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Understanding the chapter leader role - (For New Leaders)
Understanding the chapter leader role - (For New Leaders)
Chapter Structure
Each Thrivent Financial for Lutherans member is assigned to a chapter.
Across the country there are more than 1,300 chapters.
The chapter system enables Thrivent Financial members to make a difference through voluntary action.
Local Thrivent Leadership Board
Congregational Service Teams
• Care in Congregations ®
Community Service Teams
• Care Abounds in Communities™• Care in Regions™
Chapter assignments
In most cases, members are assigned to chapters based on the county in which they live.
• Counties with large member populations are subdivided.
• Counties with small member concentrations are combined.
• Each year members elect the chapter leadership board.
Members can find out what chapter they belong to by logging onto www.thrivent.com, Members Only, Chapter Locator.
The Leadership Board
The chapter leadership board:
• Consists of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans members, elected by members in the chapter.
• Comprised of:
• five required elected positions.
• five optional elected positions.
• advisory board members who are appointed by the elected leaders.
The Leadership Board
Required elected positions:• President• Vice President• Records Director• Financial Director• Congregational Service
Team Director
Optional elected positions:• Assistant Financial Director• Community Service Team
Director• Events Director• Communications Director • Youth Director
All elected leadership board members have equal voting rights.
Additional advisory board members:
• Financial Associate Advisor• Program Advisor• Past President• Internet Advisor • Special Advisor
The Leadership Board
The advisors do not vote in chapter leadership board matters.
Responsibilities of the Leadership Board
Provides strategic direction, leadership planning and administration to support congregational and community service teams.
Responsible for approving Care Abounds in Communities™ chapter activity/funding requests.
Allocate dollars to community service teams for helping individuals, families and qualified not-for-profit organizations.
Help service teams promote and publicize their activities.
Manage the process for the local chapter leadership elections.
Provide notice to members of upcoming meetings.
Invite elected officials to attend chapter activities.
Recognize volunteers. Admit or transfer members to membership.
Responsibilities of the Leadership Board
Chapter Care programs
Care in Congregations® Care Abounds in Communities™ Care in Regions™
Service teams
Within the chapter an unlimited number of service teams can be formed. These service teams will be based upon member needs.
Congregationalserviceteams
Communityserviceteams
Two types of service teams:• Congregational service teams• Community service teams
Service teams (continued)
Service teams must involve at least one member from a minimum of six Thrivent Financial member households to receive funding.
The real power of service teams is that they are formed and reformed based on needs.
Care in Congregations®
Through this program: Members can support their congregation or associated
Lutheran institutions (e.g. schools) through fund-raising and hands-on service activities, such as painting the church hall or raising funds for new choir robes.
Three Thrivent Financial for Lutherans members serve as Congregational Coordinators at each Lutheran congregation.
Congregational coordinator responsibilities
Responsibilities are to provide leadership and encourage participation in activities that take place at the congregation. Involves at least six member households in volunteer efforts that
qualify for the Care in Congregations® program funding. Requests funding online for the volunteer efforts in the
congregation. Reports activity information online and submits receipts to chapter
leadership board. Assures that funding is used as intended at the congregation. Orders and coordinates distribution of congregational resources.
Care in Congregations® funding flow
Congregational coordinator requests funds online from Thrivent Financial prior to activity being conducted.
The service team conducts the activity, and the congregational coordinator reports the results online, and submits the “Receipt Report” with receipts to chapter leadership board.
Thrivent Financial makes a check payable to the congregation, and sends it to the congregation.
Congregational Service Teams
These teams must include at least one member from six different Thrivent Financial member households.
Once this requirement is met, nonmembers also may participate.
Care in Congregations®
One of the required, elected positions on the chapter leadership board is a congregational service team director.
This position serves as the liaison between the chapter and the congregational coordinators.
Care Abounds in Communities™
This program: Is for Thrivent Financial for Lutheran
members to meet the needs of individuals, families or qualified not-for-profit organizations in their communities.
Provides supplemental funds for hands-on service and fund-raising activities.
Community Service Teams
Any member who sees a need in the community can form a community service team and request funds.
To be eligible for funding, the team must include at least one Thrivent Financial member from six or more different households. Once this requirement is met,
nonmembers also may participate.
Care Abounds in Communities™ funding flow
Community service team requests funds from the chapter leadership board. If approved, the chapter
leadership board submits the request to Thrivent Financial.
Care Abounds in Communities™ funding flow (continued)
The service team conducts the activity and reports the results to the chapter leadership board. Via the “Report for Funded Activity Results” form, and the “Receipts Report”
The chapter leadership board then reports those activities online.
Thrivent Financial sends funds to the chapter leadership board, which then disburses them based on the activity request from the community service team.
Funding limitations for activities:
Care Abounds in Communities™
Activity RecipientFunding Maximums
Fund-raiserFund-raiser
Hands-on serviceHands-on service
Individual/Family
Individual/Family
Qualified not-for-profit
Qualified not-for-profit
$5,000$1,600$1,600
$1,600
Care in Regions™ funding flow
Chapter leadership boards request funds from the manager of Lutheran community services (MLCS). If approved, MLCS submits request online to Thrivent
Financial. The service team conducts the activity and reports the
results to the MLCS. The MLCS then reports the results online.
Thrivent Financial sends funds to the participating chapter leadership boards, which then disburse the funds accordingly.
Regional Website - www.lutheransonline.com/rfo526/chapter
Flowcharts on the Care Programs are available on the Regional Website under “chapter resources.”
Fraternal Service Center, option 1
Call 800-236-3736 - 7:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m. Central Time Monday and Tuesday- 7:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Central Time Wednesday through Friday
E-mail [email protected]
Available Resources
