Present: Pastor Chad Brekke, Pastor Natalia Terfa, Melissa Johnson, Mike Isenberg, Rachel Henderson, Lori Clausen, Pastor Jenny Sung
Absent: Richard Habstritt, Sarah Hetz, Frank Clinton, Jim Fodstad, Kirk Sidlo
Call to Order: Melissa called the meeting to order at 7:03 pm
Opening Devotion: Prayer was led by Lori
Adoption of the Agenda: Mike made a motion to adopt the agenda. Lori seconded the motion. Motion carries.
Approval of Previous Minutes: Mike made a motion to approve minutes from the July 21, 2022 council meeting. Lori seconded the motion. Motion carries.
EXECUTIVE TEAM REPORTS:
President’s Report
None
VP Report
None
Treasurer’s Report
OFFERINGS / RECEIPTS
2022 2021
MAY $55,067.96 $52,656.23
JUNE $78,969.14 $88,205.60
JULY $60,379.29 $65,241.57
AUGUST $41,584.48 $77,752.52
TOTAL $446,624.11 $509,286.87
Monthly Avg (Jan-Aug) $55,828.01 $63,660.86
EXPENSES
MAY $71,074.36 $69,702.67
JUNE $73,645.79 $68,781.52
JULY $67,527.80 $67,511.19
August $72,006.52 $68,754.84
2022 TOTAL $575,118.27 $555,423.73
GAIN/LOSSES ( INCLUDING ENDOWMENT PYMT)
2022 2021
MAY 24,993.20 ($17,046.44)
JUNE 5,323.35 $19,524.08
JULY 5,985.71 ($2,269.62)
AUGUST ($17,260.04) $8,997.68
2022 TOTAL ($61,198.34) ($46,136.86)
Endowment Fund
Through August 2022, $67,324.00 of Endowment Funds was used to cover necessary expenses. The 2022 Budget included $32,000 of Endowment fund monies for this purpose.
August 31, 2022 asset balance in both Endowment funds amounts to $68,017.59. Endowment funds used in August 2022: $13,162.00
Offering/Receipts decreased in 2022 over 2021 by $62,662.76
Our expenses increased by $19,692.94 in 2022 compared to 2021, $67,294.22 has been used from the Endowment Fund to cover expenses in 2022.
Our Losses for the year 2022 increased by $15,061.48 compared to 2021 with the $67,294.22 from the Endowment Fund included. Without that $67,294.22 losses included for the year 2022 we have increased in losses of $82,355.70 compared to 2021.
Other Receipts in 2022 was $62,733.31 compared to 2021 which was $59,897.38. This is increase of $2,835.93. We received in 2021 Memorial & Bequests in amount of $5,375,00.
2022 Appeal of Congregation amounted to $33,292.75 through August 2022.
Secretary’s Report
None
PASTORAL REPORTS:
Pastor Chad’s Report
Pastor Chad’s Report September 2022: It was great to be back in the office this week and especially to be back at worship on Sunday. It has been wonderful to reconnect with folks and hear about summer travels and other adventures. I am so grateful to Pastor Natalia and Pastor Jenny for leading a summer of faithful and engaging worship along with so many other important ministry priorities. All of our staff and lay leaders did a great job as well offering summer day camp, Boundary Waters, and Camp Wapo experiences among other faith building activities.
While I was intentional about removing myself from most communications with staff and lay leadership during my sabbatical, I did stay in touch with our Business Administrator Paul on the financial picture.
It became clear as the summer progressed, that the planned staffing changes would need to begin sooner than the beginning of next year as planned. Reducing both senior and associate pastoral positions to 3/4 time, along with a 5% pay reduction among all other paid staff, would need to begin with the 4th quarter of this year. It also became clear that even these changes would not be enough to fit our total staffing budget within current income levels.
Therefore, both the Director of Children and Family Ministry (Katie) and the Director of Youth and Family Ministry (Brent) positions will become 1/2 time positions as of October 1 and the beginning of the 4th quarter of this year. These changes will bring a total reduction in staffing costs of a little over $10,000 each month. I believe this is a sustainable new baseline for the foreseeable future.
As the senior pastor and the head of staff, I regret that these significant changes are required in order to fit our staffing profile into current budget realities. I remind the congregation that none of these reductions would be necessary if the mortgage debt had been retired in earlier times when congregational trends were better suited to large debt reduction capital funding appeals. I oversaw several of these capital campaigns that followed building expansions at my former congregation to retire a $2 million mortgage before I was willing to move on from there.
All that said, I know this newly configured staff leadership serving PoP remains committed to our shared ministry and outreach and to one another. It is this team, surrounded by so many faithful and committed lay leaders, that keeps me engaged and truly hopeful for this next season of ministry.
Everyone knows that things are changing and have changed for the church across denominations in the United States. I am so grateful to serve with these leaders and among this congregation as we see where God will lead us next.
I am optimistic, energized, and grateful for the future ministry we all share in these incredible times, building on the rich history of Prince of Peace Lutheran Church. Even as I type, we have members serving people in need in Jamaica and a poor family has just moved into their new village home provided by those who participated in the Vision Trip to Tanzania in June at the beginning of my sabbatical. This is the 18th family that has received a new home from PoP Vision Trippers!
God is always taking what we have to give and multiply it!
Your partner in ministry,
Pastor Chad
Silivia Gerefasi Kweka stands in front of her new home provided by PoP members. Silvia is a seriously poor single mother of 25. Her child is Esther, age 4. They live in the Machame subvillage of Naruma Tela. Both the mother and child are HIV positive and under treatment through the Lutheran Hospital we support in the region. A dry, safe, sanitary house makes a big contribution to the long term health outlook for the immunocompromised.
Pastor Natalia’s Report
Fall is here! We had our kickoff/rally/Great POP Get Together Sunday this past week and it was so great to see a room more full than it’s been in a while, and particularly great to have so many young people there. It continues to surprise me the number of people that have chosen to make Prince of Peace their church home during a pandemic. We’re still seeing this weekly and it’s such a gift.
Pr Jenny finished her calls and compiled a report for council. She will continue to get the team up and running over the next couple of months, until she feels like they are ready to function on their own, with little pastoral oversight. I’m encouraged by her reflections and the way she has named the gifts of Prince of Peace. I hope we as a leadership team can lean into our gifts and grow from them as we move forward together.
Pr Chad and I met to discuss the realities of our new ¾ time schedule. This time of transition is likely to be difficult for the congregation, and I would like to encourage the leadership to be aware that we are not doing full time work in part time hours, we are doing part time work in part time hours. * “off” weeks mean we are not working, including Sunday.
Pastor Jenny’s Report
She is grateful for the opportunity to help with ministry at POP for the last few months. She felt supported well by the staff, council and welcomed by the congregation. A report of her phone calls and conversations will be sent to council for review.
Jenny has agreed to continue with the Care team until the team feels they are operating sufficiently. The goal of the team is to create an opportunity for POP to be a congregation that has a full care team to support their members.
Confidentiality and trust are of the upmost importance for this team, members will not be invited to participate on the team until the confidentiality agreement is signed. This will also be signed by staff as well.
Moving forward-Pastor Jenny will work with members of the care team to create a full team to provide community care to members of POP, leaning away from complete pastoral care for the community-especially important as we reduce staff. Crisis care will still be covered by the pastors.
Ministry Team Reports:
Community Life
Katie has talked to some families about coffee being a family volunteer opportunity. She has a few families who are interested. Abby & Leah Emter are volunteering every other week. For now, I will continue to head up the coffee ministry.
Congregational Care
Pastor Jenny is getting the care team established and trained. There will be another training on Sept 28, in which volunteers on the care team will decide which areas they would like to work with: cards, phone calls or personal visits and dedicated training and planning will be done among those groups. Some additional trainings may be needed after Sept, but those will be scheduled with individual teams.
Of note-Pastor Jenny came upon some misprints in the member guide as well as several people with different phone numbers or those who have moved. The care team will also take this on, to make corrections and verify information with members for the next printing of the member guide.
Outreach
- • Avenues Holiday Gift Drive planning meeting scheduled for Tuesday, September 27 at 11 am, Caribou near POP
- • We are looking for volunteers to deliver CEAP Bin donations to CEAP for the months of April, May, June, July, August and September
- • We are in need of a volunteer to help cover our MOW route on the 2nd Thursday of the month from October 2022 through August 2023
- • Jeans and Junk, our Adopt a Highway fall clean-up, is scheduled for Sunday, October 2, at 10:30 am.
Avenues For Youth – Amy
- • Birthday Buddy Program – September birthdays o None reported yet. Kevin will notify Amy if there are any birthdays to celebrate.
- • Holiday Gift Drive o Amy to check with Kevin on needs lists, drive dates and details and confirm whether they would like POP to host the gift wrapping again this year.
CEAP – Jeanne
- • August and September food donation delivery o August – Kevin Willms
- o September – Michael Foss
- o Jeanne to review list of volunteers. If there are any open months, we will recruit on Rally Sunday.
- • Meals on Wheels o Driver status update – Jeanne recruiting drivers to fill the one open shift on the 2nd Thursday of the month.
- o New delivery year begins in September
- o Jeanne is training Frank Clinton on Thursday. He may be able to fill some of the open 2nd Thursday shifts when his work schedule permits.
- o We collected 86.5 lbs. of supplies!
- o Thanks to the congregation for your generosity and to Jeanne and Jeff for delivering them to CEAP.
- o Thanks also to Amy for volunteering to pack bags on Tuesday.
- o Jeanne to talk with Katie to coordinate drive details and to Mark about gift lists and volunteering to distribute toys.
- • Supplies for Success – Back to School Supply Collection
- • Holiday Gift Collection
Care Bags – Jodi
- • Collecting supplies throughout September
- • Supply needs will be promoted in the September eNews.
- • Will use Melissa’s $250 grant to fill in donation needs. We are targeting to fill 100 bags.
- • Jo and Frank secured 100 toothbrushes. Jodi working on donation of 100 small toothpastes and mitten/hat donations.
- • We’ll discuss dates and times for shopping and assembly at our September meeting.
The Great POP Get Together, September 11 – Jodi
- • Amy is available to help staff the Outreach table from 10:30 to Noon.
- • Jodi to set-up and split time between the table and helping with games.
- • Jodi to supply signage, candy bowl and sign-up sheets
2022 Outreach Budget – Jodi
- • Outreach Budget Balance – $95.00
- • Designated Fund Balance – o Outreach – $120.76
- o CEAP- $140.00
- o Avenues for Youth – $25.25
- o 363 Sandwiches – $16.00
Completed Projects Report
CEAP Tote Bag Drive – Thanks to all who helped CEAP “go green” by donating 132 cloth tote bags for reuse by CEAP food donation recipients
CEAP Farm Fresh Volunteer Event – July 27 – 12 volunteers packed fresh produce for families in need. Thanks to all who volunteered!
CEAP Birthday Bags – Jeanne purchased birthday paper goods for children’s birthday celebrations using the Thrivent grant that Amy secured. Amy, Jeanne, and Jodi filled 30 bags on Sunday, August 21. Thanks to Amy for hosting and Jeanne for scouring the local area Dollar stores for supplies.
Avenues Birthday Party – Thanks to Amy for delivering a cake, ice cream and a card/gift card to Avenues for an August 11 birthday.
Property Team
Property Committee
Areas of maintenance, repairs, and improvements
9-2022
Courtyard window panels (4) replacement $400 approx. Volunteer work
Water heater replacement (2) $400 to $800 per heater cost approx. (Plus labor)
Door (3) not closing – replace electric closer $3,812 (Bid from 2021).
Removal of dead tree in courtyard – (causing roof drain problems and possible roof damage)
One toilet not flushing women’s bathroom – rebuild valves $50 approx. (Work in progress)
Fire alarm panel not passing all tests (Operational, but entire system will need to be
replaced if it fails) $30,000. Notice received by city fire department to repair.
Ash trees in parking lot dying. Rainbow Tree said they could not save trees.
HVAC unit for day care has bad bearings in motor and will need replacing. May not be available or reparable due to age. Still operating for now. This would stop heat and air condition for day care area. Unit cost $25,000 plus
HVAC – CLC $25,000 approx. This would replace boiler and reduce operating cost.
Dishwasher Model AM-14 out of production – Approx. $15,000. Still operating.
Parking lot repairs $20,000 (2-year-old bid. Cracked surface and sewer collapse).
Carpet replacement for several wear areas.
Tucking point on building – several cracks.
Mold on building needs to be removed (power washing and retail chemicals not effective).
Thermostat not operating in sanctuary may be a inter problem. Thermostat replacement $300 prox.
All costs are approximate and subject to change. Many items need to be completed by licensed and insured companies.
Sunday Morning Experience
There are very few people signed up or committed to ushering and they have been asking for volunteers to help each Sunday. Advertising and ask for volunteers will go out in ENews and be posted at the welcome wagon in the coming weeks.
Staff Reports
Staff Reports
Children and Family Ministry
Summer Day Camp is officially wrapped up and it was a great Summer. We had quite a few NEW kiddos come this Summer so it was fun to see things through their eyes
WAPO was another great week/weekend of learning for our young people. It is always a joy to walk alongside our young people during that week/weekend and see how a place like Camp really impacts their faith.
The Great POP Get Together was a blast, and it was nice to have the responsibility be shared amongst many people. Thank you all for a wonderful morning and fantastic teamwork
Sunday School is going to have a little bit different look this year. We are going to try and pull kiddos out JUST for the Sermon time, like we have been doing for the past year. However we will be doing three different age groups for lessons and discussion to hopefully allow more meaningful conversation and more age appropriate projects.
* Parents/Guardians are aware that this is a test and that we will evaluate, tweak and change as we need to in order to find something that works for the most people.
* If and when changes happen they will be notified with at least two weeks notice
* Registrations are slowly coming in
Looking ahead to Bible Sunday on the 25th. While this Sunday is typically for three year olds and 2nd graders, we are expanding it this year in hopes of catching up with those who have not attended the past two years because of COVID
Youth and Young Adult Ministry
Middle school – Axis will kick off Wed Oct. 5
We’re still recruiting small group guides! Send me any leads 🙂
High school – Revolution will reconvene Sep 21. We’re welcoming Spencer Amstrup on board as a leader with Hunter. As well as Grace LaTourelle wanting to be a peer leader.
Young Adult – We quickly gained interest for & were able to lock in a retreat with Wilderness Canoe Base Oct. 13-16! Excited by the energy in this growing group.
Media & Tech
Unfinished Business: None
New Business: Staffing changes will begin October 1, 2022
Next Meeting: October 18, 2022
Announcements and Action Items: None
Adjournment: Mike made a motion to adjourn. Rachel seconded the motion. Meeting adjourned at 7:35pm