Prince of Peace Lutheran Church
Council Meeting
April 17, 2012 (Approved)
Present: Tom Heinrich, Bill Fredrick, Pastor Chad Brekke, Dan Ficken, Julia Sevald, Mary Gilleshammer, Bev Alsleben, Dan Cassada, Chuck Krych and Allan Grant. Absent: Chris Fearing.
Call to Order: President Tom Heinrich called the meeting to order.
Devotions: Julia Sevald led the opening devotions.
Adoption of Agenda: A motion was made by Chuck Krych and seconded by Bill Fredrick to adopt the Council agenda. Motion approved.
Approval of Previous Minutes: A motion was made by Chuck Krych and seconded by Dan Cassada to approve the minutes from the March 20, 2012 Council meeting as written. Motion approved.
Reports of Officers
Treasurer’s/Business Administrator’s Report: Notable March activity:
- · March receipts are unfavorable to budget by $7,842 and disbursements are also slightly unfavorable to budget by $847. Year to date receipts are unfavorable to budget by $19,249 and disbursements slightly unfavorable to budget by $767.
- · The general fund activity for the month was a loss of $9,024. This is unfavorable to budget but favorable to prior year (loss of $14,372 in March 2011).
- · Designated funds that had significant activity for the month were the CEAP and Thrivent Choice Dollars.
- · General fund receipts for March included $45,486 of pledged offering and $4,473 of unpledged offering.
Julia Sevald will be working with the new Business Administrator, Kathy Arveson, beginning on April 23, 2012 to provide her with the budget, reports and other aspects of the position. President Tom Heinrich expressed thanks for the work that Julia has picked up in the last few weeks as Prince of Peace has experienced a transition from the previous Director of Operations to the new Business Administrator. The Council gave Julia a round of applause.
A motion was made to accept the Treasurer’s Report by Bev Alsleben and seconded by Dan Cassada. Motion approved.
President’s Report:
- · Roger Dissmeyer has accepted the position of chair of the Property Team. Roger will lead the property team to help prioritize maintenance and property improvements and work with staff and volunteers to keep our campus in great shape.
- · Chris Fearing has resigned her position as Community Life Council Representative. The Nominating Team has been asked to recommend a name for appointment by the Council.
- · The Worship Enhancement Committee has requested and has been given permission to remove the colored lights that are on the wall behind the altar in the Sanctuary. The member who gave the lights as a memorial has approved the move. The Committee is looking for an alternative space to display the lights.
Vice-President’s Report:
Leave A Legacy Update: The total reported balance of funds in the Leave A Legacy accounts is approximately $166,500. The committee has been working on topics for the May 6, 2012 session on “Wills”. Plans for advertising the event has been developed and all Council members are encouraged to attend.
Secretary’s Report: No Report
Pastor’s Report:
Pastor Chad: Pastor Chad reported that the season of Lent has been filled with challenges and many blessings. The midweek services held each Wednesday morning and evening throughout Lent have been very well attended. The energy created by having our campus filled with confirmation students and their mentors every Wednesday seemed to follow them all into the worship center for each service. A variety of musicians and singers joined Nate in creating a worshipful atmosphere during the evening services with Marge Welde providing piano accompaniment during the morning services.
The services of Holy Week have received overwhelmingly positive feedback as dozens of our staff and volunteers worked behind the scenes and up front to help create profoundly moving worship experiences. The Easter services were great celebrations and the Easter breakfast was a big hit as worshippers were able to share the joyful fellowship of a good meal together as part of Easter at Prince of Peace.
We have experienced two more significant staff transitions this past month. Charlie Olson completed his faithful service as our Business Administrator. We have a top candidate to fill the role of Business Administrator. Kathy Arveson has years of experience and leadership in this type of position and as an officer of the National Association of Church Business Administration (NACBA).
The other staff transition follows as the result of the termination of our building service/cleaning contract with A Plus Janitorial, Inc. In an effort to have an increased staff presence in the area of cleaning and general maintenance of buildings and grounds, a new position has been created. Jaime Cortez has applied for the new position and will begin work as our new building sexton beginning in May. Jaime has already provided years of faithful service to POP as a representative of A Plus Janitorial and a different company prior to that, so Pastor Chad is thrilled that he will now come on board as a member of our POP team.
These two new staff members will be supported by volunteers. Roger Dissmeyer will lead a property team to help prioritize maintenance and property improvements and work with staff and volunteers to keep our campus in great shape.
Finally, Pastor Chad wants to put it into the record how appreciative he is to all of the staff and volunteers who helped to make the season of Lent and the Easter celebrations here at POP such profoundly moving experiences for so many hundreds of worshippers. He reports that he is seeing so many people using their gifts to impact this ministry we share. We have been a church in the midst of significant transition in recent months but none of our visitors during Holy Week left with that impression. Together, we have kept the focus on the good news of Christ’s death and resurrection and that news is getting out in creative, relevant and faithful ways.
Council Reports
Each ministry team is to submit a written report each month. These will be attached to the official minutes. Highlights will be included in these Minutes.
Executive Team: No Report
Spiritual Development: The Team reported that Sunday Bible study resumes this coming Sunday April 15th at 10:15 am. They will be studying the 2 lessons and Gospel reading for that Sunday. Men’s Ministry assisted in the CEAP and POP raking event Saturday April 14th.
Sunday Morning Experience: The Sunday Morning Experience Team will hold an Ice Cream Social for all WE Team volunteers on May 16 at 6:30 PM. All WE Team volunteers are invited to attend. The Team discussed volunteers and the best method of recruitment and how to cover the WE Team responsibilities during the summer. They will discuss with Pastor Chad specific worship service flow items.
Congregational Care: The Team reported on their work in planning the New Member Orientations and asked questions regarding the Fellowship Friends and how this is working to assist new members in feeling welcome at Prince of Peace. It is important that the blue visitor cards are in the pews each week and the Team felt that maybe the Sunday Morning Experience Team would be willing to check if all materials are in the pews each week.
Outreach: The following items were discussed: There’s a need to keep the congregation informed of outreach programs at Prince of Peace. These include; Global Missions, Park Brook Elementary, the Barnabas board, TreeHouse and a proposal to host meals at POP or do outreach that draws the community in. These proposals will be discussed at the Council retreat on April 21st.
Community Life: No report.
Unfinished Business: None
New Business: None
A motion was made by Dan Cassada and seconded by Chuck Krych to adjourn the meeting. Motion approved. Meeting adjourned.
Respectfully submitted,
Allan Grant
Secretary