DECEMBER 5, 2011 CHURCH COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
PRESENT: Kelly Surace, David Surace, Jim Cole, David Holladay, Barbara Albright, Logan Eichelberger, Dale Ducote, Jenny Sutcliffe, Anna Stuckey, Joann Doolos, Chris King, Greg Toney, Jim Traynham, Kyle Wooldridge, Jay Hogewood, Bill King, Gene Sands, Ed Dodd, Sharon Nason, Jessica Lowe, Jayme Austin, Melissa Ngnyen, Clint Willson, T.O. Perry, Esther Socolofsky, Jeff Albright, Van Stinson, Martha Stuckey, Ruthie Fahey, Carter Smith, Dave Brownell.
Greg Toney, church council chair, asked Rev. Jay Hodgewood to open the meeting with a prayer. Greg asked if the minutes had been reviewed. Kelly Suracemoved to approve the minutes from Aug. 29, 2011 and Sharon Nason seconded the motion. The motion passed.
FINANCE REPORT: (See attached report) Martha Stuckey made the following comments:
We’re in an upswing now; preschool enrollment is up, spring 115 and fall 120.
Afterschool enrollment is the same 175 students, but we will not have the additional expenses for capital improvements.
Cash plate is about the same. We anticipate pledges to be higher than last year because there are more new pledges.
Some salaries were reclassified:
Children’s director, nursery workers, and supervisor’s salaries were moved to Work Area, Kid’s Hope also was moved to Work Areas.
Music Scholarships, Chapel Choir accompanist and instrumentalists moved to Music. Music increased because we are anticipating a nontraditional service being added next year. $10,000 is budgeted for hiring musicians.
Travel and Auto increased because of reclassifying the minister’s salary. (Preachers have the option of taking less in salary and adding more to a travel’s account).
Congregational Care will go up when Jay Hodgewood is hired full time next year.
A motion to approve the 2012 finance budget was made by Logan Eichelberger, and motion was seconded by Joann Doolas.
STRATEGIC INITIATIVE - led by Gene Sands and Jeff Albright: making progress in all areas (see attached report).Stronger budget: Pre-school and after-school make a great contribution. Maximized the involvement of lay leadership and Church members (plan was given to committees). Maximized Community connections(looking at the possibility of an alternative service). Gene Sands added that a job description is being worked on which will allow a way of measuring performance. It will be a system to help everyone improve and not a system to punish. It is more of a matter of showing a person’s potential and showing how we can work together in a church.
REPORT TO THE CHURCH COUNCIL FROM R. LEE MCKINZIE, Minister of Discipleship and Faith Formation. (see attached letter) “Best Job in the world “
STATE OF MUSIC: Carter Smith spoke about the Chapel Choir as offering him a wonderful learning opportunity and he was thankful.
Handbells are at capacity now with 16 members (5 octaves of bells are all we can handle) Chapel members are up. Esther gave Carter credit for being very efficient and organized. Esther also commented how wonderful that children that have grown up in the church choir have turned around and have become leaders with the children choir programs.
MINISTRIES WITH CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES (see attached report)
Anna Stuckey and Jayme Austin are instrumental in forming a new committee involving everyone in the congregation; parents, grandparents, aunts, preschool families and all-anyone who cares about the children. The good thing that came about from organizing the Harvest Festival and Blessing of the Pets was that people came together that hadn’t seen each other before. And as a part of an opportunity to practice radical hospitality, an invitation was sent to the volunteers to come back for Christmas and other special events.
SEE REPORTS SUBMITTED FOR: Committee on Discipleship & Faith Formation; Hospitality Committee Update; Children and Youth Intern Report from Jessica Lowe; a UUMC Youth Ministry Summary from Chris King and a Communications Report from Kelly Surace.
Note: Jeff Albright has asked for any kind of meeting that Kelly be notified and that an agenda also be included. And if the meeting is to be canceled or rescheduled she should be notified.
Rev. Van Stinson commented on the difference in the mood and energy of the Church Council gathering . He is glad to see a lot of turning in new directions and Jay ‘s coming on full board in January is part of the building momentum. Van closed the meeting by reading from Isaiah 61:1-7 which is about good tidings to come.
Submitted by Jenny Sutcliffe