Leadership Council Minutes: February 2011

Northaven United Methodist Church
Leadership Council Meeting-Room 239
February 22, 2011

Those Present: Eric Folkerth, Mary Clair Lowrance, Betty Boyer, Jim McBride, Dick Weaver, Kate Anderson, Dotti Timmins, Tom Timmins, Betsy Schenck, Chris Reed, Kathy Delsanter, Terry Lowery, Mindy Dague, Shirley Cooper, Marlene Haskell, and Lee Davenport

Betty Boyer called the meeting to order at 7 p.m.

Musical Meditation

Leadership Chairperson’s Remarks:
Special thanks to Travis Jordan for giving everyone the newsletter deadline information. The next leadership retreat is scheduled for June 11.

Finance Report: Proposed Budget Attached
Discussion of the 2011 proposed budget.  Terry Lowery presented a balanced budget.  There were lowered financial expectations for the Adult Education retreats this year to match prior year’s actual numbers.  The overall income was $5,500 less than last year primarily due to no one-time giving for 2011.  There were increased copier expenses, decreased equipment repairs and increased office supplies, to more accurately match, current spending levels. The Staff Parish had a decrease due to the vacancy in the Music Minister’s position for part of the year and the money it will save helped balance the budget.  The HVAC repairs for the building in the amount of approximately $6,500 will be paid from the monies deposited in the Building Fund due to reworking the mortgage payment in 2010.  The mortgage payment has increased from all interest to 2 months interest only and 10 months P&I.  If interest rates increase during the year, the balance will come from the Building Fund as needed. The Finance Commitee are not wanting to lock in a rate yet due to the low interest rates that we can currently take advantage of.

Betty asked for a motion to approve the 2011 budget. Terry Lowery seconded it. It was unanimously approved.

Covenant Fund Trustees Report: See Attached
Permanent Endowment Fund –

Dotti Timmins and Kate Anderson presented the Leadership Council the new Spending and Investment Policies. Dotti recounted a little history of the Covenant Funds: In 1992 the Northaven Covenant Funds were approved, setting up a Permanent Endowment Fund to be invested at the Texas Methodist Foundation. This PEF was revised and approved by the LC in 2003. The Endowment Fund provides members of the church the opportunity to make gifts to the church as a permanent endowment of financial support and a living memorial. These gifts are used for Missional purposes such as experimental ministries, new outreach, creative services, scholarships or unusual expenses of any kind for maintenance, repair, or the replacement of real and personal property owned by NHUMC. The funds at TMF have been placed into their Loan Fund. The Covenant Trustees now want to expand their investment activities through TMF. For this purpose, the Trustees have spent many sessions discussing and consulting with lawyers and TMF staff to place the Covenant funds in a way to maximize Northaven’s current income from the PEF. Dotti also presented a spending policy developed by the Trustees that would have a more consistent plan for disbursement of funds as requested. Over the past few years the Trustees have begun to make a concerted effort to place more emphasis on “planned giving” which tends to be larger in value and is often a commitment to making gifts in the future, particularly at death. To that end the Covenant Fund now has a “Covenant Society” which celebrates those church members who have included the church or a designated program of the church by testamentary gifts in will, trusts or otherwise. As Northaven and its programs grow, the funding needs will rise to meet the needs of a growing congregation. The PEF is an excellent way for NH to increase its
funding sources. Kate Anderson answered individual questions by the Leadership Council regarding the Spending and Investment Policies.

Staff Parish-See Attached
March 19 is the deadline for accepting resumes for the Music Minister’s position.

Trustees
Northaven has not increased the insurance coverage on the building since it was built and this may be something the Trustees need to look at next year.

Stewardship- See Attached
Lee Davenport is the new Chair of Stewardship for 2011. We are up to $652,000 in pledges.

Program Council
Communications is working on the next church directory.

Staff Reports

Co-op School
An Eagle Scout, Gran Hilbert, son of church members Jay and Pamela Hilbert will be doing his service project with the school. The “A Night for Northaven-Silent Auction and Raffle” will be this Saturday, February 26 at the Dallas Contemporary. An alum parent donated a tree to the school that will be planted on the playground patio to replace the one that died last year.

Worship and the Arts- No Report

Spiritual Formation
Jonathan’s prayer blanket has been delivered. The Care Team will continue this practice with others in need. VBS will be in the evening again this summer but the exact dates have not been decided on yet. Mary Clair will be going with on the Youth mission trip again this summer to San Marcos.

Youth
The All Church Pancake Shrove Tuesday Dinner is on March 8 from 6 -8 p.m. The youth will be selling $5 meal tickets in advance or $6 at the door. The Youth will be hosting a Coffee House showcasing the Youth’s talents with several solos and hopefully the Children’s Choir may be giving a performance too.
The Youth are planning on doing a “Trade Up” scavenger hunt this year. The Youth will bring one item each and tried to “trade-up” with people in the neighborhood. Whatever is collected will be auctioned off at the coffee house as part of the Youth Fundraising event.

Pastoral
Thanks to the Staff for getting the church bulletin and building ready for worship services on Sunday after the February 1-4 snow and ice storm. Ash Wednesday services will be on March 9 at 7 p.m. Several Lent planning meetings are in the works and the decided theme this year is The Journey of Fearless Faith. The Worship team is bringing back the Wailing Wall for Lent with a different question posted each week. Transfiguration Sunday is March 6. The Staff and Worship Team are grateful that Easter is late this year because it is giving everyone a rest from Christmas and plenty of time to plan for upcoming Lent services. Conference News Update- A new appointment by the Bishop has been made. Two District Superintendents are retiring in the North Texas Conference. The North Central District’s newly appointed Superintendent is Rev. Dr. Frank Alegria who is transferring from First UMC of Beaumont. He will be the first Hispanic District Superintendent ever appointed in the North Texas Conference.

Closing Prayer

Next Meeting is March 22