Council > Council Meeting Minutes > March 9, 2006

MGLC Council Meeting Minutes

March 9, 2006

Members Present: Todd Treml, Steve Hanson (left early), Steve Wagner (came late), Shelly Halverson (came late), Jennifer Martinson, Sue Schwedler, Laura Winge, Kathy Bruha, Erik Scott, and Mike Eggers

Members Absent: Dave Palm, Patty Branch, and Geoff Jones

Staff Present: Pastor Durk and Todd Grover (to give update)

Guests: None

President’s Comments
Todd Treml thanked Laura and all the work and time put into the Capital Fund appeal.

Facilities Update
Contract with Architect and interview General Contractor and looking at finalizing contract with Broker for sale of the Fernbrook Land.

Capital Fund Appeal

• $861,000 to date with about 1/3 of families pledging
• Letters will go to those not pledged yet and the next step is “After the dirt flies”
• Pastor Durk said they will contact those to encourage others to pledge
• Steve H. asked about what amount could we expect from those who may pledge after dirt flies or after follow up
• We are on the right track according to Kairos
• Steve Hanson raised concern about what we are paying Kairos. Are we getting what we expected?
• Pastor Durk said that Kairos says giving often increases when running this type of Appeal
• When we assess what we can afford, we may get more of the congregation. They may be ready to support building.
• We are not done - $861,000 there will be more in the coming months.

Todd Grover Update
Goals for this year:

1. Developing relationships
2. Incarnational ministry—he volunteers at MGSH during lunch
3. Servanthood—Monthly time at Feed My Starving Children

• Todd loves fun and music and wants to share that with the youth. Keep the youth updated about the concerts.
• Redevelop the JR and SR planning teams. Give the youth hands-on ownership
• Wants JR Mission Trip—Duluth or Green Bay, WI
• Redesign the Youth Room—signage and paint
• Talked with Dean Gulstad about a youth website.
• Develop the potential of the Cross Eyed open it up to the community. Growth!
• Sue S shared about the service.
• Todd T asked Todd G what his biggest challenge so far? Getting to know everyone! Congregation is open to our youth and the changes.

Pastor Reports
Pr. Chris’s report handed out—she is out of town.

• People of Purpose—90 people reading!! Here I Step program going well too.
• Youth Mission
• Funeral—lot of work for that!
• Lots of baptisms
• First call retreat for newly called Pastors
• Her goals developing a small group ministry—keep the focus on people through our renovations and building-continue to grow.
• She has been working with Dave Palm regarding building.

Pastor Durk Highlights:

• Ash Wednesday was up by a few. Lent is popular.
• Vocation theme is going well. He reflected on Sue’s message.
• Personnel update—Marv Miller retired. Tim Brown—negotiating with his cleaning company—stick with our budget. Melinda and Pastor Durk met with him. Dave Palm and others are helping in the limbo. Ken Turnquist has resigned as Worship coordinator. If you we know anyone, let Durk know. It is a 15-hour a week position. Jeanne Gronholm hired as the part time parish secretary from 9-1 each day. In addition to her Sunday mornings and Wednesday evenings.
• Kairos—Steve wanted us to not think he was bashing Kairos—Wants the congregation not to be confused.
• Sue S said that we need to make sure we don’t ask for more from those already pledged.
• Pr Durk—letters will only go to those who have not pledged, Personal letters will go to those who have. We will go public again in April.
• Working with Staff regarding new org structure—staff partners would work with chair of each committee.
• Pr Durk nominated to be a voting member at the National Assembly next summer
• Rapping up Dean NWH conference
• New Orleans—-7-8 going—Pastor Durk not going. May go in May to give Pastor Keen a weekend off. He remarked that it would be a 5-10 yr effort.
• Goals (in his review when it happens). Having leadership series or seminar-for anyone in the church. Todd Treml maybe a resource—create pool of leadership people, which is helpful for nominating new leaders.
• Sue Schwedler talked about needing a database of those leaders and everyone’s gifts—mesh people together with their gifts.
• Steve H asked why we do not do Time and Talent survey
• Sue said people don’t really know their gifts
• Pr. Durk said many check off interests but you never hear from them.
• Todd Treml said we need to switch to active volunteerism instead of recruitment.
• Talk about draft
• Sue likes the term service and we need job descriptions.
• Pr Durk said team leaders need to announce what the teams are responsible for.
• Todd Treml said where do you take the info from the Gifts assessment?
• Build a team and start working on it.
• Sue mentioned a book The Equipping Church. It is an education process with the congregation.
• Kathy B. wanted to know why she had not been called to help.
• Ministry Fair and time and talent have been held in April.
• Laura said some issues to iron on. Put it on the agenda next month to really move with that.

Book Study—Pr Durk
Handout from Pr Chris—Picture of our Church
Evangelism is a major effort—-it tends to happen here, there and everywhere. Pig Roast is an evangelism event.
God’s big mission—God really has one mission—Jesus Christ.
Models for Evangelism—baptism and communion and proclamation (sharing the good news)
Small groups is going to be it!!! They are side doors into the Church.

Personnel Update – Steve Hanson
Purpose of the committee is to have a HR presence and looking to add members.
Do we need approval for adding members?
Todd Treml said down the road we may with the new org structure.
Keep it small due to confidential information.

Background for new members to the committee: HR or Supervisory background
Sue asked about longevity of those on the team.

Council filled—Rick Moultin-VP, Todd Treml-Past Pres, Steve Hanson-Pres, At large-Jon Brandon, Laura Winge, Peg Turnquist, Jim Vaughn. Steve Wagner and Shelly Halverson will stay on.

Committee Chairs:
Discipleship—Jamie Larson
Parish Life—Jennifer Martinson
Outreach—Mike Eggers
Caring—Mary Monge?
Operations—Tex Cuabo?
Worship—Suzanne Wimer? Mary Monge—back up?

All should be in place at April Council Meeting, so council can vote.

Nominating will provide some names and draw members from other ministry teams. Desire is to have 3-5 or 4-6 members on these committees.

Pastor Review Team:
Brad Stamas and Doug Hum
Pr Durk thanked Steve Hanson and the team for their work.

Todd T.—lots of transition—orientation after vote in May. What do we do now? One priority will be accountability to the budget.

This is about the ministry teams.

Pastoral reviews are coming next week. Steve H. and Pr Durk will set a date.

Financials—Steve Wagner

• $6,000 behind on pledges and a little ahead on the non-pledged,
• We are ahead on the bottom line.
• Todd T said spend your committed resources-not cutting back-just use your dollars wisely.
• Laura said regarding capital expenses that Kairos says spend 1% on appeal and we are less than that.
• Total current mortgage obligation $2,000,000 and current rate of 5.8% on Mortgage. This will change when it balloons.
• $15,000 a month mortgage-$5,000 to principal.
• $360,000 in capital fund
• Current facility value est. 2.7 million. Current rate is 7.5%-8.0% financing is what the bank will do.
• New member is a mortgage banker.
• There are some benefits to stay with Bremer. Some fees less if we stay with them.
• Trying money markets for a hope of 3-4 % interest. Looking at other investment options.
• 80% of the cost back in value.
• The new mortgage would balloon in 10 years.
• 18-month construction period.
• Retain cash reserves to service debt entire first year of next capital appeal.
• We need to use capital fund for repairs
• Steve said we need to address the costs and where money comes from.
• At some point this becomes an operating expenditure. Sue also asked about this. This may be a recurring theme for 25 years.
• Pr Durk said debt service needs to be rolled into General Fund.
• Pr. Durk said next capital fund appeal—10% benevolence! A possibility!
• Each 1% swing in rates affect the amount by $200,000.
• To keep same payment we could do $2.3 million project. $25,000 a month-$3.3 million project
• Sanctuary $2.3 million.
• Some renovations will come with even just the Sanctuary. Pr Durk said growth in numbers growth in giving.
• Todd T said we need a very practical assumption of what we need and can do.
• Steve W—What are we willing to commit to monthly?
• Communication is huge
• Kathy B. wondered what we could communicate this to those who have not pledged. Letting them know what we can do at the current response. It should it be up to the finance committee decide what we can afford.
• Pr Durk said finance committee should come up with it. Then council will need to approve.
• Steve W will follow up with Doug Cassidy.
• Shelly asked do we need to have 1 yr reserve for debt service? Steve W advised that what he has laid out is conservative. Perhaps have two funds—6 months for debt service and a building fund for repairs.

New Business
Nothing to report this month.

Minutes from Feb meeting
Steve H moved to approve the February minutes as written—Sue seconded the motion. Motion carries.

Meeting adjourned and closed with the Lord’s Prayer.

Notes taken at the meeting by Jennifer Martinson on Sue Schwedler’s laptop (thank you, Jennifer and Sue!)

Respectfully submitted,
Shelly Halverson

Next Council Meeting: Thursday, April 20, 2006, 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. at MGLC.