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PRESBYTERY COUNCIL MINUTES
OCTOBER 09,
2007
Meeting called to order by Council
Chair, The Rev.Roger
Grussing
Present: Norma Spurgin,
Grayson
Osteraas, Dale Champ, Dawn Carder,
LeRoy Ennenga, Carol Stiles, Bob Bartlett, Penny Johnson,
Kathy Terpstra, Pat Kunze, Rallah
Madison, Dawn Linder,
Arlan Sjerven, Connie Seltz, Dan Billings, Sue Coller,
Karen Lange
Those not present: Nancy
Chamberlain and Pamela Prouty
Guest: Dave
Thomas
- Opening prayer and
devotion.
- Agenda approved with the addition
to 7. Old Business, e. Additional Business item to be
presented.
- Minutes of Presbytery Council,
August 14, 2007, approved as distributed.
- Budget and Finance
Report:
M/S/P Council approved request to pursue a fund
drive to determine if installation of a mini-elevator in
possible at Westminster
in Worthington. If in the
Session’s judgment, funds are available, council
approves the plan.
M/S/P Council approves up to $1,500.00 to
reimburse expenses for Dave Thomas from Council line
item 1210.
If needed, this cost may be shifted at a later
date.
M/S/P Council received Profit and Loss Budget
Performance, Per Capita General Mission Giving To Date,
September 27, 2007, Report to Budget and Finance Per
Capita as distributed.
- Stated Clerk’s Report: (Appendix
B)
M/S/P Council concurs with actions #1, #2, and #3
as they appear on distributed Stated Clerk’s
Report.
M/S/P Council recommend to Presbytery approval of
proposed changes
M/S/P to receive Stated Clerk’s Report
- Executive Presbyter Report:
(Appendix A)
M/S/P Council approves Commissioned Lay Pastor
proposed manual changes dealing with new
process
M/S/P Council recommends to Presbytery the
approval of by-law changes that appear on the back side
of the EP’s report.
M/S/P to receive the EP’s Report
- Old Business:
a)
Surveys
are out. No report of results
b)
11 so
far registered for the Gulf Coast Mission
Blitz
c)
Six-Pack
Retreat will involve only EP’s on October 29, 2007
meeting.
d)
Task
Force meeting for representatives from Committee on
Ministry, Congregational Growth and Development, and
Congregational Resources scheduled on October 31,
2007
e)
Copies
of “Presbytery of MN Valleys Management Letter, December
31, 2006 and Audited Cash Basis Financial Statements as
of December 31, 2006, were
distributed.
- Conversations and reflections of
Committee Chair reports at June and August Council
meetings included:
Committees are providing products;
but, we don’t know if the products are being used or if
congregations are even aware of them
Committees expressed the feeling
that they are “Out there on their own.”
Committee chair expressed, “I don’t
know if what we are doing is having any effect on the
congregation.”
Council asked, “Is current
structure working?” to transfer energy from council to
the congregation.
“What is the work we expect people to do?” “What is the
council’s role in the disconnect?”
Topics to re-visit from the “walk
through the churches”:
o
The role of discipleship v.
membership
o
Presbyterian identity
diluted
o
Faith
stories
o
Issues related to congregations
that may consider leaving PCUSA
o
Use of Commissioned Lay Pastors vs.
use of ordained pastors of other
denominations
o
Training about what it means to be
Presbyterian
o
Property and
finance
o
Determine our pastoral role to each
congregation
- New Business:
M/S/P The Leadership Team shall appoint a Task
Force to study the understanding of call in the relation
to the nomination for General Assembly, Commissioner,
and Presbytery Officers.
M/S/P Council elects Rallah Madison, who has
agreed to serve, to fill the Budget and Finance vacancy
until the end of 2007.
M/S/P Ask the Leadership Team to come
up with names to present at the next meeting to fill
2010 Nominating Committee slots.
Guest Speaker, Dave Thomas,
co-worker with PCUSA and the Presbyterian Church in
Mexico spoke
about Mission Challenge ’07. There is a
history of 170 years of mission work around the world
with 266 long term mission workers in 60 countries, 76%
of workers are not ordained clergy. Two goals: That
all will know the transforming power of God’s love and
that every congregation will have a relationship with a
mission worker.
Meeting adjourned. Respectfully
submitted by Connie Seltz, Council Member
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