council to determine the diverse ministry tasks of the congregation and the skills needed for leadership. The Lay Leadership Team is chaired by Rev. Linda Kessie. Other members include David Arnold, Stefen Kane, Gerda Stuart, Chester Eitze, and Lay Leader David Mitschelen. (Information taken from the Book of Discipline ¶ 259.1 – Team on Lay Leadership. Information Source = umc.org)
The Memorials Team is responsible for handling gifts (including monetary donations) to Grace UMC which were made in honor or memory of someone. Gifts can be designated for specific purposes, such as the choir fund for music, robes, etc. or the kitchen fund for painting and updating. The Memorials Team also decides the use of any undesignated funds. The Memorials Team is chaired by Sharon Howell. Other members include Jennie Peterman, Gerda Stuart, Kathy Calnan, and Kay Burrough.
The PPR (Parish-Pastor Relations) Team is responsible for conferring with and counseling the pastor and staff on the matters pertaining to the effectiveness of ministry; relationships with the congregation; conditions that may impede the effectiveness of ministry; and to interpret the nature and function of the ministry. Also, this team confers with, consults, and counsels the pastor and staff on matters pertaining to priorities in the use of gifts, skills, and time and priorities for the demands and effectiveness of the mission and ministry of the congregation. Another important task of this team is to provide evaluation at least annually for the use of the pastor and staff in an ongoing effective ministry and for identifying continuing educational needs and plans. The PPR Team is chaired by Vanessa De La Rosa. Other members include Claudia Drinovsky, Jan Hedrick, David Arnold, Lay Leader David Mitschelen, and Lay Member of Annual Conference Adam Fambrough. (Information taken from the Book of Discipline ¶ 258.2 – Parish-Pastors Relations Team. Information Source = umc.org)
The Permanent Endowment Fund Team is responsible for receiving, administering, and investing gifts, bequests, trusts, and trust funds on behalf of Grace United Methodist Church. Gifts and bequests of all sizes are welcome. None is too small to help in the work of the church. For complete details about the Permanent Endowment Fund, please refer to our pamphlet about it which you may download as a PDF file by clicking here. The chair of this team is elected by the board. Members include Steve Drinovsky, Mike Rowley, David Mitschelen, Dave Burrough, Rev. Linda Kessie, Church Treasurer Adam Fambrough, and Advisor Chuck Wall.
The Board of Trustees Team is responsible for the supervision, oversight, and care of all property owned by Grace and equipment acquired by the church. This team reviews the adequacy of insurance on the church and church-owned property, buildings, and equipment and grants permission to outside organizations to use Grace church facilities. This team is also responsible for the accessibility of the church and related facilities so there are no barriers that will impede the full participation of people with disabilities. The Board of Trustees is chaired by Tom Calnan. Other members include Wim Geerts, Stefen Kane, Steve Drinovsky, and Ex Officio member Rev. Linda Kessie. (Information taken from the Book of Discipline ¶ 2524 – ¶ 2532 – Board of Trustees. Information Source = umc.org)
If you are interested in joining a team, or participating on any level in the work of a team, please feel free to indicate your interest by e-mail or personally speaking with one of the team chairs. Joining a team is a wonderful opportunity for anyone to meet and fellowship with other members of the church and become involved in the support of Grace UMC and its ministries.
