IMMANUEL LUTHERAN CHURCH
COUNCIL MEETING
Minutes
April 11, 2005

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Gathering

John called the meeting to order @ 7:12 p.m.  Dan (Youth Committee) provided devotions. 

Preparing

Review of Previous Council Minutes:

MOTION by Mike Proper, SECONDED by Bob Carter:

TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE MARCH 7, 2005 COUNCIL MEETINGS AS WRITTEN.

UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED.

Treasurer's Report:

We reviewed the March financial statements.  It was noted that the March mortgage payment was not deducted ($2,606.17); this is an automatic withdrawal from our checking account.  Also, the regular contributions to Maintenance/Park Sidewalk, Sabbatical Senior Pastor and Youth Convention were not indicated for March.  These corrections will be for April & will also include automatic deposits. 

MOTION by Dan Landry, SECONDED by Matt Cermak:

TO MOVE THE $147.00 BALANCE FROM CHOIR MUSIC BACK INTO THE GENERAL FUND.

UNANIMOUSLY CARRIED.

MOTION by Mike Proper, SECONDED by Barb Paulins

TO APPROVE THE TREASURER'S REPORT OF MARCH 2005 AS AMENDED BY ABOVE DISCUSSION. 

UNANIMOUSLY CARRIED.

MOTION by Matt Cermak SECONDED by Mike Proper:

TO APPROVE THE TREASURER'S REPORT FOR FEBRUARY 2005 AS PRESENTED.

UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED.

Committee Reports:

Health Ministries: No Council action required.  They reviewed a proposal from Donna Gibbons to assume the position of Karen Eichelberger upon Karen’s departure in June.  The Management Committee will be reviewing, to present to the Council in May or June.

Management:  No Council action required

Outreach: No Council action required.   

Parish Education: No Council action required. 

Property: Council action required to add Greg Osburn to the Property Committee (inadvertently omitted from original slate of committee members):

MOTION by Bob Carter, SECONDED by Anthony Holland:

TO ACCEPT GREG OSBURN AS A MEMBER TO THE PROPERTY COMMITTEE.

UNANIMOUSLY ACCEPTED.

Stewardship: No Council action required.

Youth: No Council action required.  Attempting to coordinate a lock-in for this weekend (high school), TBD by 4/12 to finalize if possible.

Worship: No Council action required.

Memorial & Special Gifts: No Council action required.

Pastor Rick: No Council action required.

Serving

Financial Condition

We discussed the current financial “crisis” that we are in.  Mike Proper has prepared some documentation regarding the historical fiscal givings, by giving unit.  However, the number of giving units has declined.  This document will be presented to the Council, as well provided to the Congregation.  Our population is younger than it has been, and our non-confirmed (usually younger than 14) members are up.  We discussed perhaps identifying what each “giving unit” can contribute.  Does everybody understand what THEIR PART of the budget they affect?  Perhaps a younger family would be newer to church, and they may not be as informed as to what it takes to “run” a church.

Our recent trend (compared to 5, 6, 7 years) is decreased attendance.  However, it has been steady over the last 2 or 3 years.  Those regular attendees are giving regularly, and even increasing.  However, it is the decreased attendance that seems to be our major area of concern.

We suggested a lot of ideas: bring a friend to church, review the inactive members and contact them, there are a few youth members who are actively pursuing the formation of a band (maybe end up with a dance in our parking lot), etc.  We need to focus on the unchurched (have not attended worship in over 6 months, which is about 70% of the population).  We need to help them find God in their lives, and we have to be ready to give them what they are looking for.

John is looking for a coordinator to maintain a listing of these ideas, and keep them moving forward.  Matt Cermak will be contact person for these ideas, so we should contact him with any ideas, starting now.  E-mail is the desired method of communication, but get your ideas to him in writing!

Other suggestions: watch what we do – turn off a light, reduce mailings, bulletin size too large (Denise talked about using 8 ½ x 11 paper vs. 8 ½ x 14 – maybe use our hymnals instead of printing every hymn in the bulletin).  Worship Committee will address this issue.

Karen suggested having another sticky note situation for the congregation: how can we increase contributions, how can we decrease expenses?  John suggested providing each attendee at a service with a “ticket” that we can give to our friends (example – good for one free admission to Immanuel Lutheran Church).  We need to let the congregation know of the things that we AREN’T going to be able to do, because the funds aren’t there.  It needs to be done in a hurry, too.

John reviewed a bulletin from another church that indicates what their ministry is (perhaps we should reconsider), and Bob mentioned a “welcome” packet that he received while visiting another congregation.

The Outreach Committee is attempting to establish an Evangelism Team to actually go door-to-door in our community.  For example, this Sunday would be a great opportunity, as it is a Healing Service – “is there anybody we can pray for?”

Property Evaluation Taskforce

Bob Carter distributed a recommendation developed by this Taskforce.  They elected to focus on one building at a time beginning with the church, as it is the most used/visible.  This document is arranged in priority order.  The first area (build-up area around the entire building) can be resolved with approximately 10 yards of dirt (and moving a lot of existing dirt), but a lot of labor spreading it.  The landscaping is the primary problem.  There are many areas around the perimeter that have “hills & valleys” and rocks for landscaping that need to be moved in order to help with our water problem.  Additionally, there is a quote from Wilson Heating & Air Conditioning to repair the return air duct & seal existing holes for approximately $1,100.  Bob recommends that the Council turn this over to the Property Committee to obtain estimates on these repairs and get them done.  After these repairs are corrected, they will probably move on to the 501 building.  The question was raised “how long can we sit on the parsonage?  Will any more damage be done to it by leaving it sit there.”   If we want to do something with it, we’ll need to fix it, but it will cost more to fix it than to tear it down.  Right now, we aren’t prepared to make that decision.  Per Anthony, there is no risk to the building if we turn off all utilities.

MOTION by Matt Cermak, SECONDED by Teresa Barcy:

TO RECOMMEND THAT THE PROPERTY COMMITTEE DISCONTINUE   ALL UTILITIES AT THE PARSONAGE WITHIN THE NEXT 30 DAYS UNLESS THERE WILL BE A DETRIMENTAL AFFECT ON THE BUILDING.

UNANIMOUSLY CARRIED.

It was also discussed that ideally, it would be good to go through the building and identify the major components, and create a maintenance schedule, so there wouldn’t be any surprises when, for example, the roof needs repair, or the furnace goes, etc.  Currently such a schedule does not exist, but perhaps we can request that the Property Committee pursue this avenue.

John recommends that we turn this over to the Property Committee, and have them complete those items that they can quickly that are in their budget.  Then, they can obtain bids for the remaining items, and return their findings to Council at their June meeting (and include any items that Council can assist with, i.e. scheduling another clean-up day, gathering laborers to complete these tasks, etc).  A lot of discussion on how to coordinate with “time, talent & treasures.”  For example, we all know that we had a water problem – on April 30, we need 30 people to move dirt, rocks, etc.  Bring your shovels and tarps to help.    

This report was forwarded to the Property Committee for them to accomplish whatever they can within their budget.

New Business

Reference to church planning calendar for April, May and June 2005.  The Youth  Committee has Council devotions and announcements at the 10:30 service on communion Sundays and communion assistants for April (Dan will do announcements on April 24), Stewardship Committee has the same responsibilities in May, and Parish Education is on for June.

It was decided that we will next Monday, April 17 to continue working on the transition program at 7:00 p.m.

Our next regular meeting is on May 2, 2005.

MOTION by Matt Cermak, SECONDED by Teresa Barcy:

            TO ADJOURN THE MEETING.

UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED.

We closed with the Lord’s Prayer at 9:00 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.