Council Members Present: Katie Corneilson Pastor Ross Goodman, Maile Hedlund, Mark Olson, Dana Ramish, Alison Roberts, Heather Sheridan, Brian Sniffen, Wendy Stack, Chris Trost, George Wilson.

Also Present: Vicar Jenn Soltis, Katie Osweiler

Absent:

Gathering

A quorum was gathered and we came together in God’s name at 7:30pm. A candle was lit to remind us that Christ is present with us as we meet.

Agenda

The agenda was accepted.

Word

Minutes

The minutes of September were accepted as amended—and the secretary received a copy to file.

Financial Reports

Printed reports are received from the Financial Secretary and the Treasurer.

Functional Structures progress report

The Secretary arrived here, at 7:40pm.

Dana Ramish explained the work of the Functional Structures working group over the last several months. They have two key ideas to report: First, they have divided the work of the church into four categories: Gathering, Growing, Giving, and Supporting. Each function is served by a handful of committees and a few staff.

Second, the Council presently serves without a clear statement of its role, goals, or mission. A (separate?) small group should see to that. In the interim, we can change in the following ways:

• Skip February and August meetings next year; ¹
• Plan the agenda much more carefully, allocating time for discussions of each matter;
• Cut the “check-in” process—not clear yet how to serve its goals;
• Reduce financial approvals to quarterly rather than monthly, with an option for handling exceptional issues at any meeting.
• Dedicate two meetings per year for strategic planning;
• Dedicate one meeting for each of the four functions identified above, inviting those committees to talk with us.

Christian Ed director’s report

Katie Osweiler reports that she’s finished her first month at St. Paul. The Sunday Sojourn schedule has started well. The 4th and 5th grade class could use one more teacher. The first all-ages sojourn went well, though we could advertise more that adults without kids are most welcome.

The lock-in also needs a male chaperon.

Pastoral reports

Vicar Soltis reports that confirmation is going well.

Pastor Goodman speaks first about the Stewardship campaign. Norma Ofsthun is leading it with Joanne Backley, Dave Hering, and Peter Hedlund. We’re trying a modified Consecration Sunday for this year’s Annual Appeal. We’ll gather on the second Sunday in November, then talk about the need of the giver to give… but we’ll also talk about the need of the Congregation to continue operating.

Some solar power companies are looking to lease our roof, install solar panels on the South-facing roof, then sell the power onto the grid. This is slow-moving so far.

A congregation has asked to rent space on Saturdays. We feel maxed out... but can we fit more? We’d need the sexton to clean between then and Sunday morning. Saturday is our one day each week for extra activities (tutoring, lock-ins, etc.)

Bishop Payne is retiring in June as the New England Synod has engaged in a several-year discernment process. Lutheranism in New England is odd: We’re a tiny sliver of the population, but have an out-sized presence with lss. The visioning and discernment process has worked with an outside business, “A Renewal Enterprise, Inc.” The pastors who founded it have written a book that Pastor Goodman asks us to read this month.

Meal

Pastor Goodman gathers us in prayer and leads communion at 8:35pm.

Respectfully submitted, Brian Sniffen

Next regular council meeting: 14 November 2011 at 7:30pm.

These minutes can be found online at http://evenmere.org/~bts/Church/.