COUNCIL MINUTES -- July 9, 2009

• Lighting of the Christ Candle
• Praise and Thanksgiving

• Secretary’s Report — Approval of June council minutes (M/S/P – Karlgaard/Kraft)
  
• Treasurer's Report — Financial report for June approved (M/S/P – Pastor Bruce/Larson)
  

•  Confession and forgiveness (Pastor Joan)
  
•  Scripture and response (Pastor Joan)

• Council Retreat - Fall? Oct. 17 or 24?
  
• Lifelong Learning
• Monthly book discussions are well-attended and great conversation. Participants are requesting we keep it going beyond summer.
  
• We are now being approached with Adult Forum topic requests by members and others. During Sept.-May we averaged 30 participants. The one-Sunday high was nearly 70 on "The Five Wishes."
  
• Pr. Bruce and I will be coordinating Bible study opportunities this coming Sept.-May (i.e., ELCA "Bible, Book of Faith" initiative).
  
• Continuing Education
• Continuing Ed. - ELCA event for pastors of large congregations, June 15-18, Burnsville, MN.
• Workshop on Stewardship Key Leader, an ELCA program for organizing capital campaigns, led by Director (Pr. Charles Lane). Stewardship Committee has decided to go with them to help us with our debt retirement campaign.
  
• Workshop on e-Ministry, led by 20-something youth director – targeting youth and young adult ministry. How do we use the technology those generations use extensively to communicate, learn, etc. to engage them in faith growth, conversation? Such as: e-mail, text messaging, websites, blogs, Facebook.
  
• From Bishop Hanson’s Bible study
  
• Common misconceptions of church: fortress, military outpost, retreat center named "nostalgia," competitor in religious marketplace.
  
• Jesus doesn’t call us to be happy, but to die to ourselves.
• Holy Spirit is church’s oxygen; the church is God’s muscle.
  
• "What do we, who have been here all along, need to die to for the sake of/to make room for, the other?"
• "I don’t mind a messy church, but I do mind a church who depletes all its energy on distracting conflicts."
• Human relations people say one person (pastor, staff) can successfully relate to a maximum of 100 people. Therefore, "best practice" is one full-time staff person for every 100 people at worship to maintain status quo. If congregation is looking to grow (both deep and wide), need more. 300 worshiping = 3 to maintain status quo. 350 = 3.5. We are currently in ball park for status quo, not for growth.
  
• From Rev. Dr. Steven Bouman, former Bishop of Metropolitan New York Synod (before, during, and after "9-11"), currently Exec. Director for the ELCA Evangelical Outreach and Congregational Mission unit.
  
• Mission of the church is not ourselves, but the world. We exist for the poor, hopeless, lost. God is already there, and is busy!
  
• If we are busy only building ourselves/congregation up = narcissism, not mission.
  

• Outreach/Evangelism
• Calling upon inactive members has started and continues.
  
• Focus on Stephen Ministry
• Applicants for Stephen Ministry training are being interviewed by Stephen Leader
  Cindy Hannem. We anticipate at least six people beginning the training on Thursday, July 30.
  
• Focus on ACTS program
  
• Classes are postponed as many council members are either unable to attend or can only attend one or two sessions. Optional times were presented.
  
• Focus on third worship service
• Worship services have started and are continuing, attendance is averaging 60 plus except for Saturday, July 4, when we had about 30 people in attendance. We already have some "regulars" at the service..
  
• Focus on Children's Ministry
  
• VVBS was a great success with approximately 114 kids and about 50 staff – teenagers and adults. Preparing for fall Sunday school start.
  

• The  Summer Organ Series was successful.
  

• new dedicated outlet installed for office copier
• exterior painting of the church continues
  

• Missions update -- Missions Sunday - October 11th with “Opportunities to Make a Difference” forum between services
  
• IHN -- next hosting August 30 - September 7. They are looking for persons     
  interested in volunteering to drive guests to special appointments (Dr., etc.). Cur-
  rently, they are at full capacity.
  

• VBS
• 106 in attendance - up from 96 last year.
  
• 63 volunteers including 24 youth crew leaders.
• God’s Global Barnyard raised $225, got $500 in Designated Funds; the     
  $725 purchased 1 cow, 2 goats, 2 pigs, 2 turkeys and 40 chicks. 
• Sunday School 2009-2010
• Anticipate 102 to register.
  
• Spark Bibles and fall curriculum leaflets have been ordered.
  
• Curriculum expected by late next week with bonus CD arriving by early     
  August.
  
• Curriculum subscription is $269 for 2009/2010.
• Planning workshop for teachers and still recruiting with five teachers confirmed. Still LOTS of opportunities.
• Planning for opening worship for upper and lower grades each Sunday.
• Rally Day scheduled for September 13th.
• Bible Distribution
• 3rd grade bible distribution scheduled for this fall with brunch to follow.
  
• 20 Spark Bibles for distribution to 3rd-graders ordered – WELCA to potentially pay for this at $13.99 each.
• 30 Pre-school Bibles ordered from First 3rd of Life budget (companion Bible to new curriculum).
  

• Bells of Praise choir has been invited to Lord of Life Lutheran Church, and will be playing for their Sunday service on August 2.
  

• Colorado Backpacking trip was to Fort Collins. Eleven young people from our church enjoyed a week in mountains with Sky Ranch Lutheran guides. They were challenged by the altitude, hiking, fishing, great camaraderie.
• National Youth Synod Conference is being held in New Orleans in July. Six youths
  and four chaperones will be attending.

• Council voted to accept the newly revised Staff Handbook. Thank you to the Personnel Committee for framing its contents and to Joy and Sally for providing the attractive format. 
• Council voted to act on the December budget decision to reduce Children's Ministry staff hours from two staff members sharing 40 hours a week to one staff person working 32 hours a week.

  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