Leadership Council Minutes: April 2011

Northaven United Methodist Church
Leadership Council Meeting- Room 239
April 26, 2011- 7 p.m.

Those Present: Eric Folkerth, Mary Clair Lowrance, Chris Reed, Kathy Delsanter, Betty Boyer, Dick Weaver, Elaine Wiant, Marlene Haskell, Terry Lowery, Jim McBride and Betsy Schenck.

Betty Boyer called the meeting to order at 7:05 p.m.

Meditation

The minutes were approved with one correction.

Leadership Chairperson’s Remarks:
Betty thanked the staff, Worship and Arts Committees and all the volunteers for making the Lenten and Easter season so special. She also reported on the workshop “Creating Change” attended by representatives of reconciling congregations preparing for Annual and General Conferences. Finally, she thanked Elaine Wiant for taking notes of this meeting in Mindy Dague's absence.

Leadership Council Reports:

Finance Report-See Attached
Terry Lowery reported on the first quarter financial report (attached). She will attend the May Program Council meeting to discuss the budgeting process help explain the financial reports.

Staff Parish-See Attached
5 candidates for the Director of Music Ministry’s position will have in-person interviews. The interviews have begun and will be completed this week. Two or three of those will audition with the choir on May 7. The search committee will then make a recommendation to SPRC for the May 12 SPRC meeting.

Trustees Report-see attached

Black Tie Dinner – see attached
With the leadership of Connie Marshall, the Straight Spouses Network has had its first monthly meeting at NUMC. It’s a support group endorsed by PFLAG and HRC. It meets on the second Tuesday of the month. It was suggested that the Communications committee assist with promotion and a web presence.

Program Council Report-See Attached
Program Council is reviewing the calendar and the website at its monthly meetings. The Holy Week banners were general in nature and can be used again next year. Shower of Stoles will begin on May 13 in the atrium and continue through June.

Web Site Preview
Eric presented the new website to the group. It’s the first update in many years.
Staff Reports:

Co-op – No report

Youth
Youth fundraising is going well. Youth Bonds will be sold in the atrium from May 8 (Confirmation Sunday) through June 12 (Junior High mission trip begins). May 22 is Youth Sunday.

Spiritual Formation-
Three youth will be confirmed on May 8. Vacation Bible School is the first week in August and will again be in the evening and intergenerational. The fall Spiritual Retreat will be October 15 and 16 and will feature Ruben Habito. Mark Chancy and Rabii David Stern are presenting a Jewish/Christian dialogue at Temple Emanu-El for three Thursdays beginning April 28.

Pastor-
Additional gratitude to all for a great Lent/Easter season. Approximately 460 attended the 11 am Easter service. May 15 will be a “great day of joining.” Tom Timmins is working on a written and video history of NUMC. We’ll have a preview of the history on June 11 at the mid year retreat.

Closing Prayer

Next Meeting is May 24.

Program Council Meeting
April 12, 2011

Members Present:
Marlene Haskell Marty Brownlie Joe Hilbun
Donna Wiles Mary Clair Lowrance Lynette Hendricks
Eric Folkerth Chris Reed Mindy Dague

The meeting was called to order at 7 pm with a devotional by Marlene Haskell.

Old Business:
Marlene asked that each person reporting choose 3 items to highlight for the group.

Minutes from the March meeting were approved.

Marlene will continue to provide calendar info to the group to update for Mindy. In the future, we will meet in the room with a video screen so we can review the website and calendar items.

Action Items from last meeting:

The Communications commission reported that the new website will be up tonight. Emails may be a problem for the next couple of days, but all should be resolved in good time.

Marlene reminded everyone to forward each commission’s members to Tom Timmins (action item 1) and to submit articles (action item 2). Worship & Arts has split out their budget from music, but it was not reflected on the latest income statement.

There will be no regular Program Council meeting on June 14. Instead, the Program Council will meet with the Leadership Council on June 11 in an all morning retreat.

Commission Reports:

Arts – Donna highlighted the Shower of Stoles (in cooperation with the Special Events Commission) May 13 – June 4. Randall Oxford is working on advertising. Bill McElvaney will provide additional historical information. Mindy will figure out how to get it on the calendar over multiple days.

Donna also talked about the Russian Dance Group that will come in June 25. That event will also be held in cooperation with the Special Events Commission as the Feast of Friendship.

Donna reported that the Arts Commission will host an art show in January or February of 2012. The show will be centered on “Seasons of the Church.” Arts is working with the Liturgical Threads group to have new paraments and church linens – but all members of Northaven will be invited to participate. In addition to visual arts, there will be space for written and dramatic works.

Care Team – Lynette reported that all is going well. We will be re-formatting the card senders. All needs are currently being met.

Church in Society – Marty talked about the Faith Voices Series – the last one is Thursday night.
The Lenten offering of letters has had good support. She also spoke about the Good Friday walk sponsored by the Dallas Area Christian Progressive Alliance. 9 people from Northaven attended the Reconciling Ministries training on April 9. Emphasis was placed on storytelling and conversation – not confrontation. There was also training on organizing so that our voices can be heard at Annual Conference/General Conference. The group discussed trying to collect the stories of LGBT people and the Reconciling Church.

Communications – no one was able to attend. Eric reported that the communications folk were not planning to do banners for Easter because of the concern about cost and time. The Council thought that the banners were important and Marlene will contact Randall with the group’s concerns – perhaps an undated version of the banner would be a solution.

Education
Adult – Joe reported that the summer brochure was completed (16 pages!) The Finley retreat will become the Habito retreat this year.

Children – Kirsten was not able to attend, but Mary Clair reported that the Co-Op received the NAEYC accreditation. There will be an Easter Egg hunt after Easter Sunday. Cody Elliott, Sarah Clark, and Jefferson Graham will be confirmed May 8. August 28 is no Sunday School Sunday – intergenerational activity. The children will process with the choir on Palm Sunday. On Easter, the children will flower the cross during children’s time.

Youth – Karen did not attend – Chris covered in Staff Report

Hospitality – no one was able to attend.

Membership – no one was able to attend. Mary Clair reported The Great Day of Joining will be May 1. 6 people attended Northaven 101, which may become a 1 day event. The next class will be held in the fall.

Special Events – reported in conjunction with the Arts Commission

Worship – with Staff reports

Staff Reports:

Chris – Youth raised $1500 at Coffee House (81 people in the house). The youth will begin selling bonds to pay for mission trips on May 8. May 22 is Youth Sunday and Senior Recognition Sunday. There are 16 going on the Jr High trip and only 4 going on the Sr High. Chris will confirm where they are going at our next meeting.

Mary Clair – reported with Commission reports

Mindy – reminded us that she always responds to emails. If you do not get a response, that means she probably did not get the email. 84 people have signed up to provide Easter Flowers. She asked that we all check and re-check the calendar for conflicts and updates to make sure that she has the correct information.

Cash needs to be deposited in the safe. Do not leave it on Mindy’s desk unsecured. Choir checks were found on the floor in the choir room. Lynette will move the offering plate to the music table and see about getting envelopes to put contributions in.

Eric – Website launch is being prayed over. Holy Week coming up. Parishoners will be asked to park on the grass on Easter Sunday, if they are able. Eric will be out of the office the rest of this week to lead worship and do a show at Mt Sequoyah for the Volunteers in Mission.

The meeting was adjourned at 8:111 with prayer.


Action Items:

Commission members to Tom Timmins
Everyone turn in articles for newsletters and bulletin at least once every 6 weeks.
Put June 11 on your calendar for a retreat
Marlene to talk to Randall about banners for Holy week.
Pray for the website
See if we can move our meeting to the room with the screen next time
Continue to review and update calendar.