Leadership Council Minutes: December 2010

Minutes of the Northaven UMC Leadership Council Meeting
December 07, 2010

Those Present: Elaine Wiant, Betty Boyer, John Wiles, Mary Clair Lowrance, Norma Terrell, Marlene Haskell, Tom Timmins, Dotti Timmins, Curtis Henderson, Terry Lowery, Noel Pittman, Shirley Cooper, Mindy Dague, Valinda Woods O'Connor, Joanna Shields, and Eric Folkerth.

Elaine Wiant called the meeting to order at 7 p.m. Norma Terrell gave the Devotion. The minutes of the October 26 meeting were approved.

Continuation of Charge Conference-
The Leadership Roster for Charge Conference was discussed. There are still openings for Lay Leadership in 2013. The Finance committee of 2013 nominees is Linda Strem, Matt Bach, Barb Currier, and Lynn Peterson. The Vice Chair of the Leadership Council is still open. The Program Council Co-Chair is still available. The Trustees will be elected by the Trustees Committee. The HDF Committee Chair position is still open. The At-Large position will be filled by a Youth Representative that is picked by the Youth. The Church in Society Chair position is still open. The Worship Committee has a Co-Chair position open but may or may not need to be filled. The Lay Speaker will need to be added to the list, Betsy Schenck.

Eric asked for Lay Leadership to be nominated. Joanna Shields nominated Wade Schuessler. Mary Clair Lowrance suggested Susie Marshall on Trustees. Elaine Wiant nominated Joanna Shields for Lay Leadership. Joanna accepted. Norma Terrell suggested Rebecca Bergstresser on Lay Leadership Marlene Haskell suggested Norma Terrell as a Lay Leadership Alternate. Norma Terrell accepted. Mary Clair Lowrance suggested Joe Silvia and Matthew Vannoy or Katy Menges for At-Large positions. Nancy Watson, Randy Ray, or Tom Timmins was suggested by various members. Tom Timmins accepted.

Terry Lowery made a motion for a vote of approval of the Leadership Roster and Curtis Henderson seconded it. The motion was carried unanimously and approved by the Leadership Council.

The attending leadership expressed disappointed with the new Charge Conference format and the lack of a personal relationship with the new District Superintendent.

Program Council: See Report

Finance: See Report
We are $17,500 in the negative at this point. Our income is on target but our expenses are not. Part of the reason is that we have had unexpected expenses in the Trustee’s budget. The A/C maintenance and repair fees have put us over budget. The Finley Retreat was budgeted for double the income we received and it fell short. We had about 50% less attendance this year compared to last year. We may need to transfer $10,000 from the Building Fund to the Operating Fund as discussed as a possibility, earlier in the year.

Stewardship: See Report
The last 3 weeks of January is a time for phone calls to encourage members for remaining pledges for 2011. The Stewardship Campaign ends in February. We are financially where we thought we would be at this time. Last year, we were financially doing about the same as we are doing now.

Staff Parish:
The Staff Christmas Party is this Sunday at 3 p.m. at Frankie Giesler's home. Staff Parish is still working on the on-line requirements for the new district guidelines.

Trustees: See Report
Curtis Henderson reported that the Co-op believes that the Summer Program remains a challenge to incorporate into a regular payroll period during the summer months. This will be discussed more in depth in the upcoming months.
Covenant Fund and Celebration Garden Trustees: See Report
Human Development Fund:
The HDF grant applications are due early January.

Co-op School: See Report
The Co-op was expecting monies from the recycling program but the church office has not received any funds either and will look into it.

Black Tie Committee:
We had many volunteers at the BTD. The beneficiary checks will be presented to each beneficiary on this Thursday, December 9. Nan Arnold is very excited about the amount that will be given this year but is keeping it confidential until the check is presented to Northaven.

This I Know:
We have sold 46 DVDs and publicity has continued. Constant Contact has been instrumental in spreading the word.

Elaine mentioned that she has appreciated her time as the Leadership Chair and that she feels like this year’s most meaningful accomplishments have been working on and completing the new Mission Statement and the This I Know study.

Staff Reports:

Worship and the Arts:
Valinda reported that the Worship Commission is excited about the Advent Services forthcoming. Attendance was very high during the Vivaldi performance last Sunday. There were 303 people which was a significantly higher count than last year’s attendance. Sunday our orchestra will be playing and will be directed by Carl Parker with 23 players. On December 19, Children’s Choir and Handbells will be participating in the service. There will be two Christmas Eve services, 5 p.m. and 11 p.m.

Children and Youth:
Mary Clair reported that the activity books that were created for the children during worship have been very successful. The Children's Choir has moved to Sunday afternoons and has been well received and well attended. The J3 is so large and continuing discussion on space issues. Bethlehem Center gifts are due back, Sunday, December 12. One child is still needing to be picked. Jonathan McDonald is at MD Andersen and would love receiving cards and Mary Clair offered to mail them. The Alternative Gift Cards are still being signed. Our children's Sunday School classes are full and needing additional teachers. Our nursery is less in need because the children are older and are attending the Sunday School classes now. Mary Clair reported for Chris Reed on the Youth. The Youth is having their White Elephant Christmas Party this Sunday. The Youth are closing their studies on the Old Testament and will begin studying the New Testament in January.

Pastoral:
Eric reported that he really liked the Christmas packages that were put together by the Youth and mailed to current college students that are currently living away from home. We will have over 50 new members by the end of the year. It was an honor to host the Metro District Meet & Greet Christmas Party for the District Pastors and their Spouses last Saturday afternoon.

Administrative: No Report

Betty Boyer announced that the Leadership Council/Program Council meeting will be on Saturday, January 8 from 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon (or until we are finished).

Eric closed in prayer.