IMMANUEL LUTHERAN CHURCH
COUNCIL MEETING
Minutes
January 3, 2005

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Gathering

John called the meeting to order @ 7:10 p.m.  Barb (Worship Committee) provided devotions.

Preparing

Election of Officers:

MOTION by Matt Cermak, SECONDED by Teresa Barcy

TO NOMINATE JOHN VANHOESEN AS COUNCIL PRESIDENT FOR 2005.

MOTION by Barb Paulins, SECONDED by Heath Buckley:

            TO CLOSE NOMINATIONS FOR PRESIDENT AND ACCEPT JOHN     VANHOESEN AS COUNCIL PRESIDENT FOR 2005.

BOTH MOTIONS UNANIMOUSLY CARRIED.

MOTION by Teresa Barcy, SECONDED by Mike Proper

TO NOMINATE MATT CERMAK AS COUNCIL VICE PRESIDENT FOR 2005.

MOTION by Mike Proper, SECONDED by Teresa Barcy:

TO CLOSE NOMINATIONS FOR VICE PRESIDENT AND ACCEPT MATT CERMAK AS COUNCIL VICE PRESIDENT FOR 2005.

BOTH MOTIONS UNANIMOUSLY CARRIED.

MOTION by Tersa Barcy, SECONDED by Bill Paulins:

            TO NOMINATE BARB PAULINS AS COUNCIL SECRETARY FOR 2005.

MOTION by Heath Buckley, SECONDED by Bill Paulins:

            TO CLOSE NOMINATIONS FOR SECRETARY AND ACCEPT BARB PAULINS AS COUNCIL SECRETARY FOR 2005.

BOTH MOTIONS UNANIMOUSLY CARRIED.

MOTION by Matt Cermak, SECONDED by Barb Paulins

TO NOMINATE JIM TEAHAN AS FINANCIAL RECORDING SECRETARY FOR 2005.

MOTION by Teresa Barcy, SECONDED by Mike Proper

TO CLOSE NOMINATIONS FOR FINANCIAL RECORDING SECRETARY AND ACCEPT JIM TEAHAN AS FINANCIAL RECORDING SECRETARY FOR 2005.

BOTH MOTIONS UNANIMOUSLY CARRIED.

MOTION by Teresa Barcy, SECONDED by Matt Cermak:

            TO NOMINATE NATHAN FLANDERS AS TREASURER FOR 2005.

MOTION  by Heath Buckley, SECONDED by Mike Proper:

TO CLOSE NOMINATIONS AND ACCEPT NATHAN FLANDERS AS TREASURER FOR 2005.

Discussion followed regarding the inability of Council to meet this candidate.  While he has expressed an interest in filling this position, there have been some questions regarding the commitment to this position.   It was suggested that we table this motion until the February meeting, when we request that he be present so that we can meet him and review this position and the commitment involved.

We discussed the Teller positions, and John will contact the current tellers to confirm their interest in serving in those positions for 2005.  We will table this motion until the February 2005 meeting.

MOTION by Matt Cermak, SECONDED by Mike Proper:

TO ACCEPT THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION: IMMANUEL LUTHERAN COUNCIL RESOLVES THAT JOHN VANHOESEN AND BARB PAULINS ARE AUTHORIZED TO SIGN ANY AND ALL BUSINESS AGREEMENTS AND CONTRACTS FOR IMMANUEL LUTHERAN CHURCH.  ALSO JOHN VANHOESEN OR BARB PAULINS OR FRED KOOS ARE AUTHORIZED TO SIGN CHECKS AND MANAGE ANY AND ALL FINANCIAL ACCOUNTS OF IMMANUEL LUTHERAN CHURCH.

MOTION UNANIMOUSLY CARRIED.

MOTION by Matt Cermak, SECONDED by Mike Proper:

IMMANUAL LUTHERAN CHURCH COUNCIL RESOLVES TO REMOVE DEB STOPPER AND DENNIS GRAEBER, AND ADD JOHN VANHOESEN, DENISE LUND AND BARB PAULINS TO THE SIGNATORY LIST ON THE SAFE DEPOSIT BOX AT EATON FEDERAL SAVINGS BANK.

MOTION UNANIMOUSLY CARRIED.

MOTION by Bill Paulins, SECONDED by Mike Proper:

IMMANUAL LUTHERAN CHURCH COUNCIL RESOLVES TO ALLOW JOHN VANHOESEN, BARB PAULINS AND FRED KOOS AS LEGAL SIGNATORS FOR ANY AND ALL CERTIFICATES OF DEPOSIT AT EATON FEDERAL SAVINGS BANK.

MOTION UNANIMOUSLY CARRIED.

Review of Previous Council Minutes:

Approval of the December 6, 2004 minutes:

MOTION by Matt Cermak, SECONDED by Teresa Barcy:

TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE DECEMBER 6, 2004 COUNCIL MEETING AS WRITTEN.

UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED.

Treasurer's Report:

Fred reviewed the December 2004 Treasurer's Reports.  We ended up $13,118.43 in the red – not a good way to end the year.  There are some additional changes that need to be made (building expenses, confirm CD balances, etc.), so we won’t vote on acceptance of this report until the February meeting.

MOTION by Mike Proper, SECONDED by Bill Paulins

TO MOVE CHRISTMAS GIVINGS TO THE GENERAL FUND, ALONG WITH THE AA DONATION IN THE AMOUNT OF $80.00. 

MOTION UNANIMOUSLY CARRIED.

Committee Reports:

Health Ministries: They have a request to perform Lifeline Screenings for four different conditions on March 28.  It will benefit us by bringing people into our church through the community for this service.  It is consistent with our mission.  The concern for the Council is that the company that provides this test is a for-profit operation.  Health Ministry will oversee this process, and someone from that committee will be here during the screening.

MOTION by Matt Cermak, SECONDED by Mike Proper:

TO ALLOW LIFELINE SCREENING TO UTILIZE THE FELLOWSHIP HALL ON MARCH 28 FOR PUBLIC SCREENING, SUBJECT TO RECEIPT OF APPROPRIATE DOCUMENTATION REGARDING INSURANCE AND WAIVERS.

UNANIMOUSLY CARRIED.

Management:  No Council action required.  Mike Proper brought up his concern with insurance premium increases.  He would like us to shop around for pricing and coverage.   Management will be informed of this request.

Outreach: No Council action required.  Looking to add an Evangelism team (perhaps an individual or a small group), as well as “new blood” to the committee.

Parish Education: No Council action required.  VBS will be July 25-29, 2005.

Property: No Council action required.  They requested that users be more cautious with chairs and tables, and use them appropriately.

Stewardship: No Council action required. We have received a record number of pledges for 2005, and are right on target for 65 pledges.  We hope to have created a new tradition for Hanging of the Greens and commitment Sunday simultaneously.  It was discussed that perhaps next year we can include the time and talent portion into commitments as well.

Youth: No Council action required.   Last week 6 of our youth attended the Gathering.  For SNL, only 2 responses to 35 invitations for Confirmation camp (all 6^th, 7^th & 8^th graders).  Mike Proper will follow-up to hopefully increase these numbers.   They are looking for other members of this committee.

Worship: No Council action required.

Memorial & Special Gifts: No Council action required.

Pastor Rick: No Council action required.    

Serving

Budget Evaluation/Review

·        History of Expenditures: Fred distributed a packet of information, detailing income and expense by month, and by committee, for the years 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004.  We can review this information with our committees and discuss at a later meeting.

·        History of Stewardship: We were provided with several reports detailing attendance numbers by month since 1998, as well as giving units.  Discussion indicated that our attendance is above the ELCA average, even though on average less than half of our membership attends a worship service weekly.

We discussed the demographics of the community, and the area is growing, but our congregation is not growing.  We need to continue to focus in the outreach area, by encouraging growth and attendance, as well as our name recognition into the community. 

Correspondence: 

None

Council Representatives:

Reference to church planning calendar for January and February 2005.  Worship Committee has Council devotions and announcements at the 10:30 service on communion Sundays and communion assistants for January, and Outreach Committee has the same responsibilities in February.  Also a reminder that Committee Annual Reports are due at the end of this month.

We were reminded that the Council retreat will be held on February 4 at 6:00 p.m. and on February 5 at 9:00 a.m. in Wacousta at the Girl Scout building.

Our next regular meeting is on February 7, 2005.

MOTION by Orv Erickson, SECONDED by Bill Paulins

            TO ADJOURN THE MEETING.

UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED.

We closed with the Lord’s Prayer at 8:55 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Note: Copies of committee minutes and reports, as referred to in the Council Minutes, can be obtained in the church office.