St. John’s Congregational Council Meeting
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Approved May 18, 2010

 

Present:  Bob Deik, Deacon Rich Ferolito, Abby Triebel, Marty Thomas-Beard, Pastor Daniel Ward, Andy Huber, Art Upright, Rich Redl, Jackie Seidel, Mady Christie, Richard Becker

Meeting called to order at 7:00PM

Old Business:

Approve March 16, 2010 Council Meeting Minutes

• Motion made to accept minutes made, seconded and passed unanimously

 

Sabbatical Manager Update – Bob Deik

• The “Sabbatical Sentinel” pamphlet will need to be of a different size to accommodate bulk mailing.
• All the services during the Sabbatical are covered by a visiting Pastor and Lay Persons
• Mary Anne Deik has several ideas to incorporate adult evening classes during the Vacation Bible School week.
• Tanzanian-style worship will be held on Sundays July 18, 2010 to correspond to when Pastor and Susan Ward will be in Tanzania.

 

Meet and Greet Request

• Request to Council members to sign up for ‘Meet & Greet’ on Sundays during the Sabbatical.

 CJK Board Update – Art Upright

• Nothing to report due to illness.
• Meeting this Thursday to discuss forming a board.

 Treasurer’s Report

• There is a $14, 000.00 deficit for the month of March.
• The Finance Committee will be looking into the cause.
• Income was lower than the projected amount.
• January, February and March months are high expense months.
• Will need to determine if the pledges are less than stated.
• Attendance is up but the plate amount is down.

 Dedicated Fund Document

• Ray Siegart has compiled a report on St. John’s Dedicated Funds. 
• The Finance Mission Team has reviewed the report and has set forth recommendations to be brought to Council

 Motion made to accept the Treasurer’s report moved, seconded, and passed unanimously.

 Staff Reports

 Senior Pastor Report – Pastor Daniel Ward

• Presented on paper.
• Attended Seminar in Virginia
• Attended Tanzania Synod Committee meeting.
• Attended the Altar Guild Breakfast and expresses his thanks to the Altar Guild for all their work throughout the year.
• Ascension Day Ceremony on May 13, 2010 at Christ Episcopal Church in Poughkeepsie.

 Deacon’s Report – Deacon Rich Ferolito

• Presented on paper
• Returned from Tanzania on March 3, 2010.
• Met with Pastor and Susan Ward to give report and pictures of his Tanzania trip and to inform them on what to expect on their trip to Tanzania.

 CLM Report – Janie Hopkins

• Presented on paper
• May need to budget more for Holy Communion for 2011.
• Rally Day planned for September 12, 2010.

 Director of Music Report

•  
• Organ technician coming in early May to give estimate of pipe repair from water damage
• Will be attending seminar at Eastman School of Music: Organ Improvisation to be held in July.
• June 6, 2010 “Sabbatical Sending” is recommended that the 8:15 Music Ministry participate in this worship service.  Pastor Ward will address this issue with the Worship and Music Mission Team.
• Pastor Ward and Bob Deik will compose a letter to be sent to the supply Pastors confirming their coverage and participation during the Sabbatical.

 Youth Report – Abby Triebel

• Presented on paper
• The confirmation classes will be attending the Sabbatical Sending service on June 6, 2010.
• Easter Breakfast hosted by youths.  Appreciation to Andy and Amy Huber on their considerable work in the shopping and preparing of food for the Easter Breakfast.
• 8^th grade confirmation class went to Beth’ El
• Will be going back to Haiti sometime in May

  Motion made to accept Staff Reports moved, seconded, and passed unanimously.

Mission Team Reports

 Discipleship – Art Upright

• No report.

 Evangelism – Richard Becker

• Easter Banner was up for Easter weekend.
• Clean-up highway scheduled for this Saturday.  Postponed from previous Saturday.

 Fellowship – Jackie Seidel

• No report

 Ministry – Brent Feldweg

• Absent

 Worship & Music – Mady Christie

• Passion done by congregation opposed to choir
• Maundy Thursday and Good Friday services down from last year.
• All services during Holy Week went smoothly.

  

New Business

 Audit and Nominating Committee

• Rich Redl has been working on filling the open positions and may have a candidate for the open Council position.
• Audit Committee recommends that an outside audit firm audit the books.  Concern expressed over potential cost of $10,000.00 for outside audit.

 Seminarian Fund Allocation

• St. John’s has not had a member who is eligible for the Seminarian Scholarship Fund.  The scholarship fund states that when there is no Seminarian from St. John’s, a gift of $1,000.00 could be given to another seminarian.
• Committee recommends that $1,000.00 be given to Norma Malfati who is currently in an intern year at Lincoln, Nebraska. She will be returning to The Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg in the fall for her final year.   Her father was the Pastor at Third Lutheran Church in Rhinebeck, New York, several years ago.

 Motion made to grant the $1,000.00 to Norma Malfati moved, seconded, and passed unanimously.

 MNY Synod Assembly

• Abby Triebel unable to fulfill her role as a St. John’s representative to the Synod due to her trip to Haiti for relief work.
• Susan Ward will take her place as representative.
• Recommended that in upcoming years three candidates plus stand-by be appointed.

 Motion made to approve Susan Ward as representative made, moved and seconded.

 Congregation to Congregation Program

• Bishop in Tanzania will be drafting guidelines for the Congregation to Congregation Program that is being developed. 
• Looking for five congregations to participate.  Program is for a set time with a beginning, middle and end.
• Motion made by Bob Deik to apply to participate in the Congregation to Congregation Program with the Tanzania Synod.

 Motion made, seconded and passed unanimously.

 Alton Gemmel Bequest

• Task force to be created to decide how best to utilize the Alton Gemmel bequest. 
• Need input from Mission Teams on what requirements and needs they foresee.
• Evaluate needs of the social needs of the community when deciding on the utilization of the bequest.
• Most likely to see another $400,000.00 when estate is settled which would bring the total bequest to $800,000.00.
• Temple talk was given to the congregation concerning the bequest.

 

 Review May 30, 2010 Congregation Meeting Agenda

• Proposed May 30, 2010 Congregation Meeting Agenda presented to Council.

 Devotions for May 18, 2010 Meeting – Bob Deik

 Closing prayer led by Pastor Ward

 Meeting adjourned at 9:25

 

Submitted by:

Marty Thomas-Beard

Congregation Council Secretary