PLYMOUTH CONGREGATIONAL UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST

CHURCH COUNCIL MINUTES

June 27, 2017

Greenwood Room

Donna Paulsen, Moderator; Mark Rosenbury, Moderator-Elect

Present:Rex Andersen, Mary Daily Lange, Fred Dorr, Cindy Eaton-Eklund, Tiffany Espelund, Roger Fitzgerald, Ryan Gilbert, Mary Gillaspey, Brittany Hanlin, Jennifer Hines, Linda Knodle, Nancy Landess, Matt Mardis-LeCroy, Kathleen Murrin, Donna Paulsen, Mark Rosenbury, Gail Stubbs, LeAnn Stubbs, Frank Thomas, Susan Waller, Annette Weeber, Jennifer Wigton, Don Worrell

Absent:Lindsey Braun, Hannah Budde, Bev Burns, Rachel Corpus, Carl Gravander, Jr., Jane Hemminger, Merlyn Lippert, Valerie Miller-Coleman, Erin Moynihan, Laura Robinson, Jean Walker, Jared Walter, Dan Warren,Carol Wells

Guests: Ron Eslinger,Craig Shives

Introductions & Welcome:Donna Paulsen called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. She called for introductions from attendees.

Devotions:Mark Rosenbury

Minutes:May 23, 2017—Motion to approve by Mary Daily Lange. Second, Fred Dorr. Minutes approved as submitted.

Council Secretary Election: Nancy Landess moved to retain Linda Knodle as Church Council Secretary. Second, Annette Weeber. Motion approved.

SPECIAL REPORTS AND OLD BUSINESS

Subject: Discernment Committee for Brittany Hanlin

  • Ron Eslinger, Committee Chair, reviewed the committee’s discernment process.
  • Motion by Mark Rosenbury to accept the Report to the Church Council of Plymouth United Church of Christ from the Committee on Discernment with Brittany Hanlin (June 17, 2017). Second, Mary Daily Lange. Motion approved.
  • Brittany Hanlin read her personal “call” statement to the Church Council.

Subject: Building Safety Task Force Report, Jennifer Hines

  • Presented summary of the report from the task force’s last meeting.
  • Actions taken presented in a summary report. Highlights include:
  • Limit points of entry to the church building.
  • Ingersoll Avenue doors to be locked Monday-Saturday, except for special needs such as funerals, weddings, etc.
  • South drive door to be locked after 5:00 pm, except for Wednesdays during the program year. Coffee shop outside door to be kept locked.
  • Security cameras are at open doors.
  • Plymouth nursery school procedures are being reviewed with security updates pending.
  • Church staff phones include a special all-call feature in order to page all staff members.
  • Active intruder/shooter training attended by several staff and two deacons.
  • Reviewed meeting with Homeland Security representative.

Subject: Pastors’ Discretionary Fund, Matt Mardis-LeCroy

  • Provided report of the January-May funds distributed from this account. Council members provided with copies.

Subject: 2017-2018 Program Year Overview and Board Devotions, Matt Mardis-LeCroy

  • Reviewed narrative lectionary text for the next program year. Will explore through Board members’ devotional offerings.
  • Reviewed new devotional guides for the next program year and requested signups for devotions.

Subject: Calendar Overview, Donna Paulsen

  • Review of Church Council meetings’ schedule.

COMMITTEE REPORTS

Arts, Memorials and Architectural Changes:No report.

Homeless Assistance Team:No report.

Personnel:Mark Rosenbury

  • Personnel Committee is fortunate to have two attorneys and a Human Resources person serving.
  • Working on a retirement plan for church staff.

Plymouth Foundation:Gail Stubbs

  • Moved that Joe Sorenson be approved to fill one of two open spots on the board. Motion carried.
  • In April, the Foundation discussed the spring grants and made awards.
  • Board of Music & Fine Arts received $3,500 for flameless candles and $2,000 for hand chimes for the Youth Ensemble.
  • Board of Christian Education received $1,180 for the STEM program with RENEW and Child and Family Ministries, and $4,000 for books for the children’s library.

Plymouth Women:Annette Weeber

  • Plymouth Women’s Fellowship board is full.
  • Working on luncheon programs for the coming program year.
  • Responsible for July cookies.
  • Going to have a “social” for the transition from the old to the new board.

Special Needs:No report.

Stephen Ministry:Mary Gillespy

  • Shared with the Council the purpose of the Stephen Ministry program.
  • Asked Council members to watch for folks within the church who may need these services.

Transition into Ministry (TiM):Kathleen Murrin

  • In the process of transitioning from Associate Minister David Telfort to new Associate Minister Laura Robinson.
  • Associate Minister Brittany Hanlin is well on her way to ordination.
  • Discussing the possibility of a jubilee.

Willits/LGBT Community:No report.

BOARD REPORTS

Benevolences:No report.

Christian Education:Jennifer Wigton

  • Moved for Christy Stroope to serve a two-year term. Motion carried.
  • Vacation Bible School was a great success. Approximately 100 children attended. Will hold an evaluation meeting.

Christian Social Action:Rex Andersen

  • Wrapping up discernment for the “Black Lives Matter” banner. Will present to the board and then to the Council.

Christian Stewardship:No report.

Deacons:Nancy Landess

  • Held the board’s year-end party.
  • In the process of forming the board’s committees.
  • Deacons still once a month review the locations and conditions of fire extinguishers throughout the church.
  • Will be holding a class on use of the defibrillators.

Membership:Tiffany Espelund

  • Held end-of-year potluck.
  • In the process of forming the board’s committees. Will have a church tour in August.
  • Moved that Ben Hildebrandt and Roger Fitzgerald be approved for three-year board terms. Motion carried.

Music and Fine Arts:Mary Daily Lange

  • Looking for one person to serve a short term.
  • Thanked the Plymouth Foundation for a grant to provide flameless candles for the holders used during Christmas Eve services in the sanctuary.

Spiritual Growth:Linda Knodle

  • Held our board potluck June 6.
  • Planning for the Center for Spiritual Growth libraryare continuing.
  • Planning meeting is scheduled for August 24.

Trustees:Ryan Gilbert

  • End-of-year potluck held.
  • Moved Jane Flanagan to serve on the board. Motion carried.

NEW BUSINESS:Jennifer Wigton

Use of discretionary fund for persons with mental health issues. Matt Mardis-LeCroy responded that there is an informal understanding among the staff of what to do when these situations arise.

Member at Large:Don Worrell

  • Commented that there have not been printed copies of sermons, except for the previous week.
  • From an anonymous source: Received a printed flier from an Urbandale church available in a box on their property. Membership and Cindy Eaton-Eklund reviewing.

STAFF REPORTS

Lindsey Braun: No report.

Rachel Corpus: No report.

Cindy Eaton-Eklund

  • She says she has “the most fun job ever.”
  • Summer allows for working on new things and completing long-range planning.

Carl Gravander, Jr.: No report.

Brittany Hanlin

  • Saw God during the church’s Vacation Bible School. Had a great time with the children.

Jennifer Hines

  • Back from a week of vacation with her son. She and her husband are now empty nesters.
  • Working on the building task force issues and HR benefits.
  • Finance 101 training for Trustees is scheduled for August 22. Will open to Council members in August. Opportunity to learn about the church budget.

Valerie Miller Coleman: No report.

Laura Robinson: No report.

LeAnn Stubbs

  • Back from a week of vacation.
  • Thinking about various aspects of connection. Also the fall ministry fair event.
  • Eleanor Noel turning 100 and still a visiting minister.

Frank Thomas: No report.

Susan Waller

  • Matins tour was wonderful. Lindsey Braun joined them for the tour.
  • Rev. Mary Nelson, daughter of Dave and Jean Nelson, attended their concert.
  • Performing at several nursing homes opened a new world to the young people.
  • Final concert was at the YMCA.
  • Our home concert was very well attended.

Matt Mardis-LeCroy

  • People who aren’t here tonight.
  • Valerie Miller-Coleman is in residency in Chicago.
  • Laura Robinson at Our Whole Lives young adult seminar.
  • Lindsey Braun in Baltimore, MD, at the General Synod for UCC. She is part of the Next Generation Leadership Initiative.
  • This is annual performance review season.
  • Vacation Bible School was great. Attended as a parent.
  • Referring to Mark Rosenbury’s devotion, resources are entrusted to us. We will have to answer for what we do with them.

Closing prayer: Matt Mardis-LeCroy

Next monthly meeting:August 29, 2017,5:30 p.m., Greenwood Room.

Respectfully submitted,

Linda Knodle, Secretary

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