IMMANUEL LUTHERAN CHURCH
COUNCIL MEETING
Minutes
March 1, 2004

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Gathering

John called the meeting to order @ 7:12 p.m.  Dan Landry, Management Committee, provided devotions. 

Preparing

Review of Previous Council Minutes:

MOTION by Mike Proper, SECONDED by Bill Paulins:

TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE FEBRUARY 7, 2004 COUNCIL MINUTES AS WRITTEN. 

UNANIMOUSLY CARRIED.

Treasurer's Report:

The January Treasurer's Report was reviewed by Fred Koos.  As of February 28, 2004, our balance was -$4,600, prior to 2/29/04 offerings. 

MOTION by Bob Carter, SECONDED by Matt Cermak:

            TO APPROVE THE JANUARY, 2004 TREASURER'S REPORT.

UNANIMOUSLY CARRIED.

Committee Reports:

Health Ministry: Karen will make a report to the Health Ministry Committee, which will be included with the regular monthly report to Council. Written report, no Council action required.

Management: Written report.  Council action may be needed, as management would like to designate Christmas Funds to a new microphone & PA system, as after 1/1/05, the wireless system will be inoperable, due to FCC changes (frequency changes).  We will obtain quotes & samples until a decision can be made.  We’ll table the motion request until next month.  Additionally, we reviewed the only written Church Policies (distributed), and noted that we are woefully missing policies.  We will continue to discuss at future meetings, and update a policy manual (see the “Parking Lot” issues discussed at retreat).

Memorial & Special Gifts Committee: Written report, no Council action required.

Outreach: Written report, no Council action required.

Parish Education: Written report, no Council action required.

Property: No written report, no Council action required.  There’s been a blistering of paint in the area of the addition due to ice damning, but they are waiting for the weather to break before repairs are started.

Stewardship: Written report, Council action required to support Endowment Fund, and it now needs to go to the congregation.  Discussion on the Spiritual Gifts inventory – not so successful lately, as we’ve only received 2 responses to our latest request (in the pews).  Perhaps we should approach differently – instead of “what do you want to do,” consider doing an actual Spiritual Gifts inventory – what are you good at, how can that fit into the ministry here at Immanuel.   More discussion to follow.

MOTION by Matt Cermak SECONDED by Dan Landry:

TO SUPPORT THE ENDOWMENT FUND PROPOSED BY STEWARDSHIP COMMITTEE, AND PRESENT TO THE CONGREGATION AT A MEETING ON MARCH 21, 2004.

UNANIMOUSLY CARRIED.

Youth Committee: No written report, no Council action needed.  Pancake supper HUGE success, doubled profits from last year!

Worship: Written report, no Council action needed.

Pastor’s Report: We reviewed the written reports for January & February.  He has two items for Council action:

MOTION by Matt Cermak, SECONDED by Heath Buckley:

TO ACCEPT CHARLES AND NANCY PROPER BY TRANSFER FROM BETHLEHEM, LANSING.

UNANIMOUSLY CARRIED.

Secondly, he requested permission to develop a group of members who will allow Pastor Rick to approach them one time per year for additional contributions for a specific cause, project, or situation, for an amount up to $500.  The member can say yes or no to his request, based on their own decision concerning the ministry.  Member will be approached and give anonymously.  Pastor will make a general report to the Church Council.  This will be referred to as “Gideon’s Army.”

MOTION by Mike Proper, SECONDED by Teresa Barcy:

TO APPROVE THE CREATION OF A SPECIAL GIFTS SUPPORT GROUP CALLED “GIDEON’S ARMY” THAT WOULD ALLOW PASTOR RICK THE ABILITY TO REQUEST MEMBERS ONE TIME ANNUALLY FOR ADDITIONAL CONTRIBUTIONS FOR A SPECIFIC CAUSE, WITH A GENERAL REPORT TO THE COUNCIL.

It was decided that we would table this motion until the next meeting for additional consideration.

Serving

Correspondence:  We received a letter of resignation from Mike Pitchford, due to other obligations.

Other Business:

We need to define the Property Evaluation Task Force, and provide them with a goal.   The November 3, 2003 Council minutes clearly define the intent. The directive to this Task Force is to determine what do we have, what are we using it for and in what capacity (evaluation)?  Then, what do we believe our immediate concerns are and consider our emerging needs (i.e., small group meetings).  Finally, we have financial concerns such as cost versus value (how much is it worth, cost of moving the parsonage, continued cost of upkeep, what about the life expectancy of all the pieces of our property, including the contents/fixtures, such as roof, carpet, etc.).  Perhaps an outside vendor will be needed at some point in this process.  This committee is not to make recommendations – they are to gather the information and report back to the Council.  Greg Osburn will create the document that the Task Force will use as their guide.  Council will review again next month, and request an action plan and tentative time frame for an interim report at June Council meeting, and a final report prior to November Congregational Meeting (perhaps September or October). 

Presentation of Vision Statement for Council Action: Fred Koos distributed an updated proposed Vision Statement.

MOTION by Dan Landry, SECONDED by Matt Cermak:

TO ADOPT THIS AS OUR VISION STATEMENT: To be a welcoming spiritual community that nurtures an intimate relationship in our daily walk with Jesus and invites participation through sharing our spiritual gifts to the glory of God.

UNANIMOUSLY CARRIED.

Once approved, we would like to see a time line from the Vision Committee regarding benchmarks for presenting to the congregation for approval.

Council Retreat Follow-up: John distributed a breakdown of committee responsibilities that we worked on at the retreat, and how we can reconsider the duties/obligations of each committee into the gathering, preparing & serving divisions.  First, we need to each come up with a one or two word definition of “Gathering, Preparing, and Serving” (independently).  He also wants us to reconsider and define the items on the hand out and determine if we would do it differently.  We will continue to discuss these at each meeting.  The goal is to feel comfortable where the duties are (categories), and can we shift or combine items.  We need to focus our efforts toward consistency.  We need to review the “parking lot” items as well.

Church Council Goals for 2004: John distributed a worksheet listing the 8 goals we developed at the retreat last month.  We will be reviewing and working on these goals continuously as well.  Suggestions included small groups (which 2 or 3 goals would we each like to work on), perhaps consider “suspending” the Bylaws while we finalize our plans, working on goals & objectives, using bullet points, etc. 

In both cases above, we need to form work groups (made up of Council members) to continue to move these items along.

We reviewed all of the Goals, but noted a distinct lack of activity in the Youth Ministry Task Force.  John asked that we return next month with potential volunteers for this Task Force.  Matt will draft a list of goals & the proposed time frame.

Barb will draft a list of goals & the proposed time frame for the Communications Support Team.

Reference to church planning calendar for April and May 2004.  Management Committee has Council devotions and announcements at 10:30 service on communion Sundays and are communion assistants for March.

The next meeting is scheduled for April 5, 2004 at 7:00 p.m.

MOTION by Rick Merrifield, SECONDED by Bill Paulins:

            TO ADJOURN.

UNANIMOUSLY CARRIED.

We closed with the Lord’s Prayer at 9:05 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.