Council

St. Stephen's Community of Faith (Church) Council

Congregational/Council Meeting --  June 25, 2023

Attendance Count: 30 members + 2 guests

• Started at approximately 10:32 am

• Financial Update:

  • John Wollbrinck found us a more affordable security system company

  • Continuing to have a surplus of revenue over our expenses

  • Can return the remaining unused grant monies to the state

• Property Update:

  • Currently using Curt Williams’s and the Lubbens’ lawn mowers for the time being

  • Trying to move toward emission free lawn care

  • Could use help caring for the garden

• Transformation Update:

  • Still trying to get supply pastors

    • Heard back from one supply minister that would be interested (but are unavailable until September)

    • Lots of supply pastors are less available during the summer

    • Ron Rosche still wants to help us, but will be unavailable for awhile due to the flooding of his apartment

• Misc. Updates:

  • Coloradans for the Common Good (a community organizing group) have been meeting at the church

    • Hoping to build community (in Adams County) through this

• Additional Announcements:

  • Food Bank

  • St. Stephen’s put together a food committee that has provided many meals for homeless people

• Adjourned at 10:48 am

Notes Taken By: Grace Burke

Last Updated: 7/15/23

Council Meeting May 21, 2023

1. Called to order at 12:01 pm by Curt Williams; Opened with prayer by Pastor Mandy Achterberg

2. Attendance

   1. Present: Pastor Mandy Achterberg, Amy Burke, Grace Burke, Nancy Colette (virtual), Theresa Lubben, Karen Shifty, Sharon Thomas, Curt Williams, Tammy Wollbrinck

      1. Sandra Vinnedge was present as a guest

   2. Absent: N/A

3. Minutes from Previous Month (Secretary’s Report)

   1. Need to specify that we started last meet early and that Tammy’s tardiness was excused

   2. Moved to accept with corrections by Karen Shifty; Seconded by Curt Williams

4. Officer Reports

   1. Pastor’s Report - Pastor Mandy Achterberg

      1. Last Sunday: 6/11

      2. Letter of Agreement (needs to be signed by June 30)

      3. Need to hand over the old parish register (incomplete) and the new parish register

         1. Will be passed over to the secretary (Grace Burke)

      4. Need to finish some “housekeeping” items

      5. Will finish making constitutional revisions, making a list of passwords and putting together a collection of the year’s readings

      6. Tasks the council wants Pastor to do before her departure

         1. Make a list of administrative tasks that Pastor is currently responsible for

         2. Deal with the grant money

      7. Will be trying a new transition process

         1. Transition manual will be available in the office for guidance

         2. Transition report from the previous transition was lacking in key aspects of the purpose of the report

         3. Will need to include the whole congregation in this process

         4. May need to increase the frequency of our council meetings

      8. No full written report

   2. Treasurer’s Report - Amy Burke

      1. Added a comparison between our income and expenses on the report

      2. Xcel Energy gave us a large bill last month

         1. Will need to call them

         2. Caused lots of bounced bills and fees

         3. Had to transfer money out of the capital account

      3. Our checking and savings accounts are down

      4. Copier bill is still inflated

      5. Will establish the finance committee and potentially have meetings later in the month (after the monthly council meeting)

         1. Caren Johannes will be the financial secretary

            1. Should start here before gathering a full committee

      6. Still need to transition from Servant Keeper to Breeze

      7. Looking into other payroll options (other than Clergy Financial)

      8. Should have funds to help pay the lawn care bill

         1. Should be prioritized

      9. See Amy’s full report for further details

      10. Moved to accept by Curt Williams; Second not needed

   3. President’s Report - President Curt Williams

      1. N/A

5. New Business

   1. Transformation of Ministry process

      1. Deacon Janice and the synod office suggested we take our time and not rush ourselves into anything

      2. Concern over who will take over all of Pastor’s duties (including those that were previously covered by our secretary)

      3. Council needs to discuss what the possibilities are for future worship

         1. Discussion over the future of the bulletin

         2. Discussion over how to do communion without a pastor present

         3. Sandra recommends that Pastor make an announcement about what the official role of worship leaders is

6. Continuing Business

   1. Council vacancies (Vice President position, 1 general position)

      1. Tammy nominated herself for the Vice President position

         1. Pastor moved to close nominations

         2. Moved to accept Tammy as Vice President by Karen Shifty; Seconded by Theresa Lubben

      2. Will inquire with Frank Gibbard regarding rules for Sharon Thomas

7. Ministries

   1. Member Care & Fellowship

      1. Cards

   2. Property - Phil Strain (given by Curt Williams in lieu of Phil)

      1. Boiler room issue with Nueva Vision still ongoing

      2. Need to have more frequent meetings with the other churches that use our space

         1. Will start meetings with them soon

      3. Will the compensation from Phil Strain (for the lawnmower) cover the new mowers

      4. Could get a business account with Ace to help us get rid of the old mowers

      5. Should deal with the snowblower

      6. Still at a stalemate over the shed

         1. Nueva Vision wants a shipping container, but council is vehemently against that

      7. Downspouts on both buildings have gone missing (and were probably stolen)

   3. Worship & Music - Curt Williams

      1. Planned through June

         1. Will have some supply pastors to help us throughout the transition period

            1. Selecting supply pastors will be delegated to council

8. Adjourned at 2:16 pm

   1. Theresa Lubben left early at 1:58 pm

Next Meeting: June 4, 2023; June 25, 2023 (congregational picnic)

Notes Taken By: Grace Burke

Last Updated: 6/24/23