CHURCH COUNCIL MINUTES -- September 14, 2006

Present : Pastor Joan, Pastor Chris, Mary Backlund, Dave Brabec (president), Jim
                Eitrheim, Sharon Ingvoldstad, Tami Lueck, Dean Maier, Ernie Teie, John
                Wallin and John Windh
Absent :  Carolyn Blanck
Guest :    Denny Holmen

Call to order at 7:03 p.m.

• Pastor Joan led devotions.
• Secretary's report. M/S/P (Teie/Eitrheim) to approve the minutes of August 10, 2006.
• Treasurer's report. It is gratifying that our YTD giving is up substantially, but our 2006 budget is also substantially higher than last year. We are up to date with our Synodical Benevolence pledge but we had to briefly delay our August remittance to do it. Mary will put a financial report in the October newsletter. M/S/P (Meier/Ingvoldstad) to comply with state law by authorizing in writing that our officers may sign for stock transactions. M/S/P (Eitrheim/Lueck) to accept the Treasurer's report.
• Pastor Joan concluded her devotions.

Reports

 •  Pastor Joan at 7:20

• Welcome to Dean Maier, our new Youth chair, completing the term of Elizabeth Sawdey who resigned in April. Welcome also to Denny Holmen, who will take over as Secretary in October.
• Pastor highly commended Pastor Chris and the Children's Ministry Team for cheerfully shouldering the responsibility of organizing the fall Sunday School season.
• M/S/P (Windh/Wallin) to form a task force to explore options to avoid our becoming landlocked.
• M/S/P (Wallin/Teie) to accept these recommendations of the Holden task force:

The motion also included a $2,500 tithe gift (from the $25,000 Holden bequest) to the mission congregation at Rejoice Lutheran Church in Brainerd.

• The Stewardship committee will hold its first meeting later in September, as will the Nominating Committee.
• M/S/P (Lueck/Backlund) that LCC initiates the process to take part in the ecumenical Interfaith Hospitality Network. Pastor Joan will introduce the project to the congregation.
• On October 15th from 7 to 9 p.m. LCC will host a synod-wide event called "Matters Of The Heart." Synod looks for 90/100 persons to attend, including many from LCC.
• Pastor Joan will attend the Synodical Theological Conference (continuing ed) from Sept. 24-26.

 •  Pastor Chris at 8:11

• May also attend the Synodical Theological Conference beginning Sept. 24.
• Thanks to Tami Lueck, Tammy Hedlund, Danae Anderson and Peggy Carlson for their great work in setting up Sunday School. Tammy, Danae and Peggy will serve as interim co-Directors of Children's Ministry. Their efforts and an intense phone campaign have led to many more students already registering for Sunday School (over 100 so far) and many volunteers.
• Thanks to Laurie Winters' help, some 61 students have already registered for Confirmation.
• Arlene Rice and Peggy Carlson are reinvigorating Cradle Roll.
• Thanks to Dick Carlson, Wes Anderson, Erv Reuther and the 22 volunteers who recently spent a morning working with Habitat For Humanity.
• Nursery staffing is nearly complete.

 •  Education (Tami Lueck) at 8:20

• Lisa Houle has resigned as Director of Children's Ministries. Three interim co-directors have been hired for the fall: Tammy Hedlund, Danae Anderson and Peggy Carlson.
• The Children's Ministry Team is meeting again and is a big help.
• At the 10:30 service this Sunday we will present Bibles to 25 pre-schoolers.
• More than thirty have volunteered to help with Sunday School!

 •  Personnel (Jim Eitrheim) at 8:26

• We will move deliberately to fill the Children's Ministry position since staff and volunteers have set up this fall's program so well.
• Working to clarify job descriptions and regulations for nursery staff.

 •  Youth (Dean Maier) at 8:28

• Summer Stretch was successful with eight taking part.
• Have 61 in Confirmation (18 in ninth grade) and all the Guide positions filled.
• AM Mayhem starting soon.
• Working to involve students after Confirmation.
• "Youth Ministry 101" retreat scheduled for Grand Rapids in March w/Stacy on staff.
• Discussing the idea of youth-parent forums.

 •  Congregational Life (Sharon Ingvoldstad) at 8:33

• Blood drive (today) went smoothly enough after many problems setting it up. We owe our thanks to Donie Greer and Margaret Sommerfeld (coordinators) and many volunteers.
• Forming a Congregational Life committee to meet initially in October.

 •  Property  (John Wallin) at 8:37

• Recent projects: new locks, updated signs, new railings at north door, north parking lot graded, railings and dumpster frame painted.
• Now have one firm doing irrigation for both our lawns and our Memorial Garden.
• Replaced shutoff valve in kitchen stove and cleaned burners.
• Locating storage space for new altar paraments.
• Will fix ceiling fan nearest altar.
• Jerry Williams is installing speakers in the Memorial Garden.
• Pipe organ work not done.
• M/S/P (Gunderman/Eitrheim) to approval a fire alarm/monitoring proposal from Northland Fire Protection.
• Clint and Joyce doing a great job.
• A question was raised about relocating a storage building to a site between the church and the Crossroads community. May be an eyesore. Perhaps it can be painted, screened?

 •  Worship and Music (Ernie Teie) at 9:03

• Questions from monthly committee meetings: Can we start a real children's choir? Can we regularly involve young people in our worship services as readers, cantors, greeters, ushers, etc., not just on "youth" Sundays?
• Committee recommends purchasing new hymnals by October 3rd for discount price. Discussed ways to raise money to pay for them while staying within our budget and maintaining our mission and ministries. Discussed with appreciation a letter expressing concern about spending money on new hymnals. M/S/P (Teie/Eitrheim) to purchase new hymnals.
• Thanks to Ernie Teie and John Windh for leading the senior choir in September.

 •  Outreach (written report from Carolyn Blanck) at 9:14

• Committee will recommend changes to the Constitution/Bylaws committee.
• We already have 12 volunteers for the Crop Walk on October 1st .
• Considering Katrina-relief bus trips (Nov. 21-29 or Dec. 26-Jan 3 or in March) to take workers to Christus Victor Lutheran Church in Ocean Springs, Mississippi. Cost would be $250/person.

Old Business at 9:15

• Constitution/Bylaws committee is meeting and may finish next week.

New Business at 9:17

• A Staff Covenant is in place, created as a team effort.
• M/S/P (Backlund/Gunderman) to authorize John Wallin to recommend a more suitable leased copier program.

Closing Prayer. M/S/P (Meier/Backlund) to adjourn at 9:25.

Respectfully submitted,
John Windh, secretary,
September 21, 2006