GLORIA DEI LUTHERAN CHURCH
COUNCIL MEETING
MINUTES
October 26, 2008
PRESENT: Denise Bosma, Craig Bluemlein, Rebecca Brode,
Shelley Dick, Doug Ebert, Pastor Vicki Garber, Jennifer Hegna, Walda Helvie,
Steve Kieffner, Todd Kuhse, Hansel Ramathal, Kelli Sittason, Don Shattuck
I.
OPENING PRAYERS
Todd Kuhse called the meeting to order.
Kelli Sittason opened the meeting with a prayer.
II.
ADOPTION OF AGENDA
Steve Kieffner
moved that the agenda be adopted.
Hansel Ramathal
seconded the motion. The motion carried.
III.
APPROVAL OF PREVIOUS MINUTES
The minutes
from the 10/12/08 meeting will be approved at the next meeting.
IV.
SPIRITUAL GROWTH
Council members shared spiritual moments.
V.
RENOVATION UPDATE
Todd Kuhse reported that the office complex
should be finished by the end of the week. Dennis Huber will be completing
the punch list during the walk through with Ashley. The Narthex should be
closed in within the next couple of weeks and finished by early December.
Todd Kuhse presented a revised budget status to
the council listing the original cost of the project and some revised
numbers. Please see the documentation for specific details. Listed below are
the highlights of the council’s conversation.
†
The furnishing allowance was removed from the original budget on
5/5/08. In order to pay for the $25,000 expenditure the congregation will
have to fundraise, take the money from the general fund, or fund it through
the capital loan.
†
Replacing carpet in the nursery, youth room, fellowship hall, and the
hall of the education wing was added after the budget was established. The
council has received two quotes for carpeting that run approximately $20,000.
The Preschool is willing to contribute $10,000 for this expense.
†
Steve Kieffner reported that there will probably be a shortage in money
to pay on the loan due to the shortness in the capital campaign and budget
over runs at the end of the three years on the capital loan. The
recommendation is to then re-amortize the remaining loan balance over the 22
years in 2011.
†
Don Shattuck moved that we go to the congregation asking for approval
to increase the original capital budget of $850,000 to $879,000 per the
Revised Budget Status 10/25/08 spreadsheet. Steve Kieffner seconded the
motion. The motion carried.
†
Doug Ebert moved that we go to the congregation asking for approval for
the extra $26,000 in expenditures broke down as follows:
$ 20,000 – carpet
(nursery, youth room, fellowship hall, education wing hall)
$ 2,000 – safe
replacement/re-key of the building
$ 14,000 – furnishings
($11,000 was in the original budget)
$(10,000) – Preschool
portion of the carpet expense
Denise Bosma seconded the motion.
The motion carried.
VI.
FINANCE ACTION ITEMS
Steve Kieffner reported that the financial review
that Gerry Pfarner conducted was finished with few recommendations. The
Finance Committee will review the recommendations but Steve and Bob Frey feel
there is nothing overall to be alarmed about. The review was just conducted
on the church’s general funds and did not include WELCA funds, the Memorial
Fund, or the Preschool’s finances. Doug Ebert moved to accept the
documentation as information. Steve Kieffner seconded the motion. The motion
carried.
The council received the financial statements for
the Preschool for September 2008. Steve Kieffner noted that when school is in
session, the school makes approximately $3,000 revenue a month. Right now the
Preschool has approximately $45,000 of surplus funds in their bank account.
Steve Kieffner reported that based off the first
three quarters of the year, the church could be looking at approximately a
$30,000 shortage in offerings in 2008. As of the end of August, the church is
approximately $11,000 below budget on spending. This deficit is depleting the
church’s general fund. The Finance Committee recommended to the council to
suspend benevolence payments for approximately five months until they can a
better idea of the church’s cash position. After much discussion in the
council meeting, the members decided there were four options as follows:
1) Suspend the $4,300 benevolence payments
approximately five months.
2) Temporary reduce the benevolence payments.
3) Focus on other ways to lower expenditures and
keep the payments as they are.
4) For five months, pay benevolence payments
based on 10% of giving (assuming this amount would be less than the budget
amount), off the top, and catch up the difference later.
Pastor Vicki Garber motioned that the council
members ask the committees to look at their budgets for the last two months of
2008 and try to make cut backs on their budget that do not hurt the ministry.
She also motioned that Gloria Dei tithe 10% of giving (assuming this amount
would be less than the budget amount) for benevolence payments over the next
five months and catch up the difference at a later date and asked the
congregation to pray for a solution. Hansel Ramathal seconded the motion.
The motion carried.
Craig Bluemlein moved that the 2009 budget be
approved as submitted by the Finance Committee. Denise Bosma seconded the
motion. The motion carried.
VII.
DISCIPLESHIP TEAM ACTION ITEMS
Shelley Dick moved to offer the Nursery Attendant
position to Julie Gregory and adopt Nursery Attendant job description with the
change on item #7. Pastor Vicki Garber seconded the motion. The motion
carried. Julie has been asked to start on November 2nd. This
position will be paid on a contract basis.
Doug Ebert wanted to thank everyone for their
suggestions and comments to the HR Employee Handbook/Benefits Policy. The
handbook will be approved by council at the next meeting to give the members
more time to review it and ask questions.
VIII.
OLD BUSINESS
The church currently has two bids out for
flooring and is in the process of asking for a re-bid on one of the bids so
they can be on the same scope. The bid includes carpeting the nursery,
education wing hall way, youth room, and fellowship hall.
Hansel Ramathal moved that we accept the
Preschool Task Force report as presented to the council and that the task
force be disbanded. Craig Bluemlein seconded the motion. The motion carried.
IX.
NEW BUSINESS
Todd Kuhse presented the agenda for the annual
meeting 11/9/08. He reminded everyone that the discipleship teams are being
asked to do a 2-3 minute presentation on their goals for the future.
Jennifer Hegna announced that Becky Sittason and
Donna Bianchi are co-chairing the committee to find a Volunteer Coordinator
and have met and are in the process of producing a job description.
X.
CLOSING PRAYER
Kelli Sittason offered a closing prayer.
We are saved by Grace through Faith and are
called by the Holy Spirit to make Christ known. In joyful response, we strive
to…
o
Love God
o
Love others as God loves them
o
Live as disciples
o
Grow Spiritually
o
Share the good news
