Council Members Present: Airin Cherian, Pastor Ross Goodman, Mark Olson, Dana Ramish, Alison Roberts, Heather Sheridan, Brian Sniffen, Wendy Stack, Marilyn Waehler.
Also Present: Steve Dougherty, Don Mitchell, Vicar C.J. Stratton.
Absent: Anne-Louise Klaus.
A quorum was gathered and we came together in God’s name at 7:40pm. A candle was lit to remind us that Christ is present with us as we meet.
We shared memories of our baptisms and confirmations.
The agenda was accepted.
Vicar Stratton then led a devotion on the light of Epiphany. Next month, Alison Roberts will lead devotions.
We sang Joyous Light of Heavenly Glory (561).
The minutes of December were accepted.
We’re 3% over for 2010. We have approximately $310000 in pledges this year, about $4300 more than last year. We’re looking at a budget of $488000 in budget for this year. We spent $476000 from the general fund last year. The budget committee would still like $6000 more.
On the plus side, the Korean Congregation hasn’t paid its rent for December—so we will see that income in 2011. Also, the last-minute appeal last Sunday raised an extra $14000.
The books are closing, but not yet closed, for 2010.
The 2011 budget will be presented in e-mail.
The audit started Sunday afternoon for both 2009 and 2010. It’s harder than it could be because our record maintenance is sloppier than it should be. More details and suggestions will be in the final report. They’ll be continuing this week and expect to finish before the congregational meeting.
We’ve refinanced the mortgage. This reduces our payment by $433 per month, and cuts the term of the mortgage by eight months. We’ll now finish in summer of 2025.
Steve Dougherty tells us that the windows in the sanctuary are peeling outside and the wood beneath is starting to decay. These are the original windows from 1962, though they have home-built double panes. They aren’t well sealed, so we’re losing some heat through there. It would cost us ~$100000 to install new windows, or ~$53000 to do just the weather side. This plan is for aluminum windows comparable to those now in the Fellowship Hall. They’re much nicer than the windows in the new wing, so we wouldn’t expect maintenance nightmares like those have been.
We need to find a way to pay for this in the next couple of years—not tonight, but perhaps a capital campaign in the next several years. The Property Committee will be back from its winter quarters in Spring to talk more. The Property committee advises that we must do the weather side by the summer of 2012 or face leaks.
Alison, Brian, and Jen have documented the practices we already use to keep children safe at St. Paul. These aren’t an imagined ideal, but what we already do. Heather asks that we add more about what to do when people violate these guidelines.
Motion 1. We adopt the proposed Safe Church policy as the current policy for the church. moved, seconded, carried.
Alison and Brian will start the maintenance committee for this policy, and work with the Christian Education committee.
University Lutheran and und Grand Forks are sending a mission and service trip to Haiti this spring. They’re looking for financial support.
Motion 2. We agree to send the current coffee hour donations through March 2011 to support the trip to Haiti. moved, seconded, carried.
Pastor Goodman speaks of the new members of the church: several couples with children or expecting, old members returning from long ago, and others we welcome.
Motion 3. We welcome the new members: Brian McLane & Elizabeth Burke, daughter Hannah; Rob Badzey & Kathleen Kean, son Cole; Ryan O’Boyle & Amy Szymaniak; Dinesh & Jennifer Rego, son Alexander; John Barrington; Arthur & Conni Blanchard, daughter Nicole; Kim Bakeburg; David Frank; Ingeborg Hjorth; Rebecca Pontius & Bruce Grunwald; Reed & Christine Williams, daughter Abigail; Patrick & Chrystal Kirchen, son Nicolas, daughter Grace; Matthew & Colleen Wright, daughter Emmarose. moved, seconded, carried.
Fund-raising and the business of the church have taken some time lately, and the new members. His father’s birthday is January 23rd. Since the annual meeting is now on the 30th, Pastor Goodman will be going to visit him that weekend.
We don’t generally have theme Sundays as such, but it would be nice to join the Reconciling in Christ (Lutherans Concerned North America) group’s celebration on January 30th. The Lutheran Church is unusual in welcoming everyone, regardless of orientation or political opinion.
Vicar Stratton reminds us of the Ministry Fair on February 13th. The youth going on the service trip this spring will be holding a few fundraisers in the coming weeks. The Senior Sandwich Swap is snowed out.
Pastor Goodman gathers us in prayer and leads communion at 9:10pm.
Respectfully submitted, Brian Sniffen
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Next regular council meeting: 14 February 2011 at 7:30pm.
These minutes can be found online at http://evenmere.org/~bts/Church/.