INFORMATION FOR NEW MEMBERS

There is a wealth of information that can help you become familiar with our church: how it is organized, governed, financed, supported, and how the values of our Congregation are always at the center of our Congregational Church.

The following are links to documents which can help you become familiar with our programs and teams. We hope that getting to know more about them will spark your interest in becoming involved, find connections and stay in touch with fellow members, and participate in groups that fulfill your interests and gifts.

Please click on any of the following documents to find a copy for your downloading or reading pleasure:

Connect to Breeze - Our church database, Breeze, is a great way to be able to contact fellow church community members. Our church administrator will send an invitation to join Breeze to each new member or baptism family, and it’s as easy as making a Log-In to get connected. Breeze is also available as a phone app: BreezeChMS (which stands for Breeze Church Management Software). Breeze also allows you to keep track of Giving, see who is involved with groups (Tags), among other things. Look for your Breeze Invitation (in your Inbox or Spam) entitled “Create your First Congregational Church of West Tisbury Breeze account.” This helpful how-to document can also help you become familiar with Breeze.

How can I donate to help the church? We value all your gifts of time, talents and treasure. Financial Gifts can be designated easily and flexibly through your Breeze account by clicking “Give Now.” More information about financial giving can be found under the “Giving” tab on our website. If you have any questions, feel free to email our Financial Secretary, David Fielder.

Most recent Annual Reports - details all the activities of the church through the year, from pastoral programs, missions, book groups, music, fellowship gatherings, fundraisers, financial reports and goals for 2026. This document is a great resource, and is available on a password-protected page here. Please email the church office if you have not already been given the password.

Ministry Circle Charters - detail the four main groups that run the programs of our church: 1) Extravagant Welcome & Member Engagement; 2) Spiritual Nourishment: Worship & Faith Formation; 3) Heartfelt Service: Mission, Outreach & Witness; 4) Financial Development & Asset Management. A link to all groups’ charters is here.

Ministry Circle & Bubble Groups Diagram, and 2026 Nominating Slate - these two files show how our church is organized, and the many groups you can become involved with. The four Ministry Circles contain various Bubble Groups that focus on specific interests or causes, and how all the Ministry Circles also focus on our Shared Commitments: Creation Care; Beloved Community Kin-dom of God; Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Justice; Children & Families; and Prayer. The 2026 Nominating Slate shows the list of Officers, Church Council Members, Ministry Circle Co-Deacons, and Standing Committee Members (Pastoral Parish Relations, Human Resources & Nominating), all of which were approved at the most recent Annual Meeting. Feel free to speak with any of the Bubble Group or Ministry Circle leaders about volunteering to help with any areas of interest you have.

Beloved Community Covenant - our commitment to each other, involving Truth, Time, Trust & Transformation, and Grace, Forgiveness & Reconciliation. Click here for the brochure.

UCC Firsts - ever wonder what the UCC (United Church of Christ) has done in its history? Our First Congregational Church of West Tisbury is proud to be a UCC church for these, and many reasons. Click here to go to the UCC website and read about some great moments in our UCC history.

Extravagant Welcome - read more about the UCC’s policy and history of extravagant welcome to all. Our FCCOWT officially became an Open And Affirming (ONA) church on March 22, 2015 and you can read our informational brochure about that, too.

FCCOWT By Laws - our latest revisions of the rules and governing structure of our church, found here.