Prince of Peace Lutheran Church
Executive Committee Meeting Minutes
August 21, 2018
Present: Pastor Chad Brekke, Allan Grant, Lynn Anderson, Julia Sevald
Absent: Melissa Johnson
Call to Order: President Allan Grant called the meeting to order at 6:20pm.
Devotions: Lynn led us in prayer.
Adoption of the Agenda: A motion was made by Julia Sevald and seconded by Lynn Anderson to approve the agenda. Motion approved.
Approval of Previous Minutes: A motion was made by Julia Sevald and seconded by Lynn Anderson to approve the minutes from the May 15, 2018 Executive Committee meeting. Motion approved.
Reports of Officers:
President’s Report:
Allan attended a sexual harassment and boundaries workshop put on by the Synod. POP is further along than many of the congregations in terms of youth protection. Based on what he heard, we have an opportunity to protect ourselves even more by creating a written policy and address adult protection as well. Allan provided a draft policy for further review and discussion.
Allan shared with the team thank you notes received by the council from the Summer day camp attendees. Additionally, Allan is working on a new volunteer request form with Bill Frederick.
Treasurer’s Report:
Notable July activity:
- For the month of July, receipts were less than expenses.
- The general/building fund activity for the month was a loss of $5,676. This is favorable to budget and prior year by $8,514 and $9,067, respectively.
- Total July offerings were higher than both budget by $2,441and last year by $7,379.
- Overall, expenses are favorable to both budget and prior year for the month. The favorability to budget is mainly related to timing of insurance expenses and a lower mortgage payment.
- For July year to date, receipts are lower than expenses, resulting in a YTD loss of $61,528. This is unfavorable to budget and prior year by $7,450 and $20,593, respectively.
- Giving throughout the first seven months of 2018 is down from last year but expenses are also down
- A significant variance to both budget and prior year is the loss of daycare income in 2018. We continue to search out a new daycare to utilize our space but have not been successful yet.
- The general fund cash balance available for use at the end of July is a deficit balance of $37,440 which means we are effectively borrowing from the designated funds to cover normal operating expenses.
- The only designated fund with significant activity in July was the summer day camp fund.
The executive team is reviewing and discussing options to help support and strengthen the financial position of the church.
Vice President’s Report:
The Leave A Legacy team met and approved two Leave A Legacy requests. The first was submitted by Lynell Keller for $600 to purchase supplies for the 363 Sandwiches service project to make 1000 sandwiches for the organization Love One Another following the Thanksgiving Eve service. The second request was submitted by Wayne Boike for $3,384 to replace the south emergency door exits in the sanctuary. The doors are warped and beyond repair and don’t meet the current fire code.
A motion was made to recommend both to full council by Lynn Anderson and seconded by Julia Sevald.
Secretary’s Report: None
Senior Pastor’s Report:
- The summer season of ministry and outreach has been full of coming and going anchored by all kinds of meaningful and inspiring worship gatherings on Wednesday evenings and Sunday mornings. As usual, we have been blessed to hear the gospel preached by a wide variety of guests and members over the summer. Church experts extol the virtues of creating a culture where faith stories are shared and we are blessed to have a deep bench here at PoP when it comes to having people willing to tell their own version of the Good News.
- We had a group of 10 return from an incredible vision trip to Tanzania, a group of teens return from a mission trip to Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota, dozens of youth and children returning from camp Wapo, and dozens of kids participating in day camps and vacation bible school.
- In between all of this activity we have gathered around families as they experience grief during funerals and memorial services and celebrated with others during weddings held both on campus and off site.
- As we begin to move toward the fall season, we continue to keep a close eye on the financial situation as we have been struggling with slightly lower than expected offerings this year. Pastor Chad is encouraged that our congregation continues to be such a vibrant and creative community of faith with a profound impact on the lives of so many both near and far. He knows we will continue to consider our faithful stewardship of all that the Lord continues to bless us with here at Prince of Peace.
Unfinished Business: None
New Business:
- An amendment to the Continuing Resolutions was presented by Allan to remove the Spiritual Development council position and add both a Property and Youth council positions. A motion was made by Julia Sevald and seconded by Lynn Anderson to recommend these changes to the full congregational council for approval.
- Linda Forkey has resigned from her current council position in Congregational Care and will not be filling out her term. The nominating team has been notified of this vacancy.
Action Items:
- Our next Executive Team meeting will be Tuesday, September 18th at 6:15pm.
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,
Julia Sevald, on behalf of Melissa Johnson
Council Secretary