SUMMARY OF GOOD SHEPHERD COUNCIL MEETING - Tuesday, August
5, 2008
The majority of the Council meeting was given to our
newly appointed Finance Team, Lisa Long, chairperson, and Jime
Miller. They did a thorough job presenting Good Shepherd's overall
financial situation for the past three years and a look at a possible budget
for 2009. It was sobering to realize that our giving to the general
budget has not increased for the last three years, although our giving to
special projects, such as new hymnals, steeple repairs, and social ministry,
has been very generous. This team is looking for ways to more fairly fund
all areas of our ministry. There was discussion concerning possible overlapping
of benevolence funds and Social Ministry projects. There is a need to
educate our membership on how our benevolence giving helps the mission of the
church at large both through the Delaware/Maryland Synod and the ELCA.
The Council is very appreciative of the work of the new Finance Team and is
looking forward to working with them to achieve a more unified approach in our
faith response giving to the abundance already provided by God.
The Council requested that the
Finance and Social Ministry Teams meet to discuss usage of the Gift of Love
envelopes. Diana Larson, our newly appointed liaison to the Social
Ministry Team, will coordinate the scheduling of this meeting.
Additional agenda information
items:
1. Pastor Ron handed out a possible Organizational Review for 2009
to be discussed later.
2. Good Shepherd will be hosting a
Synod-sponsored "Opening Windows, Opening Doors: Exploring Fresh
Ideas for Congregation Councils" on
Saturday, September 13,
from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
3. Fall worship schedule begins September 7.
4. A team has been appointed and is working on plans for Pastor
5. The Annual Congregational Meeting is set for Sunday, November
16.
6. Mike and Julie Schirf and Peg and
Gerry Marose have expressed interest in and agreed to
lead a team to plan for an additional Saturday evening
laity-led worship service here at Good
Shepherd. They will be working with the Worship and Music Team to explore
the adding of this worship
service to our weekly schedule.
The Council agreed to meet again on
Monday, September 8, to continue preparations for the Annual Congregational
Meeting on November 16.
Janet Rippeon
President