DRAFT

Prince of Peace Lutheran Church

Executive Committee Meeting Minutes

August 16, 2016

Present: Pastor Chad Brekke, Sue LaGue, Julia Sevald, Kathy Arveson and Christina Jobe

Absent:

Call to Order: President Sue LaGue called the meeting to order at 6:40 pm.

Devotions: Sue LaGue led us in prayer.

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

Approval of Previous Minutes: A motion was made by Julia Sevald and seconded by Christina Jobe to approve the minutes from the June 21, 2016 Executive Committee meeting. Motion approved.

Reports of Officers:

President’s Report:

The position of Council Vice President, which was vacated by Tim Marker when he moved to Virginia, will be left empty until the end of the year. Sue will attend the Leave a Legacy meetings.

 Treasurer’s Report:

• For the month of June, receipts were lower than expenses.
  • The general/building fund activity for the month was a loss of $19,670. This is unfavorable to budget and prior year by $11,306 and $10,731, respectively.
  • Total June offerings were lower than budget by $10,661 and lower than prior year by $7,608. Other receipts for June were higher than both budget and prior year, mainly related to timing of building use income as well as Thrivent Choice dollars.
  • Overall, expenses are higher than budget and prior year by $2,569 and $5,775, respectively. The unfavorability to budget is related to timing of benefit expense and the unfavorability to prior year is mainly related to higher benefit costs and salary increases.
• For June year to date, receipts were lower than expenses. Offerings year to date are lower than budget and prior year. Expenses are higher than budget and prior year due to increased repairs partially offset by timing of benevolence payments. Expenses are also higher than prior year due to increased personnel expense.
• The general fund cash balance available for use is $43,224 at the end of June.
• The designated funds with significant activity in June were the adult mission trip and summer daycamp funds.
• An annual review of the financials was performed in June with no significant issues. More detailed information will be included in the report that is presented during the annual budget meeting.
• For the month of July, receipts were higher than expenses.
  • The general/building fund activity for the month was a gain of $4,138. This is favorable to budget and prior year by $15,704 and $18,831, respectively.
  • Total July offerings were higher than budget by $6,063 and higher than prior year by $11,183 so we were able to make up some of the ground lost in June. Other receipts for July were higher than both budget and prior year, mainly related to additional miscellaneous income from an IRS Health Premium Credit check that was received in July.
  • Overall, expenses are lower than both budget and prior year by $5,923 and $2,931, respectively. The favorability to budget is related to timing of benefit & personnel expense. The favorability to prior year is mainly related to timing of personnel and repairs expense.
• For July year to date, receipts were lower than expenses. Offerings year to date are lower than budget and prior year. Expenses are lower than budget but higher than prior year. The increase over prior year is due to increased personnel expense as well as creating a building reserve fund to use for larger building repairs as they come up.
• The general fund cash balance available for use is $47,362 at the end of July.
• The designated fund with significant activity in July was the summer daycamp fund.

A review of the church’s financial statements for 2015 occurred at the end of June. Everything looked reasonable, and there were no issues.  It was recommended that Prince of Peace have documentation of processes and procedures.  A report will be provided at the next congregational budget meeting.  The goal is to do this again in January for 2016 financial statements.

Secretary’s Report: None

Senior Pastor’s Report:

The summer season at Prince of Peace continues to be filled with great worship experiences and all kinds of fellowship and service opportunities. Our guest preachers for the Wednesday evening services have each been interesting, informative and inspiring. All of them have shared that they appreciate the special energy and enthusiasm they experienced at POP.

We continue to look forward and plan for the busy fall season of mission and ministry. The Great POP Get Together (Rally Day) is just around the corner. The team is planning to build on the success of the past couple years.

“Stewardship Sunday” will be November 13. We will have a guest preacher that day.  The Council will serve as the “stewardship committee.”

I have accepted an invitation from the Director of Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Services to serve on a committee, which will develop a strategy to support congregations across the ELCA as they work to assist in the settlement of refugee families. The first meeting of the committee will be in Baltimore on September 6-7. The committee is made up of the following leaders from across the ELCA, and I am pleased to represent POP in this endeavor.

• Jodi Harpstead, CEO of Lutheran Social Services of Minnesota
• Melanie Johnson, Program Manager for Volunteer, Congregation and Community Engagement, Lutheran Services of Georgia
• Lacey Studnicka,  Program Development Officer, Lutheran Family Services of Nebraska
• Kou Seying, Lutheran Foundation Professor of Urban and Cross Cultural Ministry, Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, MO
• Chad Brekke, Lead Pastor, Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, Brooklyn Park, MN
• Joseph Lewis, Former refugee and Officer at DC Metropolitan Police Department
• John Denninger, President Southeast District, LCMS
• Jack Eggleston, Director for Evangelical Mission, Assistant to the Bishop, Southeast Michigan Synod, ELCA
• James Horan, Resettlement Director, Lutheran Family Services of Rocky Mountain.
• Nina Zelc, LIRS Director for Refugee Services
• Folabi Olagbaju, LIRS Director for Outreach

On the weekend of October 21, we will welcome Rev. Dr. Frederick Shoo, the presiding bishop of the 6.5 million member ELCT (Evangelical Lutheran Church of Tanzania). Bishop Shoo and his wife Janet will be our honored guests at POP on October 23. Bishop Ann Svennungsen of our Minneapolis area synod and other members of the synod staff also plan to be with us that Sunday. We are planning to have one service at 9:30am followed by a reception.

Always a lot going on around POP and so much to look forward to. Thanks for playing your part in the mission and ministry we share.

Unfinished Business:

• None

 New Business:

Leave a Legacy requests

• $500 requested for Parenting with Purpose in the form of a table sponsorship for 8 people at a fundraising dinner.

• Katie is asking for $400 to buy additional books for the Sunday Worship bags.

If both requests are approved, there will be $500 leftover for benevolence requests.

Action Items:

• None

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

Respectfully submitted,

Christina Jobe

Council Secretary