COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
DATE:
PRESENT: President:
Eric
Havelick
Vice
President and
Secretary:
Beth
Krolak
Church in Society: Val
Jorgensen
Fellowship: Becky
Fluegel
Education: Melissa Lamb
Property: Scott Shaw
Finance: Molly
Schmidt
Worship: George
Price
Youth:
Kelly
Laures
Evangelism: Donna Swenson
Personnel: Gayle Olsen
Pastor: Chris
Brekke
Director of Music & Education:
Treasurer: Michele
Saack
Volunteer Coordinator: Vicky
Mulvihill
Congregation Members: Mary
Jones
Kevin
Wulff
Paul
Mainz
ABSENT: Youth Director:
Technology: Doug
Tollefson
Fellowship: Bob
Larson
Youth: Mark
Manges
1.
The
meeting was called to order
2.
Opening
devotions were led by Donna Swenson.
3.
The
agenda was adopted as written.
4.
MMS
to approve the October meeting minutes (Pastor Chris/George).
5.
Staff
reports—as written
a.
Pastor
Chris: 18 new member households will
join next Sunday.
b.
Donna: Evangelism committee will need additional
sponsors for new members.
6.
Committee
reports—as written
7.
Financial
Report—as written
a.
Seminary
fund was disbursed.
b.
Building
fund giving went up, and looks higher this month also.
c.
Scott
inquired about repairing chimney leak over nursery; directed to fund out of general 03 line item if needed.
d.
Kudos
to Michele!
8.
Review
of mediation session on 11/14
Paul
Mainz gave a summary of the conflict mediation session on Nov. 14: The “Good Shepherd Business” forum on Nov. 7
brought out issues to be addressed concerning funding decisions (organ). Paul is trained by the Synod in conflict
resolution and recognized it as a “Level 3” conflict. He and Pastor Chris felt it would be helpful
to call in a moderator through the synod to help us work through it. Pastor Peter Solie
agreed to moderate the discussion. There
were 8 participants and 2 observers.
They talked out issues of:
Building fund and how money is being spent (building and organ). The goal was not to resolve issues but to
clarify what the conflict is about. It
was clear to all involved that communication needs to be improved (by increased
use of Happynings, adjusted schedule of committee
meetings and agenda-setting meeting of executive committee, regular forums for
the congregation) and spending policies need to be clarified (may need new
“rules” via bylaws or some kind of agreement).
One
direction we could go is to define a process that would deal with money pledged
through Capital Appeal in a way that will meet everyone’s expectations: building, organ, and dividers. Priorities and expectations differed.
Pastor
Solie pointed out that our congregation has a strong
Council model, and it may help to clarify our representative role to the
congregation.
The
Executive Committee will be making a brief presentation at the congregational
meeting on Sunday, and is planning a “table talk” session to get ideas from the
congregation. Council brainstormed 12
possible questions to use to get discussion going; Executive Committee was
asked to choose 3 open-ended questions from the list and have them ready for
the congregational meeting.
Questions
about this meeting:
a.
A
limited number of people were at this meeting—why? (Paul described the conflict resolution
process and explained that initially a limited number of people is required to define the conflict. The goal was the clarity of issues, not
resolution.)
b.
How
can the congregation be involved more in decision making? (Discernment process was defined.)
9.
Approval
of Agenda for Congregational Meeting
a.
Item
VI and VII, Report and table talks were explained as discernment sessions,
based on Mennonite model using open-ended questions and open and honest
discussion in small groups which record their consensus; Consensus reports go to council, which
reviews to find a common consensus. May
need to go back to congregation again if there is no consensus. Advantage:
shared decision-making, open communication.
b.
Council
and guests brainstormed 12 questions.
MMS that executive committee go through those questions and choose three
for the congregational meeting “Table Talks” (John/ ) Motion carried.
c.
Michele
clarified that building and organ funds are not merged at this point due to
designated gifts/memorials coming in for organ.
d.
MMS
to approve the agenda for the Nov. 21 congregational meeting, with executive
committee to decide how to present the capital appeal report, building and
organ fund report, and process (John/Gayle)
e.
Becky requested that a process for
dealing with the results of the Table Talks be put on the agenda for next
month.
10.
Visioning
Update
a.
Bulletin
board has arrived.
b.
Becky: would like to see communication/conflict
issues as small target goals within the long range plan.
c.
Assessment of leadership skills of staff will be
integrated into staff evaluations. Leadership assets of congregation members
will be identified from the Time and Talent form (Personnel)
11.
Old
Business
a.
New
member Sunday, Potluck at
b.
MMS
to increase Good Earth Village Camperships to $50
each (Pastor Chris/George)
Motion carried.
12.
Thank
you’s were sent to Kathy
Pickett (office fill-in) and Marvin and Hazel Scheitel
(weekly help with newsletter).
13.
New
Business
a.
Marcoux Corner coffee house/concert; fellowship event; request to consider
using surplus funds to help with costs (~$1000)—Fellowship Committee
b.
Saturday,
Dec. 18: Brassworks
benefit for Channel One—Cynthia
c.
Please
consider LSS and Adopt a Family for surplus spending list–Church in Society
Committee
d.
Staff
evaluations: Personnel Committee would
like to know what type of input Council would like to have.
i.
Chair
of pertinent committee to give feedback
ii.
Form
to Council (optional) or Personnel Committee would prefer to give form to
several random people besides chosen Council members so they can synthesize the
evaluations and share them with the staff member. Consensus that this would be appropriate.
e.
Safe
donation (Pastor Chris)—approved
f.
Folding
chairs needed (Pastor Chris)—MMS to have Pastor Chris price and order 50
folding chairs (PC/Donna)
g.
Rescheduling
of 2005 Council meetings—MMS to have Committee Night on the 2nd
Monday and Council meetings on the 4th Monday of the month starting
in January (Scott/Becky). Motion
carried.
h.
Council
hosts for January 2005 are as listed on the master list (I put subs in for
Scott since he’ll be off Council by then):
1/2: Becky
1/9: Scott (or John)
1/16: Becky
1/23: Melissa
1/30: Scott (or Val)
14.
Meeting
adjourned.
Respectfully submitted,
Beth Krolak