Elders
The Elders, along with the pastoral staff, are the spiritual leaders of our congregation. These leaders form a partnership of mutual support and accountability with the pastoral staff so that spiritual leadership might be a dynamic force in the body of Christ, enabling the church to become all that God wills for it. Though the elders are endowed with authority in the church, the most important characteristics are humility, joy, love, a combination of grace and truth, and a desire for Christlikeness through the power of the Holy Spirit—goals toward which we continually aspire.
Because we believe that God creates men and women as equals (Genesis 1:26-27), and because it is obvious that God endows leadership gifts to both men and women, elders consist of men and women.
Elders are elected for three-year terms and are limited to two consecutive terms.
Elders for the 2026-2027 year are Josie Adenuga (2029); Dave Brubaker (2029); Carolyn Miller (2029); Mim Case (2027); Mike Cox (2027); Mike Jordan (2028); Daryl Stevenson (2027); Susie Roorbach (2028); Norm Smithley (2028); Paul Young (2028); and Mike Spateholts, Facilities Stewards Chair
Committees
Our committees exist to help us carry out the ministry of Christ more effectively. The committees serve as avenues for planning in order to collectively know the mind of Christ for our ministries, for organization in order to most effectively bring to fruition the plans we sense Christ has for us, and for communication in order to encourage, support, equip and assist our ministry volunteers. We believe that our committees are successful when their unseen work is lived out in the seen ministries that they oversee.
Here are the 2026-2027 Elder Committees assignments:
Worship: Mike Jordan
Discipleship: Josie Adenuga
Youth: Mike Cox
Children: Dave Brubaker
Global Engagement: Carolyn Miller
Stewardship: Mike Cox
Local Outreach: Mike Spateholts
Personnel: Paul Young & Mim Case
Nominating: Dave Brubaker & Daryl Stevenson
College: Norm Smithley
2026-2027 Financial Plan: Approved
Houghton Wesleyan Church Voting Results for the 2026 Annual Elections
and Community Financial Plan (2026-2027) Total votes cast – 118
Community Financial Plan (2026-2027) – approved 116 – 0
Secretary – Susie Roorbach (2026-2027)
Treasurer – to be determined
Facilities Stewards Chair – Mike Spateholts (2026-2027)
Board of Elders New Members
Josie Adenuga – 2026-2029
David Brubaker — 2026-2029
Carolyn Miller — 2026-2029
Mike Jordan — 2026-2028
Nominating Committee Members for 2026-2027
Casda Danner
Andrew Roorbach
Jan Schilke
Delegates to the WNY District Conference June 13, 2026
Josie Adenuga
Mike Cox
Nathan Danner
Jill Jordan
Andy Walton
Paul Young
Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ (Matthew 22:37-39).
We believe that our calling as a church is to love God with all of our being and to love others as we love ourselves. We are convinced that this is a calling for us as individuals but just as much a calling for us as a community of believers. Our love for God is proven in our love for each other (1 John 4:20-21); our love for each other is the most profound witness of who God is and of what it means to be a Christian (John 13:35). Our most profound witness to the world is our love for each other. These commands of Jesus have led us to develop a vision statement for what we believe God desires for us. This brief document is intended to be a goal that is impossible for us to realize on our own; we wholeheartedly acknowledge that this vision is possible only through the power of God at work in us and through us as we journey together in Christ.
VISION STATEMENT Believing we are an agent of God in Houghton and the surrounding areas, Houghton Wesleyan Church will be a place of grace and healing. Enabled by the power of the Holy Spirit, we will provide a safe refuge and a holy place to be the people of God we know we should and can become.
Bill & Kristen Allen
Emily Spateholts
Jon Cole
