CHURCH COUNCIL MINUTES -- May 10 and 17, 2007

NOTE: Due to the late hour of the May 10th meeting, a continuation meeting was held on May 17th to complete the agenda. The following minutes represent the two sessions as a single event .

Present (May 10th): Pastor Joan, Pastor Chris, Dave Brabec (President ), Denny
    Holmen, Sharon Ingvoldstad, Colleen Both, Darrell Paske, Dean Maier, Mary Backlund,
    John Wallin, Tami Lueck and Donna Trapp
Absent: None

Present (May 17th): Pastor Joan, Pastor Chris, Dave Brabec (President), Denny
    Holmen, Sharon Ingvoldstad, Colleen Both, Darrell Paske, Dean Maier, Mary Backlund,
    John Wallin, Tami Lueck
Absent: Donna Trapp
Guest: Les Trapp

Call To Order:

• Lighting of the Christ Candle
• Praise and Thanksgiving
• Secretary's Report . Approved minutes, as amended, of our April 12, 2007 meeting. M/S/P (Maier/Paske).
• Financial Report . M/S/P (Wallin/Paske) to transfer $ 10,033.32 (Holden Trust contribution) from the General Fund to the Designated (Memorial) Fund. Approved the April Financial Statement M/S/P (Ingvoldstad/Wallin).

Reports:

    Senior Pastor's report

• Pastor Del Ring is retiring as Visitation Pastor May 31, 2007, and celebrating his 50th ordination anniversary this year. There will be an appreciation coffee Sunday, May 27th.
• Personnel Committee will publicize the position opening. The position calls for 20 hours per month.
• Children's Ministry has requested permission to paint the classroom/choir room hallway. They will do the work and will coordinate with John Wallin.
• Strategic Planning update:
  Task Force members:
  • Colleen Both (Council), Jon Aga (Youth), Duane Blanck, Rick Jensen, Carol Smith, Mark Swenson, Ralph Ledin, Pastor Meier, Pastor Gunderman.
  Cottage meetings:
  • As of May 9th, 200 households, roughly 330 individuals, signed up to participate in 32 meetings. Statistics indicate that 100 participants would be an excellent response. Incredible response!
  • We reviewed the remaining calendar of events. The next congregational event will be Saturday evening June 9th at 6:00 p.m (evening of "norms" congregational potluck).
• LCC 50th Anniversary - May 19, 1959 (first worship service). Anniversary committee to be recruited.
• Vacation/Continuing Education:
  • June 18-21 - "Let The River Flow" Senior Pastor event, Burnsville, MN.
  • Pastor-on-loan at Luther Crest Women's Week, June 24 (p.m.) to June 28 (teaching).

    Associate Pastor's report

• Presented a verbal report of the 2007 Northeastern Minnesota Synod Assembly. Also, presented motions that were discussed at the assembly. Assembly was attended by Sandy Simonson, Marjorie Holmstrom, Leon Holmstrom, Pastor Gunderman and Pastor Meier. All attending found the experience to be very interesting, informative, spiritually stimulating and enjoyable. It is recommended that interested LCC members attend in the future. A new Bishop will be elected next year.
• The BWCA wilderness canoe base (Lutheran Camp) has suffered fire damage. However, the youth trip is still on.

    Worship and Music

• Attended the NE Minnesota Synod "Learning and Sharing Day" on worship in Duluth on May 5th.
• June 3rd - The women of the church will be leading the worship services. Jane Nemitz is organizing the services and will be giving the sermon that Sunday.
• The next Worship Committee meeting will be Wednesday, May 16th, at 7:00 p.m.

    Education

• The Volunteer Appreciation evening was a huge success!
• Vacation Bible School (VBS) - June 11-15.
• Luther Crest Bible Camp - July 9-12. Need homes to host supper for counselors. Planning to offer child care from 3-5 p.m. Planning to set up ride share for parents.
• Planning for next year is underway.

    Youth

• Many wonderful comments from the congregation regarding the last youth-led services.
• Youth Ministry Team met on April 28th - nine people attended. Many ideas with the focus on keeping youth active after confirmation.
• Aimee and John Jambor are hosting two cottage meetings for Sr. High youth. Jon Aga is facilitating. Excellent input at the last meeting. The second meeting will be May 20th.
• May 20th - we will honor and bless our 2007 high school graduates at the 8:15 service. The Lutheran Church of the Cross Education Scholarship will be presented.
• Planning is coming together for summer mission trip, BWCA trip and Summer Stretch. Other summer activities will also be planned.
• Two weeks of Sr. High Bible Study (Roaring Lambs Curriculum) - great participation.
• Wrapping up trip fund raising. Stock Sales, car wash on June 3rd. Brat sale at Cub in Baxter on July 3-4.

    Property

• The six parament hangers have been installed and the room door reversed to provide extra space.
• A new parsonage lease will soon be signed.
• Two bids were presented for potential upgrade of heating and cooling units. The units have surpassed their life expectancy.

    Congregational Life

• Looking for an Assistant Coordinator for the Hotdish Ministry. Barb Peterson, current coordinator, needs assistance when she is out of town, etc. People are very willing to provide meals. Watch for the request in the June newsletter.
• Work continues on The "Ministry Opportunity Guide." Revisions may be required after completion of the Visioning process.
• "Fifty Plus" is tomorrow - Scandinavian emphasis (Syttende Mai).
• Four members attended training for the Befrienders Ministry - good feedback.
• The Spring Rummage Sale went well - many volunteers.

    Outreach -- Interfaith Hospitality Network (IHN)

• In light of a meeting with Skip Zielin, inspector from the State Fire Marshal's office, there was discussion regarding liability exposure and safety for IHN families. The May 10th meeting adjourned at 10:00 p.m. Further research was conducted the following week and discussion resumed at a continuation meeting at 7:00 on May 17th. Discussion highlights as follows:
  • Colleen Both presented the background of the IHN (a network that has been established all over the United States). People come to the program for a number of reasons: domestic abuse, divorce (can no longer afford rent on single income), lost jobs, etc. Usually families come to the program after they have exhausted all other means (living with relatives, staying with friends, living in motels until they run out of money, sleeping in cars until it becomes too cold). Host churches will have no more than six families or 18 people at a time. Family screening requirements were reviewed.
  • Congregational member, Les Trapp, shared his work-related professional expertise to help answer questions regarding fire inspections, etc. The Council is attempting to be as thorough as possible with the ultimate goal of providing a safe environment for our guest families.
  • President Brabec explained the information that has been furnished to our insurance company. A policy rider will be secured to cover liability of hosting IHN.
• Subsequent motions:
  • M,S,P (Backlund/Ingvoldstad) to proceed with participation in the Interfaith Hospitality Network program with activation of the insurance rider. Also two hosting individuals must be on duty at night and at least one host must be awake throughout the night.
  • M,S,P (Lueck/Wallin) - There will be no sleep-overs in the basement with current basement design. One adult must stay awake through the night for sleep-overs held elsewhere in the church.

Old Business:

• Constitution and Bylaws Committee will meet soon.

New Business:

• Organ project update - work will proceed in July.

We close, as always, with prayer, giving thanks and asking for guidance. Adjourn: M/S/P (Holmen/Maier).

Respectfully submitted,
Denny Holmen

All are welcome at council meetings. Approved minutes and approved financial reports are available in the church office.