Agenda Item

Discussion

Call to Order

Frank Newman,   President.

Meeting called at 6:39 at Emanuel Lutheran Church. 

Council Members Present  (10):

Frank Newman – President

Dan Scoggins – Secretary

Pastor Evelyn Dahlke

Marko Fields

Tom Fischer

Heather Fokken

Adelheid Koski

Pastor Craig Pederson

Marilyn Peterson

Kathy Munson

Joe Tricola – sends regrets. 

Dave Raymond – ChurchFuture.com

Mike Bash - Attorney

Transition Task Force

Pastor Ken Defor

Andrea Stelljes

Ruth Foster

Virginia Schnabel

Kathy Schadendorf

Darrell Lind

Bill Speake

Intern Pastor Lori Youngvorst – sends regrets

Visitors Present:  several visitors, not identified

Devotions

Frank Newman

A reading was done, Pastor Evelyn opened the meeting with prayer

Overview of the Meeting

Frank Newman

Frank described how the TTF and NC (New Council) we would have devotions together, and pray together before dividing up to address agendas items.  We will rejoin when Attorney Mike Bash arrives at 7:15pm.  Group split at 6:48pm, New Council moves to Library to continue meeting. 

Elect Vice President

Frank Newman

Frank described how Kathy Munson is the person the executive committee has asked to become VP so Holy Triune has a representative on the executive committee.  Kathy was not in the room to ask at the time.  This was tabled until next meeting. 

Constitution and Bylaws

Frank Newman

         Copies of ELCA Model constitution is handed out. 

         Heather Fokken, Craig Pederson, Marilyn Peterson volunteer to be part of team to submit a constitution and bylaws. 

         Draft of Constitution is due for review by the Council by January 25th.  Emailed out the Tuesday before the 25^th.  

         Bylaws will be handled later. 

Pastoral Call Committee

Frank Newman

Frank explains that we intend to call the two pastors who are currently from Emanuel and St. Paul’s. 

         The Council can authorize a call process if the Constitution is drafted to allow this to happen. 

The Council makes a call committee, the call committee interviews the candidates, and makes a recommendation to the church Council.  The church council approves, and the final candidates are submitted and approved by the Congregation at a congregational meeting. 

Naming Process

Frank Newman

Three council members are requested to join a team to plan out a naming process for the new church.  Marko Fields, Adelheid Koski, Tom Fischer volunteer to serve on this committee.  A due date is not specified. 

Council Retreat

Frank Newman

A council retreat is discussed to make program plans and council development.  Two dates are discussed, Saturday January 20^th, 1pm to 5pm and January 15^th, 10am to 3pm with a lunch in the middle.  Frank agrees to check with Kathy Munson to work on the best date.  The location will be Emanuel. 

Attorney Mike Bash

Mike Bash

Retainer agreements - All three churches have retained Mike Bash to complete the dissolution plans, by passing motions to retain him. 

Overview - At an overview level, the process to form a new congregation is to pick a name, file articles of incorporation, fill out the new council, officers, members etc. 

Steps to Consolidation - Mike and Dave Raymond will type up Mike’s notes on steps involved in forming a new church and put it on the website. 

Members – two ways to bring them into the new congregation

         As part of the dissolution, members are terminated and anyone who wants to join the new church must sign a document to join.  

         As part of the dissolution, all members are transferred to the new congregation, unless they sign a paper declining to transfer their membership.  Simpler administration.  Group seemed to prefer this method to enable all home bound members to have a place to go. 

Tax Exempt Status - As part of the ELCA, we have tax exempt status with the IRS.  We do not need to do our own filing with the IRS.  Filing the articles of incorporation will make us a non-profit corporation with the state of Minnesota. 

Schedule – Dave Raymond and Mike will work together to make a schedule to prepare the documents.  Mike needs to meet with the old councils and make a dissolution plans for all assets.  This may be done by meeting with the executive committees, or two or three members of each council. 

Process – next steps

1.      Plan of Dissolution – develop the plans

2.      Vote of Congregation to approve Dissolution

Form new Church, articles of incorporation.

Attorney Mike Bash - continues

Mike Bash

Rosters - Mike requests we supply him with the roster of each Congregational Council so he can send them letters and have contact persons with each group.  

Council Minutes - Mike also requested council minutes or other documentation that authorized this group to attempt to consolidate the three churches. 

Restricted Funds – Mike reported that the funds of the old congregations can be transferred to the new church.  Funds restricted by donors can usually be transferred for a similar use, or can be changed if approved by the donors.  Funds designated by Councils in the old congregations do not retain the same status in the new congregation – they would be newly designated.

Letters from Tim Leighton, Marilyn Pavlak, Virginia Schnabel, Adelheid Koski.

Frank and others

Letters expressing concerns about the consolidation process were distributed to the New Council. 

         St. Paul’s – The HT vote on the temporary site was a catalyst for some at St. Paul’s to re-think the consolidation process through.  Virginia said St. Paul’s should meet and discuss where we are at with the process. 

         Holy Triune – Marilyn Peterson speculated many Holy Triune members may not be coming to the merged church at any location.

         HT members have said they may go to Gustavus Lutheran church where some of their friends are.  They can’t handle the stress of moving and participating in a new church.  Transportation is an issue – Emanuel “feels” a long ways away, parking would be difficult on Sunday mornings during services at the same time as Elim Baptist.

         St. Paul’s location is not a solution for HT members either – HT reps did not get the sense that St. Paul’s would be preferred over Emanuel.  HT just cannot give much to any new church due to health issues and their challenging financial prospects. 

         Emanuel – Kathy Schadendorf said she feels tired from fighting for years to keep Emanuel going in such a large building with many needs.  She has been excited about a new cong. because it gives the chance to focus on a new vision that can make a difference.

         Discussion that we cannot address all the people’s fears in the consolidation.  We can help them see the vision of the new church with more members and improved programs.  The council retreat will be an opportunity to make tangible plans for services the new church can offer. 

         St. Paul’s – Ruth Foster reports that some of the elder members of St. Paul’s see the consolidation as if the church is being robbed by the newer members who are active on the committees.   Older members purchased equipment, furnishings, etc.  Other New Council members commented that this is difficult and part of the grieving process. 

Frank suggests we resume this discussion next week.   It is now just before 9pm. 

Timeline of Process

Craig, Frank

Craig raised the question about lengthening the current timeline.  Frank said based on what we heard from Mike Bash, we cannot complete dissolution with the old councils by Jan. 28^th.  We also need to work on forming the new congregation.  We will discuss a timeline next week, and agreed dissolution votes will not happen in any church on Jan. 28.

Adjourn

Frank Newman

Meeting Adjourned at 9:02 pm.

         Next meeting January 11^th, Holy Triune 6:30pm.