Calvary Lutheran ChurchSeptember 6, 2016

Council Meeting Minutes

Officers present:Warren Jensen, Jan Kurtyka, Jon Rentz, Janell Bethke, Nick Flom, Lizz Sandberg, Priscilla Marto,, Todd Olson, Anna Larson, Brian Harris, Jenny Arel

Staff and Others present:Pastor Mark Halass, Pastor Kristen, Heather Vandervort , Aaron Bye

Officers absent: Cindy Flom-Meland, Joani Kilber, John Bernstrom, Phyllis Johnson,

Opening Devotions: Warren Jenson-faith sharing

Reports

1. Secretary’s Report – Janell Bethke

Motion to approve the report was made by Jon Rentz, seconded by Anna Larson - mo-tion carried.

2. Treasurer’s Report – Jon Rentz, Heather Vandervort

Receipts for July were received at a level of 20% higher than prior year July. Two items come to mind as the differences are examined. Current year July contained five Sundays versus four Sundays in the prior year and a yearly gift was received in current year July.

July’s noisy offering was collected in the amount of $900 for the Eastern North Dakota Synod to help support the newly hired position of Multi-Ethnic Mission Developer. Several events filled the days of July. There was a church-wide picnic, kindergarten through fifth grade had the opportunity to go to Bible camp, Aaron Bye, our new Youth Ministry coordinator was welcomed, a golf scramble was held to support the Ethiopia mission trip, and a family mission trip was held in Duluth.

Year-to-date receipts and disbursements through July are 9% lower than prior year. A goal Calvary strives for each year is to have similar resources when comparing to prior years. Our further goal is to increase our resources so as to expand the ministries we are able to offer at Calvary. So while the year-to-date receipts are lower than we have seen in five years, our year-to-date dis-bursements are following the same pattern.

Receipts for current year August were 11% lower than prior year. In the current year, there were four Sundays versus in the prior year there were five Sundays in August which does make a differ -ence in the receipts for a month.

Noisy offering in August was collected in the amount of $800 to help provide school supplies for kids in our community. In August Calvary hosted 30 Bike & Build riders who are pedaling across the United States to raise awareness of affordable housing. Kindergarten through fifth grade students were invited to a peace day camp hosted by Aaron Bye and Kim Adams.

Year-to-date receipts and disbursements through August are 8% lower than prior year. Receipts are projected to increase as fall schedule and Sunday school begin. As the fall continues, receipts and disbursements will continue to be monitored and compared with prior year’s activity.

Motion to approve the report was made by Jon Rentz, seconded by Jan Kurtyka – mo-tion carried.

3. Progress Reports on the ongoing work of the Council:

a. Call Committee for the Lead Pastor The lead pastor candidate has met with staff and the call committee. Some issues still need to be resolved. Warren Jensen and the council vice-presidents will meet with the candidate. The candidate may eventually be asked to meet with the church council.

b. Getting to know our Youth Director, Aaron Bye Aaron and his wife, Katie, are originally from Fargo, ND, and went to Fargo North High School. He majored in religion at UND. He loves to sing, plays the trumpet, and likes to act. Aaron and Katie came to Calvary from Martin’s Lutheran in Casselton,ND, serving there for 9 yrs. Aaron’s wife, Katie, is a library para at Viking Elem.They adopted a dog named Benji.

4. Reports of Ministry Teams

Brian Harris (V.P. of Operations & Management) Aaron and Katie Bye are renting the red house onsite that Calvary purchased for the parking lot expansion project.

o Jon Rentz (Finances & Operations) Lutheran Trust insurance coverage for Calvary would be $6000/year less than the current plan with Vaaler Insurance. More to report after meeting with Vaaler Insurance.Calvary has open enrollment with staff insurance benefits. We have offered gold plus policies in the past. The cost of this level of coverage this year would be the lowest increase for the past 3 years. We want to remain com-petitive with other congregations as far as quality of coverage.Todd Olson made a motion to leave the level of insurance coverage for Cal-vary Staff as is for the next year. Priscilla Marto 2nd the motion. Motion car-ried.

o Anna Larson (Stewardship) Anna attended the Aug 23rd Stewardship Seminar in Moorhead, MN.

We need to celebrate peoples’ various gifts and talents that they are sharing with Cal-vary by acknowledging their work with celebration and thank you’s.**Challenge to council--thank someone for the work they do for the church by sending them a note or telling them in person.Idea: Look at Good Shepherd Lutheran’s model to have a ‘giving kiosk’ placed in the church where people can swipe a credit card for giving offering.

Jan Kurtyka (V.P. of Life and Growth) no report

o Nick Flom (Youth)

Confirmation starts September 14th.Retreat at Castaway for Middle School Students is Sept. 23-25th.Retreat to Castaway for HIgh School Students is Sept 30- Oct 2.Starting Sept 7th high school students will have “The Cloud” from 8:15-10:00 PM in the youth room.

o Cindy Flom-Meland (Christian Education)

·         The Christian Board of Education last met on August 24th. 

·         6th -9th Grade Confirmation starts on Wednesday with an orientation for parents and students. There are 176 students registered and 34 adults to lead the small groups. One 6th

grade small group could still use a leader.

·         Sunday School starts on Sunday with lots of kids signed up for both hours. Right now 135 students at 10:45 and 120 students at 9:15. Lots of volunteers have come for-ward to teach and help but we are short a few teachers yet. Still need 2 or 3 preschool teachers at each hour and a 3rd grade teacher for 9:15 and a 4th grade teacher for 10:45.

·         Wednesday School begins next week on the 14th. The enrollment was slow to come in but is now at 47 in in groups of preschool, kindergarten-1st, 2nd and 3rd, 4th and 5th.

·         The 10th graders and their mentors will begin their faith journey and monthly meet-ings in Nov.

o Jenny Arel (Community Relationships) no report

Phyllis Johnson (V.P. of Worship & Outreach) Absent

o Lizz Sandberg (Worship) Fall Worship Services will be held on Wednesdays at 5:30, and two worship services on Sundays. A choir director has been hired.

o Priscilla Marto (Service Ministries)

no report

o Joani Kilber (Social Justice) Oct. 9th Mission Blitz at Calvary

Absent

o John Bernstrom (Evangelism) Absent

4. Pastoral Reports

Pastor KristenSeven families went on the family mission trip in the Duluth area and it was very suc-cessful.Sept. 29th--an event for the Pladson family will be held with funds from Thrivent. Money raised will be used to help defray the cost of medical expenses. Phyllis Johnson, Vice-President of our ELCA Synod, attended the Church-Wide Assem-bly in LA

Pastor MarkThe Columbarium dedication is being planned.A new Calvary mission project may be possible with the Central African Republic.Staffing Update--full time custodian ad will be posted. Don’s hours will be reduced.Pastor Sonja is a visitation pastor for Calvary and may take on more roles in transitiontimes.These are exciting times for Calvary as the fall programs begin. Aaron Bye and Whitney Berry will be installed September 11th.

New Business

1. none

Prayer (Lifting up joys and concerns)Warren Jensen

Sending – Go, serve and ignite people for Christ

Meeting adjourned at 8:35 PM