Mount Cross Lutheran Church

Annual Meeting

Sunday, January 31, 2010

 

Voting members in attendance:  86

Called to order at 5:39 p.m. by Keith Selbrede.

 

Opening prayer and devotion by Pastor John Soyster.  Teach us to count our days that we may gain a wise heart.  Psalm 90:12

How will we begin this new year?  With power; by remembering to whom we belong; by using our gifts for the common good; by knowing we are sent first into our neighborhood; with new resolve to keep telling the story.

 

Welcome by Keith Selbrede.

Thanks to Fellowship for fantastic dinner and fun games.

Think about nominations:  There are 5 openings for council and only 3 nominees; same numbers for the nominating committee.

 

Approval of minutes of 2009 Annual Meeting

Gayle Johnson asked last year’s Acceptance of the 2008 Annual Report to be corrected to say “strategic” planning not ”statistical” planning.

Moved by Frank Miley and seconded to approve the minutes as corrected.

Approved by unanimous proclamation.

 

Pastors’ reportS

Pastor John:

Thanks for the inspiring trip to New Orleans. 

Thanks to Norm Williamsen who has served 8 years as a Stephen Leader, exceeding the 2-year commitment asked.  Congregation is now seeking  new Stephen Ministry members/leaders.  One goal for this year is to work with Pastor Erik  to make sure there are continued  opportunities for the congregation to discuss decisions of the church at large.

Power Point about ELCA and Southwest California Synod undesignated mission support was presented.  50 percent of undesignated funds is distributed to congregations nationally and internationally.  12 percent supports institutions and agencies supported by our synod. The remaining 38 percent are used to operate the office of the bishop and its related synod activities.  Endowment funds are used for scholarships, ministry,  and mission grants.  A new fundraising campaign, Give to Grow is aiming at food pantries, school campuses, etc.  There are 10 congregations dependent on our synod for financial support.   We could help by adopting a mission congregation.

Pastor showed the initial 50 percent donated to the synod goes to  world missions and to start new churches in our country.  See page 11 of Annual Report to see how benevolence to ELCA supports our congregation’s mission statement. 

For about 15 years we’ve had web presence.  We plan  to unveil a new website this week.  www.mountcross.com  also has podcasts of sermons/services, complete calendars, and more. 

 

Pastor Erik Goehner:    

Thanks for congenial annual meetings.  High school was invited. 

Thanks for sabbatical.  He especially enjoyed worshiping with his family as well as a variety of worship locations and settings, exploring care of Creation, hiking and gardening, experiencing Holden Village, connecting with family and developing spiritual practices.   He is looking forward to enlarging gardening, perhaps  to involve more of the congregation and using the labyrinth as a form a spiritual meditation with the confirmation class.   His slide show included photos of the Special K Ranch,  site of stories from Pastor’s past.   

 

Treasurer’s 2009 Financial Report by Bob Winters

This year we’re in better shape than last year.  Budget for 2008 did not turn out well because of recession.   So for 2009 we made a very realistic budget by cutting costs including advertising, bulletins, gardener, and staff so we could plan to make ends meet. The budget was lowest since 2006.  At end of year, after running a deficit most of the year, we ended up with $7500 profit.

$20,000 of general and endowment funds decreased in stock accounts was recovered this year. 

 

 

Approval of 2010 BUDGET by Bob Winters

This new budget calls for modest growth in salaries for staff,  increasing  mission support by 1 percent, putting devotionals back into budget, funding for Women’s Bible Study, and sending  two people to Stephen Ministry Leader training.     Also included is $500 for bell maintenance which will be accumulated every year until bells need to be shipped out. Total:  $472,000.

No questions asked.

Moved by Council to accept this budget.

Seconded by Susan Prosser.   No discussion from the floor.

Approved by unanimous proclamation.

 

ELECTIONS

Church Council:  5 openings for 2-year term.  Nominees are Randy Churchill, Robert Cole, Geordan Goebel, and Steve Kohl.  Motion to close nominations was made.

 

Nominating Committee:  5 openings for 1-year term.  Nominees are
Paul Fickenscher,  LaJean Wenzel, Jason Graziani, and Brian Stouch.  John Soyster moved to close nominations. 

 

Voting Members, Synod Assembly:  3 openings for 1-year term.  Nominees are Meredith Gardner, Geordan Goebel, and Karen Nelson.  Motion to close nominations was made. 

 

Mediation Board:  3 openings for 1-year term.  Nominees are Barbara Meyer,

Nils Rueckert, Karen Thomton.  A motion to close nominations was made.

 

Audit Committee:  There is no need to elect a new member of this committee this year.

 

Endowment Committee:  1 opening for a 3-year term.  Nominee is Susan Prosser.  A motion was made to close nominations.

 

Voting by secret ballot was done. All nominees were unanimously elected.

 

[Announcement of Chili Cookoff Winners by Anne Valencia and Desta Goehner
Thanks for those who made chili.

Hottest Chili:   3rd   place  Scott Fajnor

                        2nd  place Barbara Sletten

                        1st   place Sue Ingram

 

Best Tasting  Chili:  2nd place tie  Kate Fisher and Evelyn Lacy

                                1st place Sue Ingram]

 

proposed bylaw change

Motion:  that section S2.08 of the By-Laws should be deleted.   

Moved as published.  Seconded by Susan Prosser. 

Discussion:    Item is in the budget for this year.

    
Q:  Any thought for a mechanism for determining who wants the magazine?  A:   Perhaps as box on time and talent survey.

Q:  Huge discount when we order a quantity. Will this still be available?  A:   No one knows the break points at this time. 

Comment:  This change is to take away the mandate that it gets budgeted since it is the only mandated item.  It is not intended to do away with subscriptions.

Motion carried by unanimous  proclamation.

. 

 

old business    

In annual report from last year, the New Mexico property was mentioned.  Has there been any action taken?  There has been no activity toward selling or gifting the property.

 

 

new business

Congratulations and thanks to those who developed our new website.  Is there a link to opt out of paper?   

Any big new plans for 2010?  Leadership Retreat next week will discuss new plans and goals for the congregation. 

Have any plans been made for budget surplus from last year?  None that Keith Selbrede is aware of. 

Don Hauser was thanked in absentia by the Property Committee for working faithfully on property.

 

Motion to adjourn moved, seconded, and approved by  unanimous  proclamation  at 6:44 p.m.

 

CLOSING by Pastor Erik Goehner

Thanks for people who are moving out of elected office and to those who support the church by doing so many things around the church. 

Prayer and blessing.

 

Respectfully submitted, 

 

 

 

Carol Paul

Church Council Secretary