CHURCH COUNCIL MINUTES -- August 9, 2007

Present: Dave Brabec (President), Denny Holmen, Pastor Chris, Donna Trapp,
      Darrell Paske, Dean Maier, Mary Backlund and John Wallin
Absent: Pastor Joan, Colleen Both, Sharon Ingvoldstad and Tami Lueck

• Lighting of the Christ Candle.
• Praise and Thanksgiving (prayer - Pastor Chris).
• Secretary's report: Approved minutes, as written, of our 7/12/2007 meeting. M/S/P (Wallin/Maier).
• Financial report:
• June report: M/S/P (Wallin/Trapp). Funds for final payments of hymnals, transferred from the memorial fund, will be replaced as funds come in. June report approved, M/S/P (Wallin/Paske).
• July report: Approved as presented, M/S/P (Meier/Paske).
• Confession and Forgiveness.

Reports

   Associate Pastor

• Sunday School: Preparations are going well. Rally Day, Sept. 9th. First day of class, Sept. 16th. Enlargement of one downstairs Sunday School classroom has begun.
• Confirmation: Preparations are going well. Student/parent/guides orientation, Sept. 5th. First day of class, Sept 12th (22 incoming 7th graders). Curriculum, ordered Here We Stand (Augsburg).
• Youth-led worship: This coming Sunday.
• 2008 Mission Trip: Preparation has begun. Site to be chosen in September.
• Columbarium policy: Suggested policy review referred to Columbarium Committee.
• Central Minnesota Community Foundation: Our Senior Pastor and Treasurer are ex officio members of the Lutheran Church of The Cross endowment committee.

   Youth

• Summer activities are winding down. "Summer Stretch" was very successful. The Mission trip was well attended (32 young people and 5 adults). BWCA trip had 5 young men attend (a good time was enjoyed by all).
• Fall activities are winding up. Preparation for confirmation classes is underway. Adult guide meeting may include information gathered by LCC Youth/Adult Advisory Committee from the Spring Synod Conference. Senior youth bible study will resume soon (well attended this spring).
• Strategic planning goal meeting August 28th. We hope to gather both adults and senior youth to discuss, plan and prepare for implementation of certain goals as set forth in the Strategic Planning Sessions.

   Property

• Parsonage: The parsonage has seen some drastic changes and greatly improved looks these past 15 days. Thanks to Jane Nemitz, Bob and Sharon Warneke, Tom Larson and Denny Holmen who assisted with cleanup. Dean and Laurie Winters moved into the parsonage on August 1st. Dean and Laurie have also done an immense amount of work to ready the home.
• Organ: Mike Johnson of the Johnson Organ Company came on July 26th to take the most recently installed pipe chest to Fargo. It will be modified as necessary and electrical work will be done to make the organ fully functional. Bob Warneke and Denny Holmen assisted me in removal of the pipes.  
• Speed bumps: Anderson Brothers completed installation of three speed bumps on the road that leads from the church to the "Crossroads" intersection. Split rail fencing was installed to "contain" the speed bumps. Safety (speeding thru-traffic) was the reason for the installation. Anderson's also repaired a gap in the asphalt where a power line was run through for the Memorial Garden.
• Sunday School classrooms: Chuck Nielsen and Peggy Carlson are moving forward to combine two small basement classrooms into one.
• Property maintenance: Clint and Joyce continue their excellent work in keeping the church property clean, neat and attractive.

   Worship and Music

• Fall schedules
  • Sunday worship at 8:15 and 10:30 beginning Sept. 9th.
  • Senior Choir resumes September 5th.
  • Bell Choir resumes September 12th.
• Committee planning meeting: September 23rd.

Old Business

No action items.

New Business

• Strategic Planning: The Council has received the Congregational Goals and will support the Congregational members in implementing and achieving them, M/S/P (Wallin/Maier). Action plans are being called for with some goals needing longer to implement than others. Council members are looking for updates and ideas to initiate action on the goals. Members of the congregation are encouraged to participate in the action plans and implementation of their goal(s) of choice. The entire goal statement is attached below.
• Resignation: Pastor Chris Meier submitted his letter of resignation to the Council effective September 16, 2007. It is with regret that the Council accepted Pastor Chris' resignation, M/S/P (Wallin/Backlund). We wish God's Speed to Pastor Chris and his family.

We close, as always, with prayer, giving thanks and asking for guidance. All are welcome at Council meetings. Approved minutes and approved financial reports are available in the church office to any member upon request.

Respectfully submitted,
Denny Holmen, Secretary

Lutheran Church of the Cross - Goals
for the next 4-5 years

Growth area 1: Strengths to build on

1. Increase the number of members actively participating in the ministries of the church.
   • Improve communication about the ministries
   • Explore additional ministries needed by the community
   • Uncover the gifts and talents of members
2. Increase active participation of Jr. and Sr. High School students in LCC's church life.
   • Establish youth choir(s)
   • Explore possibilities of contemporary worship service
   • Provide regular Bible study opportunities
   • Expand service projects, including intergenerational opportunities
3. Continue to support excellence in music ministry, and establish a task force to explore and implement, e.g., contemporary music, alternative liturgies, healing services, non-Sunday morning worship opportunities.
   • Identify target group(s) (e.g., intergenerational, nonmembers, youth, young families)
   • Identify ways to contact/invite target group(s)

Growth area 2: Aspects of our congregation that need to fixed

4. To minister to the needs of our members, develop and support fellowship opportunities, based on similar needs or interests, for example:
   • Widows, widowers, divorced
   • Mothers of preschoolers
   • Single adults (20s, 30s, 40s)
   • Young married couples
   • Caregivers of ill family members
   • Those with chronic illness

Growth area 3: Mission to our communities

5. Develop and implement a plan to engage members in contributing time and talents to Lutheran Social Services (Brainerd).

Growth area 4: Aspirations for the next 4-5 years

6. Explore and develop Wednesday evening as "church night," which might include any combination of the following:
   • Confirmation
   • All committee meetings
   • Adult classes (Bible study, topical [parenting, etc.])
   • Children's program
   • Child care
   • Light meal
   • Contemporary worship service
   • Choir rehearsal
7. To encourage lifelong learning, develop a comprehensive schedule of Bible studies, with a variety of lengths, formats, and difficulty.
8. Establish Small Group Ministry, based on
   • Bible study, prayer, relationship-building, mission/ministry
   • Lay leaders are trained in small group dynamics and leadership

July 29, 2007