St. Peter’s Lutheran Church Council Meeting, March 11, 2008

 

Council & Staff Present:     Chapman, Clay, Croone, Pastor Ellingboe, Ehersmann, Gilligan, Iverson, Jacobson,

                                               Johnson,  Machacek, Scharber, Scheffert, Snesrud, Thompson,  Topp, Vivant,

                                               Wesselmann

 

Absent:                                 Lemke, Mahlum, Paulson, Reese

 

Meeting was called to order by President Chapman.  Pastor Craig led devotions. 

 

First order of business:  Motion to appoint Bernadette Johnson as secretary of the Church Council.  Motion seconded,

      and carried.

 

Second order of business: Report from long range planning: Bill Bleckwehl spoke with a request to hire Kevin Ford as

     a consultant, (author of “Transforming Church”.)   Recommended using the process the book goes through.   This is

     a  way to determine who we are as a Church; Where we are going in the future; What we want from our Church, and

     our community.   He explained how it provides a clear, strategic plan. 

             The Assessment was then explained as the following:  A survey would be completed by the congregation.  This

     would help us to discover how “healthy” we are as a church. 

               The Strategic Plan would then be put into place with the following process:  Two retreats; focus groups;

     Strength, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats (SWOT); Create the desired future; and complete the plan.  It was

     then discussed whether or not we would actually use every step in this process.

              The price was then discussed at being approximately $12,000 - $15,000.  This fee will be raised outside of the

     budget. Pastor Ellingboe had mentioned that $3000 had already been raised this past week to cover some of the fees.

     Then discussed the reasons for doing this process. 

              Motion to table this, and have everyone try and take the time to read the book “Transforming Church” and be

     prepared to vote on using this process at the April meeting.  Motion carried.

 

Treasurer’s Report – report presented by Dottie Scharber.  $239 in the General Checking account, and that was after

       $9000 was advanced from our operating line of credit. Income for February was down $8194 from budget, and up

       $2960 from last year.  Year to date, we are up from last year by $1826, but down for total budget.  Expenses were

       over budget in February due to programmable thermostats and new Sanctuary doors.  Another $2300 is our

       January synod benevolence that was held to be paid in February for cash flow purposes, and our insurances are

       always due the first few months of the year.

     

Secretary’s Report – printed in the Newsletter.  Motion to accept minutes as presented.  Motion seconded and carried.

 

STAFF REPORTS:

Senior Pastor’s Report – Written report submitted.  He has met with Call Committee and 5 of the 6 Candidates for

     Associate Pastor.  Together they narrowed their search to one particular candidate.  The process is still not complete,

     so was not able to reveal which candidate they are going to Call. 

Donna – Was absent, but submitted her written report.