IMMANUEL LUTHERAN CHURCH
COUNCIL MEETING
Minutes
April 5, 2004

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Gathering

John called the meeting to order @ 7:09 p.m.  Karen Eichelberger, Health Ministries, provided devotions. 

Preparing

Fred Gehlhaar from the Property Committee reviewed with us the proposed purchase of new folding chairs.  The chairs we currently have were purchased in the early 1950’s.  They would like to purchase 100 chairs, then retire the worst 100, and loan out the retired chairs.  Their line item budget is for $1,000 to replace the chairs (not enough for this line item); however, they do NOT intend to over-ride their total committee budget.  Non-padded chairs = $11.32, padded chairs = $16.95.

Review of Previous Council Minutes:

MOTION by Matt Cermak, SECONDED by Teresa Barcy:

TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE MARCH 1, 2004 COUNCIL MINUTES AS WRITTEN. 

UNANIMOUSLY CARRIED.

Treasurer's Report:

The February and March Treasurer's Reports were reviewed by Fred Koos. 

MOTION by Matt Cermak, SECONDED by Bob Carter:

TO ACCEPT THE FEBRUARY TREASURERS REPORT AS WRITTEN.

UNANIMOUSLY CARRIED.

As of March 31, 2003, the general fund is $5,518.03 in the red.  Last year at this time we were $4,700 in the red.  Income is down, but we were reminded that Easter was on March 27, 2003, so we will probably have a better comparison at the end of April.  We will review the final March Treasurer's Report at our next meeting.

Committee Reports:

Health Ministry: No written report, no meeting last month.

Management: Written report.  Still obtaining quotes on microphones and other electronic equipment.  They will discuss further at our next meeting.

Memorial & Special Gifts Committee: Written report, no Council action required.  Fund raising for pew cushions is complete, and they will order them soon.

Outreach: Written report, no Council action required.

Parish Education: No written report, but they are working on developing a new program for the 4^th & 5^th graders, on Wednesday evenings. 

Property: Written reports for January, February & March, no Council action required.  Clean-up day is April 17^th, and volunteers are needed.  Also, Wendy Lewis is resigning as custodian effective May 31, so they’ll be looking for a replacement.

Stewardship:  No written report, no Council action required.  Will be nominating members to the Board of Governors for the Endowment Fund.

Youth Committee: Written report, no Council action needed.

Worship:  No written report, no Council action needed.  They recommended that the purchase of a new sound system be budgeted for next year.  

Pastor’s Report: We reviewed the written report for March.

MOTION by Matt Cermak, SECONDED by Bill Paulins:

TO ACCEPT ROBERTA (BOBBIE) MCKENNON, PATRICK MCKENNON, ABBY GOODING, NATHAN, ELLEN AND SAMANTHA FLANDERS BY AFFIRMATION OF FAITH.

UNANIMOUSLY CARRIED.

Pastor Rick requested permission to develop a group of members who will allow him to approach them one time per year for additional contributions for a specific cause, project, or situation, for an amount up to $500.  The individual can say yes or no to his request, based on their own decision concerning the ministry.  The donor 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.”  This motion was made at the March meeting:

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 FROM INDIVIDUALS ONE TIME ANNUALLY FOR ADDITIONAL CONTRIBUTIONS FOR A SPECIFIC CAUSE, WITH A GENERAL REPORT TO THE COUNCIL.

UNANIMOUSLY CARRIED.

Serving

Bob Eichelberger and Pat Gabriel representing Habitat for Humanity discussed the new Habitat for Humanity House to be constructed by 12-14 churches.  Habitat digs the foundation, completes the rough framing and roofing and then installs the sewer and water systems.  Volunteers complete the rest of it, at a cost of approximately $70,000.  Currently, about 50% of the costs have been donated.  We can apply to Thrivent “up-front” for matching funds.  There are 6 Lutheran churches that will be involved in fundraising to match.  Bob & Pat requested approval for fund raising efforts.  The youth groups are involved (junior & high school).  Immanuel Lutheran will be requested to provide $1,000 - $2,000.  All job site workers must be trained by Habitat – usually here at our church.  Kids ages 12 to14 can participate but must have a parent present.  Each organization needs a coordinator and skilled labor (plumbers, electricians, etc.).  Also, fundraising can be funds “in-kind.”  For example, the equivalent of the labor or products donated would be accepted, and would reduce the overall fund raising requirement.  The Manger article in March has already raised interest from 8-10 individuals.  The hardest part of the task is coordinating all the volunteers from all the churches in 8 weeks!  Immanuel would be responsible for 6 days/2 weekends.  Each house requires about 2000 physical hours.  We were informed that the family that will own the home must put in at least 3000 hours. 

MOTION by Matt Cermak, SECONDED by Orv Erickson:

TO ALLOW HABITAT FOR HUMANITY TO RAISE FUNDS WITHIN THIS CONGREGATION, AND TO PURSUE MATCHING FUNDS FROM THE LOCAL THRIVENT BRANCH.

UNANIMOUSLY CARRIED.

They advised that the project architect would be available to talk with the congregation. 

Correspondence:

We received a letter of resignation from Jennifer Dodge, due to her relocation. 

MOTION by Rick Merrifield, SECONDED by Teresa Barcy:

TO REGRETFULLY ACCEPT THE RESIGNATION OF JENNIFER DODGE FROM THE IMMANUEL CHURCH COUNCIL.

UNANIMOUSLY CARRIED.

We received a request from The Michigan Dyslexia Institute to use our church in 5-week blocks for 5 and 6 year olds (after school, 60 minutes at a time, 3 days per week).  The parent pays the cost of materials and teacher time ($200) directly to this non-profit institute.

MOTION by Mike Proper, SECONDED by Dan Landry:

TO ALLOW MICHIGAN DYSLEXIA INSTITUTE TO USE OUR FACILITIES AS PRESENTED IN THEIR PROPOSAL.

UNANIMOUSLY CARRIED.

We received a request from Carol Weigel, representing the Early Childhood Development Program, to continue for an undetermined length of time using the fellowship hall for children 0-3 for story reading, songs and playtime.  This is a one-hour commitment each Wednesday at 10:00 a.m.  The Outreach Committee has agreed to include this program as one of its missions.  Members of Luther League II have volunteered to continue the program.  Toys-R-Us will provide the art supplies, music and books.

MOTION by Matt Cermak, SECONDED by Mike Proper:

TO ALLOW THE EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM TO UTILIZE OUR CHURCH ON WEDNESDAYS AT 10:00 A.M.

UNANIMOUSLY CARRIED.

Other Business: We need to fill the seat left by Mike Pitchford on the Council.  Steve Colby has agreed to this position.

MOTION by Matt Cermak, SECONDED by Teresa Barcy:

TO ACCEPT STEVE COLBY TO FILL THE VACANCY LEFT BY THE RESIGNATION OF MIKE PITCHFORD TO THE IMMANUEL CHURCH COUNCIL.

UNANIMOUSLY CARRIED.

We need a motion to destroy the ballots from the Special Congregational Meeting of March

MOTION BY Rick Merrifield, SECONDED by Teresa Barcy:

TO DESTROY THE BALLOTS FROM THE MARCH SPECIAL CONGREGATIONAL MEETING.

UNANIMOUSLY CARRIED.

Council Retreat Follow-up: John distributed a worksheet listing the 8 goals we developed at the retreat.  We will be reviewing and working on these goals continuously.

Definitions: Small group ministry will not take the place of committees; however, there will be small groups in all areas.  We will need to determine whether or not we want to remain as a committee-driven structure. 

We have a lot of work in front of us – dividing/adding to committee structures, defining small groups and reporting relationships, etc.  We will be working through this together and recognizing that we want to maintain the distribution of information, so that we know what each committee/subcommittee/group is doing.

We briefly viewed the descriptions of each of our three key words (gathering, preparing, and serving).   Now we need to move forward and further define how we function.  We need to think beyond these descriptions, and forget the current committee obligations (do we need instead a substructure, do we redefine the current committees, etc.).   Our definitions:  GATHER:  To church, invite, encourage, welcome, family, unite fellowship.  PREPARE:  Teach, plan, study, encourage, discover, support.  SERVE: Giving, building, get involved, give time & money, duty, caring for, attending to.

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

Upcoming meetings are scheduled for May 3, 2004 at 7:00 p.m. for the regular Council Meeting, and May 17, at 7:00 p.m. for Council workshop.

MOTION by Rick Merrifield, SECONDED by Bill Paulins:

            TO ADJOURN.

UNANIMOUSLY CARRIED.

We closed with the Lord’s Prayer at 9:15 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.