Council Members Present: Pastor Ross Goodman, Maile Hedlund, Mark Olson, Dana Ramish, Alison Roberts, Heather Sheridan, Brian Sniffen, Wendy Stack, Chris Trost, George Wilson.
Also Present: Ken Heyda, Don Mitchell, Vicar C.J. Stratton.
Absent: Katie Corneilson is at Calumet.
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 our initial reflections on the retreat: we
The agenda was accepted.
Wendy Stack then led a devotion on Romans 12:1–8. Next month, Brian Sniffen will lead devotions.
The minutes of June were accepted as amended.
We’re continuing on track. No anomalies to report.
Ken has a few problems to report with the way information flows between the Financial Secretary and the Treasurer. There’s about $3780 left in n7.
The treasurer’s report is not yet done. We expect to receive it by e-mail.
Motion 1. The Council approves up to an additional $150 from n7 to cover the expenses for the newborn kits. moved, seconded, carried.
No discussion.
Motion 2. The Council approves $500 from n7 to hire Steel in the Air consulting firm to guide and research a possible new lease and cell phone tower on St. Paul property. moved, seconded…
An amendment to change this to p8 is quickly passed.
After some discussion of whether to go forward with this at all, an amendment to change this to g7 is passed.
Amended motion 2. The Council approves $500 from g7 to hire Steel in the Air consulting firm to guide and research a possible new lease and cell phone tower on St. Paul property. moved, seconded, carried.
Motion 3. The Council approves the lease of space at St. Paul to the Center for Cancer for $75 per month. moved, seconded, carried.
Wendy Stack speaks well of this group and their services. George asks about the extra cleaning and support costs. Dana Ramish asks about the seven keys they’d need. Brian suggests looking into a keyless entry system, maybe for next year’s budget.
Maile and Don ask that we be sure we can cancel this at any time.
Motion 4. The Council approves the use of space at St. Paul by Bob Gannon for sat training for high school students. moved, seconded, tabled.
They’re still in the early stages of negotiation; we have a lot of questions about who his students are, what they should pay, and whether our missions align.
We are joined by Taryn Weaver and Diane Kramer.
Mark Olson has posted several of the giant notepads from the retreat. Major topics from the retreat were:
- Communication. Ideas: - No need for intermediaries.
- Everyone knows what’s going on.
- Place for ongoing discussions (web?).
- Something like the Arlington mailing list?
- Communication into Arlington.
- A simple list of committees
and a new directory.
- Participation, engagement, and governance. Ideas
on governance:
- Revisit organizational structure.
Ideas on participation and engagement: - Recruitment program - Key ministries—laity - Engagement inventory - Education and formation. Ideas: - Recruit teachers - Alternate times for adult formation - Revisit the Sunday schedule
Dana Ramish gives a short report on the structural working group that’s looking at governance, participation, and organization issues.
We then spend an hour talking about our mission, mission itself, education, Christian community. Pastor Goodman puts forward the idea that we’re all here to “grow in faith,” and a few members say that’s not quite what they’re here for.
Ideas from tonight for education:
- Lay down good soil for later strong emotional
experiences (e.g., service trips).
- Experience Christian relationship
- Some of us grow in faith through inquiry and
scholarship
- Learn how to grow in faith
- Opportunities for sharing faith
- During the service
- Messenger
- Video interviews—maybe on the website
maybe in the style of the “life gets better”
videos?
- Photos of people in the congregation with
short faith stories—say on one of the
bulletin boards near coffee hour.
Marc closes the conversation by asking us to consider writing up our own faith stories and finding ways to act on this conversation.
Pastor Goodman reminds us that this is our last chance to thank C.J. for her time with us.
Pastor Goodman gathers us in prayer and leads communion at 9:25pm.
Respectfully submitted, Brian Sniffen
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Next regular council meeting: 8 August 2011 at 7:30pm.
These minutes can be found online at http://evenmere.org/~bts/Church/.