St. Paul Lutheran Church
Council Meeting Minutes
October 15, 2007

Present: Pr. Eastman, Pr. Williamson, Jim Baumgardner, Charlie Boone, Carlo D’Agostino, Kevin Dixon, Patty Fess, Bob Hein, Ann Holmstrom, Lisa Jackson, Bob Miller and Gayle Meskimen
Excused: Nick Poulos
Guests: Barb Deli, Kari Huff and Darla Moore

Kevin Dixon called the meeting to order at 6:59 P.M.

Congregational Member Presentations

1. Darla Moore updated the council on the progress of the Communications Team. Currently St. Paul has six articles in print, including an article in the Chicago Tribune. There are many projects in process including articles on Quilt Sunday and the joint musical concert with St. Mikes. Plans are being made to place ads for Christmas and Advent services and events in local papers.
   
2. Barb Deli presented a report from Worship and Music. They are planning a “Blue Service” for Sunday December 15th at 2:00 P.M. for those suffering grief or loss during the Christmas season. There are plans for some possible services pertaining to earth ministries including a session of Sundays on God the Creator, a special observation on the Sunday near Earth Day and a blessing of animals to be held outside.
   
3. Kari Huff and Lisa Jackson gave a follow-up presentation from the Youth Board for scholarships for St. Paul members attending ELCA colleges. They distributed a scholarship application form and an article from the Lutheran Magazine requesting congregations support ELCA colleges and Universities and to help fund scholarship assistance to members of their congregation that attend ELCA colleges. The Youth committee recommended a Scholarship Fund of $5000 annually to be split percentage-wise to all St. Paul members attending an ELCA college after application is made for the money. A period of questioning and discussion followed the presentation.
   

1. Treasurer’s Report-Ann Holmstrom presented the September financials. For the month income was below expenses but for the year income is above expenses. Expenses have been low but we will be spending $86,000 in November for the new replacement windows. The mortgage under BOB is under $52,000. Gayle Meskimen moved to approve the Treasurer’s Report and Patty Fess seconded. The Treasurer’s Report was approved,
   
2. Budget Process-Charlie Boone explained the budget process. This month each board liaison will receive last year’s budget in a monthly format. This will need to be compared to the actual monthly expenditures. The budgeting process begins in November and that coincides with Stewardship.
   
3. Senior Pastor Report-Pastor Eastman circulated her report and highlighted a Sunday School class room visit. The lesson was on Creation in the Garden of Eden. The students had many questions on creation and how the Bible story related to the science lessons they had been learning in school. Pr. Eastman was grateful to St. Paul for being a place where questions of this nature can be brought up and discussed.
   
4. Associate Pastor Report-Pr. Williamson presided at his first Baptism. He is proposing a “reverse mission” experience to the Lutheran Center in Mexico City for the 2008 high school trip at the end of July. Pastor has taken his two Sundays “off “ for this half year to preside at a blessing service and at a marriage service.
   
5. Coffee with the Council-There was a suggestion at the coffee to put the website address on the sign out in front of the church and that has been accomplished. There was a concern for young children going unsupervised to the bathrooms and that was addressed by ESGC. It was suggested to place a summary of the action items from the council meetings in the Acts and the first summary will appear in November. Next coffee will be scheduled for Sunday November 18^th.
   
6. Restructuring of Witness Board to Out Reach Board-Witness Board does not have many members at this time. The members present are currently interested in social justice issues and no one is interested in the responsibility of Evangelism. Council will revisit this issue at the February retreat with the Pastors and Exec looking to bring forth a proposal at that time. The name, Witness Board, will remain for the time being.
   
7. Annual Review of Pastors-Kevin will e-mail to the Council members the Review Process decided upon last year. He has requested the Pastors put together a self-evaluation and the Council members give any of their comments to the Executive Committee.
   

1. Members who had not communed or made a contribution of record were to be removed from the roles. It was decided to place pew pads at the Christmas Eve services and to reinstate anyone who attends before the end of the year. Members will be removed from the roles in January.
   
2. Council did not vote on whether or not to approve annual scholarships for members attending an ELCA college. Feed back from each council member was given to Lisa Jackson to take back to the Youth Board for consideration.
   
3. Lisa Jackson moved and Patty Fess seconded to approve up to $500 for radio ads on WETN. The motion passed.
   
4. Gayle Meskimen moved to approve January 27, 2008 for the semi-annual Congregational Meeting. Jim Baumgardner seconded and the date was approved.
   
5. Patty Fess moved to approve Saturday, February 9. 2008 for the date of the council retreat. Charlie Boone seconded and the date was approved.
   

1. Jim Baumgardner announced the replacement windows should be installed before Thanksgiving.
   
2. There will be a joint Thanksgiving Eve service hosted by St. Matthew’s United Church of Christ and Pr. Eastman will be preaching.
   
3. Pr. Eastman will be present at an overnight shift at PADS and requested members of council to take one over-night shift this year.
   
4. Bob Miller announced a workday on November 10^th, which is the same day as the ESSE Pancake breakfast.
   
5. Jim Baumgardner had many positive comments from the conference he attended on having a green congregation. He has two manuals of good information.