Prince of Peace Lutheran Church
Council Meeting
December 9, 2011 (Approved)
Present: Tom Heinrich, Chuck Krych, Bill Fredrick, Pastor Chad Brekke, Pastor Hal Stoa, Lynn Bohm, Marian Hutchens, Kim Cozad and Allan Grant Absent: Pastor Jim Carlson, Dick Ruohoniemi, Cindi Lindquist and Charlie Olson.
Call to Order: President Tom Heinrich called the meeting to order.
Devotions: Tom Heinrich read opening devotions that were prepared by Mary Gilleshammer relating to inviting all into a relationship with Jesus.
Adoption of Agenda: Additions to the agenda included a report on refinancing of the current mortgage and report on Council retreats. A motion was made by Bill Fredrick and seconded by Chuck Krych to adopt the Council agenda as amended. Agenda was approved.
Approval of Previous Minutes: A motion was made by Kim Cozad and seconded by Chuck Krych to approve the minutes from the November 15, 2011 Council meeting as written. Motion approved.
Reports of Officers:
Treasurer’s Report: November receipts nearly $12,000 below budget. Disbursements were almost $26,000 over receipts. Nearly half of the overage in receipts were due to payment for Pastor Chad’s move that was covered by the I’m In funds. The Building/Mortgage Fund was $855 below what is needed for the month. So the remaining funds from the Contingency Fund of $1,000 were transferred to the Building/Mortgage Fund.
A motion was made to accept the Treasurer’s Report by Chuck Krych and seconded by Marian Hutchens. Motion approved.
President’s Report:
· 2012 Annual Reports: Each council member is reminded to complete their annual report of their area of ministry and submit it to Secretary Allan Grant. These reports will be posted on the Prince of Peace web page as well as being available in print form for members to review prior to the Annual Meeting.
- · 2012 February Council Working Meeting: There will be a working meeting of all council members on Saturday, February 11, 2012 here at church. This will be a time to set goals for 2012 and assist the newly elected council members to begin their term “running”.
- · 2012 April Council Working Meeting: Plans were begun for a joint council meeting with office staff on April 21, 2012. This meeting will be held at Prince of Peace.
Vice-President’s Report: The Leave A Legacy committee has agreed that $8,400 is the amount of available donations for 2012 from the Leave A Legacy Fund. There is an additional $3,000 of funds to be distributed for 2012. Council and staff are encouraged to submit proposal for these funds. On Tuesday, November 15, 2011 Thrivent for Lutherans planned a program entitled “Life Events” unfortunately no members attended.
Pastor’s Report:
Pastor Chad: Pastor Chad submitted a written report which will be attached to the official minutes. In summary Pastor Chad reported that his second full month of ministry at Prince of Peace has been full and rewarding. He has continued to attend as many of the ministry and committee team meetings as possible, both to provide input and also as a great way to get to know people. He is looking into the possibility of creating other opportunities for him to spend some quality time with members of the congregation in small group settings. He is thinking about a series of “fireside chats” maybe early in 2012 with some dessert and coffee on Sunday nights where he could spend some time with members in a small group setting.
He is pleased with the positive energy and feedback he has been getting related to the worship experience on Sunday mornings. He is looking forward to the Christmas Eve services as an opportunity to celebrate the presence of Christ among us in a way that moves us forward filled with enthusiasm as we approach a new year of mission and ministry.
He has been spending considerable time developing a vision for filling out our vacant staff positions as well as redefining some of our current staffing configuration to support the mission of our congregation.
Pastor Jim: Pastor Jim submitted a written report which will be attached to the official minutes. In summary Pastor Jim has started two adult Bible studies this month. On Monday nights he has been doing a “No Experience Necessary” class focusing on ways that God wants us as partners in our everyday life to be in mission. The Wednesday evening class “Readers Digest Version of the Bible” will meet for one more week. It has had a smaller attendance of 7 people.
He is looking at two or three more studies for the future. One on forgiveness during Lent and another on “Being a Good Samaritan” Pastor Jim has also been approached to partner with Dan Ficken for a study called “Love Wins”
Pastor Hal: Pastor Hal reported that the Stewardship Committee has met and is generally pleased with this year’s program that provided a great message and thanked the lay speakers for their solid and well planned messages. Follow-up letters will be sent.
Pastor Hal reported that he would no longer be heading the Giving Ministries. He is turning this over to Pastor Chad. Pastor Hal reported that he was pleased that our new Senior Pastor would be leading the Stewardship Committee and stated that this is a testament to Pastor Chad’s interest in the wellbeing of the Church. The Council thanked Pastor Hal for his service to Prince of Peace and wished him the very best in the future. Pastor Hal will remain involved in the Giving Ministries of Prince of Peace as a member of the congregation.
Staff Report: Katie Rykal the Director of Children and Family Ministry submitted a written report that will be attached to the official minutes. In summary she reported; this year there are 235 kids in Sunday School. The Christmas Program, A Piece of Christmas was a lot of work, but also a lot of fun. There has been great feedback on the program. This year the PreK-K classes have learned the stories of Joseph and Moses, as well as had an Advent Celebration. The 1st-6th have done their Catechism Studies (each grade covered a different topic) and learned the story of Moses. The Sunday School offering has been good this year (better than previous years).
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 team discussed the duties of the WE Team Captains and the responsibilities of the WE Team members. They also reported on how they felt the Veteran’s Sunday went. The book was loved however there should be more than one book for people to look at next year.
Congregational Care: No Report
Outreach: The team met on Thursday December 8th, 2011. They reported that they discussed their accomplishments of 2011 and goals for 2012.
- · Continue existing programs, add and enhance where needed.
- · Make the congregation aware of all of the programs of the Congregational Care Team.
- · Barnabas Board (Board in narthex posting needs).
- · Begin holding dinners at POP to feed those in need in our community. In Anoka County this is called Family Table. This may be done quarterly or possibly monthly. They will see once they get the program up and running. The plan is to partner with other churches.
- · Increase Prince of Peace’s partnership at Park Brook Elementary as the need is so great.
- · More involvement at Feed My Starving Children
Community Life: No Report
Unfinished Business: In our 2012 budget planning Treasurer Dick Ruohoniemi presented the Council with a revised budget. The Council reviewed the draft. The Executive Committee will continue to review and update as additional pledges are submitted and programming is completed for 2012.
New Business: Mortgage Refinance: The Council reviewed several options relating to refinancing the present mortgage. A committee reviewed options from lenders and submitted their report to the Council. A motion to accept the recommendations of the mortgage review committee was made by Tom Heinrich and seconded by Marian Hutchens. There was discussion. Motion approved.
- · Current mortgage is adjustable that will reset in four years and then again in ten years.
- · Current rate of interest is 5.75% with a monthly payment of $14,867.
- · The refinanced mortgage will be fixed with an interest rate of 5.5%.
- · The new monthly payment will be $12,724 for a yearly savings of $1,716.
- · The refinancing will be with Thrivent Financial who holds the current mortgage.
- · The terms of the loan except for the interest rate will not change.
- · This will provide added stability for future budgets.
A motion was made by Chuck Krych seconded by Bill Fredrick to adjourn the meeting. Motion approved. Meeting adjourned.
Respectfully submitted,
Allan Grant
Secretary