Congregational Meeting Minutes
St. Anthony Park Lutheran Church
Annual Congregational Meeting
May 9, 2005 Opening:
President Hob Weiss called the meeting to order at 7:05 p.m. Devotions:
Pastor Glenn Berg-Moberg led devotions from Mark Ch. 12. He prayed using "Real Prayers" by Dr. Wendell Frerichs. Acceptance of Minutes:
The Reading of the Minutes of the January 2005 Congregational Meeting was waived on a motion from the floor. There were no corrections or discussion. A motion to accept the minutes was made by Kent Eklund and seconded by Dave Hansen and was carried. Pastors' Reports:
Pastor Glenn Berg-Moberg referred the meeting to his report printed on pp. 9 and 10 of the Annual Reports. He said that the missionaries supported by the old Mission Fellowship have retired and that this church is not at present supporting any missionaries. Missionary support is nevertheless something he wants the church to do, in addition to our local outreach. Pastor Amy Thoren said she wanted to make up for the absence of a report to the January Annual meeting and had therefore expanded somewhat in this one. Her report appears on pp 11 - 13 of the Annual Reports. She said she reviewed her Letter of Call and compared it with what she is doing and believes she is carrying out its requirements. She finds she is doing some things that Barbara McCauley did not do and is unable to do some things that Barbara had been doing. She has attended 90% of the Youth activities in the church.
She has not yet had much to do with families although she understands that "faith is passed on in the home". She hopes to do more work with parents in the next year. She delights in her Confirmation work. She has had very little to do with Adult Education.
In reply to a question from Kent Eklund she said she believed that her seminary had given her a very good preparation for what she is doing here.
Michelle Christianson said she was very pleased by Amy's enthusiasm for working with Confirmation and thanked her for it. President's Report:
Hob Weiss began by telling of an encounter with a new member to whom he had said that the church was making a special effort to be welcoming to newcomers. The new member responded saying that we were certainly succeeding. For this Hob thanked the members.
He thanked Paula for getting the Annual Report to the Congregation together, although some of the contributions had come in rather late.
He said that many wonderful things are happening, and we know that this is because God is at work in this place.
Matthew Bell did great work with us, but has left for a better-paying job, and this has been an opportunity to restructure the custodial work under Drew Johnson in a way which fits in with his musical activities, saves the church money, and gives Drew benefits which he did not have previously.
The Parish Nurses have undertaken to forgo their salary for June, July and August and Lyngblomsten, the umbrella organization for Parish Nurses, has agreed to this arrangement.
Hob said that the Second Century Capital Appeal will end this year. He hopes that those who have given to this appeal will be able to redirect money to other programs in the church. We would like be able to give raises to the staff and to be more ready to spend money on programs.
A stewardship campaign will begin in the fall and Hob asked members to prayerfully consider how they will contribute.
He emphasized the Refugee committee challenges, Rally Week and the Vacation Bible School. Caroline Berger at this point spoke briefly on VBS and said we needed more staff for VBS.
Hob said that the Youth were going to Koinonia NYC, a long-established program, during the summer.
Hob praised the Amazing Grays, the seniors, for their active program.
Hob asked for more members to serve on the Commissions.
We said need bus drivers and those willing to drive should sign up for training.
Hob mentioned the work of the women in the church and Joy Albrecht at this point told of the W/ELCA Dessert Dinner held the previous Saturday, in which women from other churches in the neighborhood had come together to maintain ties. Elections:
A motion to move on to the election of Commission members was then made by Kent Eklund, seconded by Ann Stout and was carried. There was a question on how members were nominated to the commissions and this was discussed. Hob emphasized that all church commission meetings are open and church members are welcome to attend any meeting. If anyone wishes to join a commission they should seek out the commission chair who would be pleased to assist them.
The slate of members nominated to the various commissions was presented, discussed and amended as necessary. Hob read out the slate of nominations to clarify the terms of office as these had been unclear. There were no further nominations from the floor. A motion was made by Michelle Christianson and seconded by Lisa Clark to accept the full slate, and this was carried by acclamation. Special Ministry Grants:
Jon Schumacher presented the report of the Special Ministry Grant Committee. The committee had first reviewed previous years' grants. Requests totaling $30,830 had come in this year, and grants totaling $14,946 - all the money available from the Luther Place Account - were recommended. Jon spoke about each request, commenting the decision making in each case. He then offered to answer questions.
A motion to accept the recommendations of the Special Grant Committee was made by David Christianson and seconded by Carl Albing. Information about rally week was requested and Marge Jamieson spoke briefly on the planning and program. A vote by show of hands was then taken and the motion was carried. Treasurer's Report:
John Berger presented the treasurer's report with projected slides and graphs and with the report on pp 43 and following of the Annual Report. He presented the Statement of Accounts and pointed out the decrease in the Operating Account and the difficulties writing checks when the amounts are too low. The Simply Giving program is helping to smooth out the cash flow, but funds available usually decrease during the summer months and October.
John has tried unsuccessfully to get a pro bono valuation of the church and land. The current valuation of $100,000 is very out-of -date. It is not of pressing importance to get an accurate evaluation but is nevertheless a loose end.
The church mortgage is being paid down. In excess of $8600 is paid monthly and of this about $6100 is principal.
John reminded the meeting that the budget of 2005 was a deficit budget (budgeting for a deficit of $17,500) which relies on the surplus left over from 2003, and on withholding staff salaries raises. The January Annual Meeting accepted this budget but left open the possibility of cutting staff pay and positions at the May meeting if it was seen to be necessary. December 2004 had been a "miracle month" with an income of $78,000 - two and a half times the giving of the average month - and we could not reasonably rely on such an event again.
The good news was that giving this year through the end of April 2005 is $15,296 more than in the same period in 2004 - a 12% increase. Expenses are up by 9% over the same period. Our deficit with accrued benevolence expense is $9,258 so far, compared with a budgeted deficit to date of $6,025. However, two events improve this picture. The change in custodial expenses is expected to save $6,400 and the Parish Nurses' action in forgoing their salary for three months will save $3,200.
Taking this into account, John has made income projections for the rest of the year by adding 12% to the 2004 monthly giving figures, and expense projections by adding by 9% to the 2004 monthly expense figures. He decided not to use the December 2004 income, but substituted December 2003. John says that projecting expense is reasonably reliable, but projecting income is risky. The projection is that there will be a surplus of about $1,900 at the end of the year.
John is therefore not advising structural changes at this time, but will carefully monitor giving for the remainder of the year. The meeting applauded the Treasurer's Report. Hob said that he appreciates very much the work that John does every month and that he tells us the truth. "We are better, but not fabulous." Old Business:
None. New Business: Roald Carlson stood and proposed a motion:
"Observing that the Parish Nurses are women, who are saving our church $3,600 on our budget for 2005 and that our Congregational meeting is being held on the day after Mother's Day:
I make a motion that the Meeting of the Congregation record the observation that once more the St. Anthony Park Lutheran Church has been saved from financial embarrassment and endangerment by women! And that we gratefully thank them for their sacrifice."
The motion was seconded by Kent Eklund and carried by acclamation. Steve Ahlgren asked the cabinet to consider sending the Sunday sermons each week to members unable to attend the services, including sons and daughters away at college or elsewhere. This could be done with Email or other means. It was agreed that this would be done. The names and Email addresses of recipients should be given to the Church Secretary or Administrator. A motion for adjournment was made by Carl Albing, seconded by Dave Christianson and carried. Closing:
The meeting closed with a reading from Psalm 106 by Pastor Glenn Berg-Moberg. Submitted by Siegfried Rabie, Secretary.
Back to Cabinet Minutes List.