Council Minutes
Congregation
Council Minutes
New Promise Lutheran Church
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Present: Joe Doherty, Pastor
Richard Eickholt, President
Paul Leuthauser, Vice President
Penny Balint
Bobbi Ericson
Mini Benson
Genny Senholtz
Gail Neumann, Secretary
The meeting was called to order by President Richard Eickholt at 6:33 pm.
Pastor Joe led us in our continuing study of 1 Timothy.
August minutes were approved as printed.
Ministry Reports
 | Worship: see written report. |
| Learning: see written report. |
| Witness/Outreach: see written report. |
 | Ministry team has decided to become a Covenant Giver with ELCA Global Missions, supporting a specific missionary in the field. |
| A motion to approve the sale of quilts and Fair Trade items at the Community Expo on October 18 approved. |
| Motion to approve WELCA wreath fundraiser, including sales to non-members, was approved. |
| Housekeeping and nursery duties were deleted from Innkeepers booklet due to incomplete status. |
| Motion to hire cleaning service weekly beginning September 1 not to exceed $2500 for remainder of 2008 approved. This replaced August motion for building manager; candidate declined position. |
| A narthex use policy needs to be developed by Support in conjunction with Worship and Outreach that strikes a balance between clutter and ministry statements. |
Motion to accept all ministry team reports carried.
Financial report: Motion to approve financial report as presented carried.
Pastor’s report: see written report. Motion to continue paying for Internet service at pastor’s home approved.
Old Business
Establishment of NP Mission Endowment Fund: discussion of resolution presented led to the following:
Recommendations:
| Change Permanent Resolutions to Continuing because the Constitution makes no provision for permanent resolutions |
| Resolution paragraph 2, add including capital funds to annual operating budget of the Congregation |
| Add a provision for two year limit on term of service for officers of the Fund to match the Constitutional provision for Council officers (p. 2) |
| Specify whether or not Council members can serve concurrently on this Committee |
Request for approval of brochure: Council recommends that copies of the brochure be made at church and brochure be marked either "Proposed" or "Draft" since the Fund will not be established until approval at the Annual Meeting in January.
| Resolution regarding disposition of undesignated gifts: On disposition of undesignated gifts add to final distribution point of Ten percent (10%) to the church general fund the words and/or debt reduction |
New Business
Budget/Time & Talent Surveys: ministry teams will submit budget requests for 2009 to Penny or Vi no later than the end of September. Revisions to survey should be submitted to Gail by October 15.
Timeline to Annual Meeting:
| September 30 Budget inputs to Penny |
| October 15 Time & Talent survey |
revisions to Gail
| TBD F & A compilation and |
review of budget
| October 22 Council review of budget |
| November 2, 9 Temple Talks |
| November 3 Mailing to congregation of |
ministry plan, T&T survey
| November 16 Commitment or Pledge |
Sunday
| November 19 Council finalizes budget |
| December 14 Constitution revisions |
available to congregation
| December 30 Annual reports due to |
Cindy Keegan
| January 11 Annual Report available to |
congregation
| January 25 Annual Meeting and |
elections
Concerns/Issues from Congregation
| A concern has been expressed about the sanctuary lamp being lit all the time. Concerns center around fire hazard and cost of oil for lamp. There is little or no danger from fire; not yet clear how quickly oil is burned. More importantly, the Church Council recognizes the sanctuary lamp as symbolic of the eternal presence of God and as such it is an important theological statement. |
| Question has been asked as to why the pastor isn’t pouring the wine every week. There is no particular reason why the pastor must pour wine when others are comfortable doing it. |
| Next Council meeting is changed to Wednesday, October 22. |
Meeting was adjourned at 9:55 pm and closed with the Lord’s Prayer.
Respectfully submitted,
Gail Neumann, Secretary