COUNCIL MINUTES -- January 14, 2010

Present: Carol Smith (President), Colleen Both (Treasurer), Rick Jensen (Secretary), Erin Karlgaard (Vice President), Jean Kraft (Congregational Life), Nikki Stark (Education), Tom Larson (Property), Donna (Music and Worship), Pastor Bruce. Visiting: Outgoing chairs: Dean Maier (Outgoing Youth Chair) Darrell Paske (Outgoing President); Dave Brabec and Bob Warneke.

We Assemble In God's Name/We Proclaim the Good News/God's Word
  • Service of Thanksgiving and Blessing (in sanctuary), Pastor Bruce
  • Scripture and Response, Pastor Bruce

We Commend to God Our Past
  • Call to Order (Sunday School classroom) - President Carol Smith.
  • Secretary's Report - Approval of December council minutes (M/S/P – Kraft/Larson).
  • Treasurer's Report - Financial report for December approved (M/S/P Karlgaard/Peterson).
  • First presentation of the draft of the LCC Constitution/Bylaws by Dave Brabec. Presented for council to review, recommend and eventually approve to present to the congregation. The council will be reviewing and discussing modifications during the February Council meeting.
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Old Business

New Business
  • Adoption Policy - Stacy‘s letter of Adoption Policies was tabled for approval for the next council meeting. A couple details need to be verified before Council approves an Adoption Policy.
  • 2010 Budget Proposal - Given by Colleen. Showing a balanced budget, Council unanimously agreet to approve it for presentation to the congregation at the Annual Meeting on Jan. 31 (M/S/P - Peterson/Larson).
  • Council matters - Introduction of new council members and discussion of what we as the Church Council are responsible to do in the best interest of the LCC family.
  • Shrove Tuesday - Council agreed to serve at the pancake supper again this year.
  • Holden Trust Fund - Darrell Paske suggested that the council determine what the correct action should be for this fund. One time, non-recurring events are for Memorials & Special Gifts Committee. The Holden Trust Fund doesn‘t fit that category. After discussion, the Council made the decision to change the management of those funds. The motion: All non-designated, recurring funds, beginning with and including the 2009 Holden Trust Fund, be dispersed solely through and under the direction of the Church Council (M/S/P – Karlgaard/Stark).
  • Retreat Date - Council is planning a retreat/planning date. Everyone is to check schedules and figure out the best date and time.
  • Suggestion Box - Council decided to provide a suggestion box for the LCC church family. Procedure of making suggestions to be forthcoming (M/S/P – Both/Kraft).
Motion to extend meeting time by :15 (M/S/P – Both/Kraft)

Reports

   1. Senior Pastor, Pastor Joan
  • Will be included in the Annual Meeting report.
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   2. Associate Pastor, Pastor Bruce
  • Haiti - We will have a prayer service with a special offering for Haiti at 5pm Saturday, prior to the regular evening service.
  • Outreach/Evangelism - We are planning on three new member periods during 2010 with the first beginning in January. At this time we have invited 11 families (24 individuals including children) to participate in our new member classes and the reception to follow. Our next new member Sunday is planned for February 14.
  • Stephen Ministry - We are planning on a new class of Stephen Minister trainees sometime next year, probably late Winter or early Spring. We will be encouraging men to be involved as well as additional women.
  • Visitation - Visitation has started with Pastor Joan and myself splitting the list in half.
  • Voting Members - We are continuing to update our lists of voting members.
  • ACTS class - Invitations are being issued soon to the beginning class.
   3. Stewardship/Key Leader Campaign, Colleen Both

   4. Congregational Life, Jean Kraft
  • Lenten suppers will be starting soon as we enter the Lenten season. All are encouraged to attend.
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   5. Property, Tom Larson

   6. Worship and Music, Donna Peterson
  • First meeting is planned for January 24th.
   7. Outreach, Ron Thorson (absent)
  • Erin Karlgaard presented the current fee schedule for groups that use the LCC space for non LCC activities. Do we waive fees for non-profit groups that directly support the basic human needs of members of our community?
  • Suggestions for Non-Profit use:
    • Keep fees for janitor or equipment use as stated in the current fee schedule.
    • Waive usage fee for non-profits who clearly provide for the basic needs of members or our community (IHN/New Pathways, Food Shelf, Soup Kitchen, Bridges of Hope, Kin- ship Partners, LSS).
    • Limit major use events (involving more than 24 hours of time on the calendar, including tying up space for that amount of time) to once per year, with additional events to be evaluated by the event coordinator for the church, which would incur additional fees.
    • Require $150.00 damage deposit to be returned upon completion of event, with the un- derstanding that any and all damage to grounds, building and property within the building is the sole responsibility of the group using the church.
  • IHN will be held Jan. 31-Feb. 7 - the youth room will no longer be used for hosting.
  • Clothing Cuz We Care - Megan Hintz and Molly Aga are heading this, good response from congregation.
   8. Education, Nikki Stark
  • Children's Ministry met on 1/5/10.
  • The nursery is done and back in business with new paint and wallpaper. The drinking fountain has been taken out, so the chance of another plumbing issue has been greatly reduced.
  • We have cut our ties with the PARDI group in Uganda, having sent our last check for the sale of jewelry, baskets, etc. We are going to focus our outreach efforts within the ELCA.
  •  Thank you to Women of the ELCA for the funds to buy a media cart for the laptop and projector we have.
  • We ended our year $486.00 below budget and are asking for a budget of $7500.00 for 2010.
  • A motion was passed (during the December Council meeting) to use the children's offering to commission a new baptismal font when we get the funds.
  • Last day for Sunday School is May 16th, it will be a regular day instead of a "celebration" day.
  • VBS is set for June 14-18 with a theme of Baobob Blast. Registration is online again this year via the LCC website.

   9. Youth, Dean Maier
  • Activities
    • Youth led worship on Jan. 10.
    • 7th and 8th grade Confirmands will be assembling the annual report next week.
    • Sr. High youth will be gathering Jan. 17 for snow tubing.
  • Fundraisers
    • Planning to have a pancake breakfast the first Sunday in Feb.
    • Christmas Nativity fundraiser was fun. Well received by those who attended.
    • Sr. High will be collecting money for the food shelf and the soup kitchen for Souper Bowl Sunday.
Closing Prayer

 Meeting Adjourned
 
All are welcome at Council meetings. Approved minutes and approved financial reports are available in the church office to any member upon request. If you would like to have something on the Council meeting agenda, please submit it in writing addressed to President Carol Smith and delivered to Joy in the church office no less than one week prior to the monthly Council meeting. The Council meets the second Thursday of the month. If the request is submitted less than one week prior to the next Council meeting, it will be addressed at the following monthly meeting.
 
Respectfully submitted,
Rick Jensen, 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