January 28, 2008
Welcome: Caroline Berger opened the meeting by welcoming everyone.
Devotions: Pastor Glenn read from a devotional book written by Alvin Rogness, "Captured by Mystery".
Life is like a flight by night to a distant port. To pray is to have conversation with the unknown pilot who
knows the course and the port. We are not alone, but in God's presence. God created us as creatures
that can hear and talk with God - a wonder! God is a voice in the silence and light in the dark. Pastor
Glenn commented that Jeremiah spoke of a people in exile who knew they were on their way home.
We don't know where we will land, but we have promises like God made to the Israelites.
Secretary's minutes for May, 2007: A motion made by Blaine Thrasher and seconded by Robert
Jamieson to accept the minutes as written after a typo correction changing the name Mary to Marge
under the Nominating Committee Report. The motion passed.
Pastor's Report: Pastor Glenn referred everyone to his written report (Pages 8-11 in the Annual Report)
and emphasized the following:
1. Social Ministry and Mission: Sister Becky Swanson will be doing an internship about social ministry
and mission, and looking at our congregation's ministry in the public square. Pastor Glenn is excited and
supportive of this. (Pages 12-13 in Annual Report)
2. World Mission: Our congregation has a history of involvement in mission, and since the dissolution
of the Mission Fellowship we do not have the same focus. Pastor Glenn is on the board of China Service
Ventures (CSV); every time he goes to the semi-annual meeting something new and big is happening in
China. There are 12,000 new converts to Christianity per day so they really need training in the Bible
because heresies spring up as they did in the New Testament! Funding this explosion is a concern and
Pastor Glenn would like to encourage the involvement of the congregation.
There is no official ELCA presence in China for many reasons, e.g. no sister synods are allowed by the
Chinese government. CSV is now a partner with the ELCA with an informal tie. One of the newest
ventures is teacher and pastor training through the Bethel Bible Series (BBS) translated into Mandarin by
Qui Lin who was once the pastor of the Chinese Congregation that worships in our church building.
3. Other Ministries: Many ministries happen through our congregation because people care;
sometimes small groups make things happen. The challenge is to let the new members know about
these and to invite them to extend the Kingdom and serve others. We aren't doing a good job of
communicating this. We need to let people know what we are doing.
Synod Assembly Delegates: The assembly will be the end of May/beginning of June. Three people have
volunteered: Ivan Swenson and Mary Mergenthal with Fritz Morlock as alternate. A motion was made
Kristen Wiersma and seconded by John Rutford that these three be nominated. The motion passed.
President's Report: Caroline Berger read from the Annual Report to the Congregation. (Page 11 in the
Annual Report)
Interim staffing Report: Caroline Berger announced that the education and youth commission
chairperson, the pastor, and the Executive Committee met to make sure there are plans in place until
another pastoral person is called. This year the confirmation class will be taught by Hans Wiersma. The
Prayer Class for sixth graders who will be going into confirmation is being taken care of. The Youth
Commission is interviewing a student from Augsburg College who will work approximately 20 hours a
week. Youth Ministry is being coordinated by Barb Burk and Cindy Thrasher. Money is in place to
handle the transition expenses. A "temporary" pastoral person is a possibility through the synod.
Benevolence Recommendations: David Christianson thanked Molly Breen and Sarah Skovholt who have
been co-chairs of the Stewardship Commission. The Commission has actively assessed the benevolence
budget and looked for connections with people in the congregation for benevolence giving. Each has
involved a written report. There are no new recommendations for this year. (Page 30 in the Annual
Report)
Special Ministry Grants are made available from the earnings on the investment of money received by
selling the land north of the church. Passion and involvement with institutions in which congregational
members are involved can be financed through a grant process. These are for new projects for which it
is possible to receive funding for up to 3 years. The "Com muni cator" will give the history and outline
the process for such funding. It is best if the request comes through a commission although individuals
can apply. (Page 14 in the Annual Report)
Treasurer's Report: John Berger gave a report (page 15 in the Annual Report)
2007 Financial Results:
2007 summary results include actual income $594,300 with expenses of $566,900 leaving an surplus of
$27,400. This is the second year in a row that there has been a surplus. The reason for this is that
expenses were held to budget and December giving was roughly 2 months worth - which happens quite
often!
We have more members in our congregation and more programs, e.g. education programs keep
expanding, choirs for all ages, and new chairs and hymnals have been purchased.
Ten percent of income (10%) is budgeted every year for benevolence. The quarterly benevolence
checks are actually written quarterly which make the expense line seem greater during those months.
June-September have always been down times for income; however, a 7% surplus took care of the
summer months cash flow. Actual income through pledges (126) was $432,300. Other giving brought it
$592,700. This was 5% over 2007 budget and does not include dedicated gifts, special gifts, or building
use fees.
Expenses were held to budget: Reports to the Cabinet were provided monthly and sometimes
dedicated funds were used for projects. Actual Expenses included staff related expenses of about
$25,000 a month.
Cabinet's Actions with the surplus were to expand the dedicated building fund and balance the 2008
budget. This reduced the accumulated cash surplus from $70,900 back to $43,500. This represents 7% of
our annual income and is a reasonable amount to maintain to cover cash flow issues during the summer
months.
Thanks were expressed to Carol Koepke for all her work and to Cliff Lagerquist for Sunday offering data
entry. Others who volunteered time by counting money and making deposits were Brenda Hansen,
Katie Thomey, Amy Swenson, Pam Klenz, Christine Elsing, Solveig Storhoff, Karen and Dave Davis.
Questions from the floor: Money in the amount of $2500 for the remodeling of the Synod office was
approved and disbursed by the Cabinet. An appraisal of the church's property is still to be done before
the May congregational meeting. Pastors' mortgages have been paid off except for Pastor Glenn's.
Kent Eklund moved and Jon Schumacher seconded a motion to accept the 2007 treasurer's report.
The motion passed.
2008 Proposed Budget:
In the budgeting process, the Stewardship Commission project income and the Commissions project
most of the expenses. It takes about two Cabinet meetings to peruse the forecast, revise projections,
review, and then determine the final budget.
The treasurer provided a history of giving from 2004 to the present. Of significance is an increase from
2007 to 2008 of 16% in non-pledged income and a 12% increase in SIMPLY GIVING.
Projected income for 2008 is $602,700, or an increase of 2% over actual 2007 giving or 6% over the 2007
budget.
Changes include:
Building improvement - paid with '07 surplus
Parish nurse Program - full cost this year
Retirement benefit for Carol Koepke and Sara Birkeland
Pay increases for all staff
Adult forums restored for 9 months
More outreach
Future challenges might include an organ, building maintenance and repair and expanded program
costs.
Questions from the floor: SIMPLY GIVING is when a member can have money taken out of the bank and
deposited in the church account automatically each month. This greatly evens out income both monthly
and over time, especially during the "summer dip". Additionally, it gets rid of the charge to the church
for cashing each check.
Some people are uncomfortable when not putting something into the offering plate Sunday mornings.
Suggestions included having a colored card to put in the offering plate which says SIMPLY GIVING; this
might create conversation. Hob Weiss said that many like the Biblical tradition of "first fruits" giving. He
works for Thrivent which makes Simply Giving possible and says here are stickers people can use - but
most don't use them. There are also buttons people can wear. How many people would actually ask
about the card or a button? Lutherans don't want to ca!l attention to themselves! People are free to
put empty envelopes in the offering plate. Or, some give money in an envelope each Sunday in addition
to their Simply Giving amount. It's more complicated to use regular electronic withdrawals for this
purpose; through Simply Giving there is less bookkeeping.
Benevolence giving of the budget is always 10% right off the top; sometimes it is up to 14% with money
directed by the giver to specific projects/concerns. Conversely, if people don't want money to go to the
synod, for example, that is respected.
Kent Eklund moved and Blaine Thrasher seconded a motion to pass the 2008 budget. The motion
passed.
Annual Meeting Amendment: This is the second and final vote that is required by the Constitution, for
constitutional change. The first vote was a year ago to make the scheduling of annual meetings more
flexible. Monday evenings are no longer optimal; day-light hours, right after worship services, or other
venues need to be considered. This applies to both the January and the May meetings and gives us more
flexibility in setting the dates/times.
Article 7.2
The date of the first semi-annual meeting of this congregation shall be made in the last half of the
month of January, at a day and time determined by the cabinet. The congregation members shaH be
Zmed of the meeting day and time in writing not less than two weeks prior to the meeting. Meeting
day and time shall be announced in worship for two consecutive Sundays prior to the date of the
meeting. The budget shall be approved at this semi-annual meeting.
Article 7.3
The date of the second semi-annual meeting of this congregation shall be in the month of May, at a day
and time determined by the cabinet. The congregation members shall be informed of the meeting day
and time in writing not less than two weeks prior to the meeting. Meeting day and time shall be
announced in worship for two consecutive Sundays prior to the date of the meeting. Officers and
commission chairpersons shall be elected at this meeting. These elected persons will assume their
respective responsibilities on June 1.
A motion to change the constitution was made by Kent Ekiund and seconded by Ivan Swenson. The
vote was by ballot which was counted by Glen Skovholt and John Berger. The motion was passed, 72-1.
Leadership Transition Team Report: This is how the "pre-call committee", appointed by the Cabinet to address staffing needs in light of Pastor Amy's leave, has decided to identify itself. The team is taking
nothing for granted and has no presumptions. Their role and mission is to report and recommend to the
Cabinet in the process of call. They will use Synod resources, past call processes, and other churches' experience, and want to move quickly while being thoughtful. This is not the Call Committee and there
is no fait accompli.
There will be a staff assessment, congregational assessment, and input from people, educatlon
sessions, focus groups, etc. will be invited. The ELCA has a "Mission Profile" that will be used initially.
The Constitution has been reviewed, and it is possible to call a special congregational meeting to
endorse a Call Committee.
Right now they ask for the congregation's commitment to this process and to pray daily for the work of
this committee and the deliberations of the Cabinet. The team will try to be as transparent as possible
and will keep people updated through the "Communicator", WEB site, etc. The team wants to be open
to suggestions and questions. In addition, written suggestions, with a signature, will be most welcome.
Questions from the floor: Through a congregational assessment and a staff assessment the team hopes
to learn what the staff needs are, the gaps, time commitments, the priorities, the skills needed. The
team will report to the Cabinet every month and final recommendations will be brought to the Cabinet.
The team does not know if another pastor or some other staffing arrangement will be made. There will
be consultation with the synod office. Pastor Glenn should have a lot of in-put into what is needed.
Preaching help will be provided so that Glenn doesn't have to do all the preaching during the interim. It
might be helpful to get statistical information about how long a pastor stays in this kind of position, and,
therefore, if we want to spend a year looking for someone for a position that will last for 2-3 years.
Ideally, it is hoped to have candidates in place in Sept.
Closing: Pastor Glenn reminded that we are the "Body of Christ" in Scripture that was used for his
leadership team. These meetings are one of the examples of the richness of being a part of the Body of
Christ. We need to continue to have meaningful and rea! participation of everyone. It is vital to use the
muscles in the Body of Christ.
Through this process of seeking our next leadership person, please pray for the process and the
decisions of the team. Paul in his letter to the Colossians reminds his followers to devote themselves to
prayer for declaring the mystery of Christ. We also need to pray for the opening of the door for new
members and for the mission of this congregation. He closed with the phrases from the Bible about
making a joyful noise unto the Lord, and with prayer.
A motion to adjourn the meeting was made by Kent Eklund and seconded by John Berger. The motion
passed.
Respectfully submitted,
Marjorie Jamieson, Secretary
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