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Council Meeting Minutes April 21, 2008 Guests: Barb Deli and Pr. Garfias-Toledo Kevin Dixon called the meeting to order at 7:00 P.M. Devotions-Carlo D'Agostino Approve Agenda Pr. Eastman added a motion, under Action Items, to ratify the members to the Pitching Tent task force. Gayle Meskimen moved and Lisa Jackson seconded to approve the amended agenda. Motion carried. Approve Minutes Bob Miller moved to approve the minutes dated March 17, 2008. Nick Poulos seconded and the minutes were approved. Gayle Meskimen moved to recommend for approval the congregational minutes dated April 6, 2008. Jim Baumgardner seconded and the motion carried. Treasurer's Report Ann Holmstrom presented the March financials. For the month our income was $8,000 over our expenses. For the year we are $57,000 behind in income over our expenses. The expenses for the year have been in line with what we had budgeted. Bob Miller moved and Nick Poulos seconded to approve the Treasurer's Report. Motion carried. Senior Pastor's Report Pastor Eastman distributed her report and an article entitled, "Who Owns a Congregation" by Dan Hotchkiss. She highlighted the trip to Germany with 13 people signed up and several people still expressing interest. Recently, Pastor has received requests to speak. One of the requested speaking topics concerned our church being open and affirming congregation. She shared a letter from Bishop Miller encouraging the congregation to work against racism and privilege. The Bishop requested that on May 18th, Trinity Sunday, a portion of worship is reserved to be about the question of race. Pastor is making plans to comply. Other plans for worship include preaching on Genesis in the summer and looking forward to the Season of Creation in the fall. Associate Pastor's Report Pr. Williamson reported that the number of attendees to Roots and Connections dropped off for about a month but last Sunday attendance was up. The Youth have a trip scheduled to the Pilsen neighborhood in preparation for the summer trip to Mexico. The fund raising for the Mexico trip is about one third of the way completed. The largest fund-raiser will be selling shares of stock in the trip. Pr. Williamson participated in the affordable housing meeting that was well attended by the people from St. Paul. Nominating Committee Report Bob Miller reported that at this time we have five candidates for four positions. The candidates are Charlie Boone, Carlo D'Agostino, Lisa Jackson, Mina Kerr, and John Warbiany. Monday, April 28th there will be a meeting in the Choir Room for all prospective candidates and current council members are encouraged to attend. Annual Reports Due The deadline to submit the annual board reports is Friday, May 9th. Council liaisons are responsible for writing the reports and they must be submitted electronically to the church office. Corporate Status of St. Paul Carlo D'Agostino reported that churches are considered a religious corporation under Illinois state law. Standards for a religious corporation are much different than for a not-for-profit corporation. Currently the Secretary of State does not keep a registry of religious corporations and there is no annual fee at this time. We are registered as a religious corporation and that is appropriate for St. Paul. Organizational Chart Pastor Eastman distributed the updated Organizational Chart. Some changes were suggested and we will approve the chart next month. Action Items Jim Baumgardner moved to ratify June 1, 2008 as the date for the Congregational Meeting. Nick Poulos seconded and the motion passed. June 16th was the confirmed date for the cross-over meeting to be held off-site at the home of Gayle Meskimen. Nick Poulos moved and Carlo D'Agostino seconded to receive the following new members to St. Paul: Kathy Berquist and Dale Van Leeuwen, Bill and Jane Brown, Doris Hahn, Bud and Ann Krick, Jamie Stahl and Theresa Rayfield, and April, Zachary and Wyatt Heaton by baptism. The motion carried. Bob Hein moved and Bob Miller seconded to approve the completed portion of the Continuing Resolutions. Motion carried. Charlie Boone presented the second draft of the Audit Report. The final report will be ready for approval next month. Patty Fess moved to ratify these members of the Pitching Tent task force: Pr. Eastman, Pr. Williamson, Lisa Jackson, Gayle Meskimen, Kari Keith, Ken Hendrickson, and Steve and Julie Brown. Lisa Jackson seconded and the motion carried. Board Celebrations and Concerns Carlo D'Agostino reported that Ann Hein is resigning as head of the Outreach Board. Council will send Ann a thank you for all she has done. Ann Holmstrom thanked Kimberly for putting together the Treasurer's Report in Ann's absence. Other Business Pastor Eastman introduced to the council Pastor Hector Garfias-Toledo, Associate Bishop of the Metro Chicago Synod. Pastor Williamson read a letter to inform the council about his pending divorce. Pr. Garfias-Toledo led the council in sessions of questions and support for Pr. Williamson. The council accepted Pr. Williamson's letter informing the council of his situation with the council's expressions of full support and caring for his ministry. The letter is attached to these minutes. Letters from Pr. Williamson, Pr. Eastman and from the council will be sent out to the congregation to inform them as soon as possible. Adjournment As there was no further business Carlo D'Agostino moved to adjourn and Bob Miller seconded. The meeting was adjourned at 9:15 P.M. Respectfully submitted, Patty Fess, Council Secretary |