St. Paul Lutheran Church
Council Meeting Minutes
January 17, 2006


 Present: Pr. Eastrman, Pr. Hooper, Charlie Boone, Heidi Carr, Carlo D’Agostino, Mark Disbrow, Kevin Dixon, Patty Fess, Lee Liming, Bob Miller

Excused: Mark Demich, Ron Diener, Andy Voress

Visitor: Bradley Disbrow

Kevin Dixon called the meeting to order at 7:02 p.m.

Devotions-Pr. Eastman read Psalm 139.

Treasurer’s Report
 Charlie Boone presented the December Treasurer’s Report for Andy Voress. Charlie Boone moved to approve the Treasurer’s Report, Bob Miller seconded and the motion passed.

Agenda Approval
There were no additions to the agenda. Lee Liming moved to approve the agenda, Mark Disbrow seconded and the agenda was approved.

Review of the December Minutes
There were no additions or corrections to the minutes. Patty Fess moved to approve the December minutes, Bob Miller seconded and the minutes were approved.

Action Items

  • Bob Miller nominated Mark Disbrow to be the council representative on the Nominating Committee. Heidi Carr seconded and Mark Disbrow was elected to the Nominating Committee.
  • Charlie Boone moved to designate a housing allowance of $60,000 for Pr. Eastman. Bob Miller seconded and the motion passed.
  • Charlie Boone moved to designate a housing allowance of $30,000 for Pr. Hooper. Bob Miller seconded and the motion passed.

Pastors’ Comments
  • Pr. Hooper is taking a course on parish administration on January 23rd-28th as part of her Continuing Education.
  • Pr. Hooper presented a model constitution with the changes to be voted on during the Synod Assembly in June. One change to affect our congregation is, that congregational presidents would not be able to serve the Nominating Committee.
  • Bishop Landahl will be at Timothy Lutheran Church in Naperville on January 24th.
  • Pastor Hooper reminded the council members to turn in their application forms for Ensuring the Safety of God’s Children in order to complete the training.
  • Pr. Eastman will take a vacation day on February 2nd and continuing education February 16-19.
  • Two parishioners, Pat Vicha and Marlene Muddell, have volunteered to attend the Synod Assembly.
  • The council retreat will basically be a year in review and a look toward the future.

Board Celebrations and Concerns
  • Operations purchased five new computers for the staff. Fred Amundsen and Tom Hansen have spent many hours installing the computers.
  • Lee Liming is collecting ideas from the boards for “One New Thing” to post on the web sight.
  • Kimberly and Sharon put together 2500 bulletins for a Dr. Martin Luther King Day service at Edmond Chapel.
  • There has been good response to the Stephen Ministry Program. Some of the Stephen’s Ministers are now caring for two parishioners.

Budget
Charlie Boone reviewed the St. Paul 2006 budgets for the general operating fund and Building on Blessings. In addition he explained the revisions to the 2005 general operating fund and the 2005 Building on Blessings financials. There was a surplus of income in the operating budget for 2005 that was used to purchase computers, and to reverse the reserve funds set up for the salaries of the Youth Staff and the Nurture Staff positions. The capital reserve expenses for property, organ and office equipment were reversed. The 2006 budget recommends using of the Remembrance fund for, one-time purchases for St. Paul’s Ministry Board programs as appropriate.

After review and discussion, Mark Disbrow moved to recommend the proposed General Operating Fund budget of $585,000 for 2006 to the congregation for approval. Carlo D’Agostino seconded and the motion passed.

Charlie Boone moved to recommend the proposed 2006 Building on Blessings financials to the congregation for approval. Heidi Carr seconded and the motion passed.

After review and discussion Charlie Boone moved to submit the revised 2005 General Operating Fund to the congregation for approval. Mark Disbrow seconded and the motion passed.

Heidi Carr move to submit the revised 2005 Building on Blessings financials to the congregation for approval. Lee Liming seconded and the motion passed.

The financial handouts, discussed by the council, are attached as part of these minutes.

Adjournment
Meeting was adjourned at 8:40 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,
Patty Fess, Congregational Secretary