Brad Smith
Pastor/Head of Staff
Eastminster Staff
Pastors & Program Staff
Dr. Bradley D. Smith, Senior Pastor
Pam Tessier, Administrative Assistant to Senior Pastor
Rev. Lynn A. Grandsire, Associate Pastor for Congregational Care
Shelli Knapp, Administrative Assistant for Congregational Care and Fellowship
Tricia McCormick, Administrative Assistant for Youth, Children and Evangelism
Laura Long & Ed Black, Interim Youth Directors
Chris Fink, Senior High Youth Director
Dr. Mark E. Durrett, Associate Pastor for Adult Education and Discipleship
Julie McDaniel, Member Involvement Coordinator, and Administrative Assistant for Adult Education
Doretha Evans, Director of CHAMPS (Part Time)
Dr. James I. St. John, Parish Associate for Fellowship (Part Time)
Mr. Croskeys Royall, Director of Childrens Ministries
Jasmine Lipscomb, Family Specialist, Thornwell, Building Families
Worship & Music
Fredna Lee, Director of Music (Part Time)
Joshua Evanovich, Organist
Jim Masek, Handbell Director (Part Time)
Linda Steffey, Childrens Choir Director (Part Time)
Henry Long, Jubilee Worship Leader (Part Time)
Bill Ketchin, Matt Mossman, Brooks Lane, Sound Technicians (Part Time)
Administration
Bill Collins, Business Manager
Maria Harvin, Administrative Assistant for Business and Finance
Christy Rippy, Treasurer
Anna Bower, Financial Assistant / Receptionist
Thelma Carter, Director of Communications
Bryan Call, Network Administrator
Francine Barry, Drop-In Nursery Coordinator (Part Time)
Lauren Halter, Congregational Childcare Coordinator (Part Time)
Regina Jeffcoat, Director of Food Service (Part Time)
Sue Finch, Michael Bond, Julia Smith, Kitchen Assistants (Part Time)
Betty Barton, Wedding Coordinator (Part Time)
facilities
Bob Sturm, Director of Plant Operations
Tony Taylor, Senior Maintenance Technician
Lorenza Kennedy, (Full Time) Mike Cook, Ronald McCollough, (Part Time)
Sidney Williams, Maintenance Technicians (Part Time)
Lee Mitchell, Housekeeping (Part Time)
CHRISTIAN LIFE CENTER
Bill Ketchin, Director of Christian Life Ministries
Rush Bradshaw, CLC Assistant (Part Time)
Parker Lucas, CLC Assistant (Part Time)
Will Abel, CLC Assistant (Part Time)
EASTMINSTER DAY SCHOOL
Lucy Corley & Anita Poole, Interim Co-Directors of Eastminster Day School
2,322
Gains: Letter of Transfer
Reaffirmation of Faith
Profession of Faith
Confirmation
Restored to Active Status
Losses:
Letter of Transfer
Removed from Rolls
Active to Other Participants
Death
21
37
2
33
1
94
(29)
(76)
(114)
(26)
(245)
Baptisms
Member Marriages
Non-Member Marriages
2,171
12
2,183*
31
17
2
This years Membership Report includes 190 persons who were either removed from the rolls or changed
to other participants status. Eastminsters rolls were last updated in about 2005. These past several
years the church family has reached out to inactive members in multiple ways. For example, personal
phone calls have been made acknowledging birthdays, inviting people to join in Vision 2020, encouraging
small group participation, and directly contacting non-active members. Church-wide communications and
direct mailings have also sought to re-engage inactive members. These efforts found 76 people that are no
longer connected to Eastminster and 114 persons the Book of Order says should be categorized as other
participants. Up to date rolls are more honest, enable better stewardship, and allow better care for
church members.
*David Whitehead
Suzanne Hellams Bates (3/1/11)
In Memoriam
Elected Elders
Class of 2014
Steve Bryant
Steve Draffin
Madison Dye
Paul Eaddy
Pam Halligan
Kim Leighton
Jimmy Long
George McCutchen
Bill McDow
Kathie Williams
Elected Deacons
Class of 2014
Matthew Burns
Ken Carey
Alec Chaplin, Jr.
Lisa Dunbar
Jim Hatchell
Coke Mann
Betsy McDonald
Becky Smythe
Jason Tompkins
Patrick Turner
Class of 2015
John Barr
Tara Barr
Virginia Bates
Jane Brissette
Andy Lowrey
Alison McGowan
Michael Schraibman
Stephen Searcy
Marilyn Stradtman
Charlie Weston
Class of 2016
John Derham
Mary Elliott
Elaine Fairey
Lloyd Hendricks
Sharmin Hill
Hank Mabry
Billy Newsome
Susan Owen
Henry Price
Mary Bett Thorne
Clay Robinson, Clerk of Session
Class of 2017
Pat Buyck
Bobby Fuller
Mike Gorman
Jack Hupp
John Leighton
Robert McWilliams
Ellison Robinson
Wehman Sieling
Catherine Theus
Phyllis Trippe
Class of 2015
Sharon Besley
Jeff Burden
Abbot Carnes
Simpson Fant
Carol Hill
John Hudson
Susan Laird
Kay Lydon
Hagood Tighe
Scott Verzyl
Class of 2016
Caroline Bennett
Brian Blackwelder
Jeff Casto
Connie Chase
Alex Dillard
Katie Evatt
Tom Griffin
Charlie Irick
Anne Kleitches
Field Wardlaw
Class of 2017
Scott Barber
Pete Balthazor
Mary Counts
Connie Derrick
Chris Johnson
Jennifer Rayfield
Scot Seigler
Justin Self
Margaret Smolka
Doris Stapel
We wish to thank the officers of the class of 2014 for serving faithfully for their three-year term.
2014
Actual
Budget
2013
Actual
Budget
Income
Undesignated Pledges and Offerings
$2,973,116.23
$2,893,000.00
$2,860,203.31
$2,809,230.00
$ 118,100.01
$150,900.00
$148,633.40
$140,870.00
$3,091,599.59
$3,043,900.00
$3,008,836.71
$2,950,100.00
$66,863.74
$68,325.00
$64,224.17
$72,500.00
$2,773.10
$10,600.00
$12,425.71
$11,100.00
$52,927.48
$69,680.00
$63,715.45
$69,800.00
Fellowship
$5,959.24
$10,250.00
$7,187.27
$10,250.00
Congregational Care
$11,523.01
$17,000.00
$12,832.61
$17,000.00
$442,526.73
$450,400.00
$443,834.19
$445,400.00
Administration
$46,320.65
$53,550.00
$53,277.94
$53,550.00
$111,725.72
$113,000.00
$116,939.41
$113,000.00
$445,243.015
$404,450.00
$372,919.54
$415,450.00
$56,836.58
$62,500.00
$85,572.67
$63,050.00
Total Income
Expenses
Property
Kitchen
Personnel
$1,701,100.68
$1,776,395.00
$1,652,885.66
$1,671,000.00
$5,214.09
$7,750.00
$8,000.00
$8,000.00
$2,949,014.17
$3,043,900.00
$2,893,814.62
$2,950,100.00
$0.00
$115,022.09
$0.00
$142,202.07*
% Change
REVENUE
Pledge Income
$2,590.000.00
Non-Pledge Income
$2,680.000.00
$274,000.00
$320,000.00
$10,500.00
$10,500.00
$18,500.00
3.47%
16.79%
0.00%
$18,500.00
Administrative Income
$150,900.00
$125,250.00
Total Income
$3,043,900.00
$3,154,250.00
0.00%
-17.00%
3.63%
Expenses
Worship & Music
$68,325.00
$70,375.00
$10,600.00
$69,680.00
Fellowship
$53,550.00
$113,000.00
$404,450.00
Kitchen
$27,000.00
Administration
Personnel
$423,400.00
CHAMPS
$62,500.00
$1,776,395.00
$7,750.00
$3,043,900.00
$65,930.00
$17,000.00
Property
$10,600.00
$10,250.00
Congregational Care
3.00%
0.00%
-5.38%
$10,825.00
-5.61%
$17,400.00
2.35%
$434,400.00
2.60%
$25,000.00
-7.41%
$53,250.00
-0.56%
$115,250.00
1.99%
$415,450.00
2.72%
$63,700.00
1.92%
$1,864,070.00
4.94%
$8,000.00
$3,154,250.00
3.23%
3.63%
2014 Benevolences
Disbursements
$500.00
Benevolences Expenditure
$4,416.35
$1,900.00
$9,931.12
$30,695.62
Circle of Giving
$1,090.23
$2,200.00
$2,000.00
$5,500.00
Cooperative Ministry
$17,349.49
$2,000.00
Downtown Church
$25,000.00
$4,414.01
Family Shelter
$8,584.52
$1,000.00
$2,009.00
Footcare Ministry
$4,511.76
$3,629.67
Gideons
$2,000.00
$15,000.00
$1,000.00
$300.00
$19,439.33
$581.38
Hope Unlimited
$5,000.00
$2,500.00
Joy Gift
$2,641.00
Jubilee Academy
$19,185.81
$1,000.00
$10,570.00
$46,301.00
Medical Mission
$2,000.00
2014 Benevolences
$1,500.00
Mission Trips
$66,830.15
Missionary Support
$34,314.28
$1,000.00
$2,500.00
$2,500.00
Parish Nurse
$4,000.00
$28,000.00
$11,928.00
$500.00
$4,239.55
$103.74
$4,062.00
$500.00
Sistercare
$2,000.00
$16,629.67
$3,352.25
$7,500.00
$5,000.00
$10,845.00
$2,250.00
Transitions Center
$26,701.01
$115,000.00
$1,000.00
$5,629.67
Womens Shelter
$5,029.11
$3,507.33
$620,672.04
Church Relations
Mission: Ministers and lay people to participate in the PCUSA denominations processes and programs for
our presbytery.
Accomplishments in 2014:
Currently-serving Ruling and Teaching Elders attended three Stated Meetings and four Called Meetings
of Trinity Presbytery during the year.
Kept Eastminster Session aware of work being done within Trinity Presbytery and the General Assembly, which met in Detroit in June.
Eastminster contributed our ministers and members to the work of Trinity Presbytery and our
larger denomination. These include:
Mark Durrett, Jane Brissette and Martha Casto Committee on Ministry
Jeff Smith and Boyd Scott Committee on Preparation for Ministry
Jon Wagner Division of Missions
Brad Smith Nominations Committee
Lynn Grandsire and Bobby Fuller Permanent Judicial Committee
Jim St. John Synod Permanent Judicial Committee, Chaplain/ SC Senate
Chip Amaker New Church Development Committee
Frank Shuler Personnel Committee
John McArthur Administrative Commission
Mark Durrett Discernment Commission
Dennis Daye and Jim St. John Trustees
Kappy Hubbard Trustee, Thornwell Home for Children
Frank Brown and Jane Brissette Mission Discernment Task Force
David Beitz Outdoor Ministries
Charlie Weston Trinity Sudan Ministries
Jane Brissette Vice Moderator of Presbytery
Goals for 2015:
Send five Commissioner Ruling Elders and our Teaching Elders to all Trinity Presbytery Stated and Called
Meetings throughout the year; assure all second-year Ruling Elders attend at least one Presbytery business meeting.
Assist and advise Session on issues of concern within the denomination.
Encourage more Eastminster Ruling Elders and lay members to participate as members of
Presbytery ministry committees and special commissions.
Foster a missional spirit within Eastminster and the Presbytery whereby churches share their
talent and experience with sister congregations to help all churches grow and strengthen their membership, and to find ways to work across congregations to better grow Gods Kingdom.
Want to know more?
Church Relationships Chair: Jane Brissette (2015) - Jane.Brissette@SouthStateBank.com
Eastminster staff support: Brad Smith, Pam Tessier
Mission: To offer a biblically based education program so that children, youth and adults may grow in their
understanding of and commitment to Jesus
Christ. To develop, administer and oversee the
education program in fulfillment of the great
commission of our Lord.
Accomplishments in 2014:
Childrens Ministry
Worship Discovery Approximately 30
second graders graduated from the Worship Discovery program on April 13 after
ten classes learning about worship in our
church.
Valentines Dance Over 80 children and
parents attended.
Jesus Rocks One Sunday per month the children gathered at the church for activities and
fellowship as a Sunday night youth group for
elementary children. The attendance ranged
between 50 to over 100 children each month.
Easter Egg Hunt Over 150 people attended this
event.
Vacation Bible School Over 200 children attended a modified Bible school which was affected by
the construction at the church.
Guyology A one-time class for 5th grade boys
and their parents held with Forest Lake Presbyterian.
Citadel Park Cupcake Party over 40 families participated.
Gingerbread Party - This event in December was
another success.
Youth Ministry (Junior High)
Prayer Breakfast The Long and Moore families
hosted a morning devotion before school with over
60 middle school youth attending every other week.
Cornerstone Sunday nights enjoyed strong participation of youth and youth leaders.
Ski Trip 32 youth and 8 adults attended a weekend ski retreat in Winterplace.
Great Escape In June, the youth traveled to
Tennessee to participate in the Great Escape Youth
Conference.
Hosted First Step classes for prospective members and helped new members acclimate to EPC.
Hosted 14 game day meals and provided several devotionals for the A. C. Flora football team.
Started two mens softball teams to encourage engagement.
Increased understanding of the Book of Order changes to categories of Active Members and Other
Participants.
Reached out by letter and personal calls to members who have not attended, given, or served for two
years, encouraging re-engagement.
Updated church rolls by placing in the Other Participants category those who continue not to attend,
serve or give.
Continued to lead the greeter ministry, placing church volunteers at the welcome desk and around the
campus on Sunday mornings to greet and assist visitors.
Goals for 2015:
Continue to host First Steps.
Continue to serve as the A. C. Flora football teams meal home and provide devotional messages
throughout the season.
Promote and carry out the 2015 Celebration of Faith in March.
Continue to offer mens softball.
Form and train a group of volunteers to contact members who miss worship five consecutive weeks.
Continue with greeter ministry.
Want to know more?
Evangelism and Membership
chair:
John Barr (2015) - jbarr@bellsouth.net; jbarr@cfevans.com
Eastminster staff support: Dr.
Brad Smith, Tricia McCormick
tmccormick@eastminsterpres.
org.
Jasmine Lipscomb
Family Specialist
The program seeks to help families and referred youth who are at risk
as a result of family conflict, lack of parenting skills, child abuse and/or
neglect, childhood emotional issues, disruptive behavioral problems and other at-risk situations that youth
and families face.
The goal of Building Families is to stabilize families and help family members grow together. The Building
Families Program equips families with the skills necessary to ensure safety of the children, reduces or eliminates the need for out-of-home placement of the children, and keeps families together.
Building Families creates impactful change and emotional strength in families by using researched and
proven treatment methods in a personalized way. Parents learn how to set age-appropriate boundaries
and maintain discipline without anger or violence. Thornwell Family Specialists use positive reinforcement,
modeling, role playing, and other methods to teach lasting, concrete parenting and communication skills.
The six-phase program is based on the teaching-family model, and evidenced based behavioral model with
proven success. Thornwell Family specialists are on call 24/7, servings up to three families at a time. A
specialist provides 6-10 hours of in-home services a week per family for up to 10-12 weeks. As each family
learns to function independently, Jasmine is able to transition out of the picture and begin working with a
new family.
Thornwell is an independent ministry in covenant relationship with the churches in SC, GA, and FL of the
PC(USA) Synod of the South Atlantic.
If you would like to learn more about the program you may contact Jasmine at Jasmine.Lipscomb@Thornwell.org.
Stewardship
Mission: To educate, encourage and inspire the members of Eastminster concerning the privilege, responsibility and joy of giving by recognizing that all we are
and all we have are gifts from God, entrusted to us so that we may be good stewards for Gods glory. The Stewardship Ministry has responsibility for encouraging
faithful stewardship of our time, talents and treasures.
Accomplishments in 2014:
Separated Time and Talent from Financial Pledging and held a spring Time and
Talent campaign which was very successful.
Created videos for Stewardship to be displayed during services and around campus.
Annual Financial Pledging Campaign during the fall raised 6.2% more through pledges than in the previous year.
Ran a weekly segment called Did You Know? in the newsletter to promote stewardship.
Wrote 547 personnel thank you notes to members of the church who pledged to give and serve.
Actively encouraged new members to give of their time, talents, and treasure.
Added online giving through the Eastminster website, which added an additional option for individuals
to support the church.
Goals for 2015:
Increase visibility of the stewardship of the members of Eastminster through print and video.
Continue to educate congregation using Time & Treasure blurbs in newsletter and on videos around
the church campus.
Continue to implement online giving.
Increase the number of members who plan to include EPC in Perpetual/Legacy giving.
Increase communication with members through phone calls, the newsletter, videos, and big screen
Powerpoint inserts. Continue Spring emphasis of Time and Talent Service commitment and Fall emphasis of Financial commitment.
Want to know more?
Stewardship Chair: Jeff Burden (2015) - jeffburden11@gmail.com
Eastminster staff support: Brad Smith, Bill Collins, Maria Harvin
utions h
ib
Your contr
sible
inistry pos
ahamas m
elp make B
Communications
Mission: To develop and implement strategies to inform, educate and inspire members about opportunities to grow in faith and service, while also raising awareness of Eastminster and its activities in the community.
Accomplishments in 2014:
Expanded communication creatively to the congregation as a whole, e.g. slide shows, posters, and flat
screen monitors.
Distributed weekly E-News and Devotionals to the entire congregational members sharing e-mail addresses. Of the number receiving these transmissions, one third of the congregation consistently open
their e-mail.
Developed a Lenten and annual theme.
Produced a 2014 Annual Review.
Created posters, slides and handouts of the sanctuary renovation progress.
Produced a new church-wide family directory.
Formed a Visual Identity Team to begin the process of branding the church.
Hosted an informative communications seminar for Visual Identity team
members with Scott Vaughn, professional church communicator as the
speaker.
Helped with temporary signage during construction.
Reconciled software licenses.
Assisted in updating the Computer/Technology Policy for EPC, as well as
other church-wide policies.
Provided a portal for on-line giving on the church website.
Relocated IT equipment to a more temperature controlled location.
Installed the new phone and data system.
Established computer lab to be used by the church, Champs and EDS.
Assisted with technical set up for the move of worship into the gym and the return of worship to the
sanctuary.
Goals for 2015:
Target EPC college students in order for the church to maintain contact while they are away at school.
Begin efforts to implement a secure on line-membership directory with user login, hosted by the church
but maintained by each individual church member.
Educate the congregation about grief and healthy grieving via the web site and hard-copy handouts.
Solicit graphic designers, through the Visual Identity Team, to craft a new look for the EPC logo.
Assist with the technological transformation of Thompson Hall for Jubilee.
Stream live services via the internet at church website.
Upgrade and replace audio/video carts.
Produce videos to highlight ministries and missions for presentation in Sanctuary.
Coordinate the tracking of church inventory.
Draft for approval a Disaster Recovery Plan for the church.
Want to know more?
Communications Chair: Charlie Weston (2015) charlie@guardianfenceonline.com
Eastminster staff support: Thelma Carter, Bryan Call, Bill Collins
Personnel
Mission: To be a resource for the senior pastor and the various areas of ministry
involved in the management, care and supervision of church employees.
Accomplishments in 2014:
Finance
Mission: To be good stewards of the gifts God has graciously provided to Eastminster.
Highlights in 2014:
Property
Mission: To maintain and develop Eastminsters facilities and property as an important part of our vibrant
ministry.
Accomplishments in 2014:
Completed a competitive bid of Property Insurance and Workers Compensation Insurance and obtained approval to utilize Brotherhood Mutual as the churchs insurance carrier.
Completed a formal valuation of our entire campus and adjusted our property and casualty insurance
so that we are now fully insured.
Began work on the CE/CLC crosswalk by engaging an architect.
Supported the construction/renovation project including: repairing the main sewer line and repaving
the Medway lot, cleaning the steeple, replacing basement windows, replacing light poles and fixtures
in several parking lots, repainting lines and directional arrows in most lots, replacing lights in the parlor, narthex and sanctuary stairs.
Supported the transition of the sanctuary to the CLC during renovations and purchased new floor covering for the CLC and chairs that are now used in the Jubilee service.
Replaced one bus and added an additional bus to our fleet and now have three buses on campus.
Formed a volunteer flower bed care team.
Installed new carpet in the Byrd Room.
Began renovating room E-250 for offices to accommodate two new youth directors.
Goals for 2015:
Continue to work on resolving the problems with the crosswalk between the Christian Life Center and
the Christian Education building.
Paint the exterior of the Christian Life Center.
Re-establish the schedule for carpet replacement.
Begin the expansion of Memorial Garden.
Resolve compliance issue with radio coverage of the church campus as required by City of Columbia,
Fire Marshal and code.
Continue replacement of Christian Education Building windows due to rotting.
Develop a five-year schedule for maintenance and painting of church property.
Restripe the parking lot of the Christian Life Center.
Investigate repairs to the parlor windows and woodwork.
Want to know more?
Property Chair: Simpson Fant (2015) - simpsonfant@parkerpoe.com
Eastminster staff support: Bob Sturm, Bill Collins
Sanctuary Renovations
With Gratitude Eastminster gives thanks to God for the following people for their Guidance, Time and Work for our Beautiful Renovations.
Sanctuary Renovations Committee: Warren Propst,
chair, John Barr, Randy Cottrell, Bill DeLoache, Simpson
Fant, Margo Orlandini, Jack Wolfe
Sanctuary Renovations
new atrium; pew cushions, choir robes, video capacity, new lighting, hearing loop, new buses, facilities
transitions costs.
Original Items Remaining to be Done: Thompson Hall enhancement; interior and exterior signage.
Construction items that were added: Replacing asbestos tile floor with slate tile; removing asbestos
from sanctuary ceiling; restoring stained glass windows; refurbishing pews; replacing stairs from narthex to Thompson hall breezeway to make them less steep; painting sanctuary walls; improving sound
system.
Sanctuary Renovations
Views of atrium/new breezeway/drive way
Sanctuary Renovations
Gym as Sanctuary
Eastminsters last worship service in the sanctuary was held on Sunday, April 27, before the congregations move to the gym to worship.
On Sunday, September 28, Eastminster members returned to their newly-renovated sanctuary. Sunday
October 26, they Re-dedicated the new sanctuary and themselves. Following worship we came together as
the Body of Christ for a Celebration Dinner.
And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having
all that you need, you will abound in every good work.
2 Corinthians 9:8