New Church Council Meeting Minutes March 29th, 2007 – APPROVED MINUTES
Agenda Item Discussion Motion Vote
Call to Order
Frank Newman, President
Meeting called at 6:35 pm at Emanuel.
Council Members Present (10): Frank Newman, Pastor Evelyn Dahlke, Tom Fischer, Heather Fokken, Pastor Craig Pederson, Kathy Munson, Dan Scoggins, Marilyn Peterson, Adelheid Koski, Marko Fields. Not Present (1) Joe Tricola
Dave Raymond – ChurchFuture.com
Transition Task Force: attendance not noted.
Visitors Present: Dave Wangard of the ELCA.
Devotions
Dan Scoggins Dan Scoggins read a devotional, from the book Ordinary Grace.
TTF and Council continue separate meetings after the devotion and prayer by Pastor Craig.
Call process
Frank Newman Pastors excused while their pay and benefits are discussed.
• Dave Wangard meets with the Council and discusses Pastor pay and benefits.
• Dave leaves before the pay packages are worked out.
• Council agrees that the co-pastors are to be paid equally.
• Pastor Evelyn uses the ELCA health insurance benefit. Pastor Craig depends on his wife’s insurance saving the church several thousand dollars. After a discussion, it was felt we should offer a health insurance supplement to recognize the savings the church has from Craig’s wife’s insurance.
• Pensions are determined by a percentage of income from the synod.
Motion: a motion is passed to pay both pastors 55,000 base pay, 1400 educational allowance, 1000 for auto expenses, and offer both health insurance and if they choose not to use it we offer them $2000 for health insurance support. Motion: Newman
2nd: Fields
Vote: Unanmous
Abstain: none
Secretary’s Report
Dan Scoggins
Minutes from 03-22, 3-08, 02-21 presented.
03-22 – Jacob’s Well has an attendance of 260 per Dave Raymond.
03-08 – correct Travis’ last name to Gerjets, change devotions to Kathy Schadendorf.
02-21 – No changes
Motion to approve the minutes with corrections Motion: Fokken
Second: Fields
Vote: Unanimous
Abstain: none
Oromo
Frank Newman
Oromo members Abraham and Desta visited the Council meeting.
The Oromo congregation is holding a national Oromo conference May 24th to May 26th, Thursday through Saturday. There will be 300 people attending from around the country. On Saturday, the main worship service will be from 11am to 1pm. They will be clear of the fellowship hall around 2:30pm, in time for the community dinner to be set up.
They will use the Sanctuary for choir practice on Saturday evening from 5pm to 9pm
Motion: to approve the use of the church building during Oromo national conference. Motion: Dan
Second: Heather
Vote: unamimous
Abstain: none
Other building uses
Frank Newman
Narcotics anonymous uses HT at 6pm on Saturdays. They prefer to use the fellowship hall over the sanctuary. The have as many as 100 people each Saturday night. Pastor Evelyn will ask them about using the fellowship hall at 8pm so the Community Dinners can continue on Saturdays at 5:30 pm.
A smaller alcoholics anonymous group meets on Sundays and can use the library.
Pastors who talk to the different groups that use the building can work with the groups to find out when each group can use the building.
Payments
Frank Newman
Payments to Mike Bash need to be made. Each church needs to pay $893.16, their part of his bills to date.
Each church needs to pay $100 to Emanuel which covers the Luther Park payments already made by Emanuel.
Each church needs to pay $220 for the synod assembly to Emanuel who has made the down payment.
Finance Team Meeting
Frank Newman
The Finance team held its first meeting on Tuesday at 7pm at Emanuel. The next meeting is at 7pm on Wednesday at Emanuel.
Dissolution Update
HT is not a site under consideration for the permanent site. Their council has requested to put the building up for sale.
Discussion that we still may want windows or other parts of the old building added to the permanent site.
A suggestion was made that HT obtain a few estimates of the value to try to identify what the value of the building is. If an agent is engaged to market the building, will the new council be bound to the agreement?
Council members express their thanks for HT’s council being so willing to take this step, a step the other congregations would find difficult.
Motion: We make a motion supporting Holy Triune’s effort to sell Holy Triune’s building. Made: Fokken
Second: Munson
Vote: Unanimous
Abstain: none
Transition Task Force
Frank Newman Transition task force has submitted a budget for $15,000 in transition costs.
Emanuel has voted to put the first $5000 in to start the work. Each congregation will need to put $5000 in, although this may solve itself as funds are transferred to the new congregation.
Frank to ask the synod about transition funds. Kathy Schadendorf is a Thrivent representative. Perhaps Thrivent can also help us with transition costs.
Motion: To approve the TTF’s budget of 15,000. Made: Scoggins
Second: Fokken
Vote: Unanimous
Abstain: none
Naming process and other
Frank reports that the other committees need to start meeting and making plans.
Naming – the winning name will get 50% + 1.
The meeting will be after worship and will also include a vote on the calling of the Pastors.
Adelheid to make the ballots.
The names are: Northeast Community Lutheran Church, Welcoming Grace Lutheran Church, Celebration Lutheran Church, United Lutheran Church. Motion: To accept the congregational vote on an IRV ballot. Made: Newman
Second: Fokken
Vote: Unanimous
Abstain: none
Adjourn
Frank Newman
Closing prayer by Pastor Evelyn, 10pm.
Meeting Adjourned
Next meeting April 12, 2007 6:30 pm, Emmanuel. Motion: Tricola
2nd : Munson
Vote: unanimous