The Nominating Committee has prepared the slate of nominees below to present to First Congregational Church members for a vote at the Congregational Meeting on June 14, 2026.

The Nominating Committee was honored to be given the opportunity to prayerfully consider each person who was recommended by the congregation for the church board.

Per the church bylaws, board members must be members of FCC Eugene. We also sought to nominate people who would bring diverse representation, and a breadth of skill sets to the work of church governance. We sought diversity among potential board members with respect to areas of involvement in church life, gender identity, ethnicity, family composition, sexual orientation, age, length of membership, etc. And we sought a variety of relevant skill sets, including finances, organization, education, outreach, music, facilities, etc.

Through a deliberative process the Nominating Committee evaluated the potential nominees to identify what skills and experience they would bring to the Board.  We looked for background in communication skills, finance, education, work experience, and participation in church committees and activities.  We also sought to assemble a board reflecting diversity of gender, ethnicity, age, and sexual orientation.  We were especially looking for members who have an expansive vision for the future of our church.

There are 11 voting members on the board: 9 Board Members (with staggered 3-year terms), plus the Moderator (1-year term) and Moderator-Elect (1-year term). There are 2 non-voting members: Secretary and Treasurer (with staggered 3-year terms). Note that the Moderator-Elect will become Moderator the following year.

The Nominating Committee is proud to present the following slate of nominees for the Church Board, with terms commencing in July 2026 and ending in June of the year indicated in parentheses.

  • Moderator-Elect – Julie Jessal (2027)
  • Fulfilling Julie Jessal’s remaining term on the Board – Susie Leo (2028)
  • Board Nominee – David Conover (2029)
  • Board Nominee– Lauren Herbert (2029)
  • Board Nominee– Lyndsey Neal (2029)

Click to read the 2026 Board Nominee biographies

At the Congregational Meeting on June 14, 2026, nominations will also be accepted from the floor.  There will be a congregational vote by church members at that time.

The Nominating Committee extends its gratitude to everyone who recommended names for our consideration.

Nominating Committee: Lynne Hellesvig, Julia Lindberg, Derek Swenson, Joan Rawlings-Boyd (co-chair), and Todd Chapman, (co-chair).

The Nominating Committee is responsible for recruiting candidates for open positions on the board. The congregation assists by recommending candidates during the spring each year.

Thinking about volunteering to be on the Church Board?

Are you willing to ask thoughtful and insightful questions to help the board define where our vision is taking us?

Are you willing to help our church continue its journey of growth and vision?

Do you know someone in our church that would be a good addition to the leadership team?

The Nominating Committee is looking for a pool of people to consider for the open Church Board positions. Our goal is to provide a diverse, robust Board that represents our congregation. Diversity of age, length of membership, gender identity, family composition, ethnicity, sexual orientation, and areas of involvement in church life, are desired for a robust Church Board that represents the First Congregational Church of Eugene as a whole.

Now it’s up to the congregation to assist this goal by recommending either yourself or others as potential candidates for the Church Board. Participation is key in a Congregational Church. We had wonderful participation from the congregation for the last 2 years and we are hoping for strong engagement from you, the congregation, this year as well.

Please prayerfully consider your contribution to keeping our faith community strong.

To recommend yourself or others, fill out the Candidate Recommendation form below between April 10 and May 1, 2026.

The Candidate Recommendation Form is now closed.

We have 4 board positions to fill (scroll down to see job descriptions):

  • 1 Moderator-Elect
  • 3 Board members

When suggesting people it is important to include the rationale of why you are making this recommendation.  We want a short paragraph of why their name jumped out to you. The WHY may include the skill sets this person would bring to the board (i.e.- ability to see the big picture, to ask questions, knowledge of finances, organization, etc.), personality traits that would be beneficial, what diversity they may bring that represents the church body, or past experiences that show leadership and collaboration skills. Keep in mind that the church board is both a GOVERNING body and a VISIONING body for FCC Eugene.

Thank you for your prayerful consideration and recommendations!

The Nominating Committee will create a slate of nominees to be voted on during the Congregational Meeting on June 15, 2025 and terms of service begin immediately afterwards.

Nominating Committee members: Derek Swenson, Julia Lindberg, Lynne Hellesvig and co-chairs Joan Rawlings Boyd and Todd Chapman.

Open positions on the Church Board with brief descriptions for terms beginning in July:

All Church Board members:

  • Shall be Members of FCC Eugene.
  • Are active in all Board activities, including attendance at monthly Board meetings on a Wednesday, 5-7p.m.

Moderator-Elect

  • Serves a 1-year term as Moderator-Elect, automatically becomes Moderator the following year.
  • Member of the Finance Committee
  • Supports the Moderator role when Moderator is unavailable
  • Has a three-year commitment to Board and the ELC (Executive Leadership Committee):
    • first year as Moderator-Elect member of ELC,
    • second year as Moderator and member of ELC,
    • third year as Ex-Moderator member of the ELC

Board Members (need 3)

  • Serves a 3-year term.
  • May serve as member of a Standing Committee, working group, or special project activities
  • Participates in strategic planning, visioning, and policy development of the Board

Other Considerations

  • The Board seeks diversity and transparency in all activities and deliberations
  • Board members must respect the need to keep confidential information private
  • The Board seeks diversity in age, family composition, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, length of membership in FCC
  • Board members need to be an active member of the church through participation in classes, committees, work groups, or other activities of the church

For additional information about board responsibilities, see the FCC Bylaws.