Council Minutes May 22, 2023

Our Mission: 

Celebrating God’s Love and Forgiveness, We Serve Others

 

Our Vision:

Following Jesus’s example we feed the hungry, clothe the naked, welcome the stranger, nurse the sick and visit the imprisoned as we see Jesus in the faces of those we serve.

 

Our Core Values:

·        PRAYER

·        ACCESSIBILITY

·        SERVICE

·        COMMUNICATION

·        EDUCATION

·        WORSHIP

·        YOUTH

·        HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS

 

Purposes of Church Council:

1.       The Council is responsible for the general oversight of the life and activities of this congregation, especially its worship life. All decisions are made to ensure that everything is done in accordance with the Word of God, and the faith and practice of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

 

2.       The Council taps into the guidance and wisdom of the Holy Spirit to inspire and lead St. Mark’s into God’s future.

 

3.       The Council monitors, guides, and supports the ministries of St. Mark’s.

 

4.      The Council monitors and adjusts operational activities in accordance with the Constitution, By-Laws, God’s Word and good business practice in order to ensure efficient and effective management and growth of St. Mark’s ministries.

   Date:       MONDAY, MAY 22, 2023 : IN PERSON  

                    ZOOM ACCESS:  (For member emergency & congregational access) – For all 2023 meetings!

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88280885362?pwd=dzZoWTRPWm5QYjczbXBBSGh1dnA0UT09

                    Meeting ID: 882 8088 5362                     Passcode: 006465

    Participants: Congregation Council

Time:                6:30 – 8:00 PM  

Facilitator:      Chris Lewis, President

Materials:       Agenda 5-22-23, Minutes 4-17-23, Council Binder with agenda & April financials

Members Present:   Pastor Karla Halvorson, Pastor Alicia Saenz, Chris Lewis, Sheri Barker, Erick Posada, Krystina Torres, Margarita Alvarez, Dennis Coughlin, Dorothy Geier, Melissa Hernandez, Skip Knudsen , Robert Nava, Gerd Pfeiffer (*Strike-through absentees)

Visitors:   Dick Bolin, Legacy Committee

Meeting Purposes: 

·         Ensure smooth and effective functioning of St. Mark’s Church to serve God’s purposes

·         Monitor and refine the financial operations of St. Mark’s to ensure God’s mission is fulfilled

·         Build our capacity to lead and work as a team to guide St. Mark’s to fulfill God’s plan

AGENDA

TOPIC COUNCIL MOTIONS
April Minutes and Financial Reports Consent Agenda: Approve April Minutes and Financial Reports in one motion.   Motion: D. Geier. Second. S. Barker. Approved.
   
   

                                               

TIME Topic Activity Lead
6:30 PM Call Meeting to Order   Chris
6:30-6:35 Meditation and Prayer  ·         1st Corinthians 12:12 Margarita
6:35-6:55 Check-in (1 min each) & Leadership Training. (Definition of Leadership) From the 4 corners, which kind of leader do you most identify with and why? Sheri
6:55-7:00 Agenda Review, Time Keeper     Erick
7:00-7:05 Review 5-22-23 Council Minutes ·         Consent Agenda: Approve April Minutes and Financial Reports in one motion.  Motion: D. Geier. Second. S. Barker. Approved. Erick
7:05-7:10 Review May 2023 Financial Reports ·         33% through the year. Currently at $2,900 net income. 

·         Maintenance reserve running low. Need to rebuild the reserve fund by reimbursing from grants.

·         Budget adjustment needed for staff salary. Currently at 60%. of budget

·         Utilities higher than usual due to tree crowning as well as March and April electricity bills both paid at once.

Krystina
7:10-7:20 

 

Pastor Reports ·         Pastor Alicia will be ordained by unanimous approval as associate Pastor on the 10th of June.  

·         Lots to prepare for upcoming VBS.

·         Pastors encourage filling in the community with all the events at St. Mark’s as word-of-mouth works.

·         One service on June 18th for Father’s Day.

·         Pastor Alicia will be covering for Pastor Karla on June 25th and July 2nd.

Karla 

Alicia

7:20-7:25 

Time Certain

Legacy Committee Report ·         The Legacy Committee is reaching out to the congregation to discuss planning to leave a legacy with St. Mark’s. 

·         Will talking with Jason to consider a proposal with music.

Dick Bolin
7:25-7:50 Discussion Items 

·         Property Updates

·         Pastor Alicia ordination

·         Fire code maintenance and declutter

·         Renter’s assisting on property

 

·         Campus appearance needs to be brought up to shape for Pastor Alicia’s ordination.  

·         Need to find a way to get low mobile congregants into the church. The walk across the parking lot and up the hill is too much for some members.

 
7:50-7:55 Reports: (Top item only, if any) 

·         Children & Youth

·         33 kids signed up so far for VBS. Can take up to 40. 

·         Lots of helpers ready to assist with VBS.

Melissa
  ·         Member Care ·         August 27th will hold a meeting for funeral planning where people can discuss which hymns and verses will be said at their funeral. Dorothy
  ·         Music ·         There will be a message in the bulletin informing members how to request old hymns they would like to see played.  

·         Want to lower altar by one level and remove pulpit to make it more ADA compliant.

Skip
  ·         Security Training ·         Preparing for a security presentation on the 25th of June. Need to determine how long the video will take to present along with discussion after. Rob
  ·         Campus Revitalization Task Group ·         Suspended regularly scheduled meeting and moved to only meeting as necessary. All members are active and doing their part.  

·         Sheri met with Celine from EES (largest child care provider in the county) and will explore the possibility of bringing in infant care on campus.

Gerd
  ·         President’s Report & Visioning ·         Sanctuary lighting to be far less expensive than anticipated. Chris
TBD Executive Session (optional)    
7:55-8:00 Closing Prayer Who will lead meditation & prayer for JUNE Council meeting?  Alicia
8:00 PM Motion to Adjourn Meeting   Chris

 

TASK LIST Reminders:

TASK By Whom? By When?
     
     
     
  UPCOMING Calendar Items:   

·         June Executive Committee Meeting: 6/13/2023

·         Next Council Meeting:  Monday, June 19, 6:30 PM

·         Pastor Alicia Ordination: Saturday, June 10

·         Pastor Karla out of town from Wednesday June 21 to Saturday July 7.

 

 

Posted in Council Minutes.