Church Council

Minutes of the Bethel Lutheran Church Council Meeting December 18, 2007 Council Members Present: Larry Larrabee, Carolyn White, Thomas Solheim, Tom Ullsvik, Greg Strom, Dennis Helwig, Norm Olson, Tim Frazier, Susan Josheff, Arianna Keil, Mike Lake, Sandra Rivera, and Staff Representatives: Pastor Bill White, and Ed Young/Alice Mowbray Absent: Marie Richards, Jill Derr, and Cathy Buege 1. Call to Order – Larry Larrabee Larry Larrabee, Council President, called the meeting to order at 8:21 pm. 2. Devotion – Norm Olson 3. Secretary’s Report – Dennis Helwig Minutes of the November 20^th Church Council Meeting were approved as submitted. Minutes of the December 4^th Executive Committee Meeting were approved as submitted. 4. Treasurer’s Report – Tom Solheim Income offerings were average for the month of November. This still puts us behind the budget for this time of year. The weather does not help with attendance. Concern exists for a deficit for the year. Expenses for the month are less than predicted. Even though income was stable and up in certain areas discussion was extensive concerning a possible deficit for the year. 5. Treat – Norm Olson 6. Senior Pastor’s Report – Bill White The staff has been working on next year’s budget. Preparation for the Christmas Eve service broadcast on Channel 27 has taken place. There will be a piece in the Bethelite on the Peter Mayer concert. The Puerto Rico trip planning is still in progress. The 10:45 service is still being worked on. The senior pastor has completed the evaluations of the program staff. A review of the planning for Sunday night service was given. 　 7. Committee Liaison Reports Youth – Mike Lake 8. Business Administrator’s Report – Ed Young/Alice Mowbray There was a review of the program staff changes. A letter was received from Carrie Bernhardt with thanks regarding the support received for her work with the Lutheran Indians of India. Copies of the letter were distributed to the Council. The Parish Shoppe has announced the disbursement of their sales. Alice Mowbray is taking on duties as the Business Administrator therefore her signatory rights needed to be approved. Motion: RESOLVED, that the Business Administrator (Alice Mowbray), the Senior Pastor (William R. White), the Council President (Larry Larrabee), or the Council Treasurer (Thomas Solheim), Council Assistant Treasurer (Greg Strom), be authorized to sell and transfer stocks and gifts for the Bethel Lutheran Church, Bethel Horizions Foundation, Bethel Endowment Foundation, Bethel Hope House Corp., Bethel Household/Estate Sales, Bethel Media Ministry and Bethel Community Services Corp. 1^st Carolyn White 2^nd Greg Strom Action: Motion Passed 9. New Business None 10. President’s Report – President Larry Larrabee None 　 11. Other Executive Committee Meeting - January 18, 2008 Church Council Meeting – January 15, 2008 　 The Meeting was adjourned at 8:50 pm. Respectfully Submitted, Dennis Helwig Council Secretary	Minutes of the Bethel Lutheran Church Executive Committee MeetingJanuary 10, 2008 Council Members Present: Larry Larrabee, Tom Ullsvik,　Thomas Solheim, Greg Strom, Carolyn White, Dennis Helwig, and Staff Representatives: Pastor Bill White, and Ed Young/Alice Mowbray Absent:　Norm Olson Larry Larrabee, Council President, called the meeting to order at 12:15pm. The session began with a prayer. 　 Senior Pastor’s Report – None Reported on a very positive end of the year gifting by several people. Pastor White will write a letter to everyone that exceeded their pledges. A review of the program staff has been completed. Forty Days is ready to go. The Nominating Committee has met and plans to be finished soon. 　 Business Manager’s Report – Ed Young/Alice Mowbray Review of the 2007 Budget Review of the proposed 2008 Budget Motion: To remove Latino Ministries from the budget line for Budgeted Income and include the amount into Membership Pledged and Unpledged. In addition remove the Latino Ministries line from envelopes sent to members. 1^st Greg Strom 2^nd Thomas Solheim. Discussion: Partners of Pedro has ended therefore it may be time to combine the budget lines. Questions and discussion arose on how this ministry could be tracked to celebrate growth in this area of the ministry. Action: Motion Passed. 4) President’s Report Reported on the three-person committee to conduct the Senior Pastor’s annual review. Discussed Congregational Meeting Reviewed the agenda for the meeting. Issues to be addressed in the President report and Treasurers report. 5) Other Business - None 6) The meeting adjourned at 1:40 pm. Lord’s Prayer Respectfully Submitted, Dennis Helwig Church Council Secretary
Minutes of the Bethel Lutheran Church Executive Committee Meeting December 18, 2007 Council Members Present: Larry Larrabee, Tom Ullsvik,　Thomas Solheim, Greg Strom, Carolyn White, Dennis Helwig, Norm Olson and Staff Representatives: Pastor Bill White, and Ed Young/Alice Mowbray Absent:　 Larry Larrabee, Council President, called the meeting to order at 8:55 pm. Senior Pastor’s Report - None Business Manager’s Report – Ed Young/Alice Mowbray Reviewed 2008 budget numbers. A great deal of discussion occurred concerning either decreasing expenses or increasing offerings. Thoughts of why there are tight times for the operating budget were shared. More discussion is needed. 4) President’s Report a) Selected list of parishioners to contact in conducting next annual review of the senior pastor. 5) Other Business - None 6) The meeting adjourned at 10:05 pm. Lord’s Prayer 　 Respectfully Submitted, Dennis Helwig Church Council Secretary
Minutes of the Bethel Lutheran Church Council Meeting November 20, 2007 Council Members Present: Larry Larrabee, Carolyn White, Thomas Solheim, Tom Ullsvik, Greg Strom, Dennis Helwig, Norm Olson, Cathy Buege, Jill Derr, Tim Frazier, Susan Josheff, Arianna Keil, Marie Richards Sandra Rivera, and Staff Representatives: Pastor Bill White, and Ed Young Absent: Mike Lake 1. Call to Order – Larry Larrabee Larry Larrabee, Council President, called the meeting to order at 7:20 pm. 2. Devotion – Jill Derr 3. Secretary’s Report – Dennis Helwig Minutes of the October 16^th Church Council Meeting were approved as submitted. Minutes of the November 6^th Executive Committee Meeting was approved as submitted. 4. Treasurer’s Report – Tom Solheim Income collections in October showed some improvement. A close review by Ed Young of the budget allowed for adjustments of income and savings in expenses. Projections at this date point to a deficit. However if income in November and December is up the deficit could be reduced greatly. Tom Solheim suggests that a reminder be placed in the Bethelite concerning completion of pledges for the year. 5. Treat – Jill Derr 6. Senior Pastor’s Report – Bill White Pastor White shared a letter from Jeanne Nelson concerning a program to provide coats for homeless people in Chicago. Members of the congregation can write checks directly to Steve and Barry’s for a coat. Jeanie and her husband will pick up the coats and distribute them to the homeless. Motion: Allow promotion of the program to provide coats for homeless in Chicago during the services this Sunday. 1^st Norm Olson 2^nd Carolyn White. Discussion: Concern was expressed for the precedent set for outside groups to request this type of access to the congregation. Discussion should take place in a future Council meeting to provide guidelines to deal with future requests. Action: Motion Passed Working on the style of the Sunday evening service. David Marshall was here for the speaker series. The two sessions were well attended. The youth program is doing very well. Program involvement has significantly increased. The trip to Israel is full. The Stephens ministry has started. The visitors from Puerto Rico and Poland were welcomed and delighted with their visits. 7. Committee Liaison Reports Mutual Ministries – Larry Larrabee Stewardship – Tom Solheim reviewed the presented videos. There is still room for the Puerto Rico trip. 8. Business Administrator’s Report – Ed Young Reviewed the pledges for next year. There are still more pledges to come in. The elevator is still not completed. The inspection will be tomorrow afternoon. Reviewed placement of security cameras. 9. New Business Council review and prioritization of 2008 Grant Proposals forwarded to Bethel Endowment Foundation. Motion: Change the request for support of the Parish Nurse to $7,500 from $10,000. 1^st Marie Richards 2^nd Carolyn White. Action: Motion Passed Motion: Change the request for Upgrade of the Reception Area to $8,000 from $16,000 and use unrestricted funds for the remaining $8,000. 1^st Tim Frazier 2^nd Jill Derr. Action: Motion Passed 10. President’s Report – President Larry Larrabee Discussion of expenditure of $5,000 for additional security cameras. Discussion of $5,000 as donation to International Forgiveness Institute. Read a letter from Susan Ullsvik thanking us for support of the Oakwood Foundation 　 11. Other Executive Committee Meeting - December 4^th at 12:00 pm Church Council Meeting – December 18^th at 7:15 pm Church Council Meeting – January 15^th at 7:15 pm Executive Committee Meeting – January 10^th at 12:00 pm Discussion of sales that occur at the entrance of the church on Sundays. 　 The Meeting was adjourned at 10:50 pm. Respectfully Submitted, Dennis Helwig Council Secretary	Bethel Lutheran Church Executive Committee December 4, 2007 　 Present: Carolyn White, Tom Solhein, Greg Strom, Tom Ullsvik, Larry Larrabee, Norm Olson, Pastor Bill White, Ed Young. Absent: Dennis Helwig The meeting was called to order at 12:04 PM by Larry Larrabee. Pastor White, in his report, said annual reviews of the pastoral staff is almost completed with the last two scheduled. Plans for Lenten Season are largely in place. Planning for Christmas telecast will be done next week. Business Administrator Ed Young discussed various personnel issues involving the support staff. Annual evaluation of support staff was also discussed. A system for that will be instituted this next year. Copies of results of Council votes on Bethel Foundation grant proposals were distributed. The 2008 salaries and benefits package for the Bethel staff were discussed. Larry Larrabee will appoint a 3-person committee to conduct the Sr. Pastor's annual review. Prospective committee members will be contacted directly. A policy for requests from non-Bethel individuals or groups to make pleas for donations from the congregation was discussed. Tom Solheim will prepare guidelines for handling such requests and submit it to the Executive Committee for further evaluation. The question of how Bethel organizations conduct fund raising before and after worship services was also discussed. Pastor White volunteered to bring the issue of raising funds inside the building to the upcoming staff meeting for discussion and clarification. He will report back at the next Executive Committee meeting. There was no other business discussed. The meeting closed at 1:38 PM. Respectfully submitted, Norm Olson (recorder in the absence of Dennis Helwig)


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