PRESBYTERY COUNCIL

June 12, 2007

Presbytery office

 

The Council of the Presbytery Minnesota Valleys was called to order at 10:00 a.m. by the chair Roger Grussing.

 

Those present included:  Roger Grussing, Dawn Carder, Kathy Terpstra, Dawn Linder, Norma Spurgin, Rallah Madison, Grayson Osteraas, Connie Seltz, Nancy Chamberlain, Pamela Prouty, Sue Coller, Bob Bartlett, Penny Jo Temple-Johnson, Dan Billings, Arlen Sjerven

 

Committee Chairs/Members present:  Jim Krapf, Inernational Partnerships, Christina Berry, Congregational Growth and Development,  Bev Raske, LDM, Deb Klaassen, Congregational Resources, Randy Lubbers, Social Action Ministry, Alice Paul, Nominating, Donna Buell, CPM, Terry Olthoff, COR, Harold Tongen, Leadership, Care and Encouragement and Permanent Judicial Commission, Richard Underdahl-Peirce, COM

 

Those excused included: Pat Kunze, Dale Champ, LeRoy Ennenga, Carol Stiles,

 

Ex-officio present:         Karen Lange, Administrative Assistant and Virginia Molitor, Financial Manager, Webmaster and Assistant to the Executive

 

We started with introductions and devotions by Dawn Carder.

 

The proposed agenda was approved.

 

We spent the morning hearing from Presbytery committees, task forces and ministry action teams.  Our conversation with committee reps focused on the dynamics of what is happening right now with the committee and its work.  These were the questions that were sent out in advance for the committees to think about in preparation for this conversation:

1.                  How does this committee serve the Presbytery and local churches?

2.                  How does this committee interact with the other committees?

3.                  How can the Council support the work of the committee and its connection to the other committees?

4.                  How does this committee reflect the mission and ministry of Christ and the Kingdom of God here on earth?

 

The conversation will continue at our meeting in August, focusing on these questions:

1.                  What is the appropriate outcome of our committee / ministry action team?

2.                  What is the best use of ourselves and our resources to make this happen?

3.                  What are we willing to try / risk?  

4.                  How do you think these questions apply to the council? (what do you see as an appropriate role for the council and use of it’s resources?)

 

 

 

We broke for lunch at 12:30 p.m. and reconvened at 1:15 p.m.

 

Sue Coller, Executive Presbyter gave an oral report.  She shared the results of the governing body version of the Natural Church Development survey we took.  We scored the lowest on empowering leadership.  Doug Dent, John Lindholm, Nancy Chamberlain, and Christina Berry met with Sue to go over the survey.

 

She also submitted the following report:

Executive Presbyter Report

Council Meeting, June 12, 2007

Joint Meeting with Committee / Ministry Action Team Reps

 

 

For Discussion with Committee Representatives Present:

Results of the Organic Quality Management Survey - Natural Church Development survey for denominational regional governing bodies and non-profits.  (Additional Information will be handed out at the meeting.)

 

RECOMMENDATION:

 

COUNCIL VOTED to recruit a Presbytery Health Team to meet with committee / ministry action team members and others to further understand what contributes to empowering leadership being our minimum factor, involve them in developing a plan to work on this factor, monitor it, and at the end of a specified period of time (to be determined by the Presbytery Health Team) to evaluate its effectiveness.  The Leadership Team will recruit this team.

 

ITEMS TO REPORT:

            For Info:

  1. The PowerPoint on the Feb. Communion & Conversation meeting is being shared with committees along with the challenge to spend some time wrestling with the following questions:
    1. What is the appropriate outcome of our committee / ministry action team?
    2. What is the best use of ourselves and our resources to make this happen?
    3. What are we willing to try / risk?  
  2. People attending the 6-Pack retreat July 8-9 (Follow up on Communion and Conversation meeting about future look of presbyteries and synods):  Connie Seltz, Colby Anderson, Christina Berry, Steve Boots, Sue Coller
  3. Summer Presbytery Fellowship and Conversation Gatherings – insert will be mailed to all churches.

 

ITEMS FOR ACTION:

  1. Gulf Coast Work Trip – Jan 19-26, 2008.  We can send 30 people. 

 

COUNCIL VOTED to ask Congregational Resources to appoint two people to this task force.  Sue Coller will talk with this committee.

 

  1. Tastefully Simple Fundraiser for Hearts and Hands

 

COUNCIL VOTED to endorse the Tastefully Simple fundraiser at Presbytery meetings; 80% of the profits will go towards the Hearts and Hands.

 

  1. Karen Woehler Status – Short-Term Mission Co-Worker for the denomination, how will she relate to us? 

 

COUNCIL VOTED to recommend to the COM to remove Karen Woehler from the Commissioned Lay Pastor roll since she has become short term mission co-worker for the denomination.  She will be invited to Presbytery meetings as mission co-worker at our expense.  We will talk about her reporting at a later date.

 

  1. Letter from Lawrence Presbyterian Church

 

Roger Grussing, Dawn Linder and Norma Spurgin  will go as a team to visit with the Lawrence Session to have a conversation about their concerns and the broader issue of being church together.  They will report back to the Council.

 

The minutes of the April minutes were approved.

 

The rest of the minutes were taken by Rallah Madison:

 

Notes from council meeting:

1.                  Approved council developing a task force regarding the use of funds from the sale of the Sartell church;

2.                  Approved purchase of a new air conditioner for the Presbytery office. information will be in the next budget report

3.                  Approved sending $l000.00 to the MN Council of Churches for 2008;

4.                  Approved the Attorney Service Agreement with Susan Roberts

5.                  Approved request from Harrison church for parking lot project; estimated cost $14,270, funds on hand $7,500 and pledges $6,770.

6.                  Approved Spicer Hope Presbyterian Church's request contingent upon submission of the additional supportive documentation for remodeling the sanctuary with a cost of $11,000 and carpeting the sanctuary at a cost of $10,529.50. The total cost of these projects is $21,529.50. Capital funds on hand $19,010.67 with the remaining funds to be taken from the General Fund (current balance $16,000+. 

7.                  Approved Cambria's request for roof replacement pending final approval and receipt of documents by Budget and finance;

8.                  Accepted resignation of Rolf Westgard from the Budget and Finance Committee;

9.                  Voted to endorse the COLA-GA2010 contacting our churches for information to be used for that event and in publicizing it.

10.              Received the report of the personnel committee.  

 

The next meeting of the Presbytery Council will be Tuesday, August 15 at the Presbytery office.

 

Respectfully submitted,

Pamela R. Prouty

Stated Clerk