Redeemer Lutheran Church Council Meeting Minutes January 16 , 2006, 7:00 PM
Pastor opened with a devotion, after which we shared
affirmations of good things that occurred this past year within the
congregation and Redeemer.
Pastor’s Report –
Attached. Approximately 30 people have
turned in their spiritual gifts surveys following Pastor’s eight-week
class. Jan Shearer will provide him
with the surveys the youth filled out and asked that he make the surveys available
to those who were unable to attend the classes.
All agreed that the upcoming dates for Congregational
Meetings, as defined in the bylaws, can be scheduled and published. November’s will require that the monthly
Board and Council meetings be moved up one week so that they can occur before
the Congregational Meeting.
He provided printed copies to Paul Schutz, Jonet Schutz and
Pat Haneberg of a PowerPoint presentation of a recent workshop: Safe
Sanctuaries – Reducing the risk of Child Abuse.
Pastor will speak on the State of the Church Vision at our
upcoming January 22 Congregational Meeting.
He requested that Paul and Etta Mae Hitchcock provide Sandy Cooper with
a copy of the agenda and a simplified financial report that can be emailed out prior to the meeting.
December Council
Minutes – Approved as submitted.
Treasurer’s Report
– Attached. After review and
discussion, it was determined that all obligations can be paid, including December’s, except for the mortgage
payments. Nov. and Dec. mortgage
payments were not paid, though all or part of January’s will be. Paul is working with LCEF to change the due
date for the mortgage from the 18th to the end of the month. Since payment of this is dependent on
ability to pay other obligations, we can pay it at the end of the month without
incurring late fees.
Pastor inquired about an annual audit as required by the
bylaws. Etta Mae said it has been
several years since the last Financial Review was done. She has the District Treasurer’s Manual
which outlines the review process. Etta
Mae was asked to put together a review team to carry this out soon. Diane Brauer and Marilyn Sloan were
recommended to participate in this, to be contacted by Etta Mae.
Paul recommended that when we prepare the upcoming budget,
spread the periodically-due bills evenly across each month. This will help anticipate monthly income
needs and expenses allowing income to be set aside for large, irregular
payments, such as with the liability insurance.
BOARD REPORTS
Education – Attached. Pat provided the proposed registration form
for 2006-07 Preschool. They are
proposing a $35 registration fee and an increase in tuition of $10 for
3-year-old children and an increase of $15 for the 4-year-olds. If enrollment is satisfactory, a proposed
salary increase for the teachers will be possible. Council approved this proposal.
Some
suggestions to the Board were to consider higher registration fee for late
registration, opportunity to make a donation at time of registration to a
scholarship fund, discounted fees for a yearly payment instead of monthly,
discounts for returning students, and discounts for referrals.
Elders – Attached. A Spiritual Life Ministry Organization chart
is nearing completion. This is a
reorganization of the Board and it’s duties designed to involve more of the
congregational members in the ministry of the Church.
This board
is also planning to work on developing a long-term plan for pastoral
compensation.
Fellowship – Attached. Joy Anderson noted a correction to the
report: reference to a Mothers’ Day Tea
should be corrected to read ‘Brunch.’
Also, Joy cannot successfully open the web page link that was sent her
by Sandy regarding movie licensing information.
Properties. Al Binder provided plans that the Board is recommending for a
self-locking mailbox to be reinstalled on Lancaster so we can give up the
post-office box. He was able to talk
the vendor down to $175.95 to be split with Concordia. The design was shown to Sandy and it will
meet her needs. Council approved this
plan unanimously.
Al also
provided a drawing of Concordia’s proposal to enlarge their play area. This adds approximately 35 feet to the east
and 30 feet to the north of the existing play area. Council approved this proposal unanimously.
Handicap
signs will be erected in front of the handicap parking spaces. These ORS signs require handicap parking
tags and are monitored for compliance.
Also, barriers are being planned to prevent vehicles from blocking the
sidewalk along the church.
Social Ministry – Attached.
Stewardship. Tim Shearer reported that Diane Brauer indicated an interest in
serving on this board.
Youth – Attached. This board is down to two members. With the significant changes in the youth
program, they will be especially grateful for additional volunteer help. The youth will be meeting this Tuesday
evening to begin planning for a celebration of Allison’s ministry.
Outside Missions – Bev Steuven reported
that one percent of plate offerings will be distributed each month as
follows: January – Luther Latino
Ministry and Concordia School; February – Meals on Wheels and Ablaze; March –
Joe Byrd and Heifer International.
Additionally, three percent of plate offerings will go to District
Missions each month.
OLD BUSINESS
Ink Cartridge Refund. Pat will follow up with the organization
that provided the printer ink cartridge disposal box and how this program will
work. Only certain types of cartridges
are acceptable.
Direct Pay. Paul has a form for people to use who would like to make
direct-pay for their offerings. This
will cost $35 per month, plus $0.09 per transaction. Fred suggested another program: Bill-Pay, which he uses to pay all his monthly bills via the
internet that could be used also. He
offered to do a presentation on how this works.
NEW BUSINESS
Overture for District Convention. Paul handed
out a proposal for an Overture to be presented at the upcoming District
Convention (attached). This overture
urges greater prayer and support for the youth ministry of our congregations.
New Sign on Lancaster. Jim Baker brought detailed
drawings of a new front lawn sign proposal, which has been reviewed by the
elders. It measures 20 feet high with
two 14-foot-high crosses, one on either side.
He described the stainless steel fabrication followed by a sand-blast
and powder coating process. His
recommendation for coating of the central cross would be a material that
provides a night-glow. He’ll have an
estimate for the fabrication next week; the coating estimate is $1,800. The plan meets the County’s
requirements. He has built a 9-foot
high prototype that can be brought in for review.
Council members all liked the design and Fred
Gargiulo recommended that Jim work with Al Binder to develop a project plan,
utilizing congregational members to perform as much of the work as
possible. The County requires an
engineering design for the footings.
Paul knows someone who can do this for us.
Meeting was adjourned at 9:30 with singing of the Doxology.
Respectfully submitted,
Jan Shearer, Secretary
