Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Council
Council Minutes
February 21st, 2005
Gathering
Members in attendance: Alex Plavocos, Ann Kuhar, Jeff Dozer, Laura Prill, Lee, Adam Buff, Corinne Lee , Pastor Jennifer Hepler, Pastor David Sloop, Becky Martin, Nancy Herje, Mike Montgomery, Nancy Herje, and Nancy Ballard.
Also in attendance: Shirley Anthony, Carol Henderson, Dan Burris (youth director),
Absent: Leita Lewis
Excused: Doug Austin, Frank DiNunzio, Michelle Lee, Christina Valente (Treasurer)
~Opening prayer
~Quorum declared 6: 35
~Additions to agenda-none
~Approval of minutes from January meeting Motion PD , 2nd Mike Montgomery
Sharing of the Word
AIM severance plan
Severance package will include:
- A letter of recommendation written by Pastor David
- Assistance with locally moving your personal contents of her office by March 12
- A farewell event held at church on Sunday, March 13 at 6 pm
- Full salary and benefits paid through July 31, 2005 ($2,000 of July compensation to be paid by the NC Synod)
March 8th will be Kimberly’s last day
Letter of severance is effective March 1st.
Motion to approve AIM Severance plan (from executive team)
move that we spend up to 2700 to increase the budgeted amount of Kimberly Holt’s severance package.
Motion approved 11-1
Discussion: that staff, council members, and other congregational members will be the “assistance” that will locally move personal contents of her office
Alex will contact Beth Kearney (Synod representative) to verify the process of how the 2k will be handled. He thinks the synod will send us the money and we will pay her.
A letter (from Alex) will be sent to the congregation explaining this process and inviting them to come to the farewell event as well as contribute to a monetary gift.
2004 Financial report
Overall, January was on track. We are on budget from an income and expense standpoint. Please remember that the budget is no longer calculated on a 'straight-line' basis so we expected a budget deficit in January, and we have one. I am not concerned about it. On the reserve side, the balance didn't change and remains around $114K. I need to spend some time with Jean to understand this, since we did have a deficit of $10K in the month.$70, 451 budgeted
70, 586 actual income
expenses around $80,000
~Faith Lutheran School: Outreach wondering why benevolence for FL so high. It is $4,250. They are wondering if part of this could be used for Campo Verano. Pastor Jennifer mentioned that part of the Lenten offerings as well as Thrivent Lutheran will go to Campo Verano. Undesignated outreach funds are also there.
If we are considering dropping this amount, we need to explain why to the school leadership (which is relatively new) and also do it in stages. Alex will contact Outreach and Judy Joseph, Marcia Lieber and Cathay Smith (board members about this.
Focus Task Force Updates
All task forces should come to the March meeting ready to share!
Fiscal Responsibility
Connectedness
Leadership:
Communications:
Core Values: (PD) report on file. Includes a schedule of the process.
This is a work in progress. February 6th meeting (which included congregational members as well as Jeff, Dan and PD) consensus items:
- people thought the section because therefore would disappear (or not be needed)
- need to attach scripture to each part. The document was altered after this meeting to include many of the responses of this group.
Discussion that day was also about whether this denotes “clear values” and therefore the words were left to categorize the value.
The process has been well worth the effort, whatever the outcome.
Council discussion:
~ preamble helps explain the need for this document. (in addition to our mission and vision statements)
~should our mission of ministering to others and being Christ in the world be more prominent in the value statements
~Shirley would like to do a mock up of a different way to present this as a more readable document
~adding the scripture was great.
~this will be very “valuable” to defining who we are
Evangelism Update: Nancy Herje
Group has focused on connectedness for new members as well as congregational members. The objective of “Neighborhood Sunday” April 10th will be to create a new sense of connectedness as well as the feeling of a smaller church .
Endowment Update Jeff Dozer
Dedication this Sunday 2/27 at 1pm. 42,000 short on funds to cover expenses. Shortfall will be made up on the sale of the niches. A mini campaign will run over the next month to make the congregation aware of this. A Temple talk, final dinner for 8 event, and a soup supper will be used to highlight the sale of niches.
Family Life Update Becky Martin , Pastor Jennifer
Events: May 13-15 Beach retreat
June 10 game night
July ?? popcorn movie night
Murder Mystery night in Fall
Baptismal treasure boxes : to be presented to family when child is baptized
They are discussing what is a “Young Adult”
There will be a concerted effort to connect the efforts of Family Life with Children’s ministry team.
Ministry Team Retreat Laura Prill and Paul Lester
Tentative agenda was shared. Meet in Underwood hall. Purpose of the day is to be sure the ministry team leaders are aware of what the Task forces are doing, and get their input as well as for these leaders to connect with each other.
Faith Sharing ~Mike Montgomery
Offertory/Response to the Word
~Pastoral Report (on file)
Worship and Music Carol Henderson
Teal College Choir is coming 50 students will need housing.
Stain Glass windows are completed and will be installed soon.
Family Life
Faith talk conversation starters will be on tables at the soup suppers.
Sending
Up coming 2005 Calendar Items
Council meeting March 14th 5:45 for dinner (families included!)
~Synod delegation will be discussed at March meeting.
~ Discussion of Sexuality study results from the Synod need to be talked about as a council. Will go on executive team agenda.
Benediction and Dismissal
Respectfully submitted,
Nancy Ballard, Congregational secretary