A Branch Facilitator (also known as the BF) is at the heart of each Branch of the Cornerstone. Prior to the Branch Session, the BF facilitates the Core Ministry Team Meeting. During the Branch Session, the BF works closely with the Branch Coordinator (also known as the BC) in planning and attending weekly meetings, setting up the small groups, scheduling, and carrying out other Branch business. The BF also leads the Branch Session each week and prayerfully prepares and presents the Spiritual Reflections for the Branch.

Requirements: Because this is a Catholic Bible Study, the BF must be a practicing Catholic. To understand the current Branch processes, the BF must have been an active member of The Cornerstone for at least one year. Attendance of a training session is required. It is also strongly encouraged to attend the Cornerstone Ministry Conference (CMC) in the summer to stay up to date with all that is going on at the Cornerstone.

The Branch Coordinator (also known as the BC) works closely with the Branch Facilitator (BF) to conduct the day to day business of the Branch. Common duties include making the weekly lessons available for the members of the Branch, keeping attendance records, setting up the Small Groups, assembling the beginning of the year packets for the Ministry and for the membership, setting up the calendar for the year with the Branch Facilitator, reserving the meeting rooms with the host church, and attending the ministry session prior to the regular sessions each week.

Requirement: Because this is a Catholic Bible Study, the BC must be a practicing Catholic. To understand how a Branch typically runs, a BC must have been an active member of The Cornerstone for at least one year. Attendance of a training session is also mandatory. It is strongly encouraged for both the BF and BC of each Branch to attend the Cornerstone Ministry Conference (CMC).

Being a Small Group Facilitator (also known as an SGF) helps lead the small group session each week. The SGF models the culture of The Cornerstone while encouraging members to share their answers to questions in an organized and timely fashion.

Requirement: Because this is a Catholic Bible Study, the SGF must be a practicing Catholic. To understand how the small group sessions work, the SGF must have been an active member of The Cornerstone for at least one year. To help prepare SGFs for the Branch Session, they must attend the Ministry Team meeting prior to the regular session each week. SGFs also must commit to regular attendance and complete the lesson each week.

The Branch Treasurer holds the purse strings for each Branch, maintaining the Branch checking account, keeping a log of Branch income and expenses, depositing weekly free-will donations in the Branch account, and working with the Central Treasurer of the Cornerstone. The Branch Treasurer is also in charge of the Financial Focus for the Branch, whether they are giving it themselves or delegating this task to another.

Requirements: None, although working with money or a background in accounting would be helpful.

The Greeter / Hospitality Minister is the first face people see, lifting spirits of the people who walk through the door to help members feel welcome as they arrive.

Requirements: Must arrive 10-15 minutes early.

For members with children, the Childcare Ministry is a large part of their experience at The Cornerstone. Being able to drop their children off each week and know that they will be taken care of is a burden lifted from any parent and a wonderful gift.

Requirements: Developing and coordinating the program for children of members attending the weekly Branch session. To help guide this program, the Childcare Minister must complete “Protecting God’s Children” training.

The Music Minister sets the tone of the Branch session by choosing music that gets members into a space where they can have a full sensory experience of The Cornerstone. The Music Minister works with the Branch Facilitator to choose the music for the Branch Session each week, providing members with words and music.

Requirements: Must arrive 10-15 minutes early to each weekly meeting to set up.

The Audio/Visual Minister is responsible for setting up the equipment needed each week at the Branch session. For Video Recording Branches, the Audio/Visual Minister records the Focus and the Spiritual Reflection that will be uploaded later to The Cornerstone website.

Requirements: None.

The Proclaiming Minister creates the schedule for members who will read aloud the passage of the Bible that has been studied that week.

Requirements: None.

The Focus Minister works closely with the Branch Facilitator to schedule members to give the Focus Talks at the weekly Branch meeting. The Focus Minister will create a list that includes the person giving the Focus along with the date and lesson number. The Focus Minister will then provide each person giving the Focus with a Focus Talk Training PPT to help guide them.

Requirements: None.

The cornerstone of The Cornerstone is prayer. The Prayer Minister is the one who organizes and coordinates all prayer activities at their Branch. These activities can include:

• An ongoing commitment to pray for The Cornerstone Ministry, the Branch and the members
• Providing a prayer basket for member’s personal petitions and prays during the week for those mentioned in the personal petitions.
• Organizing and implementing a prayer chain for emergency prayer requests for members that might arise during the week.

Requirements: None.

The Social Minister is the member that orchestrates all the behind the scenes activities that make the social gatherings at their Branch so memorable. These unsung heroes make sure that there is a place to meet, that the table decorations are special, and most importantly, that there is good food.

Requirements:

• The Christmas Social
• The end of the year Social.

The Mass Minister plans and organizes masses for the Branch.

Requirements: Must be a practicing Catholic and must commit to organizing Mass two times per year:

• Christmas
• End of the Year

Flocknote is a new technology at The Cornerstone that allows for better communication between the Branch and their members. But it is more than just an email service. Some responsibilities may include:

• Maintaining the Branch roster within the Flocknote database by making sure member information is up to date and that past members are archived.
• Overseeing or directly communicating with members of their Branch.
• Assisting with the training of other leaders in their Branch on Flocknote.
• Assisting with keeping attendance records in Flocknote if the Branch.

Requirements: You don’t need to be tech savvy to maintain this role. The Technology Committee is here to guide you every step of the way. However, you will need a working computer with internet access.

At Branches that offer Zoom, the Zoom Minister is a crucial part of providing The Cornerstone experience to members who cannot attend the Branch session in person. The Zoom Minister is the one who sets up the Zoom meetings, managing the Break Out sessions, and creating a smooth Zoom experience for everyone involved.

Requirements: A premium Zoom account is needed. This expense is reimbursed by the Central Treasury.

Before each Branch session, the room is prepared by the Set-up Minister. This entails all that is involved with getting the room ready for the meeting.

Requirements: Must arrive 10-15 minutes early.

Often the unsung hero of the Branch, a Clean-up Minister is the one who makes sure the room is returned to the state it was in prior to the weekly Branch session.

Requirements: Ability to stay a little late to be a big help.

The Promotions Minister works closely with the Marketing Committee to help generate and distribute materials to spread the word about The Cornerstone. This helps bring people who are seeking a Bible study to the Branch, increasing membership through creating visibility within the parish community and beyond.

Requirements: None.

The Lector for the Masses is the person who reads the Bible passage for the Liturgy of the Word at Branch Masses. The Branch Masses happen two times per year.

Requirements: None.

Eucharistic Ministers distribute the Eucharist at the Branch Masses that happen at least two times per year.

Requirements: Must be a practicing Catholic.