Council Minutes
 
 
 PRESBYTERY COUNCIL
August 14, 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, Arlen Sjerven, Pat Kunze, LeRoy Ennenga, Carol Stiles,

Committee Chairs/Members present: Jim Krapf, International Partnerships, Christina Berry, Congregational Growth and Development, Deb Klaassen, Congregational Resources, Randy Lubbers, Social Action Ministry, Vern Maxa, Nominating, Donna Buell, Committee on Preparation for Ministry, Harold Tongen, Leadership, Care and Encouragement and Permanent Judicial Commission, Richard Underdahl-Peirce, Committee on Ministry, Gary Woehler, Self-Development of People

Those excused included: Bev Raske, Leadership for the Development of Ministry, and Council members, Dale Champ and Dan Billings,

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

Visitor present: Karen Woehler, Short-term mission volunteer for PCUSA assigned to Guatemala through CEDEPCA (Central America Pastoral Studies)

We started with introductions and devotions by Norma Spurgin.

The proposed agenda was approved.

The minutes from June 12, 2007 were approved.

Committee/ Ministry Action Teams/Task Forces shared their ideas about the vision of their respective groups.

We broke for lunch at 12:10 p.m. with prayer and reconvened at 12:40 p.m.

We continued with the sharing of vision from committee/ministry action teams/task force chairs.

The committee chairs/members left at 1:25 p.m. and we continued with Council business.

Budget and Finance

LeRoy Ennenga submitted a written report as follows:  

Presbytery of Minnesota Valleys
Budget and Finance Committee Report to Council
August 9, 2007

Requiring Council Action

The required documentation for the Crosslake Presbyterian Church parking lot project is now in the Presbytery office. Cost of project is $20,960.00, with all funds on hand for the project; approved by Session on 7/8/07. Recommend Council approval of project.

COUNCIL VOTED to recommend to Presbytery the 2008 Proposed Budget.

COUNCIL VOTED to receive the Profit and Loss report for January through July and the Balance Sheet for July 31, 2007.

COUNCIL VOTED to receive the 2007 Per Capita Report to Budget and Finance and 2007 Per Capita-General Mission Giving Report dated July 31, 2007. Copies of these reports are to be distributed to Council members.

COUNCIL VOTED to accept and recommend to Council to receive and recommend to Presbytery approval of the 2006 audit by Kern, DeWenter, Viere, Ltd. (KDV).

COUNCIL VOTED to remove former committee member Leonard Wickeraad from the list of authorized signers on the bank accounts.

MOTION and second to table discussion of further auditors recommendations until a future meeting.

COUNCIL VOTED to authorize Sue Coller and Virginia Molitor to sign the Management Representation Letter from Kern, DeWenter, Viere, Ltd. (KDV).

Information:

$200,000.00 was transferred to the Heritage Bank Direct Savings account in Willmar, MN for a better interest rate.

Virginia reported that the disbursement of funds to cover expenses incurred as recommended by the Sartell Commission has been completed.

1) Appraisal Costs of $3,810.00 went from L5096 (Sartell Church) to P0902 (Net Worth)

2) Legal Costs of $12,996.42 went from L5096 (Sartell Church) to L5018 (Designated Account Legal/PJC)

3) Administrative Commission Costs of $3,648.16 went from L5096 (Sartell Church) to P0209 (Net Worth) and $41.51 for 2007 expenses went into E1190 (Contingency Account) this years budget line item.

4) Per Capita of $12,065.36 for 2004, 2005 & 2006 went from L5096

 (Sartell Church) to P0209 (Net Worth). 2007 per capita total of 4,012.80 was divided up and $880.08 went into L5036 (G.A.Per Capita), $700.72 went into L5035 (Synod Per Capita) and $2,432.00 went into I6120 (Presbytery Per Capita) and 2008 per capita of $1,226.25 went into the account of L5016 for next year’s bill.

Personnel

Dawn reported that they are getting ready for Sue’s evaluation this Fall. They will be meeting after today’s meeting.

COUNCIL VOTED to receive this report

Leadership Team

Kathy did not have a report.

Communication Task Force

The communication survey is almost prepared and will be handed out at the September Presbytery meeting.

Presbytery Moderator

Kathy had no report;

Executive Presbyter

Sue reported that we need to take action on Bev Crute’s contract with Rice Memorial Hospital.

COUNCIL VOTED to approve the contract between the Rev. Bev Crute and Rice Memorial Hospital, Willmar, MN with a total o f $72,627.00. The exact terms are as follows:

Salary $19,621.00
Housing 30,000.00
SECA 3,796.00
Board of Pensions 15,879.00
Dental 331.00
Miscellaneous 3,000.00

Stated Clerk

Pam reported on the 2008 Presbytery meeting dates: February 5 in Holland, May 3 in Winnebago, September 13 in Browns Valley and December 2 in Redwood Falls. She also reported that the Session Records Reviews are all done and will be reported at the September Presbytery meeting.

COUNCIL VOTED to recommend the above dates for the 2008 Presbytery meetings.

Old Business

  1. 1. 6-pack retreat: Connie Seltz reported on this retreat. She reported that we all need to learn to work together across Presbytery lines, there is a great disparity of how, when and times of Presbytery work, youth issues, pastors need an opportunity to meet together as pastors, perception is that the leadership is liberal and the members are more conservative-trust issue. This is simply a start to these conversations. On August 27 those who went to this retreat from our Presbytery will meet to debrief and plan next steps which includes a planning meeting on October 28 and 29 in Eau Claire, Wisconsin.

  2. 2. Lawrence Church written report: Norma Spurgin and Roger Grussing submitted a written report.

  3. 3. New church development task force: Kathy Terpstra reported that the task force has had two meetings. Roger Grussing, Kathy Terpstra, Norma Spurgin, Jean Bauer, Sheila Sjerven and Laura Hollister are on this task force. Conclusions: ministry needs to be need based; they would like to get the clusters talking about new church development in their area; they think it would be beneficial to have a staff person to help with this process. Kathy and Norma will meet with Congregational, Growth and Development to further these discussions.

  4. 4. New person on Nominating Committee: Connie Seltz has spoken to the Rev. John Lindholm. COUNCIL VOTED to recommend to the Presbytery the nomination of the Rev. John Lindholm to the Nominating Committee.

  5. 5. Gulf Coast Work trip-Sue has been working on this; there are 6 Presbyteries involved and we have up to 30 spots for this work trip; the dates are January 19-26, 2008

New Business

Christina Berry talked about the mission of Common Cup Ministries located in Hutchison. They are seeking funds from the Thank Offering from the General Assembly. COUNCIL VOTED to endorse this project.

Leroy Ennenga talked about issuing an invitation from our Presbytery to Occidente Presbytery for a delegation to visit us in September 2008. COUNCIL VOTED to issue this invitation with a signature of the Presbytery moderator.

COUNCIL VOTED to ask the chairs from Committee on Ministry, Committee on Preparation for Ministry and Congregational Resources to appoint two people from each committee to form a task force to talk more about the vision to explore coordinating committee work in connection with congregations. The Presbytery moderator will ask the committees. The Executive Presbyter will also be on this task force.

The next meeting of Council will be October 9 at 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. at the Presbytery office.

Respectfully submitted,

Pamela R. Prouty

Stated Clerk