Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Council

Council Minutes

May 16th , 2005

Gathering

            Members in attendance:  Alex Plavocos, Ann Kuhar Jeff Dozer, Laura Prill, Michele Lee, Adam Buff, Pastor Jennifer Hepler, Pastor Noah Hepler, Pastor David Sloop, Becky Martin, Leita Lewis, Doug Austin, Christina Valente (Treasurer) and Nancy Ballard.

Excused:  Nancy Herje, Mike Montgomery, Corinne Lee, Frank DiNunzio

Also in attendance:  Shirley Anthony, Dan Burris (youth director),

Faith Sharing ~Michele Lee

~Quorum declared

~Additions to agenda:  funding for ELCA youth gathering 

~Approval of minutes from April 18th meeting (as amended)

Motion Paul Lester, 2nd Adam Buff

Actions/discussions

Christian Ed Task Force update

~Some tasks related to void created by the elimination of the AIM position are very time consuming, especially Sunday morning. The interim position will address some of these needs. 

~Learning center curriculum-(2-5) is transitioning  to “Godly Play” curriculum (the other three year curriculum has run out) Lorie Houze has taken the leadership on this and is purchasing the curriculum. 

~Curriculum has also been ordered for 6-8th.  (Seasons of the Spirit).  Just one year has been ordered.  Michelle Lee will share with Christian Ed the curriculum that has been used this year with 8th grade and last year with 7th grade.

There will be consideration given to trying to have continuity between  SME and confirmation. (Faith Invasion.) curriculum

~Long term goals will be to equip parents and to support faith at home.

~Suggestion was made that each area (SME, Faith Invasion (6-8) etc) have someone who would lead this

~“Director of Faith Formation” is an idea—to have someone who would fill overarching position. This person would possibly need to have a MAR. 

~a self study may need to be done to get the feedback of the congregation as to where we need to go in regards to this position.

2004 Financial report (C. Valente)

Full report on file.

Year to date we are ahead of budget  about $7-8K

Projections look like this trend should continue in May, (ending ahead of budget)

Copier cost are still very high

We received a $13,045 check ( a credit) from Progress Energy on light poles we have been paying for that we don’t actually own. 

~Preschool:  2005-2006 budget has been accepted ($188K). Will end this year with a budget surplus of $500.  User fees have been increased from the preschool to the church. Most of the teachers received a 3-5% increase. 

The preschool budget/report will be in the next newsletter. 

A preschool report (including budget information) will be part of the annual meeting

Sources and Uses of Funds

(report on file)

Total sources-funds $14,200

Total uses-$11,200

Net-$3,000

Personnel Report (Ann Kuhar)

Finance Manager Position

~Job description/requirement/ is on file with personnel committee. 

Motion (from personnel committee)

Move to hire Peyton Kline as Finance Manager to begin June 1st.

 Approved unanimously.

Funding for HR Consultant

Discussion: 

~all supervising managers will be trained/coached.  PD will meet with Denise to begin to plan next step (if motion is approved)

~comment:  This will help the staff keep the “family atmosphere” while giving them more skills to develop as professionals. 

~Denise will not communicate back to the congregation.  This actions should demonstrate to the congregation that we are taking steps toward rectifying how we got into the situations we were in last year regarding staff changes. 

~Hiring/firing  procedures as well as staff expectations will be clearly stated within the employee handbook. Comment:  Staff needs to be consulted (in a closed door setting) regarding what will be in the handbook.

~Training on objective setting will enable staff to be reflective regarding their positions and how everything links together. (ministry teams, staff, council )

~The goal is that hopefully our need for these services will decrease as we go forward.

~The relationship between personnel and mutual ministry will not be addressed through the consultant.

~Our long term staffing plan will also not be addressed in this process.

Motion : Personnel requests the approval of up to $4000 in 2005 for HR Services to include coaching for Pastor David, workshops for staff (as needed), an employee handbook and any other consulting services deemed appropriate.  Pastor David will oversee expenditures and report HR activities regularly to the Personnel Ministry Team. 

Approved unanimously

Interim part-time SME position

~job description on file

~full funding will be discussed  in the Fall budget process.

~during the budget discussions in the fall the position will be evaluated

 ~Russ Corbally has agreed to stay on as SME Superintendent

~discussion was around whether the responsibility of recruiting teachers should fall solely to this person.

~ The executive team reviewed the responsibilities of Kimberly and the pastors/staff have agreed that on a short-term basis they can cover Kimberly’s responsibilities if they can get some help with SME.  Personnel has agreed with the recommendation. 

Motion:  Personnel recommends the creation of an interim part-time Sunday Morning Education worker to be preferably be filled from within the Congregation.  Funding in the amount of approximately $4000 is requested through December 2005.

Approved 10 approved, 1 against.

Communications Task Force (Doug/Paul)

~Working on process on how to update the web, communicating ministry team information. 

~Friday email can drive congregation to check out other things on the web site.

~web site  will enhance communication, not to replace hard copy newsletter

~calendar (as a part of the web site) will come later. 

~Shirley is considering becoming media chair again.

~Paul Holzworth has stepped up to help with this effort

Values Task Force

~Looking at coming out with a workbook format to continue the discussion.

~Therefore statements will be the part that will change as we change

~will be looking into how to bring the mission statement, the value statements together.

~there will be an article in the newsletter regarding the vocabulary of the church—specifically “discernment”—instead of changing the language, we should seek to educate those who are not as comfortable with the language of the church.

Fundraising

~ELCA-says to be careful.  NC Synod calls it “commercialism” doesn’t ban it, but are strongly against it.  Goals can be accomplished by other means, which are more spiritually grounded.

~ACTION:  review attached NC Synod position on fundraising. This will be discussed at the June meeting.

Funding of 2006 ELCA National Youth Gathering.  Please come prepared at the June meeting to discuss this as well.

Discussion:   centered around most would rather see the youth “work” for the funds, rather than just doing a “special offering”(giving them the money)

NC Synod replacements

Motion:   to accept Hazel Smith as a replacement for Gordon Keene, Paul Lester replaces Dean Nelson as delegates to the NC Synod conference.

  Jeff Dozer, 2nd Doug Austin

10 yes, 1 No

Offertory/Response to the Word

Pastoral Report

~Highlights presented at meeting

New members: 

Ben Burow

Dave and Nancy Vanderslice

Motion:   to accept as new members Ben Burrow, Dave and Nancy Vanderslice~ Jeff Dozer 2nd Adam Buff 

Approved unanimously

Motion to accept newly confirmed youth

            Kristin Adkins, Julia Allen, Caitlin Ballard, Marissa Barker, Brittany Benicase, Andrew Brooks, Laura Buff, Elizabeth Cassidy, Justin Chmelewski, Avery Citty, maria Evans, Abigail Falk, Steven Johnson, Evan Jones, Greg Kirk, Brian Kutner, Kristian Lee, Catherine Newcomer, Marshall Sweet, Adam VanDyke, Daniel Vitek, Tasso vonWindheim     ~Pastor David 2nd Adam Buff

Approved unanimously

Children of Chernobyl

We will host three children.  Cost:  $3300 per child  They will arrive June 1, depart August 2nd. 

Discussion:  The Catholic church has pulled out-are doing a different program. 

Next year are hoping to host more children. Next year we need to look at communicating  this program better.  This year given the political situation in Belarus, and the timing of the campaign both played against it. 

Could we use some of the unused funds to help fund other kids?  This will not be useful for this year.  Commitments have already been made.

We could use the funds to pay for them to attend day camp here.

Property Committee

Breck Cassidy has taken over the chairmanship of Property. Kim Sweet has resigned.  Tim Sweet will remain on the committee.

~Copier:  Now need a code to use the copier. Each group (including outside groups) will have a code.  (Shirley will give these to the groups) Refer people to the office if questions arise regarding usage. Suggestion is that only adults make copies.

Backup copier-there is a lease fee as well as per copy cost for both this copier and the main copier. 

~Office will make copies for groups during the week if asked. 

Wedding coordinator

Lorie O’Connor is new wedding Coordinator. 

Hospitality Tent for Summer

Lois Walker is hoping to get people to host this.  Their efforts need to be supported. 

Calendar items

GSLC golf outing-June 11th.  Reedy Creek

Next council June 20th meeting Dinner at 6:00, meeting at 6:30

Sending

Benediction and Dismissal

Respectfully submitted, 

Nancy Ballard, Congregational secretary