AUGUST 2012 COUNCIL MINUTES

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Prince of Peace Lutheran Church

Council Meeting

August 21, 2012 (Approved)

 

Present:  Tom Heinrich, Bill Fredrick, Pastor Chad Brekke, AIM Natalia Terfa, Julia Sevald, 

Dan Ficken, Mary Gilleshammer, Bev Alsleben, Dan Cassada, Chuck Krych, Jennifer Follestad and Allan Grant.  Absent: None

 

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 Dan Ficken and seconded by Dan Cassada to adopt the Council agenda as presented.  Motion approved.

 

Approval of Previous Minutes:  A motion was made by Mary Gilleshammer and seconded by Chuck Krych to approve the minutes from the June 19, 2012 Council meeting as written.  Motion approved.

 

Appointment of Community Life Council Member:  The Nominating Committee has recommended that Jennifer Follestad be appointed to the Congregational Council to fill the position of Community Life.  A motion was made by Bev Alsleben and seconded by Chuck Krych to approve the appointment on Jennifer Follestad to the Congregational Council.  Motion approved.

 

Reports of Officers

Treasurer’s/Business Administrator’s Report:  Notable July activity:

  • ·        July envelope offerings were slightly higher than budgeted.  Total July receipts are unfavorable to budget by $3,381; however disbursements are favorable to budget by $4,243.  The general fund activity for the month was a loss of $4,905.  This is favorable to budget for the month but slightly unfavorable to prior year (loss of $3,818 in July 2011).
  • ·        Year to date receipts are still significantly unfavorable to budget by $34,843, however disbursements are favorable to budget by $28,378 resulting in an overall negative variance to budget YTD of $6,465.
  • ·        Designated funds with significant activity in July are CEAP, Adult Mission Trips, Thrivent Choice Dollars, Youth Plant Sale Fund, Restricted Income Fund and Miscellaneous.  The increase in Miscellaneous is related to an estate gift that has been temporarily placed there until final distribution is determined.

 

A motion was made to accept the Treasurer’s Report by Bill Fredrick and seconded by Dan Ficken.  Motion approved.

President’s Report:

 

  • ·        Adoption of Mission Statement:  A motion was made by Allan Grant and seconded by Dan Cassada to approve the new Mission Statement for Prince of Peace Lutheran Church of Grow Deep – Reach Out.  Motion approved.
  • ·        Maternity Leave:  Katie Rykal has requested a 12 week maternity leave beginning in late January 2013.  The Personnel Committee has recommended that Jackie Winter be hired as Katie’s replacement.
  • ·        J. Greendahl Estate Gift:   Prince of Peace has received an estate gift of $21,872.52 which represents 10% of the estate of J. Greendahl.  The Executive Committee has placed these funds into the General Fund with 10% designated to go to Benevolences.
  • ·        Wednesday, August 29th Dinner:  The Congregational Council will be hosting the final dinner prior to the Wednesday evening service.  Members are asked to assist.
  • ·        Coffee Meeting with Tom and Bill:  Each Council member is asked to set up a meeting with Tom and Bill to discuss yearly plans, vision for programming and your area of ministry for the future.  Also, this will be a time to discuss what excites you, where your ministry is headed and give direction for budgeting.

 

Vice-President’s Report: Leave A Legacy Update:  The total reported balance of funds in the Lutheran Community Foundation account is approximately $156,000.  The total reported balance of funds in the Premier Bank Money Market account is approximately $12,251. 

 

Secretary’s Report: 

  • ·        Written Reports:  Council members are reminded to submit their written reports each month.
  • ·        Memorial Gifts:  The following document is available to people requesting ideas for memorial gifts to Prince of Peace.  Each year the Congregational Council will review and update.

Memorial Gift Options

Thank you for your interest in supporting the mission and ministry we share at Prince of Peace through a financial gift in memory of your loved one.  Memorial gifts may be given as designated or undesignated funds.

 

Undesignated gifts will be directed by our leadership toward the area of ministry that will most benefit from these unbudgeted resources.

 

Designated gifts may be directed to the Endowment Fund or any of our five ministry areas.  Also, there is the possibility to designate gifts toward an established goal of our church.  This year designated memorial gifts are being sought for a new church sign.  The new electric sign will be an effective tool for ministry and a visible expression of welcome to our entire community!

 

Prince of Peace Endowment Fund:  The Endowment Fund provides for long-term support of the church by the investment of gifts.  The fund provides for capital improvements, mission programs, and specially designated purposes.  The contributions to the Endowment Fund are invested and only Eight (8) percent of the balance is spent each year. 

The five ministry areas of Prince of Peace are designed to assist the mission of the congregation to Grow Deep – Reach Out. 

Five Ministry Areas

  • ·     Sunday Morning Experience

       This team makes the most of the opportunity we have to be a welcoming place every time

       we gather for worship. “From street to seat”, they help us expect guests and welcome

       everyone into a meaningful worship and fellowship experience.

  • · 
  • ·   Community Life

We believe all people need a sense of purpose and a sense of belonging. This team promotes a     healthy, caring community, while strengthening the unique call on the congregation to partner with God in His mission.

 

  • ·   Outreach

We believe we are called to be the hands and feet of God, serving God’s people locally, within our own community, and globally as He leads us. We seek opportunities to connect our gifts with God’s mission to live His creation throughout the world.

 

  • ·   Congregational Care

We seek to grow servant hearts and connect people with their desire to belong to and support the mission of God. Here, we care for one another and meet people where they are in their journey of faith.

  • · 

   Spiritual Development

           At the heart of our effort is to see people transformed by the good news of Jesus Christ.

           This begins in baptism and continues throughout our lives. We focus on helping people

           build a lasting faith on the foundation of God’s Word.

 

Pastoral Reports: 

  • ·        Pastor Chad’s Report:   

As we move toward a full schedule of fall programming here at POP, Pastor Chad is pleased with the way our summer has progressed.  The congregation responded very well to our new summer worship schedule.  Attendance has remained strong at the 9am service on Sundays and the new Wednesday summer worship service at 6:30pm has been enthusiastically embraced.  The Wednesday service has averaged upwards of 100 people and we continue to receive overwhelmingly positive feedback on this new worship opportunity.  It has been wonderful to reengage the CLC as a versatile location for worship in addition to all the other ways we benefit from that space.

 

By way of reminder, here are a few of the goals related to the new Wednesday service Pastor Chad shared in his June report before the service launched:

 

“I am confident that these adjustments to our summer worship schedule will be a benefit in a number of ways:

 

  • ·        The 10:30am Sunday service is the hardest hit by the summer dip.  The new schedule reduces the chances of first time visitors showing up to a very sparsely attended service. Those first impressions cannot be undone.  One strong, well-attended Sunday morning service will be welcoming and affirming both to visitors and members.
  • ·        We have already polled various member groups to gage interest in a Wednesday service this summer with encouraging results.
  • ·        The new Wednesday service provides another opportunity to reach out to our neighbors with an invitation to join us.”

 

In addition to a number of weddings and funerals, our ministry remained active and vibrant throughout the summer.  The first annual Vision Trip to Tanzania was a profound success.  Mission week and mission Chicago were combined with TIM Team and regular camp Wapo trips as some of the highlights of our summer youth ministries.  Our POPs Camps were fantastic for the younger children with many of our teenage youth helping to lead.

 

Our focus will now begin to turn more intentionally toward the new small groups emphasis along with our financial stewardship theme of “Reflecting Grace In Giving.” Pastor Chad has every reason to believe that our congregation will respond with faith and generosity even as he encourages all council members to lead by example in these crucial areas of our ministry.

 

In short, the reach of the mission and ministry we share at POP continues to be blessed and expanded even during the summer months.  From east Africa to Chicago to the Twin Cities to summer camp at Wapo, our ministry is impacting lives in profound ways. When our worship services conclude with the words “go in peace, serve the Lord,” the members of POP really do go… thanks be to God!

 

  • ·        AIM Natalia’s Report:

 

Natalia reported that seminary has been time-consuming and difficult, but rewarding as well.  She wants to thank the congregation for your support and patience as she figures this all out!

Small groups will be kicking off on September 24rd with a Sunday geared toward getting people excited about group life.  We’ll be promoting it for the three weeks prior, and hopefully it will gain a lot of momentum up to that day.  The group leaders finished their training in early June, and will meet in late August to talk through the curriculum and prep for the fall kick-off.  Natalia is SO excited to make groups happen on a wider scale here at POP!

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:  No Report

 

Sunday Morning Experience:  The committee met on June 16th to discuss the year and what worked and recommendations for the future.  Rally Sunday will be September 9, 2012.  A Team Captain coordinating meeting will be held on August 7th.  Dan Cassada will coordinate the Welcome Bags and prepare a welcome letter and items to include in the bags.  The team would like to include more youth in the WE teams.  Discussion with Brent will take place soon. 

 

Congregational Care:  No Report

 

Outreach:  No Report

 

Community Life:  No report.   

 

Unfinished Business:  The Council received an update on the various problems with the new computer server and what “next steps” in this project.  The staff continues to work to make this project successful.

  

New Business:  None

  

A motion was made by Julia Sevald and seconded by Mary Gilleshammer to adjourn the meeting.  Motion approved.  Meeting adjourned.

 

Respectfully submitted,

Allan Grant

Secretary