Prince of Peace Lutheran Church

Executive Committee Meeting Minutes

August 14, 2012 (Approved)

 

Present:  Tom Heinrich, Julia Sevald, Bill Fredrick, Pastor Chad Brekke, Kathy Arveson and Allan Grant 

Absent:  None

 

Call to Order:  President Tom Heinrich called the meeting to order at 6:30 pm.

 

Devotions: Julia Sevald led the opening devotions.

 

Adoption of the Agenda:  A motion was made by Julia Sevald and seconded by Bill Fredrick

to approve the agenda as ammended.  Motion Approved.

 

Approval of Previous Minutes:  A motion was made by Julia Sevald and seconded by Bill Fredrick to approve the minutes from the July 10, 2012 Executive Committee meeting as written.  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 Treasures Report by Allan Grant and seconded by Tom Heinrich.  Motion approved.

 

President’s Report: 

• ·        The Nominating Committee has recommended that Jennifer Follstad be approved as the Community Life member of the Congregational Council.  This recommendation will be voted on at the August 21, 2012 Council Meeting.
• ·        The Congregational Council has been asked to sponsor the meal at the August 29 Wednesday evening service.  Council members will be asked to assist.  Allan Grant will prepare the main dish of shredded beef.

 

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:  No Report

 

 

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 encourage 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 leader group 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!

Unfinished Business:  Approval of new Mission Statement.  A motion to recommend that the full Council approve the Mission Statement of Grow Deep – Reach Out was made by Allan Grant seconded by Bill Fredrick.  Motion approved.

 

New Business:  Distribution of the Greendahl Estate Gift.  Prince of Peace received an undesignated estate gift of $21,872.52 from the Estate of J. Greendahl.  After discussion a motion to approve the distribution to the General Fund of the J. Greendahl Estate Gift of $21,872.52 was made by Tom Heinrich and seconded by Julia Sevald.  Motion approved.

 

A motion to adjourn the meeting was made by Bill Fredrick and seconded by Julia Sevald.  Motion approved.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

Allan Grant

Secretary