CHURCH COUNCIL MINUTES -- July 13, 2006

Present: Pastor Joan, Pastor Chris, Dave Brabec (president), Sharon Ingvoldstad,
      Tami Lueck, Ernie Teie, John Wallin and John Windh
Absent: Mary Backlund and Jim Eitrheim
Guest: Jon Aga

Call to order at 7:11 p.m.
  • Pastor Joan led an opening praise and thanksgiving response.
  • M/S/P (Teie/Gunderman) to appoint Carolyn Blanck to council as Outreach chair for the remainder of the calendar year, replacing Aimee Jambor who resigned in March.
  • Secretary's report . M/S/P (Teie/Lueck) to approve the minutes of June 8, 2006, after a few changes.
  • Treasurer's report . Mary Backlund's report noted that June revenue was down about $1,500 from last June, that YTD revenue through June is up about $12,500, and that revenue through June is 42.7% of budget, not 50%. On the expense side, we did not have sufficient cash flow in June to send $2,500 to the Synod. In fact, we had to withdraw $10,000 from savings for reasons of cash flow. YTD expenses are at 50% of budget; salary spending is at 46% and operating spending is at 56%. Vacation Bible School expenses greatly exceeded our projection (203% of budget), though we will recover some of that by selling excess inventory to another church. The Building Fund principal totals $348,098. M/S/P (Ingvoldstad/Wallin) to accept the Treasurer's report.
  • Pastor Joan led a liturgy of confession and forgiveness and a study of John 21:15-19.
  • M/S/P (Windh/Ingvoldstad) to appoint Denny Holmen to council starting October 1st to replace John Windh as secretary. Pastor Chris now heads the effort to fill the council's Youth chair, vacant since April.

Reports

1.  Pastor Joan at 7:30

  • Pastor has scheduled three-month "check-in" interviews with new staff. Requested that the Executive Committee conduct a similar interview with her next week.
  • Pastor recommends we explore the price and availability of the Sportland Corner property.
  • Pastor recommends that starting with the 2007 council we remove committee chair duties from council job descriptions and instead ask council members to provide liaison and oversight to committees, as specified in the constitution/bylaws. (The committee formed early in 2005 to revise our constitution/bylaws --Dave Brabec, Duane Blanck and Rob Norgon-- will meet next month in hopes of bringing their revisions to the November congregational meeting for a vote.)
  • A task force has been formed to decide how to use the Holden Trust gift. Its members are Dick Brumfield, Katherine McAllister, Barbara Peterson and Les Trapp.
  • A Mutual Ministry Committee has been formed to support the pastor and her family and contribute to her successful pastoral ministry here. The ELCA recommends including members of the last Call Committee in this task since they have spent time personally with the pastor and are acquainted with the vision and goals of the congregation. Its members are Michelle Blanck, Becky Melby, Darrell Paske, Dick Peterson, Caroline Qualey and Jerry Raedeke.
  • As many other congregations have done for years, this fall we will conduct a Vision For Mission emphasis to underscore the importance of our giving to the national ELCA.
  • The locks on the pastors' offices are no longer keyed to the building master.
  • Pastor Joan will be on vacation from July 27 to August 10.
  • Pastor seeks volunteers to help develop Lifelong Learning opportunities, including young adult and intergenerational experiences.

2.  Pastor Chris at 8:08

  • Pastor Chris has been busy with the Boston mission trip and the "Summer Stretch" program.
  • Is discussing changing the confirmation curriculum to "Here I Stand" while using the same structure.
  • Is discussing changes in Sunday School and Bible studies.
  • Three camperships to Luther Crest Bible Camp have been awarded.
  • Invited Jon Aga to speak to the council about the Boston mission trip.    

3.  Congregational Life (Sharon Ingvoldstad) at 8:16

  • Sharon seeks volunteers to help with the Blood Drive on September 14th .
  • Eight couples have already signed up for the next Supper Club season.
  • There will be a Prayer Chain meeting between services on July 16 th .

4. Property (John Wallin) at 8:20

  • Nor-Son has submitted a $15,430 bid to rebuild the main north side steps, install landscape edging, and build a dumpster pad, steps, a ramp, and some retaining walls east of the Celebration Center. There isn't enough money in the Property budget to pay for all this work. M/S/P (Teie/Ingvoldstad) to approve all these projects and to find the money somewhere in the budget, less whatever might be paid from the Holden Trust gift.
  • Exploring motion sensor lights to save electricity.
  • Thelen Heating and J.R. Mechanical have worked on the air conditioning.
  • The outdoor basketball bang board has been uprooted and may be installed elsewhere.
  • Some pipe organ work remains to be completed.
  • Will install darkness-sensitive lighting on the path to the Crossroads homes.
  • Deciding the best place for our donated 12 x 16 storage building.
  • Have installed a keyless entry system to the garage.
  • Will distribute a proposal for a monitored fire alarm system.

5. Outreach (Carolyn Blanck) at 8:37

  • Carolyn is pondering the meaning of "outreach" in our constitution and bylaws.
  • She's happy with our Katrina response--our initial gift of money, then working directly with Ocean Springs church, and then our holiday food basket offering of nearly $7,000. Recently our members have donated 50 health kits.
  • Other Outreach opportunities might include encouraging LCC members to volunteer at the Gulf coast, selling and serving Fair Trade coffee, and an ongoing Habitat team.

6. Worship and Music (Ernie Teie) at 8:52

  • We are in contact with a prospective Senior Choir director, waiting to learn of his interest.
  • Interested in starting a children's choir. New hymnals will arrive in October. Discussed printing all or most of the Sunday service in the bulletin.
  • M/S/P (Gunderman/Ingvoldstad) to send $300 to the Minnesota All-State Lutheran Choir.

7. Education (Tami Lueck) at 9:05

  • Tami wonders about the breadth of her charge. Does it include more than Children's Ministry? Adult education? Lifelong learning?
  • Luther Crest Day Camp seems a success with 16 or 17 in attendance.
  • Will re-form a Children's Ministry Team next month.
  • Lisa is considering surveys and parents' ideas for Sunday School.
  • Vacation Bible School enrolled 70 children (down a bit), cost $4,000, and received $400 in free-will offerings. Will sell some surplus materials to another church.
  • Considering a three-day Vacation Bible School during the Christmas break. Also Sunday morning activities once a month for Sunday School children and their families.
New Business at 9:14
    Jon Aga presented his plans to build a pergola over the picnic table in the Memorial Garden as part of his Eagle Scout requirements. M/S/P (Gunderman/Ingvoldstad) to find money to fund the project (about $600), less whatever might be paid from the Memorial Garden fund.

Old Business at 9:25

  • The Personnel Committee has prepared new job descriptions for the two custodial positions. Mary will explain the purchase order policy at the next meeting. Work may resume on the constitution/bylaws.
  • The Interfaith Hospitality Network is taking shape more quickly than expected. We'll make their video available on Sunday mornings and decide next month whether to join.
  • M/S/P (Wallin/Gunderman) to extend the meeting by 15 minutes.

New Business at 9:29

  1. We respond to the recommendations of our Synod Assembly delegates.

Recommendation #1 : that our congregation meets or exceeds its financial obligation to the Synod in 2006 and 2007.
Our response: we will keep the congregation clearly informed of our financial status and regularly underscore the importance of the work of the Synod. M/S/P (Windh/Meier) the council pledges to meet our entire 2006 Synodical Benevolence pledge.

Recommendation #2: that our council supports and encourages a higher level of giving and congregational involvement in global mission (e.g. ELCA World Hunger Appeal), in Synod-designated companion Synods, and in local outreach.
Our response : we will work to underline the important work of the Synod (as through the Vision for Mission program) and continue to underscore needs like Katrina relief and world hunger.

Recommendation #3: that as a congregation we become more aware of the importance of nurturing spirituality in those in the first third of life and take appropriate action to that end.
Our response : Dave pointed out that we already do many things for this age group, like keeping in touch with our college students. We could also revive the Cradle Roll program, start a group for the newly married, think creatively with 20-somethings, start a Youth and Family group (Stacy?), offer Lifelong Learning activities for younger people (Pastor Joan), plan occasional activities for youth and their families on Wednesday evenings, redesign Rally Day to focus not just on Sunday School, and promote opportunities in our Ministry Opportunity Guide. Our upcoming visioning process will focus on this recommendation; Pastor Joan will speak to it at our August meeting.

  1. M/S/P (Windh/Meier) at 10:00 p.m. to invite the 2005 Call Committee to our August council meeting. No time for further new business.

Closing Prayer at 10:11. M/S/P (Meier/Wallin) to adjourn.

Respectfully submitted,
John Windh, secretary
July 25, 2006