Faith & Practice Coordinating Team

Welcome to new members – Susan, Keith, Julie, and Jim!

Opening Prayer

Pastor Jeff Paschal provided the opening prayer.

Approval of Minutes from Last Meeting

The Coordinating Team reviewed and approved the May 2009 meeting minutes.

Old Business

• Name tags – Gregg reported that, to date, there have been 125 name tags sold.  The opportunity to buy new name tags will be offered twice a year (September & March for a 2-3 week time period).  Orders will be processed through the church office.
• One Great Hour of Sharing Offering – Don provided an update on the 2009 collection which yielded $2177.54 (vs. $3539.60 in 2008).
• Application form for 2009-2010 funding requests – The team continued discussion about how we can get enough information from fund requestors to inform the budget/funding allocation process.  No action items identified.
• Seminary Status of Cheryl Miller – Jim Miller reported that Cheryl is still in seminary and did not receive any funds.  Cheryl and Ted Sharp will be in school and the Coordinating Team agreed that both will receive funding in the new budget year.  Judy clarified that these are M. Div., not seminary, students.  Team discussed opportunity to also support Seminary (MA) students as well (see Budget Proposal, under New Business.)
• Church website – Gregg provided an update on the new website, which is scheduled to launch next week.  Gregg informed the Coordinating Team that the website is: 1) interactive, not just a marketing tool, and 2) a central repository of the church’s stories, files and forms.  He also indicated that user training is an issue that will need to be addressed.  Judy raised a question about creating a link from the website to the new online directory, should the church opt to take advantage of this free option offered by the photographers.  If there is an online directory, the connection between the website and the directory can be explored.
• CAMO Mission Program – Kathy Tschiegg, Director of CAMO, will speak to the church on June 21.  CAMO’s key area of focus is the Honduras Women’s Shelter.  A free-will offering will occur in conjunction with Kathy’s visit.
• Pentecost offering – Judy inquired about the results of this offering.  No information was available at the time of the meeting.  Judy will contact Mary Alice to see what current figures are as money is still coming in.

New Business

• Elect members to serve on Manse disposition committee – Session decided that a group of Coordinating Team representatives should be brought together to look at all of the possibilities for the manse (re-purpose for mission use, demolish, etc.).   Keith Brown and Jim Miller volunteered to represent our Coordinating Team on this committee.
• Budget Proposal for 2009-2010
  • Motion – A motion was made - relative to the 2008-2009 budget - to verify with Session that we paid the full amount of Per Capita.   Susan seconded.  All approved.
  • Also regarding the 2008-2009 budget, Don and Judy agreed to ensure that a voucher is processed through Mary Alice to obtain the Youth Mission trips funding ($3000).
  • Major 2009-2010 budget decisions included:
    • Begin with 2008-2009 base for adjustments
    • Add M Div. and MA student funding as a separate line item and fund appropriately
    • Cut most existing budget elements by approximately 30%
    • Motion – Chuck moved to present the budget as discussed by the Coordinating Team ($50,000 overall budget), Susan seconded.  All approved.
    • Judy will ask for monthly financial reports for on-going management by the coordinating team.
    • Susan recommended a related agenda item for the next meeting:  grant proposal forms.
• Ministry Team Reports – The following outlines who agreed to report on the Ministry Team activities at the monthly Coordinating Team meetings:
  • Community Outreach – Gregg
  • College Outreach – Laura Strickland & Gregg
  • Dial-a-Ride Bus – Gregg
  • Social Justice / Peacemaking – Susan
    • Susan mentioned that the SJP team is exploring possible adult / youth education opportunities to bring to the church community.
    • Environmental Justice – Don & Keith
      • Don reminded the Coordinating Team that the EJ team publishes environmental tips in Tower Tidings each month
    • Stewardship – should be managed under Faith & Structure
    • Mission Service Activities – No decision made with respect to this team.  The question was raised as to whether this resides, with Mission Education, under Social Justice.  To be determined at a future meeting.
    • Mission Education – No decision made with respect to this team.  The question was raised as to whether this resides, with Mission Service Activities, under Social Justice.  To be determined at a future meeting.
• New funding requests (major decisions underlined):
  • Habitat for Humanity – Send note to say that we will consider their request as we await final budget information.
• Annual Report – Don will submit the Faith & Practice Annual Report as requested by Session.

Adjournment

The meeting was adjourned at 9:28 pm. 

Minutes respectfully submitted by:  Shanna Springer