Council Members Present: Airin Cherian, Pastor Ross Goodman, Anne-Louise Klaus, Mark Olson, Alison Roberts, Heather Sheridan, Brian Sniffen, Wendy Stack, Marilyn Waehler.
Also Present: Don Mitchell, Vicar C.J. Stratton.
Absent: Marianne Brown, Dana Ramish.
A quorum was gathered and we came together in God’s name at 7:42pm. A candle was lit to remind us that Christ is present with us as we meet.
We shared highlights of what’s new in our lives: crafty projects finished, cars totaled1 ,visits to family, joy in performance, visits from family, health and recovery,
The agenda was accepted.
Don Mitchell then led a devotion Ephesians 2, together with the Gloria and Just as I am from Sturm’s Jazz Mass. Next month, Airin Cherian will lead devotions.
The minutes of September were accepted.
We are slightly ahead of last year at this time. We were well ahead through the summer, but now it’s evening out. We’re about $7000 ahead of where we were last year, about at 73% of our budget (vs. 71% last year).
We have about 150 boxes of envelopes left over. We’d like to find a way to use some of those instead of ordering new envelopes. Perhaps a note about how to use envelopes—that we care about the number, but not the date, for example.
The music budget (c3) is already overspent for the year. The overall c⋅ fund is fine, however. We have $1000 set aside in p10 for musical instruments. Mark Olson reports that Colleen knows she’s over budget in c3.
Motion 1 From Social Ministries committee move to designate $2000 from n7 for support of Seafarer’s Mission in addition to the Coffee Hour Funds collected through October 31. moved, seconded, carried.
Motion 2 Social Ministries committee move to designate up to $1000 from n7 to use if needed to cover Christmas gifts for lss clients. moved, seconded, carried.
St. Paul has agreed to accept ten names, which we will have, along with the wish lists, by the end of October. Typically the congregation covers all of the requests but we need to be able to fill in if necessary.
Mark Olson reports on a successful if somewhat delayed 90-day review of Diane Kramer’s performance. She’s working rather more than the 20–25 hours originally proposed.
Marianne Brown will resign from the Council. We need to appoint a replacement, and to find a new Vice President from among the remaining Council members.
Anne-Louise Klaus reports that the recent Christian Education committee meeting raised the topic of responsibility for the entire major budget category containing both ordinary educational work and also other somewhat educational work: conferences, membership in various organizations, etc. Mark makes clear that others from the budget committee (most specifically the Treasurer) will handle those items in the budget which are in the Christian Education section but not actually related to the Christian Education Director’s work.
The Safe Church process has reared its head. We haven’t done much about it for a while; Eric Sunnerberg wrote a document. Alison Roberts speaks about putting down a simple policy about what we do: double adults, open doors, and checking drivers’ licenses before volunteer adults take children in their cars. Alison and Brian agree to invite Cindy and Eric, then sit down and return next month with a policy.
Christian Education has been talking for a while about teaming up with the Unitarian Church in Arlington to engage in a Christian sex-ed program called “Our whole lives.” They’re quite over-subscribed, so Jen Nahn continues to investigate options
The Stewardship committee is starting up its work for the year with the theme “More than enough.” It doesn’t yet have a firm date to meet. Members are Dan Rees, Norma Ofsthun, Don Mitchell, Ann Mooney, Vicar Stratton, and Mark Olson.
Pastor Goodman has been invited to be part of the Synod discernment team. He continues to search for a discernment process for St. Paul. They have a contract with a group called “A renewing enterprise,” which includes some Lutheran pastors. We have had pretty good worship attendance this Fall. Some new people are taking an interest in St. Paul and have asked about joining. We’ll probably have a new-members class after the Alpha class—expect a list of new members at the next meeting. Diane has been helping to develop a communications strategy for St. Paul. We’ve seen some results already in the weekly e-mail updates. Lutheran Refugee Services visited last month and met with the group at Hillside House. There are several new boys at the house, bringing the total to six. Pastor Goodman’s asked them to help put together a bulletin board explaining what they’re doing, the need for foster homes in Arlington as boys graduate the program but still need time in school, and volunteer opportunities. He’s headed for a week-long retreat in November.
Vicar Stratton is meeting with her Intern Committee this Thursday for the first time. She proposes to start a garden at the church, jointly with the Hillside House residents. The Youth program is going well: sixteen came mini-golfing. This weekend was a youth-group meeting, mostly 6th and 7th grade boys. There’s a lock-in on the 23rd. Nobody’s yet registered for the service trip next year—but there’s a month yet to sign up. There was a senior lunch this week as well.
Pastor Goodman gathers us in prayer and leads communion at 8:57pm.
Respectfully submitted, Brian Sniffen
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Next regular council meeting: 8 November 2009 at 7:30pm.
These minutes can be found online at http://evenmere.org/~bts/Church/.