Prince of Peace

EXECUTIVE TEAM MINUTES APRIL 2018

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Prince of Peace Lutheran Church

Executive Committee Meeting Minutes

April 17, 2018

Present: Pastor Chad Brekke, Allan Grant, Lynn Anderson, Julia Sevald, Melissa Johnson

Call to Order:  President Allan Grant called the meeting to order at 6:28pm.

Devotions: Julia led us in prayer.

Adoption of the Agenda: A motion was made by Lynn Anderson and seconded by Julia Sevald to approve the agenda.  Motion approved.

Approval of Previous Minutes: A motion was made by Lynn Anderson and seconded by Julia Sevald to approve the minutes from the March 20, 2018 Executive Committee meeting. Motion approved.

Reports of Officers:

President’s Report: None

Treasurer’s Report:

Notable March activity:

  • For the month of March, receipts were significantly lower than expenses.
    • The general/building fund activity for the month was a loss of $17,671. This is unfavorable to both budget and prior year by $8,076 and $13,445, respectively.
    • Total March offerings were lower than budget by $5,368 but fairly close to last year.
    • Overall, expenses are also unfavorable to both budget and prior year.   The unfavorability to budget is mainly related to timing of insurance and security expenses which YTD are on track. Additionally, utility spend was higher in March than budget, but less than March 2017.
  • For March year to date, receipts are lower than expenses, resulting in a YTD loss of $31,770. This is unfavorable to budget and prior year by $20,687 and $6,367, respectively.
    • Giving throughout the first quarter of 2018 is down from last year and expenses are up, mainly related to the purchase of a new AED machine and HVAC/roof repairs
  • The general fund cash balance available for use at the end of March is a deficit balance of $7,682 which means we are effectively borrowing from the designated funds to cover normal operating expenses.
  • There were no designated funds with significant activity in March.

The executive team is reviewing and discussing options to help support and strengthen the financial position of the church.

Discussion:

  • We are already paying the minimum on the mortgage.
  • Is this a time that we tap the endowment for as much as we can? Rather than have the endowment cover the “extra” things, should these funds go to cover necessary expenses?
  • We will do a giving focus this spring and raise the consciousness both of the reality of what our ministry needs to thrive and the potential for growth of the engaged congregation. We need to do this not only with the people in front of us, but reaching those people who are not in the pews. Pastor Chad will send a letter to the congregation to help reach as many people as possible. The focus will need to be more practical. If this is the financial level that we’re going to sustain, what are we going to do? The church needs to hear the reality. Pastor Chad will address this in May. He talked about having different staff members talk about what they value about their ministry.
    • Allan will fund the first letter so that it does not come out of the budget.
  • Losing the daycare hurt us financially. Things are still up in the air with the daycare that is now looking to utilize our space.
  • What about trying a wall of money? This would give us a short-term boost. We want a more long-term solution.
  • The designated fund in total has $110,000. We have enough to pay the bills for the next two months, for sure.

Vice President’s Report:

  • Nate has put in a Leave a Legacy request for a live streaming camera. He is asking for $800. Leave a Legacy has approved this and would like to bring it to council.
    • This could help with our engagement, especially during the summer months.

Secretary’s Report: None

Senior Pastor’s Report:

  • We had a great Lenten season into Easter. There is every reason to be upbeat and optimistic about the future of our church.

Unfinished Business: None

New Business:

  • We talked about how we can measure engagement vs. attendance
    • We want to take a look at the question: What does Prince or Peace mean to you?
  • There is new app out that provides a way to give on the spot. It is supported by the ELCA. We will find out more about this and get the word out.

Action Items:

    • Lynn will e-mail the council regarding the Leave a Legacy request.
  • Our next Executive Team meeting will be Tuesday, May 15th at 6:15pm
  • Our next Council meeting will be Tuesday, May 15th at 7:00pm.
  • We will meet in June as an Executive Team, but we will discuss an alternative date as both Pastor Chad and Melissa will be in Tanzania during the 3rd week of June.

 

Prayer: Allan Grant led us in the Lord’s Prayer.

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

Respectfully submitted,

Melisa Johnson

Council Secretary