St Andrew Council Meeting 7/14/10 Draft

President Bernie Orris opened the meeting at 7:03 pm asking Pastor Rust to lead in prayer.

Attending: Bernie Orris, Ed Blakelock, Bob Morrissey, Paul Miottke, Craig Schadewald, Egon Lippert, Pastor Rust, Karen Ellenberger, Lauren Hudgins, Sarah Hall; Absent: Barbara Riegel, Ollie Beall, Gail Pethea

Visitor: Linda Bloomfield     Devotions were led by Karen Ellenberger.

Motion to accept the minutes from the 6/9/10 Council meeting was made by Egon Lippert, 2nd by Craig Schadewald. Motion carried.

Treasurer’s Report: (see report for full details) Operating Funds Received YTD have shortfall of $13,134 from what was budgeted. Monetary loss in income YTD is $4,229. Giving in June 2010 was down $5,000 compared to June 2009.

Finance Committee- via Egon- Norm Kendall has contributed $4,479.45 from the Columbarium Fund to the Operating Budget. Suggestion has been made to speak with Janice Ramsden about the Stephen Ministry Fund and Laurna Badendieck about the Altar Cushions Fund to determine if they have an overage they could move to the operating budget.  Discussion ensued about the Evangelism Committee liaison absence, ENC bills are going unpaid. Motion made by Karen Ellenberger, 2nd by Paul Miottke for the ENC newspaper weekly church advertising bills to be automatically paid by Ed without the normal Evangelism Committee approval process. Motion carried. Ros Schweizer is coming on board as the Financial Secretary. Pastor commented “charitable giving is down across the board. Attendance is also down.” Finance will add a weekly bulletin update showing what comes in vs. what is needed, as soon as Ros is able. Pastor Rust suggested a Miracle Service on a Wed night in August to have that offering go towards the operating receipts. Motion made by Bob, 2nd by Paul to have a Miracle Service & Offering on Wed, Aug 18th at 7:00pm. Motion carried.

Pastor’s Report: Pastor Rust spoke of Mrs. Rabeler (95yrs), Ralph Bitely, (both of whom have now passed away) and Ralph Bushong. Pastor Rust has finished his term on the North Carolina Synod Council and was not elected for another term.  He was elected Chairman of the Lakeside Chautauqua. This is an annual Continuing Education Event for ELCA members and others which gather for Worship, Bible Study, and Fellowship along the banks of Lake Erie in July. Pastor spoke of the ELCA and how we can minister to our St. Andrew members in these challenging times.

Worship&Music: via Bernie-the Arts Guild has inventoried all the church banners and set up an inventory file.

Fellowship: Lauren- no meeting

Stewardship: Bob-the Nominating Committee (for 2011 Council members) has not been formed yet. Committee is looking for an Evangelism Committee Liaison. Time & Talent sheets have been updated; they will go out in October. Don & Nancy Michaels are interested in being lay member representatives for St Andrew at next years Synod Assembly.

Youth: Craig-no meeting was held. The Youth ice skating trip has been changed to Aug 7th.

Personnel: Egon- Ros Schweizer is now Financial Secretary. The St Andrew Youth Policy has been updated. Bob inquired whether St Andrew was still listed as a Youth Safe Haven; Answer-not that we know of. Paul asked if there was to be an hourly increase for the custodian; answer- no increases are forthcoming as per the Motion passed at the 4/14/10 Council Meeting.

Property: Paul- The final cost for the kitchen floor repair was $5493. An additional cost of $25 will be needed to purchase mastic for retiling the floor. The roof repair at the peak (where cross is) is not yet done. Also, a fan to go in the sanctuary and power installed has not been done.  The electric bill for June was $2800. ALL doors should be kept closed.

Christian Ed: Sarah- VBS will be next week Tues-Fri from 6-8:15pm.

Social Ministry- Auction News: The youth are asked to come Aug 6th at 6-8 PM to hang more town criers and make paddles for the Auction. Auction meeting for all adult volunteers will be Aug 10th at 7 PM.

Memorial Committee-Fred Swartout has completed the new Memorial Plaques and will be hanging them in the Narthex area as authorized by the Property Committee Chairman Paul Miottke.  There will be four plaques in all.  Two of the plaques will contain names of deceased persons (by the way, the list is completely up to date). There will be one plaque with vacant name plates for the future, and there will be another plaque without name plates for the future.  It takes special skill to create these plaques.  We could never have completed them for the cost we have paid without Fred Swartout's workmanship and skill.  He made the plaques and the crosses.  He installed the name plates, too. This project has cost $541.50.  The money has been received as follows: $400.00 from LMIM, $100 from Mr. and Mrs. Frank Pontick, and the remainder from Bob Weeks. 

Unfinished Business: Stain Glass- no date as of yet when the Triangular windows will be completed. These were due April 2010.

Bernie reviewed the letter to the church council from Cindy Bach, et al. concerning the Statement of Faith adopted by the Congregation on 4/25/10. The term “Interim” was questioned as to what that meant. Answer- the Statement was only “Interim” during the time period from the council vote to the congregational vote. A reply would be drafted by council, and then she could decide if she or the group of signees wished to address council.

Pastor stated that he had needed a statement of values and the position of the church when speaking to visitors; and that passing the statement also showed where the congregation stood on the issues. Bernie- also questioned was why the meeting was recorded. It was recorded for accuracy, who spoke, what was said. Cory had volunteered to record it for accuracy. The Constitution was not being changed, as questioned by Bach’s letter. Page 4 of St Andrew’s Constitution, C4.05, states “this congregation shall, from time to time, adopt a ‘mission statement’ which will provide specific direction for it’s programs.”

Motion to adjourn was made by Sarah, 2nd by Paul, at 9:15pm. Bernie closed the meeting with The Lord’s Prayer.

Respectfully submitted, Karen Ellenberger