Elders Meeting - March 4, 2010

Present: R Anderson, B Hinsley, G Hustad, B Moran, C Veillon

A. Reports

      1.  Finances

      2.   Pastoral care needs in the flock.

B. Continuing Issues

      1.   Bylaws Amendments

Agreed together on a final draft for the Annual Meeting, incorporating input from the discussion at the January congregational meeting.

C. New Issues

      1.   2010-11 Budget

            a.  Set a proposed budget to present at the Annual Meeting of $236,064.

            b.  Discussed ways to better manage the budget from month to month.

c.  Determined that our first priority in case of additional income beyond the budget will be to rebuild our contingency fund.  Once we have made significant progress on that, three other priorities will be considered:

• Rebuild a fund designated for big-ticket building maintenance needs.
• Increased marketing in the community.
• Landscape the Midland Dr. frontage.

      2.   Missions

Agreed to support the new ministry of Vision 360 and Jeff Hummel with a regular monthly missions commitment of $200 / month, to be built into the new budget proposal.

3.   Marriages

Discussed ways to address the spate of troubled marriages in the congregation, and to build better marriages.  Agreed on the following:

• Schedule - as soon as practical, before summer - a motivational marriage conference / rally to reinforce to the congregation, with passion and energy, the importance of marriage.
• Look into "Emotionally Healthy Church" curriculum as a way of addressing, in our disciplemaking process, the underlying past-life issues that often hinder marriage.
• Offer an Ascent elective designed to teach and model to couples how to develop a devotional life together.

The Elders each agreed to start looking for a qualified speaker (perhaps a local pastor) who can address the marriage conference / rally with insight and passion.

D.  Prayer for the Flock

Next meetings: Sunday, March 21 for lunch

                         Saturday, March 27 - Leadership Summit @ 10 a.m.

                         Thursday, April 1 @ 6:30 p.m.

Elders Meeting - January 7, 2010

Present: R Anderson, B Hinsley, G Hustad, B Moran, C Veillon

A.  Reports

1. Financial Report

            December income: $8,749 / wk  ($34,994)

            November income: $4,152 / wk

            October income: $4,021 / wk

            September income: $3,650 / wk

      2.   Ross reported on some pastoral care issues, people who might need spiritual intervention, and others who have been affected by the recent staff transition issues.

      3.   Ross reported that Megumi Cochran is stepping down after a faithful tenure as leader of the Nursery ministry, as of Feb 21, and is working hard to insure a smooth transition.  The Elders expressed their gratitude for Megumi and her faithful service.

B.  Continuing Issues

      1.   Current Finances

a.   The Elders expressed ongoing gratitude for God's provision during December.  The extent of the provision, along with encouragement to stay faithful, will be expressed to the congregation by a letter attached to the January giving statements.

b.   Affirmed the decision of last month to be more intentional about using the Sunday morning announcements as a time to teach people Biblical concepts about giving.

c. Agreed on a budget philosophy for the upcoming fiscal year to be that we maintain expenses at a minimum to rebuild our financial strength. In the upcoming budget, we will adopt a list of advance priorities to dictate what we will do if additional funds become available. This will discussed in more detail in February's meeting, but will include, at least:

• rebuild our emergency fund to a level of $35,000
• re-establish fund for long term maintenance and replacement costs

        2. Evaluate plans for regaining momentum and direction.

Plans have gone well so far.  The one item on the list from last meeting that needs continuing attention is to engage our educators and artisans to help us create ways to communicate our vision with greater impact, clarity and consistency.

       3.   Approved the applications of new members:

            Candice Chugg, Cody Chugg, Kristie Morphin, Laura Stephens

C.  New Issues

      1.   Bylaws Amendments

The Elders approved several amendments to the bylaws.  Once final wording is worked out, these will be presented to the congregation at the January 23 quarterly meeting, in order to be discussed and voted on at the Annual Meeting in March.  The proposed amendments fall into three categories:

• cleaning up various words and phrases to create greater consistency between different sections of the bylaws.
• policies regarding the hiring and dismissal of associate pastors and other ministry staff.
• policies regarding the seating of associate pastors as members of the Elder Board.

      2.   Leadership Candidates

            The Elders approved Brent Hinsley as a candidate for Eldership.

D.  Prayer for Flock.

Next meetings: Saturday, January 9 - Leadership Summit @ 10 a.m.

 Sunday, January 24 for lunch

                           Thursday, February 4 @ 6:30 p.m.

Elders Meeting - December 10, 2009

Present: R Anderson, G Hustad, B Moran, C Veillon;  Absent: B Hinsley

A.  Reports

1. Financial Report

            November income: $4,152 / wk

            October income: $4,021 / wk

            September income: $3,650 / wk

            August income: $3,024 / wk

      2.   Ross reported some encouraging developments, especially in the area of potential new leaders stepping up to help in key areas of ministry, such as assimilation and young adults.

B.  Continuing Issues

      1.   Current Finances

a.   Agreed about the need to communicate openly and clearly to the congregation about the current financial crisis.  Ross will draft a letter and prepare a statement to be made on Sunday, asking for people to make gifts above and beyond their regular offering within the next 3 weeks.

            b.   Agreed to take cost-saving measures to reduce utility expenses.

• consolidated schedule
• better thermostats
• etc.

c.   Agreed to take the following steps to pay our financial commitments, if they should become necessary:

• transfer money from Benevolence account
• discuss with Early Learning Center a new rent arrangement or a one-time donation
• talk to Christian Investors Foundation about interest-only mortgage payments for a time
• defer some of Ross' salary, to be repaid at a later date

d. Agreed to be more intentional about using the Sunday morning announcements as a time to teach people Biblical concepts about giving.

e. Agreed to study and consider new approaches to budgeting, such as those suggested by the "Defining Moments" leadership series.

      2.   Christmas Offering

Agreed, under the current financial situation, to forego the Christmas Offering for this year.

C.  New Issues

1.   Plan for moving forward to regain momentum and direction.

a.  Prayer

b.  Plan a series of positive events that draw people together.

c.  Communicate encouraging developments in ministry.

d.  Communicate our vision with greater clarity.

• Preach a series on vision / values starting in January
• Engage our educators and artisans to help us create ways to communicate.

e.  Give an opportunity at the next leadership meeting for people to ask questions or raise lingering issues.

2.   Pastoral Care Issues

Discussion of families most effected by the aftermath of personnel changes at Wasatch.  How to handle other challenging issues, including a pending divorce.

3.   New member applicants.

Approved: Evelyne Griffin, Keith Moran, Jacki Moran.

Need to be interviewed: Kristie Morfin (Greg); Candice & Cody Chugg (Chuck); Laura Stephens (Ross)

4.   Offer to rent.

Declined to accept an offer from our neighbor, Dennis Parker, to rent a room in the church building for his self-hypnosis counseling groups.

5. Internet House of Prayer feed.

Agreed to continue the internet feed from IHOP, to establish regular hours that the feed will be on and the worship center open, and promote it to the public using a name such as "Roy Prayer Room."

D.  Prayer for Flock.

Next meetings: Sunday, December 20 for lunch. 

                           Thursday, January 7 @ 6:30 p.m.

Elder's Meeting - November 5, 2009

Present: R Anderson, S Bertoni, B Hinsley, C Veillon     Absent: G Hustad, B Moran

A.  Reports

1. Financial Report

            October income: $4,021 / wk

            September income: $3,650 / wk

            August income: $3,024 / wk

Needed for budget: $5,200 / wk

      2.   Chuck reported on a meeting with the Utah Department of Transportation regarding possible egress on Midland Dr.  UDOT staff was helpful and sympathetic, but regulations for developing an exit lane on a highway with such a high speed limit make it impossible to consider adding access to the property from Midland Dr.  Such access may become possible at some future time should UDOT decide to fund widening Midland to 5 lanes.  Our recourse will be to make the property more attractive on the Midland Dr. side and use signage to direct the public to the entrance side of the property.  New signs will be ready soon.

B. Continuing Issues

      None

C. New Issues

      1.   Christmas Offering

Agreed to promote a Christmas offering again this year, dedicated strictly to outreach beyond the immediate congregation.  The offering will be allocated with 25% each to the Pregnancy Care Center, Jesus Field, Communities, a church planting project (to be identified).

      2.   Christmas holiday programming

Christmas Eve: traditional candlelight service. 

Children's Christmas Program: The full version will be presented at Heritage Park on Dec 13.  Permission is granted for a 20 minute version to be presented during Sunday worship (date tba).

      3.   Elder recruitment.

Discussed the process of recruiting Elders.  Discussed potential candidates.

      4.   Pastoral care issues.

            Discussed the needs of certain families facing challenging situations.

      5.   Strategic Evaluation of Worship Gathering.

Discussed the issue of who we are primarily trying to speak to during worship services.  Who is the target audience of our worship gathering?  And how should we gear worship and teaching accordingly?

      6.   Ecuador mission trip.

Brent asked that the Elders find a way to fund his share of the expenses for next summer's mission trip to Ecuador.  Agreed to use whatever resources are available to make this possible for Brent.

D. Prayer for Flock.

Next meetings: Sunday, November 15 for lunch. 

                           Thursday, December 3 @ 6:30 p.m.