IMMANUEL LUTHERAN CHURCH
COUNCIL MEETING
Minutes
December 10, 2007

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Gathering

Mike called the meeting to order @ 6:36 p.m.

Council devotions were shared.  (Highs & Lows)

Mike led the Council in prayer.

Preparing

Treasurer's Report:

Mike Proper reviewed the November 2007 Treasurer’s Report.  The deficit in the General Fund has increased for the second consecutive month.  Council is very concerned about this.  Options were discussed about how to handle this in the final weeks of the year.

MOTION by Tom Mattson SECONDED by Gregg Vicary

            TO APPROVE THE November 2007 TREASURER’S REPORT

UNANIMOUSLY CARRIED

Review of Previous Council Minutes:

Approval of the November 2007 minutes:

MOTION by: Gregg Vicary SECONDED by: Tom Mattson

TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE November 12, 2007 COUNCIL MEETING.

UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED.

Mike discussed the new members received by the congregation on December 9, 2007.  This was an outstanding issue from the November Council meeting at which time Pr. Rick was not certain who would be received as new members.

MOTION by: Gregg Vicary SECONDED by: Patsy Galvin

TO APPROVE THE FOLLOWING NEW MEMBERS RECEIVED  BY THE CONGREGATION ON December 9, 2007

UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED.

Team Reports:

Pr. Rick’s Report: Written report.  No Council action required at this time.

Serving Team: Written report submitted.  No Council action required.

Gathering Team: No written report.  No Council action required.

Preparing Team: Written report submitted. No Council action required.

Support Team: No written report submitted.  Bids have been received for replacing three furnaces.  Low bid is $8,495 to replace all three.  Low bidder is Ryan Electrical & Mechanical who has offered to provide labor for free.  One furnace has a gas leak and must be fixed.  Dehumidifiers and UV disinfectors will be added to all three furnaces.  Support proposes to pay for this with Major Maintenance funds.  There is $14,938.18 in the Major Maintenance line item at the end of November.

MOTION by: Gregg Vicary SECONDED by: Teresa Barcy

TO ACCEPT THE BID FROM RYAN ELECTIRCAL & MECHANICAL TO BE FUNDED WITH MAJOR MAINTENANCE BUDGET ITEM.

UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED.

Serving

New Business:

Carol Weigel noted that she is leaving for Florida soon and needs to be replaced as a teller while she is gone.  Carol recommended a new member, Sheryl Liss, as her temporary replacement.  Carol noted that Sheryl would likely be willing to stay on as a teller next year.

MOTION by: Dennis Graeber SECONDED by: Teresa Barcy

TO APPROVE Sheryl Liss AS TELLER FOR THE BALANCE OF 2007

UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED.

Elderlaw will be handling MI Café directly in Carol’s temporary absence.  

Fire & Insurance: There was a small fire in the downstairs women’s bathroom exhaust fan.  The fire occurred a few days before the December 2, 2007 service which was Commitment Sunday and Hanging of the Greens.  Mike Proper authorized immediate clean up which amounted to about $1,000, the amount of Immanuel’s insurance deductible.  It looks like the total cost of replacement will be $3,500.  A claim will be made against our insurance carrier for the additional $2,500.

Commitment Sunday:  Council discussed the results of this year’s Commitment Sunday and explored options for better results next year.

Parsonage: The Synod has requested use of the parsonage for Dan Smith, the director of Living Water Ministries.  Dan, his wife and their two daughters would live at the parsonage through September through May and will live at Michi-Lu-Ca the other months.

MOTION by: Teresa Barcy SECONDED by: Tom Mattson

TO DIRECT MIKE PROPER TO OPEN DISCUSSIONS WITH THE ELCA NORTH/WEST LOWER MICHIGAN SYNOD REGARDING THEIR NEED FOR THE IMMANUEL’S PARSONAGE FOR SEASONAL HOUSING FOR THE DIRECTOR OF LIVING WATERS MINISTRIES AND HIS FAMILY

UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED.

Old Business:

Budget concerns: We will try to get Pat to the next meeting to address budget issues.  Council members were encouraged to send emails to Pat with specific budget questions.

Natural Church Development:  Pr. Rick has made some progress getting attention at the Synod.

Small Group Ministry Coordinator: Dennis presented an update from the Small Group Ministry Team.  They are now recommending a new part-time position with a salary around $4,400.  Dennis suggested adding an agenda item on the February Council meeting to keep this issue in front of the new Council.  Small Group Ministry Team would like a person hired by April 2008.

MOTION by: Dave Kuntzsch SECONDED by: Teresa Barcy

TO SEND THE SMALL GROUP COORDINATOR POSITION DESCRIPTION TO THE SUPPORT TEAM WITH THE FOLLOWING MODIFICATIONS: 1) THIS IS A CONTRACTED, STAFF POSITION, AND 2) ADDED REQUIREMENT TO ATTEND DESIGNATED TEAM MEETING MONTHLY.

UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED.

Team Members:  Each team should determine whether its current membership is sufficient and solicit new members for approval in January.

Closing

Planning Calendar:

• December – Publicize Christmas Services, Host Hanging of the Greens, Review Forward Planning Team, Make Arrangements for Council Retreat, Annual Reports from Teams.

• January - Election Of Council Officers, Installment Of Council, Appointment of Tellers, Annual Reports, Recruit Synod Delegates, Boy Scout Sunday, Pastor Annual Evaluation, Register for Elementary and Confirmation Camps, Plan for Easter Breakfast, Easter Services, Easter Plant order.

Announcements:

Announcements preceding the 10:30 a.m. Sunday Service will be given by the following Council Members:

Our next regular meeting is on January 14, 2008 at 6:30 pm

MOTION by Tom Mattson

            TO ADJOURN THE MEETING.

We closed with the Lord’s Prayer at 8:37 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Copies of Resource Team minutes and reports, as referred to in the Council Minutes, can be obtained in the church office.

Questions related to council meetings can be directed to council by sending an email to: council@immanuel-gl.org.  Questions also can be directed to any member of council by contacting them directly using information published in the church directory.