IMMANUEL LUTHERAN CHURCH
MINUTES
CONGREGATIONAL MEETING
November 3, 2002

Council President Den Graeber called the meeting to order and opened with Romans 12:1-3 and a prayer.  There were 42 members in attendance.

The minutes of the 2001 Annual Congregational Meeting were read by Melissa Goschka. 

            MOTION by Fred Roush, SECONDED by Fred Gehlhaar:

TO ACCEPT THE MINUTES OF THE 2001 MEETING AS WRITTEN.

            MOTION CARRIED

Materials and ballots were distributed and collected.

            MOTION by Bob Eichelberger, SECONDED by Bev Becker:

                        TO ACCEPT THOSE NOMINATED

            UNANIMOUSLY CARRIED

Larry Kruth, Management Chair, presented the proposed budget for 2003.  Larry reviewed the line items by committee.  Discussion followed.  Larry explained how this year each committee met independently with the Management Committee to work on their portion of the budget.

Question:  Does this budget take into consideration a possible Deacon/Ombudsman salary?

Answer: No it does not.  If and when this decision is made, a special congregational meeting will be held to support this, along with an amendment to be made to the budget.

Question: Is what we are receiving now enough to cover the proposed budget of 2003?

Answer: No.

There was discussion on the added expenses for the Office Administrator.  A request was also made to add an extra line to the proposed budget for next year to include what was actually spent year-to-date on each line item for each committee.

Budget approved:  35 – yes      7 – no

Mike Pitchford raised the question about the Mutual Ministry Task Force continuing to meet.  The Task Force has resumed meetings.  Discussion followed, and we were reminded that the Bridgebuilder information will need to be compiled to see how those findings and the Mutual Ministry Task Force Committee will blend.

Old Business:

·        Mary Gehlhaar noted that there needs to be a correction on the September 8, 2002 Special Congregational Meeting Minutes, to reflect the completion date for Bridgebuilders from January 2002 to January 2003.

New Business:

·        Chris Frysinger raised the question: “How does everyone like the evening meeting time?”  It was noted that 51 attended the November 2001 meeting, and 42 are in attendance here.

Den Graeber explained that the minutes from Special Congregational Meetings are on record.

Wayne Christiansen thanked Dennis Graeber for his two years of Council Presidency, and Den received a standing ovation!

Pastor Rick spoke about the future of the congregation – his vision.  We are a very labor-intensive congregation and have a great opportunity to make some changes to streamline.  We can be more efficient and effective and do more with less time.  He suggested that we restructure and reorganize in the new year.

MOTION by Matt Cermak, SECONDED by Carl Malkewitz:

            TO ADJOURN THIS MEETING.

MOTION CARRIED.

The meeting concluded at 8:15 with the Lord’s Prayer.

Recording secretary:  Melissa Goschka