Special Meeting
Minutes
Church Council

Monday, October 27, 2008 at 7:00 p.m.

Special Business:  The Special meeting was called to clarify and address concerns regarding; 1) the budget which was mailed to the congregation with alterations made after the last council meeting took place; 2) the Parish Nurse position change and; 3) a date change to the bake sale which was originally approved for November 16, 2008.

Budget:  The budget, presented by the Support Team, to Church Council was approved at the October 13, 2008 Council meeting with some revisions.  The revisions requiring clarification after the original Council approval are to SP20-Parish Nurse, SP21-Parish Nurse Mileage, and Benevolence.

On October 13, 2008 Council raised the Parish Nurse salary line item SP-20 to $2,400 from the amount proposed by the Support Team, $0.  The Line item SP-21 was raised from $0 to the previous year’s amount.  Council discussed and agreed upon offering the Parish Nurse a reduced scope of work rather than eliminating her position.

Parish Nurse:  The President of Council and the Serving Team leader met with the Parish Nurse after the October 13, 2008 Council meeting and discussed the reduction in scope and pay.  The Parish Nurse declined the offer and agreed to act as the hospital visitation assistant to the Pastor, under the direct request of the Pastor for $25/per visit and mileage reimbursement.  The line items, SP-20 and SP-21 were amended to $1,200 and $600 respectively.

Benevolence:  On October 13, 2008 Council voted to change the Benevolence calculation to reflect a true 13% in its simplest form and calculation, which showed a significant reduction in the Benevolence line item dollar amount.  After the Council meeting there were concerns and discussions by telephone and email between Council members as to how the calculation was being done and how to present the findings to the congregation.  The discussions were halted for further discussion at tonight’s Special Meeting.

Council agreed that the calculation should be simplified.  The calculation will be:

For the Budget, Benevolence will be calculated as:

NET OPERATING EXPENSES x .13 (13%).

            Proposed 2009            Net Operating Expenses         $266,230
                                                x  Benevolence at 13%           x  .13               
                                                = Benevolence Amount          $34,610

For Actual Benevolence Payments made to the Synod, Benevolence will be calculated as:

WEEKLY OFFERINGS (EXCLUDING DESIGNATED OFFERINGS) x 13%.

During any budget year the Synod will not be paid the AMOUNT budgeted unless Immanuel Lutheran Church has an exactly balanced budget.  If ILC ends the year in a deficit, the Synod will still receive less than the budgeted amount.  If ILC ends the year with a budget surplus, the Synod will receive more than the budgeted amount.  In either case the Synod will receive 13% of ILC’s  non-designated Offerings.

MOTION to approve the changes to the budget, and the clarification of Benevolence, which will be provided to the Congregation at the Congregational meeting on November 9, 2008 by DAVID KUNTZSCH seconded by JOHN KINGSLEY.  Unanimously approved

Bake Sale:  Without opposition, the Serving Team is authorized to hold its bake sale on November 9, 2008 rather than November 16, 2008.

MOTION to adjourn by DAVID KUNTZSCH, UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED and adjourned at 7:34 p.m.