Council Minutes

Present: Pastor Joan Gunderman, Pastor Chris Meier, Mary Backlund, Dave
Brabec, Sharon Ingvoldstad, Tami Lueck, Ernie Teie and John Wallin
Absent: Jim Eitrheim, Aimee Jambor, Elizabeth Sawdey and John Windh

The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by President Brabec.

We Assemble in God's Name
Pastor Joan lit the Christ Candle and gave a Praise and Thanksgiving statement.

We Celebrate our Past
Pastor Joan led the council through a short Confession and Forgiveness reading and followed through with

We Proclaim the Good News
…this included Bible verses and responses to the reading. Pastor Joan stated that Maundy means command and we are commanded to love. The question is, How are we to serve?? Jesus washed the feet of Simon Peter which at first, Peter soundly rejected that Jesus should do this… How do we approach our work???

The approval of February's minutes will be made at the April meeting when the council will have in hand the final completed minutes for approval.

The Treasurer's report was presented by Mary Backlund
The congregation has met their goal of sending $2,500 this month to ELCA Synod Benevolence. The offerings for this year are meeting the current budget allocations. Motion by Teie, second by Ingvoldstad, report approved.

Pastor Joan Gunderman's Report

40 Days of Purpose Campaign will have a start date of April 30th not the 20th as reported in February's initial minutes. To the congregational members that decide to participate, it will be a fun, forward looking time. This six-week spiritual growth campaign is designed to answer the question, “What on earth am I here for?” Pastor Joan introduced the fact sheet ~ frequently asked questions. After reviewing the basic outline of the campaign with the council, Pastor Joan will fine-tune the information and then this information will go out to every household to review… hopefully, many members will participate in this opportunity. For some it may be important to know that this is not a pastor-driven activity.

New members' seminar will be held this Sunday, March 12th, after the late service. There will be a New Member Dinner “Meet Church of the Cross” Thursday, March 16th, 6:00-8:00 p.m. As the topic is Meet the Church…, council members and other members in lead roles are asked to attend this dinner as well.

Mutual Ministry (“Pastor and People”) Committees. The goal is to affirm the formation of Mutual Ministry Committees, one each for Pastor Meier and Pastor Gunderman at the discretion of each pastor. The three main purposes of this will be to 1) understand the relationship of the pastor and congregation and, the congregation and the pastor. 2) there will be time for reflections back and forth between the pastor and the members. 3) it will also be a time where pastors can receive ministry from the members.

Clarence Holden Trust. The undesignated bequest from the Clarence Holden Trust was reviewed. Each council member after meeting with their committee needs to respond in writing to Pastor Joan on or before April 12th, a request for a stated dollar amount for the purchase of supplies or needs outside of their regular budgeted items that needs funding. Currently, $12,000.00 to $15,000.00 of the $25.000.00 has been earmarked for a visioning process. The property chair put in a request for $8,000.00 for landscape repair, safety issues like ramps, railings and cement repair.

Council Retreat. Several dates were suggested and Pastor Joan will email all church council members some dates and times that would accommodate everyone for an important council retreat.

Pastor Chris Meier's Report

There is a continuing search for a Director of Children's Ministry. Given the importance of Summer Vacation Bible School, Sally Hodgson had presented the idea of hiring an “interim VBS coordinator”. Tami Lueck and Pastor Chris will research this further. There is money left over that was allocated for Joanne Forrest's position that could be utilized in this important area of church ministry.

Lyle Amundson, Steve Lanz and Chuck Lund, with the support of many others, have implemented the basic structure for a computer lab located now in the former sixth grade Sunday School classroom. The lab will be hooked to the internet and will be open to all members. Lyle envisions a day when the church will be able to offer a staffed lab with regular hours. It is also hoped to have the lab serve adult continuing ed events on a number of subjects. A special thank you to Lyle, Steve and Chuck.

First communion instruction will be on March 19th, 26th, April 2nd, 9th. The Rite of Confirmation will be on April 23rd. Luther Crest Day Camp for students in grade K-5th has been reserved for July 9th-13th.

The Church's endowment funds for college students were discussed and will need further research to benefit students.

The council recognized Pastor Chris and the Children's Ministry Team for the extra effort they have provided to have continued quality education for Sunday School students.

President Brabec read Sally Hodgson's resignation letter, dated March 6, 2006.
Sally has requested that her final day of employment be May 26, 2006. The council accepted her resignation with deep regret, but extended to Sally our best wishes for a happy retirement.

President Brabec read his President's Message:
In summary, Dave's message stresses the importance of our committees, how each council member and respective committee has special purposes for the most efficient operation of the church, and that we all need to communicate and work together to fulfill the mission of the church.

Committee reports

President Brabec read the Youth Report submitted by Elizabeth Sawdey. There will be a Youth Worship on March 26th, the youth enjoyed the Ash Wednesday Soup and Salad Bar, the Soup Kitchen is a Sr. High Youth service project, the Youth Room Revitalizing!!! Extreme Make-over, Youth Room Edition!!! Stacy extends a THANK YOU for the Thrivent Matching Funds.

Congregational Life Report presented by Sharon Ingvoldstad Sharon was excited about the re-establishment of a kitchen committee. She has been working with Marlene Larson on securing supportive members to assist in keeping the kitchen organized and stocked properly. WELCA… A Mother-Daughter event is in the planning stages for May 6th and is being organized by Ann Bergin and Jean Kraft. The month of March has an emphasis on the donation of soap for world missions… check containers across from the nursery. Lenten Suppers are being headed by Bill and Carol Campbell and Denny and Karen Holmen. Thank you to these two couples…

Property Report was presented by John Wallin. John reported he has had several contacts with Terry Kleven from Century Pipe Organ and plans are being made to coordinate their arrival with their electronic technician. An exact date has not been set for their arrival. John Erickson's “Messengers” is now on display on the east wall of the Celebration Center. Tyler Feldt, landscaping student from Central Lakes College is doing a major project for Lutheran Church of the Cross as part of his class assignment. He will be submitting ideas, suggestions and costs that may be involved if we implement any suggestions. The need for cement work, outdoor railings, landscaping projects were presented. Jerry Williams completed the necessary connections for the overhead projector in the chapel/oval room. The Church Mutual Insurance Company that insures the church had questioned whether or not we wanted to carry Terrorism Risk Insurance covered by the Act of 2002. Teie made the motion seconded by Lueck to reject the offer of terrorism coverage (the cost was $116.00 a year). Motion passed.

Worship and Music Report presented by Ernie Teie. Ernie's committee met on February 19th and discussed the many exciting possibilities that could be available to a worship environment that encourage participation in the worship service. The Hanah-Brokering Choir that performed on February 26th was enjoyed by all those that were able to attend. The need to have someone in charge of the changing and hanging of the banners, etc. will be researched.

Education Report was presented by Tami Lueck. Tami reviewed the Sunday School Schedule for Spring, 2006. It will come to a close on May 7th with a Spring Jamboree. There will be no Sunday School on March 12th~Spring Break and April 16th~Easter. The personnel committee met to review and to update the Children's Ministry Director position description. The church has received a number of inquiries and applications, but so far, nothing has materialized. As mentioned in Pastor Chris's report, there is money available to temporary hire someone to lead the upcoming Vacation Bible School in June. According to Jean Kraft, it takes from 100-120 hours to coordinate and help with the VBS. Tami also wishes to thank and recognize the dedicated work of our Sunday School Volunteers.

Old Business:
A purchase order policy will continue to be researched and the findings will be reported back to the council by Mary Backlund at April's meeting.

New Business:
The personnel committee will meet, with Pastor Joan helping to serve on it, to review the personnel policy. Jim Eitrheim will head this committee. The motion was made by Teie, second by Wallin, to have the April Council meeting on April 20th due to the conflicts of Easter week. Motion carried. Effective immediately, a procedural process was implemented by President Brabec to have all council meetings close at 9:30 p.m. with the possibility to extend it by 15 minutes if approved by the majority present.

Pastor Joan made the motion to adjourn, second by Tami Lueck, motion carried at 9:05 p.m.

Respectfully submitted by
John Wallin for John Windh, Secretary

Contact us:
Lutheran Church of the Cross
On Hiway 13 just east of Hiway 371 at Sportland Corner
P.O. Box 29
Nisswa, MN 56468
Phone: 218/963-2564 Fax: 218/963-0294
Email: lcc@lccnisswa.org