St. Paul Lutheran Church
Council Meeting Minutes
August 18, 2008

Present: Pr. Eastman, Jim Baumgardner, Charlie Boone, Kevin Dixon, Patty Fess, Bob Hein, Gayle Meskimen, Susan Mullinger, Nick Poulos and John Warbiany
Excused: Ann Holmstrom, Lisa Jackson and Pr. Williamson

Gayle Meskimen called the meeting to order at 7:00 P.M.
Devotions-Patty Fess

Approve Agenda
Jim Baumgardner moved to approve the agenda and John Warbiany seconded. Motion passed.

Approve Minutes
Nick Poulos moved to approve the council minutes dated June 16, 2008 with the following corrections. Under the sections, Re-election of the Treasurer and Election of Officers, the words “ elected unanimously” would be replaced with words indicating that the motions were passed. Jim Baumgardner seconded and the minutes were approved as amended.

Approve the Board Liaison Positions
John Warbiany moved to accept the board liaison positions as proposed in the June council minutes and Bob Hein seconded. Kevin Dixon requested a review of the discussion concerning the assignment of board positions that occurred at the June meeting. Following the discussion, Kevin moved to amend the motion to, accept the board liaison positions as proposed in the June minutes with Kevin Dixon working with the Operation-Finance board to prepare the budget and function as the Nurture board liaison. Nick Poulos seconded and the amended motion failed. Motion to accept the original proposed liaison positions passed.

Spiritual Growth
Pr. Eastman distributed to the council the article, Beyond “Corporate” New Insights on Larger Churches, by Susan Beaumont. She led a discussion on how this article pertains to St. Paul and our future.

Reports and Information

1. Treasurer Report-Charlie Boone presented the June financials for Ann Holmstrom. Year to date for June our income was down $71,000. Charlie Boone reported that the numbers were in line except for the downturn in general revenue. He reviewed the letter he sent to the congregation encouraging those were able, to catch up on their giving. July’s offering was better and August’s offering has also been good. He reminded council that the cost of the sound system is in BOB and the Remembrance Fund. Patty Fess moved to accept the June financial report and Susan Mullinger seconded. The Treasurer’s Report was accepted.
   
2. Sr. Pastor Report-Pr. Eastman reported good feedback on the summer preaching series from the Old Testament. The joint trip to Germany with St. Michaels has been cancelled. St. Michaels has asked Pastor to be a speaker at their Parish Mission services during Lent. The executive cabinet of LSTC, Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago, met at St. Paul for a retreat and Pastor received a thank you for our hospitality.
   
3. President Report-Gayle Meskimen distributed her report and a summary of parliamentary procedures. She reviewed her report with council and requested that dates be noted on all reports.
   
4. Installation of Council Members-Council members will be installed at Sunday services, September 14 at the 8:30 and 11:00 A.M. services.
   
5. Update on Pitching Tent Task Force-The house meetings are ongoing and the meetings with community leaders have begun. Pr. Eastman recently had lunch with Mayor Gresk. A potluck followed by a conversation titled, Who’s Rules Are They Anyway?, is being prepared by the task force for the congregation. A daylong workshop combining the council with the task force to distill the major themes from the house meetings and to prioritize those themes is planned for October 4^th. We plan to meet in Fellowship Hall from 9:00 A.M.-4:00 P.M.
   
6. Audio-Visual System Update-Jim Baumgardner reported that the new system would be completed by the end of the week.
   

1. Pr. Eastman moved to approve the job descriptions for Children’s Choir Director, with each position to be paid during the 18 pay periods of January through May and September through December each year. The annualized salary for the Children’s Choir Director will be $1500 for the 2008 budget year; the annualized salary for the Assistant Choir Director will be $1000 for the 2008 budget year. Susan Mullinger seconded and the motion passed with one opposed.
   
2. It was moved to ratify the Executive Committee’s decision to hire Michelle Harvey as Children’s Choir Director, and Susan Bosse as Assistant Children’s Choir Director, effective September 1, 2008. Motion passed with two opposed.
   
3. It was moved to ratify the date of September 22, 2008 for the September council meeting. Motion passed.
   

1. Bob Hein enthusiastically reported on the Book of Faith Initiative, to increase Biblical literacy, attended by Bob, Ann Hein and Ellen Noth.
   
2. Pr. Eastman will present the Lutheran Course, Part II, to begin in September on Thursday evenings.
   
3. Susan Mullinger reported that Kim Hansen and Maureen Hickey are to be co-chairs of the Nurture Board.
   
4. Education Board has seven mentors lined up for potential confirmands.
   
5. Gayle Meskimen reminded council members to revisit the Continuing Resolutions that pertain to their position on council. We will be requesting changes and additions in September.