Congregational Meeting
During its annual meeting Jan. 31, All Saints Congregation approved a $1,022,500 budget, based on the recommendations of Congregation Council and the Support Committee. This balanced budget has no staff salary increases, cuts in some program areas, a $2,000 increase in utilities, benevolence of 11 percent and $7,000 for training a replacement for the director of administration and anticipated call expenses.
Support Committee Chair Bob Tobbe said one cut to the budget will be the use of outside musicians for Christmas and Easter services. However, those funds may be available through the designated Music Enrichment Fund.
Stewardship: Stories to Tell & Gifts to Share
Stewardship Committee Chairman Tom Counts addressed the congregation by pointing out it began with a simple story of God creating humankind in Genesis and then gave His only Son for love of the world.
"We are the inheritors of -- no, the stewards -- of this story, these gifts," Counts said. "Now it is our story to carry on."
He commended the congregation for continuing to share its stories and gifts, and asked each All Saints member to consider during 2010 how they would fill in the blank for this sentence: "For we so loved God that we gave our only ________."
A look back at 2009
Congregation Council Member and Treasurer Tom Lather commended the congregation for its committment and staff and committees for keeping expenses under estimations. In January 2009, the congregation approved a budget that included an approximately $36,000 defict. However, with income meeting full projections and the cost-saving efforts of staff and committees, the actual deficit was only $5,000 -- $31,000 less than anticipated. This deficit, as the estimated one, will be met out of surplus and reserve funds.
"We should be very, very proud of how we came in with our budget."
Congregation Council elections
Marj Ellis won a second term to Congregation Council, and new members Brian Erickson and Tim Huter will join Council at its February meeting. Council President Jeff Glasgow also commended Emily Andrews and Connie Zitlow for their willingness to serve as candidates.
Call Committee
In addition to accepting Annual Reports, the congregation heard an oral report from Dale Wirtz, chairman of the call committee for a designated lead pastor. The committee -- comprising Dale, Tom Counts, Jim Cox, Kim Davis-Hetrick, Brent Isler, Ken Keller, Robyn Ramsay, Margaret Rechel and Bob Tobbe, has met twice since its December appointment. Dale asked for the support -- and most especially -- the prayers of the congregation, as the committee listens for the Holy Spirit to guide them to the pastor God wishes to lead us in the direction He desires.
January meeting update
During its regular business meeting Jan. 18, Congregation Council approved a proposed budget of $1,002,500 to be put forward during the annual Congregational Meeting.
While the congregation approved a budget including a $36,179 deficit in January 2009, the church ended the year with a deficit of $4,931. Council commended the congregation for its staff and committees for keeping a close watch on expenditures without compromising the church’s ministries.
“That’s an amazing job,” said Treasurer Tom Lather.
The budget is based on projected pledges from 326 pledges from All Saints’ families. It includes a restoration of previous levels of benevolence after an earlier consideration of cuts. Several members of the Support Committee strongly opposed cuts in benevolence spending.
It is, however, a zero-growth budget that includes no salary increases and cuts in certain items such as telephone expenses, Lather said. It also allows for no drop off from 2009 income, and the Support Committee plans to carefully monitor the budget and make adjustments as necessary as the new year progresses.
In other business, Council:
- Agreed to designate $5,700 from the “Beyond This Day” benevolence portion to a Lutheran agency working on disaster relief in Haiti. The money will be held until it is clear where matching funds can be found.
- Discussed the best use of $34,000 from the “Beyond This Day” campaign designated for debt reduction on advice of the Support Committee. That amount is the “leftover” from various designated projects. Council agreed to hold the money and determine an exact amount before use for any purpose. Some designated projects – such as roof repairs – are not yet necessary, and there were concerns that costs might have risen. Support Committee suggested that the money could be used in more practical ways than straight debt reduction; however, several Council members expressed concerns about fulfilling the promise of the original campaign. Council plans to revisit the issue in February.
- Agreed to appoint Council members Nick Britt and Connie Pierce, Pastors Bonnie Gerber and Mike Weaver and two members of the Personnel Committee to a task force to search for a replacement or replacements for Director of Administration Marj Stevenson, who will retire in December. This task force will review Marj’s current tasks and determine whether it is best to replace her with one or two candidates to fulfill her current duties. Once that is determined, the goal is to advertise for candidates in June and July, with a deadline for applications in August; to interview candidates in September and October and to hire in November, leaving time for training before Marj’s retirement.
- Heard a report from the pastors of plans to spend part of the Hildreth Pastors’ Discretionary Fund to purchase a new stove and a warming oven for the kitchen. Along with the new Bunn coffeemaker, this will fulfill the “trinity” of a Lutheran kitchen, joked Pastor Mike Weaver. The stove and warming oven are vital to many breakfasts and dinners that promote fellowship, as well as providing support for meals for special occasions such as weddings and funerals, said Council Member Heidi Lockhart.
Minutes available
Congregation Council makes minutes of its monthly meetings available for purposes of keeping the community informed about church governance.
A copy of the most recent minutes is regularly posted on the Council bulletin board in the gathering area. In addition, the minutes may be obtained from the church office. Paper copies are available, you may click here to find the most recently approved minutes, or you may contact All Saints to request a copy via e-mail.
Keep in touch
Congregation Council welcomes all those with questions to contact its members directly. You can find the current list of council members and their e-mail addresses here and their photos on the bulletin board in the Gathering Area. Council members are happy to talk and pray with you as we walk together through an uncertain time. Change of any kind is a challenge, but it also provides opportunity. It is important that all of us lift one another up and remain on a positive path as we anticipate and move ahead into the future God has planned for All Saints.
Members also are welcome to attend council meetings to gain a greater understanding of the governance of the church and to speak on concerns they may have.
